What is happening
In December 2020, the Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) Board of Directors proposed several policies that make it harder for members to go solar:
Demand charges
A demand charge is a charge on your electric bill that you pay regardless of how much electricity you buy. Demand charges limit how much you can save by going solar. You can’t use less electricity, or generate your own, to lower a demand charge.
Time-of-use billing
Under time of use billing, the amount you’ll pay for electricity varies depending on the time of day. All members with solar – even those who already had it before the board voted – will be forced onto time-of-use rates.
Solar fees
PEC members who want to install solar will now have to pay a $650 fee to do so. This is designed to discourage PEC members from going solar.
PEC members – even those who already have solar and will now have their rates changed – weren’t consulted on this significant change.
