Arizona Solar Panel Regulation

Arizona goes solar learn about residential and commercial solar energy options and related regulations through a collaborative effort led by the arizona corporation commission and implemented by the regulated electric utilities in arizona.

Arizona solar panel regulation. Arizona law protects individual homeowners private property rights to solar access by dissolving any local covenant restriction or condition attached to a property deed that restricts the use of solar energy. The first was discussed in our previous blog on solar access rights. Arizona law prohibits hoas from outlawing the installation of solar panels. Some of the common restrictions that hoas and historic districts put on solar installations include requiring flush mounted panels prohibiting ground mounted solar panels requiring that rooftop installations aren t visible from the public right of way and using equipment that matches the color of the roof.

Courts have upheld this law. Notwithstanding any provision in the community documents an association shall not prohibit the installation or use of a solar energy device as defined in section 44 1761. These limitations cannot prohibit solar panels outright or effectively prohibit them by making solar too expensive or complicated to install. Under these new regulations solar customers of the above three utilities will no longer receive credits for the excess electricity.

Tucson electric power has identified 11 areas in its territory where customers may have difficulty winning approval for interconnecting to tep s grid where a circuit is saturated with solar. After a 5 year battle between solar installers and electric utilities the arizona corporation commission acc decided to get rid of net metering for the state s 3 privately owned utilities aps tucson electric power and uns electric replacing it instead with a value of solar methodology that it s said more accurately reflects the true cost of solar. While homeowner associations cannot prevent you from installing solar panels they can set reasonable rules you should follow during installation. This means that the average home requires a 7 31kw solar system to cover its power needs.

The average 2500 square foot home in arizona uses approximately 12 815 kwhs of power per year. Arizona corporation commission learn about the governing body that regulates the electricity rates and services of arizona public utilities. Last month arizona regulators concluded a closely watched proceeding on the value of solar by ending retail rate net metering and to the frustration of solar advocates siding with utility. This law sustained a legal challenge in 2000.

A maricopa county superior court judge ruled in favor of homeowners in a lawsuit filed by their homeowners association seeking to force the homeowners to remove roof top solar panels.