2018 Conference

Individual Paper Presentation

Florida is widely known as the “sunshine state,” yet lags behind many other states in solar power production, particularly from residential solar. One of the theorized reasons for this is unfavorable regulations for residential solar put forth by local utilities trying to preserve their traditional business model of generating and distributing electricity. During considerable power outages following Hurricane Irma in 2017, residents with solar panels experiencing a power outage in Florida were not allowed to use their solar systems to power their homes. The rules restricting residential solar usage are implemented by the utilities with some variation, but stem from an outdated rule written by the Public Service Commission in 2007. While the rules were designed for safety reasons, new technology allows residents with solar systems to safely disconnect from the grid in order to power their homes during power outages. This outdated interconnection rule combined with misinformation from utilities to customers potentially contribute to lower solar adoption rates by residents in Florida.

The first phase of this research conducts an exploratory and descriptive analysis of interconnection rules that impact residential solar usage during power outages in the US using the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE). The second phase uses an empirical analysis to evaluate how variations in these regulations and exposure to power outages impact solar adoptions across states and over time. The goal of this study is to raise awareness to the public and policymakers about rules that may inhibit solar adoption by excluding usage at key times, and provide evidence that modernized interconnection rules can boost solar usage in the US.