Protect solar consumers with new law

Arecent piece by David Pomerantz (“A deceptive attack on rooftop solar,” Feb. 21) in The Santa Fe New Mexican called proposals to adopt consumer protection regulations for New Mexico’s solar industry a “deceptive attack on rooftop solar.”

Nothing could be further from the truth. Proposals to adopt specific disclosures and oversight for solar providers pending at the New Mexico Legislature will benefit consumers and the solar industry. In fact, many representatives of the solar industry who actually market rooftop solar in New Mexico have endorsed these proposals. Why? Because a uniform and minimum set of disclosures and regulations will help create a market that customers can have some confidence in, and “rogue” providers who fail to provide reasonable disclosures and consumer protections will be eliminated.

I recently made a presentation to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission and the New Mexico Senate Committee on Corporations that summarized the key issues and recommendations for consumer protections for solar providers based on my report that was supported by several state consumer advocate organizations. During my presentation at the Legislature, I heard several state representatives recite complaints that they had received from their constituents that reflected potentially shady practices and improper installations.

Consumers might be interested in solar power to help the environment or simply to save money on their electric bills. Whether purchased or leased, the consumer is making a significant financial commitment (over $20,000 in most cases) with the expectation that savings on utility bills will offset all or a large portion of the monthly cost of the system. Because of its complexities and the high degree of uncertainty about savings on the customer’s electric bill and the potential for marketing abuses, California, Nevada and Arizona have adopted specific consumer protection requirements imposed on solar companies.

Pomerantz’s opposition to reasonable consumer protections is based on his conclusion that such protections would “undermine the rooftop solar industry’s growth,” and he accuses utilities from pursuing a “national plot” to “kill rooftop solar.” He offers no facts to support these claims. Reasonable consumer protections are applicable to many industries that require customers to enter into long-term financial commitments or that may require an important consideration when selling their home in the future.

Let’s stop the rhetoric and talk about the substance of the proposed legislation. Why would environmental organizations or even reputable solar providers oppose the obligation to provide important consumer disclosures in a uniform manner? Or that would require solar installers to ensure that their local building code and utility permits are in order so that installation can be done safely and reliably? Finally, while reasonable folks can disagree about specific language in a pending bill, there is no place for unsubstantiated claims and hyperbole. Haven’t we had enough “fake news” and “alternative facts?”

Barbara R. Alexander has over 30 years experience as a consumer advocate and has represented consumers at the state and national level. She is the lead author of Solar Power on the Roof and in the Neighborhood: Recommendations for Consumer Protection Policies (March 2016). She resides in Maine.