ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan is leading the opposition against a proposal by the Orlando Utilities Commission to lower the reimbursement rates for solar customers.
“I am horrified by what they proposed,” Sheehan said.
Currently, the OUC is proposing to reduce its rate from 11 cents per kilowatt-hour to 4 cents per kilowatt-hour. This reduction would lower the reimbursement amount by nearly two-thirds.
“The only way this makes sense is net metering,” Sheehan said.
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Sheehan argues that such a significant cut would not encourage more residents to adopt solar energy.
OUC released a statement, saying in part, “We understand that the proposed program may cause concern for some rooftop solar customers. That’s why we recommend a balanced approach that recognizes rooftop solar contributions while also making sure that everyone has access to affordable power.”
Opponents of net metering also argue that the upkeep and maintenance of power lines and transformers are costly, making it unsustainable to maintain the current reimbursement rate.
“Even DeSantis vetoed the net metering bill a couple of years ago,” Sheehan said.
No timeline has been released regarding the net metering system.
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