Darrell Boggess installed solar panels to supplement his electric consumption on his home east of Bloomington, Ind. last year. The new panels are on his roof and he has had a solar heated furnace for nearly 30 years, pictured at right, that supplements his homes heat during the winter months on Friday, January 16, 2015. Chris Howell | Herald-Times
With the sun on his shoulders and frosty grass crunching under his feet, Darrell Boggess walked to the back of his house Friday to take a look at his electrical meter. Just as he predicted, it was running backward.
"I love that," he said.
Boggess participates in Duke Energy's net metering program. When the solar panels on the roof of his home generate more energy than he needs, the excess goes out onto the power grid for others to use.
"My electrons are going out to my neighbors, and they're using my solar energy," he said.
In return, Duke Energy credits him for the power he's generating. For Boggess, it's a great program, but Indiana's utility companies don't think it's fair. And there's a bill in the Indiana General Assembly this session they feel will address the issue. Some, however, say it will effectively end net metering.
Rep. Eric Koch, R-Bedford, authored House Bill 1320, which would amend Indiana Code concerning utilities. The bill has been referred to the utilities, energy and telecommunications committee, of which Koch is chairman.
"The purpose of the bill is to promote and grow net metering," Koch said.
Rep. Matt Pierce, D-Bloomington, is a member of the committee that will review the legislation. He said from what he's seen of the bill, it appears to do the opposite.
"It’s a very complicated bill, but it seems it would effectively end net metering by lowering the credit so that it’s no longer a good economic investment," he said.
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