SolarCity sues Arizona utility, says new rates harm solar
Reuters, March 3, 2015
SolarCity Corp on Monday sued Arizona utility Salt River Project over new electricity rates that the U.S. solar installer said penalizes residential customers who choose to put up solar panels.
The action is the latest in a protracted battle between rooftop solar companies and Arizona utilities over how traditional power providers will preserve revenue as larger numbers of customers go solar and pay less to their local utilities.
The lawsuit, filed in Arizona federal court, accuses the utility of violating antitrust laws, saying SRP is trying to “destroy the competitive threat” from solar installers.
In an emailed statement responding to the lawsuit, SRP said it is “confident that its new price plan will be determined to be appropriate and is confident that it will prevail in all such challenges to it.”