Residents of Nova Scotia with existing solar panels will continue to be allowed to sell excess energy to the grid.
Among other things, the amendments to the Electricity Act will allow Nova Scotia Power’s customers who use solar energy to balance their electricity bills to zero without penalties, but they cannot be compensated for energy produced outside of that.
However, during the third reading of the bill on Wednesday, Secretary of Natural Resources and Renewable Energy Tori Rushton told lawmakers that his department would grant the right to existing solar customers.
“It was never intended to take that away,” Rushton said in an interview.
“It was good in terms of regulations and legislation when it took place, so we really didn’t want to punish them anymore.
Tori Rushton is Nova Scotia’s Secretary of Natural Resources and Renewables. (Robert Short / CBC)
However, Rushton said the solar program was never intended to be profitable for customers. He said that this is only a small group of people who receive discount checks from Nova Scotia Power for the power they supply to the network.
Chris Shepard, who has a solar network at his home just outside Port Hawkesbury, said he was pleased that existing solar customers had been granted a reprieve, but said the right should be given to new solar consumers.
“I think it’s unfair,” he said.
“How do you justify the extra energy you create that Nova Scotia Power receives and sells, but the person who produces the energy doesn’t get paid for it?”
At a time when the government is seeking to increase renewable energy and use it as it moves to free the province from coal by 2030, Shepard said it is wise to compensate the people who are helping to make this happen.
“Basically, what they turn customers into for net metering is a non-profit organization,” he said.
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