Upending North Carolina's Longstanding Energy Policy

Solar power producers want customer access

Apr 26, 2011 - Green energy advocates are pushing for a change in state law to allow solar power producers to sell electricity directly to homeowners and businesses.

Such a change would upend North Carolina's longstanding energy policy, which doesn't let consumers choose their electricity provider. The proposal is opposed by the politically powerful electric utilities in the state that don't want to lose customers and sales revenue.

Customers today can buy electricity only from the power supplier in their region, which for most people in the state means Duke Energy, Progress Energy, rural electric cooperatives or municipal power agencies. {continued}