FERC dismisses NERA net metering petition in unanimous verdict

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Image: Steakpinball.

The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has dismissed a petition which called for US net metering policies to be brought under federal jurisdiction.

All four commissioners – Neil Chatterjee, Richard Glick, Bernard McNamee and James Danly – rejected the petition to form a unanimous verdict in what constitutes a major victory for the residential solar sector.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

In delivering their verdict, which can be read in full here, chairman Chatterjee considered the request made by the New England Ratepayers Association did not meet a threshold for requiring a declaratory order.

The petition, launched in April, called for net metering protocols to be overseen by federal rather than state authorities. It lobbied FERC to intervene against state-level net metering incentives for domestic solar installs, branding them “among the least efficient forms of renewable generation”. If successful, it would have paved the way for blanket decisions over the future of net metering to be made.

It was widely regarded as an attack on renewable generation and last month SEIA slammed the potential move as an “unlawful federal power grab” and an “unjustified intrusion into a State’s sovereign authority”.

It was also widely unpopular with the legal profession, and 15 attorneys general in the US called upon FERC to quash the request.  

Commenting on yesterday’s verdict, SEIA president and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper applauded FERC’s decision to dismiss the “flawed” petition.

“As the leader of a coalition of conservative groups, solar advocates, state regulators and elected officials from both sides of aisle in opposition to this petition, SEIA applauds FERC’s unanimous decision to dismiss this flawed petition.  

“We are grateful to the state utility commissions and many other partners who strongly opposed this petition. We will continue working in the states to strengthen net metering policies to generate more jobs and investment, and we will advocate for fair treatment of solar at FERC where it has jurisdiction,” she said.

7 October 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 7-8 October 2025 is our third PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The events in 2023 and 2024 were a sell out success and 2025 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.
21 October 2025
New York, USA
Returning for its 12th edition, Solar and Storage Finance USA Summit remains the annual event where decision-makers at the forefront of solar and storage projects across the United States and capital converge. Featuring the most active solar and storage transactors, join us for a packed two-days of deal-making, learning and networking.
16 June 2026
Napa, USA
PV Tech has been running PV ModuleTech Conferences since 2017. PV ModuleTech USA, on 16-17 June 2026, will be our fifth PV ModulelTech conference dedicated to the U.S. utility scale solar sector. The event will gather the key stakeholders from solar developers, solar asset owners and investors, PV manufacturing, policy-making and and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out the PV module supply channels to the U.S. out to 2027 and beyond.

Read Next

September 17, 2025
US renewables developer Longroad Energy has reached financial close for its 400MW 1000 Mile solar project in the US state of Texas.
September 17, 2025
Nexamp has secured US$350 million through a long-term financing facility to expand its 6GW utility-scale solar and battery storage pipeline in the US. 
September 17, 2025
The California State Legislature has passed two bills that aim to reduce energy prices in the state, AB 825 and SB 302.
September 17, 2025
For the third year in a row, self-consumption installs have fallen in Spain, with 611MW of new additions in the first half of 2025, according to a report from trade body APPA Renovables.
Premium
September 16, 2025
At RE+, industry leaders pointed to the resilience of the US solar sector, despite challenges brought by the 'One Big, Beautiful Bill' Act.
September 16, 2025
Two Wisconsin Republicans have introduced legislation to open access to community solar projects in the US state.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 30, 2025
Seattle, USA
Solar Media Events
October 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
October 2, 2025
London,UK
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
Manila, Philippines
Solar Media Events
October 7, 2025
San Francisco Bay Area, USA