An El Paso, Texas, homeowner says a new rooftop solar fee turned what had been a roughly $30 spring electric bill into a $117 surprise.
The dispute is drawing attention to a broader question: how utility pricing decisions can undercut households that turned to solar to lower their energy costs and reduce pollution.
What happened?
According to El Paso Matters, resident Jon Muir, who installed rooftop solar in 2022, said his latest electric bill was nearly four times higher than he expected because of a new charge from El Paso Electric.
“For years, I’ve been used to seeing $30 electric bills during the winter and spring because my solar panels offset most of my energy use,” Muir said…