On July 7, the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) adopted a ruling requiring shared solar program customers to pay a “minimum bill” fee to Dominion Energy. In response, Charlie Coggeshall, MidAtlantic Regional Director for Coalition for Community Solar Access, issued the following statement:
“In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed a bipartisan shared solar program law that would make the Commonwealth competitive with the best states in the nation offering residents access to shared solar and its many benefits. The legislative intent was clear: establish a shared solar program to provide all consumers, regardless of their income or where they live, the choice to participate directly in clean energy generated in their communities by third party providers—driving economic development, job growth, and reducing the need for costly infrastructure investments.
Unfortunately, the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) adopted yesterday an anti-consumer, anti-business monthly “minimum bill” in its final rules that does not align with the legislative intent and undermines the economics and accessibility of the shared solar program for participating subscribers, while perpetuating a culture of egregious overcollections by Dominion Energy. The SCC’s decision will decrease crucial investments in the Commonwealth’s economy and lock out thousands of consumers and businesses from accessing local, clean energy generation.
While highly disappointed, CCSA and its members will continue to invest in Virginia to bring shared solar energy to low income communities and advocate to ensure energy bill savings while expanding access to renewable energy and consumer choice for all customers.”