Mississippi News
Net metering: PSC approves compromise after utility pushback
PSC approves compromise on net metering after utility pushback
The Public Service Commission approved a slightly less aggressive net metering rule on Tuesday, responding to resistance from Mississippi’s powerful utility companies in an attempt to avoid litigation.
The PSC originally expanded incentives for net metering, or self-generating renewable power, with a new rule in July that required utility companies to increase reimbursement rates for low-income customers as well as offer rebates to help buy home solar systems. The new rule also established a Solar-for-Schools program with the goal of reducing expenses for school districts.
Northern District Commissioner Brandon Presley said the PSC worked together with the regulated power companies on the new order, and doesn’t expect another appeal before the new net metering rule takes effect on Jan. 1, 2023.
Mississippi is behind most states in its adoption of net metering. Out of the 47 states with a net metering rule, Mississippi has the second lowest number of self-generating customers. Most states offer customers the full retail rate when reimbursing them for self-generated energy, and Mississippi is one of six states to not do so.
Net metering advocates argue that the policy helps push forward the transition to renewable energy, which in Mississippi has been relatively slow. They also point to economic benefits of attracting the growing solar industry into the state.
After Mississippi Power and Entergy Mississippi pushed back against July revisions to the PSC’s rule, the commission approved the following changes on Tuesday:
- Narrowing the eligibility for households to receive an extra reimbursement from 250% of the federal poverty level to 225%.
- Decreasing a $3,500 rebate for home installations to $3,000, available for low to moderate income households earning up to 225% of the federal poverty level.
- Adding a $2,000 rebate for households to build a battery storage system, although customers can only use one of the two rebates
- Bringing the participation cap back from 4% to 3% of a utility company’s maximum demand. Once the cap is met, the PSC can again make revisions to the rule.
Presley emphasized the benefits that the rule would have for the 85 of the state’s 142 school districts that are eligible to participate.
Each district, he said, could see savings between $40,000 to $125,000 based on the amount of public land the district owns, and could use that money to pay for teacher salaries and supplies.
Presley added that if the Solar-for-Schools program hits full capacity, it would add just $1.18 to customers’ electric bills on average.
“Anybody that wants to characterize this as some train-off-the-track Green New Deal, willy-nilly (rule), that is a factual lie,” Presley said.
On Monday, Gov. Tate Reeves took to social media to call out the PSC for expanding the self generation incentives.
“It’s a bad deal,” the governor said of the recent changes to the rule. “The PSC should slow down. If not, the legislature must reverse it.”
Asked about the governor’s criticism, Presley said that anyone opposed to the rule had 20 months since the PSC first took up the changes to make their opposition known. He added that the Public Utilities Staff, whose director is appointed by the governor, offered no objections in the public comment process.
“It’s not particularly helpful in crafting public policy for latecomers in the conversation to offer no solutions and just offer criticism,” Presley said. “Anyone who tries to paint this process as kneejerk or not methodical is not paying attention.”
The three PSC commissioners voted on the order Tuesday just as they had on the July order, with Presley and Central District Commissioner Brandon Bailey voting in favor, and Southern District Commissioner and Chairman Dane Maxwell voting against. Maxwell said that while he’s in favor of allowing customers to self-generate power, he’s against doing so at the expense of non-participating customers.
Mississippi Power and Entergy Mississippi have each echoed that point, arguing that self-generated power is uneconomical, and that expanding net metering forces the companies to pass on adoption costs to the rest of their ratepayers.
In other renewable news, the PSC announced last week the approval of a 200 megawatt solar plant in Clay County, which, once running, will have twice the capacity of the next-largest renewable facility in the state. The plant also will include 50 megawatts of battery storage.
This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
Mississippi News
LIVE: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs guilty of prostitution-related offense
SUMMARY: Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges after a seven-week trial. The jury convicted him of flying people, including girlfriends and paid sex workers, across the country for sexual encounters, violating the federal Mann Act. However, they did not find sufficient evidence for racketeering conspiracy or sex trafficking. The prosecution portrayed Combs as the head of a criminal enterprise exploiting women, while the defense argued the women were consenting adults and the charges exaggerated his lifestyle. The trial included testimonies from former partners and lasted 13 hours of jury deliberation.
The post LIVE: Sean 'Diddy' Combs guilty of prostitution-related offense appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Defendant in Mississippi auditor’s ‘second largest’ embezzlement case in history goes free
SUMMARY: Four years ago, Tunica nonprofit operator Mardis Jones was arrested for allegedly embezzling over $1 million from a county home rehabilitation program funded by casino revenue. The state auditor accused Jones of misusing funds meant to help vulnerable residents, claiming little money reached contractors. Jones’ defense cited poor program administration and insufficient evidence of theft, with a jury ultimately acquitting him last month. Despite the criminal acquittal, the auditor’s office demanded repayment through a civil claim, which the attorney general’s office had yet to act on, but recently confirmed receipt of the demand letter. The case highlights issues in government oversight and program management.
The post Defendant in Mississippi auditor’s ‘second largest’ embezzlement case in history goes free appeared first on www.wjtv.com
Mississippi News
Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: June 27-29
SUMMARY: This weekend (June 27-29) in Mississippi offers a variety of events across the state. Central Mississippi hosts the Kiwanis Club of Pearl Golf Tournament, multiple hot air balloon events including the Mississippi Championship Hot Air Balloon Festival in Canton, and exhibitions like Hurricane Katrina: Mississippi Remembers in Jackson. There are also family-friendly activities such as Guys and Dolls Jr. in Natchez, Pilates and yoga events in Jackson, and farmers markets in Jackson, Natchez, and Vicksburg. The Pine Belt region features Story Time with a Soldier in Hattiesburg, immersive theater experiences, karaoke, and runs supporting recovery programs in Laurel.
The post Events happening this weekend in Mississippi: June 27-29 appeared first on www.wjtv.com
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