Southern Nevada solar customers’ energy bills will face an extra fee beginning in April.

Over 144,000 Nevada homes have solar panels, according to Solar Energy Industries Association Solar Market Insight report. Those customers, beginning April 16, will see around a $20 increase in their utility bills with the NV Energy’s new demand charge.

On Tuesday, the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada approved NV Energy’s newest proposal: a mandatory daily demand charge for residential and small commercial customers. This is a first-of-its kind fee, with NV Energy becoming the first investor-owned utility to impose a mandatory demand charge on residential and small commercial customers.

How does the demand charge work?

Typically, ratepayers are charged per kilowatt hour or kWh. The demand char

See Full Page