Committee puts solar power bill on hold in surprise vote

A House committee unexpectedly tabled Tuesday a "net metering" bill that worried solar power advocates, but the committee chairman said it could return.

The House Energy and Environment Committee's 9-7 vote put the bill on hold, but Rep. Dennis Hedke, R-Wichita, said it still "can come off the table" at some point.

"The vote surprised me, and we were short a couple of people who probably would have voted against the motion to table," said Hedke, the committee chairman.

House Bill 2458 would end net metering, which requires utility companies to compensate homeowners with a one kilowatt credit for every one kilowatt they put back on the grid through solar panels or other means.

Utility companies testified for the bill, saying a lower level of compensation would be more fair because homeowners who generate some of their own electricity still benefit from the infrastructure of the energy grid.

Rep. Tom Moxley, R-Council Grove, said that may be a consideration for the state down the road, but private power generation by solar panels or other means is still rare and the amount of kilowatt credits utility companies are handing out is small.

"I think the upshot is, there's no pressing need for this bill," Moxley said.