MADISON, Wis. — The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin on Aug. 28 approved modifications to Wisconsin Power and Light’s (WPL) community solar pilot that reserve subscription blocks for first‑time homebuyers and low‑to‑moderate‑income (LMI) customers, lengthen the reservation period and require specific initial outreach language.

The changes implement a directive the commission issued in WPL’s last rate case (docket 6680‑UR‑124) and respond to a requirement in that order that WPL file a tariff modification by Dec. 31, 2024, to expand access for LMI customers.

Commission Chairperson Summer Strand led the discussion and thanked staff and the utility, saying, “I really appreciate staff’s work on this docket and also extend a big thank you to Alliant for developing a revised community solar program that is substantive and responsive to the commission’s directive.” The commission approved the application with conditions consistent with the discussion.

Under the approved changes, WPL will replace prior residential reservations with reserve subscription blocks for two groups: first‑time homebuyers and LMI customers. For first‑time homebuyers, the tariff reserves nameplate capacity equal to the greater of 5% of available subscription blocks or 50 kilowatts. For LMI customers, the tariff reserves the greater of 25% of available subscription blocks or 250 kilowatts. Reserved blocks will be held for eligible subscribers for a set period following implementation and then released if unused.

Commission staff had recommended several possible modifications related to eligibility, deposits and fees, reporting for unsubscribed blocks, outreach language and whether to keep the program’s pilot status. The commission directed three specific changes: expand eligibility for the LMI set‑aside so participants who receive benefits from the Keep Wisconsin Warm and Cool Fund, Heat for Heroes and Focus on Energy income‑qualified rebates are eligible; require WPL to include language about solar production variability in initial outreach materials; and extend the reservation period for reserved blocks from six months to 12 months. The commissioners voted to keep the program’s pilot status in place for now, so the commission can revisit outcomes in future proceedings.

On fees, the commission decided not to require WPL to provide a payment plan for the upfront subscription fee and administrative charge at this time, citing uncertainty about whether the fees are an actual barrier to enrollment and preferring to preserve opportunities to revisit the issue once program data are available. The commission also declined staff’s proposed requirement to report enrollment counts at months three and six of the reservation period, saying staff can use other data‑request tools if needed.

Commissioners said they wanted the changes to improve access while preserving the utility’s ability to administer the pilot and to allow the commission to evaluate program performance over time.

The commission approved the motion to adopt the proposed adjustments consistent with the discussion; the vote was recorded as unanimous.

Looking ahead, commissioners said they expect to monitor enrollment and outreach results and reconsider fees or permanence of the program in later reviews or the next rate case if needed.