New Poll People of Colorado Oppose Xcel Energy Proposed Changes to Net-Metering

According to a new poll, Colorado residents support solar net metering, a standard policy in dozens of states across the country, but one that has been a bone of contention with Xcel Energy, the state’s largest power provider. Net metering is the process in which homeowners and businesses with solar panel systems are credited with the retail rate of electricity for any excess power they send back to the grid. In other words, it’s basically the same as if they had cut their electricity use by that amount. The bipartisan research team of Public Opinion Strategies and Keating Research recently completed the survey of 400 voters throughout Colorado regarding their perceptions of a proposed change to net metering for rooftop solar systems. The survey finds strong and widespread support for the practice of net metering, and a rejection of the changes proposed by Xcel Energy. Opposition to the proposal is broad based and widespread, but is particularly strong among Xcel’s own customers. Specifically, the survey found nearly four in five Colorado voters (78 percent) support the practice of net metering. Survey respondents received a brief, neutral explanation of net metering in order to ensure all respondents had the same level of information on the topic. Only 11 percent of the state’s electorate indicate opposition to the policy, with a mere 5 percent strongly opposed, and another one in ten (11 percent) unsure of their views on this policy. Support for net metering is just as strong among Xcel Energy customers (79 percent support). In fact, support exceeds 70 percent in every region of the state and exceeds 60 percent with every single key sub group of voters that were examined. Conversely, voters expressed adamant opposition to Xcel Energy’s proposal to change net metering and reduce the credit it provides to rooftop solar energy producers. For its part, Xcel Energy defends it proposal to reduce solar subsidies. The problem, said David Eves, chief executive officer of the utility’s Colorado subsidiary, is that the benefits of rooftop solar do not cover the program’s costs. “This is not about putting the brakes on solar,” Eves said. “It’s about having an honest discussion about costs and benefits.” If changes aren’t made, however, Xcel said it wants to cut back its Solar Reward program to 6 megawatts of new solar arrays from a planned 36 megawatts.