Washington State rejects net metering fee and solar leasing ‘monopoly’ legislation

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Legislation that campaigners said would have harmed solar net metering and “monopolised” solar system leasing has been rejected in Washington State.

Pro net-metering lobby group, the US Alliance for Solar Choice (TASC), claimed it and other solar advocates had successfully lobbied to keep net metering charges, and what TASC claims as “monopolistic” control of solar leasing, out of Washington State legislature.

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

The proposed HB 2176 ‘leasing of energy systems’ and HB 1301 ‘renewable energy incentives for creating clean energy jobs in Washington state’ legislation would have mandated a fee for rooftop solar users, and given power to utilities – rather than local solar companies – for the leasing of solar systems.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), an association for conservative law makers, proposed a template anti-net metering policies in 2013 on which the proposed Washington legislation was based.

TASC said Washington State’s decision not to implement a policy based on the template was a “blow” to ALEC and allies such as the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).

EEI, which represents investor-owned electric companies, and was confronted with claims of dark money funding its campaigns last November, claims on its website net-metered customers are dodging grid maintenance fees. The EEI says clean energy grid supplying customers, “effectively are avoiding paying [these] costs for the grid.”

EEI has argued maintenance costs are “shifted to those customers without rooftop solar or other distributed generation systems through higher utility bills”.

TASC has counter-lobbied by claiming that “rooftop solar benefits everyone” by delivering “extra energy from rooftops to neighbours”.

Environmental conservation group, Sierra Club’s Washington chapter described the bills as “contradictory and complicated” and accused the policy template of creating “confusion in Washington's incentive payment programme” that would “ultimately diminish, not expand, the number of new solar installations in Washington”.

Sierra Club also ran a campaign to tell elected officials to vote against the two bills.

Read Next

September 9, 2025
Iberdrola has signed a 77MW power purchase agreement (PPA) with Italian grocery retail group Selex Gruppo Commerciale.
September 9, 2025
Nautilus and Summit Ridge Energy secured major financing deals to expand community solar projects across multiple US states.
September 9, 2025
The US is forecast to reach between US$55-60 billion in clean energy tax credit monetisation in 2025, according to a report from clean energy financing technology platform Crux.
September 9, 2025
The average price of solar modules sold in Europe fell marginally between July and August, while buyers’ confidence remained steady.
September 9, 2025
The US Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has released a policy blueprint which it claims would “strengthen the reliability of America’s electric grid with solar and storage technologies.”
September 9, 2025
US solar tracker manufacturer Nextracker has acquired Origami Solar, a steel frame technology-focused company, for approximately US$53 million. 

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
September 16, 2025
Athens, Greece
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