Does Going Solar Make Other People’s Electric Bills Go Up?
NO!
When you go solar, everyone in Maine saves money. The electric grid is expensive to build and maintain, and solar power reduces the wear and tear on the electric grid as well as pollution and other costs associated with traditional electric power plants. When solar customers send power back to the grid, they reduce everyone’s electric bills.
Don’t take our word for it, this claim is backed up by data from a study conducted by Maine’s Public Utilities Commission – yes, the same entity that is attacking solar, conducted a study that found that solar saves everyone money! They just chose to ignore its findings when they proposed a rule that benefits privately-owned utility companies over Maine ratepayers.
According to the PUC’s Value of Solar study, the approximately 20 megawatts of solar power currently installed in Maine will reduce electricity costs for non-solar ratepayers by $45 million over the life of the solar panels simply by reducing peak demand alone.
This is in addition to avoided pollution costs – valued at $58 million – local job creation, and other ratepayer benefits. The Maine Public Utilities Commission wants to end Mainers’ right to generate their own, less expensive solar power. We cannot allow this to happen!