Unnecessary City Fees Prohibited for Solar Installation

(State Capitol, Phoenix) With solar power panels becoming more prevalent throughout the state, Rep. Lucy Mason sought to ensure installation of the panels remains affordable. HB2615 requires permit fees assessed by local governments to recoup the cost associated with the charges. The bill was signed by the governor. "Solar power has a tremendous amount of potential for Arizonans." Mason, R-Prescott, said. "We needed to provide a set of universal rules for cities and counties to adopt that offers incentives to both developers and homeowners to take advantage of this technology." The federal government and local power suppliers offer tax incentives and rebates to offset the cost of installing expensive solar panels, which reduces the impact on the electrical grid. Permit fees charged by cities varied significantly, with some local governments charging $1,000 for the permits. HB2615 is one piece of Mason's efforts to increase solar power production and usage in Arizona.