"Solar Advocates Fight Utilities Over Grid Access"

"The solar power business is growing quickly in the U.S. More than 500,000 homeowners and businesses installed solar panels in just the first half of this year, according to a Solar Energy Industries Association report.

When people get electricity from the sun, they don't buy it from their local power company. But that utility still must have the generators and power lines to provide electricity when the sun is not shining. That's creating conflicts across the country.

At issue is something called "net metering" — a benefit designed to encourage homeowners to pay the upfront cost of installing solar. When the panels produce more electricity than the homeowner uses, the excess is pushed back to the grid where the local utility buys it. In some cases you can actually see the meter going in reverse."

Jeff Brady reports for NPR's All Things Considered September 25, 2014.

SEE ALSO:

"Taxes, Fees: the Worldwide Battle Between Utilities And Solar" (Reuters)

"Japan's Kyushu Electric Shuts Off Renewable Suppliers From Grid" (Reuters)