SRP wants to raise rates for all customers, plus impose penalties on solar and electric car users. We are concerned that residents and businesses in Fountain Hills are not fully aware of these changes, including a 3.9 percent general increase.

SRP’s monthly service charge of $17… already one of the highest in the region … is set to become $20. They propose an average $50/month charge to new or resale solar customers.

(See 92-page explanation, http://www.srpnet.com/prices/priceprocess/pdfx/Review.pdf).

Groups as diverse as Barry Goldwater’s T.U.S.K. (http://dontkillsolar.com/tusk/) and the Sierra Club have united in solid opposition to SRP’s attack on solar.

SRP should honor the property rights of solar energy-generating customers who chose to add value to their homes by installing rooftop panels. They will hurt people selling or purchasing homes with solar immediately. Potential buyers would face around $50/month automatically.

We have the impression that SRP is penalizing people for using less energy. Will they start charging winter visitors for the energy they don't use?

Solar customers pay the same monthly fee … which is not related to usage … that everyone pays for transmission and infrastructure. They generate energy that is then sold by SRP to others at a higher rate than they are reimbursed. (Customers pay approximately 10 cents/kWh; SRP pays solar-generating customers 4 cents/kWh, including a reduction SRP takes for scheduling, system control and dispatch services.)

The town is planning no-cost solar parking shades at our civic center. This could jeopardize that project. Also, it appears we live in an area that cannot vote for the board, yet they are described as a publicly-elected body. Do we vote, and if not, why? We have asked.

(See map http://www.srpnet.com/about/map.aspx)

Please email ombuds@srpnet.com and/or attend either the 2/9 or 2/26 public meetings, 9:30AM, SRP PERA Club, 1E. Continental Drive, Tempe.