Northport Lawyer Fights For Fair Pay For Excess Solar Energy
Northport Attorney Paul Whitehurst is taking on one of the most powerful political entities in the state - Alabama Power Company. He uses solar energy for most of the power for his law office on 22nd Street and sells his excess power to Alabama Power. Whitehurst has filed an appeal with a Montgomery court claiming inadequate pay by the company for that excess energy he sells back to the utility. He wants the court to order a hearing.
"The bottom line is I'm selling them way more power than I'm buying from them but in the end, I'm actually paying 50, 75 dollars a month for the privilege of essentially giving my power to them," Whitehurst told news partner ABC 3340.
Alabama Power says it does not comment on pending appeals with the Alabama Public Service Commission but on their solar power website they explain their procedures. "It is unlikely that you will be able to generate enough electricity for your home or small business through solar power alone. And that’s where we can help. All customers who operate their own generation interconnected to our system are subject to a rate rider called RGB to ensure they can still receive the reliability they have come to expect as a customer. This rate rider will help you understand your options for supplementary, back up and maintenance power."
The payments the company makes to customers with onsite solar generation are approved by the Public Service Commission in line with the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 according to the company.
Former Tuscaloosa City Council member and state legislator Cynthia Lee Almond is President of the PSC.
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