The Public Utilities Commission of Nevada (PUCN) has released a draft order that could make rooftop solar installations more expensive for residents across the state, drawing criticism from solar industry advocates.
Wil Gehl, Intermountain West Regional senior manager for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), voiced strong opposition to the draft order. “The draft order issued by the Nevada PUC unfairly imposes a mandatory demand charge on all residential customers in southern Nevada and rewrites the rules for new solar customers in northern Nevada,” Gehl said. “It contradicts the legislature’s intent when it restored net metering in Nevada. This is a significant step backward that makes solar less accessible for Nevada families, and we urge the Commissioners to change course.”
Gehl further highlighted that the timing of the proposal could compound challenges for homeowners. “With the federal government abruptly ending its support of residential solar, Nevadans now face an even bigger hurdle to accessing one of the few ways to reduce their electricity bills,” he added. “The draft decision discourages private investment in reliable, affordable, clean energy at a time when the grid needs every electron it can get to power Nevada’s economy.”
The latest U.S. Solar Market Insight Q3 2025 report by SEIA and Wood Mackenzie shows that over 144,000 Nevada homes have solar installations, ranking the state third in residential solar capacity per capita nationwide.
Industry stakeholders are calling on the commission to reconsider the draft order and align its policies with efforts to expand renewable energy access while maintaining affordability for consumers.
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