Make solar affordable in Boone!

Make Solar affordable in Boone

The Town of Boone is dedicated to sustainability and has already reached the INCREDIBLE goal of switching municipal electricity use to 100% renewable energy. The town did this with the help of New River Light and Power, a non-profit utility company owned by Appalachian State University that supplies the Town of Boone, residents, businesses and the university with electricity. NRLP's use of hydroelectricity assisted with Boone's clean energy goals.

While NRLP supported the town in its climate goals, it needs to do the same for residential customers with better, more affordable solar policies. The utility company's proposed solar policy would add unjustified fees to current and future solar users, raise prices on all of its customers and increase its profits, which go into Appalachian State University’s endowment fund. In addition to its proposed solar policy, NRLP is seeking approval from the state utilities commission to raise electricity rates starting in the fall of 2023.

New River Light and Power’s solar proposal doesn’t align with the goals of the town and its residents.

New funding and incentives offered through the Inflation Reduction Act could help advance the town’s clean energy and climate goals while making it more affordable for businesses and residents to adopt clean energy, but this proposal by New River Light and Power will hinder those efforts.

What would NRLP’s proposed change do?

They are asking for:

  • A 13.97% increase in total net revenue across their system (Docket No. E-34, Sub 54, page 3)

  • A 10% increase in monthly bills for the average residential customer (Docket No. E-34, Sub 54, page 5)

  • Approval to generate more than $2 million in annual “profit” for New River Light & Power, which gets deposited into the Appalachian State University endowment fund, and accounts for nearly half (46%) of their requested increase in annual revenues

  • Increased fees for solar customers:

    • • New River Light & Power’s current policy hurts solar customers by not crediting the solar energy they produce directly toward their electric bill, instead requiring that they sell it all to the utility at a lower wholesale price.

    • Their new proposed policy would add a new fee that would cost solar customers hundreds of dollars a year. For a typical residential household with between 3 kilowatts and 10 kilowatts of solar, this new $6.17 per kilowatt-hour monthly rider could add between $220 and $750 per year in new fees. * (Docket No. E-34, Sub 54, page 32)   *Calculation footnote (3kw x $6.17 x 12) = $220 and (10kw x $6.17 x 12) = $750 a year

    What wouldn’t NRLP’s proposal do?

    • No new energy efficiency programs, which could save customers money and help offset the proposed rate increases.

    • No explicit plans to take advantage of new federal clean energy incentives, which can help the utility reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and support individuals by providing tax credits for energy efficiency, solar and battery installations.

      • What can you do?

      • Speak out at a public hearing held by the NC Utilities Commission on Tuesday, May 23 at 7 p.m. at the Watauga County Courthouse.  Join us at the hearing! Sign up for details and updates.


      Information about utilities commission and public hearings:

      What is a utilities commission?

    What is a public hearing?

    • New River Light and Power is regulated by the state utilities commission and they want to hear from customers! The North Carolina Utilities Commission holds public hearings to hear from people like you about how a utility’s proposal will impact them. The NC Utilities Commission’s hearing for New River Light and Power will be held on Tuesday, May 23 at 7 p.m. at the Watauga County Courthouse.

    Who can attend?

    • Anyone can attend!

    • You can speak at the hearing if you are a customer of the utility, including direct residential customers or business owners within New River Light & Powers territory. Students, faculty and staff of Appalachian State University may also attend.

    What should I talk about?

    • It’s most important that you share your personal story. Will this rate increase make it harder for you to pay your electricity bill? Do you have solar on your house or do you want to put solar on your house? Has your bill recently increased significantly because of the price of natural gas?

    • Above all, tell commissioners how the rate change and solar program will impact you personally.

    How do I know if I’m a New River Light & Power customer?

    • The easiest way is to check your electric bill. You can also look up their service territory.

    Additional questions?