Of those 4, TN is largely covered by TVA, which has a very generous credit for consumer solar generation–almost double what a ratepayer would pay for the same electricity. TVA says they hope consumer solar generation will keep them from having to build new plants. Even AL passed a law called “PAE” (Payment for Alternative Energy) that requires utilities to pay consumer generators at least 7 cents per kWh. Only South Dakota and MS have absolutely no provision for net metering.

The MS Public Service Commission sponsored a day of excellent presentations about net metering in the summer of 2011. There is a net metering docket on the PSC website (2011-AD-2). Commissioner Presley has always been in favor of net metering (along with the other 4 standards of the 2005 Energy Policy Act, none of which Entergy or MS Power “allowed” in the state: docket 2007-AD-201). But no progress has been made. The legislature introduced 9 net metering bills last year; none got out of committee.

Entergy follows the law in LA and supports net metering there. They have not voiced much opposition in MS lately. But MS Power executive Johnny Atherton said at a conference last year: Mississippi Power will “NEVER ALLOW NET METERING IN MISSISSIPPI.” And their press spokesperson, Cindy Duvall, continues to assert that “Mississippi doesn’t have enough sun.”

It’s up to you, as citizens, to fight this corporate control. Write or call your Public Service Commissioner and your state legislators.