"Indiana House Panel Advances Measure To Add Solar Power Fees"

"Indiana utilities are pressing state lawmakers to let them charge a monthly fee to customers who sell excess power from solar panels under a bill that has become a focal point in a battle between traditional and renewable energy companies.

An Indiana state House committee on Wednesday voted 9-4 to advance the bill, which would also give utilities some flexibility over what they pay for energy sold back to them. The bill, opposed by clean energy advocates, goes next to the full state House of Representatives.

Utilities say they were losing money in Indiana by paying higher-than-market rates to solar power generators under net metering rules introduced in 2011. At least 40 states have net metering laws, which allow solar power users to sell excess power back to the grid."

Tracy Rucinski reports for Reuters February 18, 2015.