COLUMBIA, S.C. and WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, Dominion filed a rate case that ignores the intent of the 2019 Energy Freedom Act in South Carolina. 

The act requires the state’s utilities to file net metering successor plans that avoid cost shifts and provide long-term stability for solar customers. Dominion’s filing would add grid access charges, a monthly subscription cost for solar customers, and a low export rate for net metering customers that would unnecessarily inflate solar costs and devalue these investments. 

Following is a statement from Sean Gallagher, vice president of state affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) on Dominion’s actions:

“Dominion’s filing would wipe out the rooftop solar market in its South Carolina service territory, imposing egregious charges on solar customers. The 2019 Energy Freedom Act was enacted to protect customer choice and add stability for the growing rooftop solar market. Dominion’s actions are punitive and would undermine the intent of the law if approved by the Commission. The proposed charges are so high that they would stifle the local solar market, killing good-paying jobs that are driving economic development during the pandemic. 

“Rather than follow Duke’s example and conduct discussions with stakeholders, Dominion made decisions behind closed doors, resulting in another attempt to retain monopoly power and prolong the transition to clean energy."