Op-Ed: Don’t cut back on net metering

April 22, 2026  |  By Paul Lesure

I've lived on the same stretch of Vermont grid for 20 years. In that time, we've had multi-day outages roughly every three years. When the lights went out, we sat in the dark, tossed out a portion of the food from the refrigerator, and waited.

But things have changed at my house. 

Now, my solar and battery storage keep the lights on during outages. But the bigger benefit is what my system does when the grid is up: it minimizes draw during peak hours, reducing stress on local infrastructure. When the sun is out and my batteries are full, it sends power back to the grid, displacing costlier and dirtier utility resources. 

All of this is possible because of Vermont’s net metering program. That’s why I’m disappointed to see the Department of Public Service recommending cutting the program again, and if the past is any indication, the Public Utility Commission will likely follow through this summer. To be clear, this program benefits all Vermonters, whether or not they have solar panels on their homes or businesses. 

Let’s start with jobs. Solar in Vermont doesn’t just mean work for people installing panels. It also creates jobs for excavators, electricians, carpenters, accountants, project managers, marketers, truck drivers and warehouse managers. These jobs are spread throughout the state and touch almost every part of our economy. The wages earned here stay in Vermont. They help pay for groceries, rent, mortgages and support local businesses. Money spent on imported fuels doesn’t do that. The dollars we send to oil companies, gas stations, and out-of-state power generators leave Vermont. 

For households that do invest, the math works the same way, more directly. Net metering allowed me to electrify my life: an EV to get around, heat pumps to keep us warm in winter, and batteries in the basement for those outages. Every month, the dollars that used to go to the oil company, the gas station, and the utility stay closer to home. I spend them at Vermont businesses, with Vermont neighbors. That's not a side benefit of the energy transition. That's the whole point. 

There’s something the PUC regularly overlooks. My system, and thousands like it, don’t just take from the grid—they give back. Distributed solar with storage lowers peak demand, delays the need for costly grid upgrades, and helps protect against the outages that rural Vermonters know so well. If one system fails during a storm, the others keep running. That’s how a distributed network should work.

I’ve worked in Vermont’s renewable energy industry for over 10 years and now I chair the board of Renewable Energy Vermont, so I’m not just an outsider looking in. I do this work because I  believe in what it can achieve: making our energy system stronger and fairer. 

Since 2017, the PUC has cut net metering compensation several times. Each cut makes it take longer to earn back the investment and makes the program less accessible, especially for working- and middle-class Vermonters who need stable energy costs the most.

Here’s what I wish the PUC and Department of Public Service would do instead. Instead of cutting compensation again, they could create a program to help low- and middle-income Vermonters go solar. Every rate cut makes it harder for most families to afford, leaving only higher-income households able to participate. Cutting compensation doesn’t make net metering fairer—it makes it less fair. The program should be open to everyone, not just those who can already afford it. After talking with hundreds of Vermonters at their kitchen table about solar, I  know the original program made it possible for people from all backgrounds to join in. That’s what made it special. It democratized our energy sources. 

Vermonters know the value of buying local in every part of our economy. We pay a bit more for local beer, cheese, crafts, and of course, syrup because we see the benefits—jobs, community character, and money staying in our towns. We support local because it supports us in return. Local energy works the same way. Every net-metered solar array and battery is owned by a Vermonter, makes power here, keeps money in the state, and strengthens the grid for everyone. That’s something we should protect. 

As the PUC gets ready to make more changes, I hope the commission and the legislature will support local energy. Please don’t cut it back any further. Let’s keep building on what works. 

If you agree, you can send a comment to puc.clerk@vermont.gov by May 1 to support net metering and local solar.

The former president of Green Mountain Solar, a Vermont clean energy company, Paul Lesure chairs the board of Renewable Energy Vermont. He lives in Hinesburg