King Fights to Protect Consumers Right to Pursue Clean Energy Independence

Statement

As some utility companies across the country attempt to discourage the growth of residential renewable energy sources that help people lower their energy bills, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) today spoke on the Senate floor in favor of an amendment they have filed to the comprehensive energy bill that would support free market competition in the energy industry and foster individual energy independence for families and businesses across America.

"Today, we still have central power plants. We still have wires. But we also have homes and businesses making their own electricity and storing their own electricity from that big nuclear fusion plant up in the sky. This is a good development. It empowers consumers. It empowers families. It provides competition. It strengthens the grid by making it more resilient because power is going in two directions. It saves money and, of course, it reduces our dependency on fossil fuels," Senator King said.

"This issue is very simple: it's fair compensation to the customers for the energy they produce or save and fair compensation to the utility for maintaining the grid. I know there are costs to the utility for maintaining the grid, and they've got to be fairly compensated. But the question is: what is the right number? Arbitrary, exorbitant fees that make the development of solar or storage unfeasible is not the right number," he continued.

Source