>My conclusion was that net metering ends up being a regressive tax on those who can't afford the upfront capital to install solar themselves. This is the trad

>My conclusion was that net metering ends up being a regressive tax on those who can't afford the upfront capital to install solar themselves. This is the traditional conclusion in the utility business, but I'd say it's also almost meaningless. By the exact same arguments, any kind of conservation winds up being a "regressive tax on those who can't afford the upfront capital", e.g. insulation, fancy windows, high efficiency HVAC. If I can afford a $2400 upfront cost to go above code on my HVAC unit, but it saves 100 a month, that savings is being subsidized by the people who can't afford it. The utility loses 100 a month in revenue but much less than that in costs, and the difference is picked up by the broader customer base. Hell, turning your thermostat settings up in the summer is a "regressive tax on those who can't handle the less comfortable temperature" by exactly the same argument.