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Olivia council adopts policy to pay solar bill credits at year-end
Summary
The council adopted a policy, following PUC review, to pay out solar-generated utility credits at the rates in effect when the credits were earned at the end of each calendar year, preventing customers from redeeming accumulated credits at later higher rates.
The Olivia City Council approved a utility policy directing the city to pay out utility bill credits for customers with solar or other renewable systems at the end of each calendar year, using the rates in effect when the credits were earned.
Staff said the draft policy—reviewed at the PUC level—aims to ensure uniform handling of customers who earn credits from their utility provider. City staff explained the policy prevents customers from “rolling over credits to cash them in at a higher rate that they didn't earn” and said the city would typically reconcile and pay credits at year-end; customers may also request credits during the year.
Pam, who presented the item, noted only one local customer currently qualifies and emphasized the council could change the policy later if circumstances warrant. The council moved to approve the policy and recorded the motion as carried.
The policy states staff will notify customers in writing before any future changes and reserves the city's right to perform an annual review and payout around November to account for rate changes. No changes to the city's power contract were reported at the meeting.
