An Unlikely Alliance Is Born in the Battle Over Solar Power
- Utilities, solar companies are `finally playing nicely'
- Solar companies agree to formula that gradually cuts payments
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An unlikely partnership between utilities and solar companies was born this week in New York, where both industries are seeking to shape policies that dictate how owners of rooftop panels are compensated for electricity they supply to the grid.
In a proposal to regulators this week, the two groups collaborated on an alternative to the existing policy, known as net metering, which has put solar companies and utilities into opposing camps. Under the plan, New York’s six investor-owned utilities would pay less for solar energy, while SolarCity Corp., SunPower Corp. and SunEdison Inc., the developers involved in the effort, get long-term certainty on the amount they would receive.