Former PSC chairs debate opposite sides of solar legislation

Former PSC chairs debate opposite sides of solar legislation

BY BRUCE RITCHIE 02/03/2022 05:06 PM EST

TALLAHASSEE — A House subcommittee hearing Thursday advanced a bill that would reduce utility payments to owners of rooftop solar panels after hearing from two former Public Service Commission chairs on opposite sides of the hot controversy.

The details: The House Tourism, Infrastructure and Energy Subcommittee voted 13-3 to advance FL HB 741(22R) during a stormy first hearing on the House bill. Rep. Brad Drake (R-Eucheeanna), subcommittee chair, at one point asked the sergeant of arms to restore order after some audience members objected to being told there was not enough time to hear from them.

Two former PSC chairs, Lisa Edgar, who spoke for the solar "net metering" bill requested by Florida Power & Light Co., and Leon Jacobs, who spoke against the bill, both told POLITICO they were not representing any group or business on the issue. But both have remained involved in energy issues since leaving the PSC.

Edgar, an associate law professor at the University of Florida, helped prepare a 2020 report on the net metering issue for Energy Fairness that called on Florida to eliminate what it says are subsidies for solar owners.

The Orlando Sentinel reported last month that Energy Fairness received substantial funding from political operatives associated with Florida Power & Light Co. and "ghost" candidates in 2020 political races.

Edgar, who served on the PSC from 2005 to 2017, told POLITICO on Thursday said she didn't know who contributes to Energy Fairness or paid for the 2020 report. She said she hasn't been paid to work on the issue since the report was completed. Energy Fairness confirmed to POLITICO that it paid for the report.

"I actually care about this issue," Edgar said. "I want it to work, and want it to work in a way that it will work for a very long time."

Jacobs, who is president of the board of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, told POLITICO he isn't representing the group or anyone else on energy issues. He was on the PSC from 1998 to 2002.

He said he represented environmental groups and the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association in court and PSC proceedings up until about 2015.

Jacobs said he has recently taken on Infiniblaze as a client but hasn't begun doing work for them. The company, which Jacobs said is launching in Florida, says it finances and operates "advanced climate resiliency centers" that serve minority communities.

Edgar told the subcommittee that the net metering rule that requires utilities to pay more to solar customers is "outdated" and creates a "subsidy" that is paid by customers without solar.

"Basically what we have today is an example 20th century regulation for 21st century technology," Edgar said.

Jacobs told the subcommittee members they had dove into the "deep well of utility rate-making" and that base electricity rates cover those fixed costs that are being called a subsidy.

"Tell me where in any neighborhood where they run a new line to a house to do solar? That line has been there the whole time," he said.

What happens next: Both the House and Senate versions of the bill have two more committee hearings before they reach the floor of their chambers.