Lawmakers in Lansing say they want to end the energy monopoly in the state.
Net metering lets people who produce their own renewable energy – like solar – get hooked up to the public-utility power grid. They can use the power they make at any time PLUS they can essentially sell the energy they don’t use to the utility.
Some of the bills focus on removing barriers to net metering. One bill would get rid of caps on how much energy you can produce. Another would ensure people who put energy onto the grid are fairly compensated.
Representative Scott Dianda is a bill sponsor.
“We have to get the freedom to the consumers. We are paying too heavy of a price for energy in Michigan.”
Democratic Representative Yousef Rabhi is a bill sponsor. He says this is good for the environment because it encourages people to use clean energy.
“So we can breathe clean air, drink clean water, and ensure that our communities are safer and healthier as a result.”
Republican Representative Gary Glenn is a bill sponsor. He says he knows the utilities probably won’t like these bills.
“They demand that all the eggs be put in two monopoly baskets. And I think that’s a bad move for our state to go in from a standpoint of diversity and reliability because we don’t want everybody to be dependent on their grid.”
Glenn says the bills will get a committee hearing in two weeks.