Siloam Springs utility commissioners direct staff to explore alternatives to current solar buyback policy

Siloam Springs utility commissioners voted Sept. 24 to send staff back to study alternatives to the city's current solar net‑metering policy.

A staff presentation explained the city's avoided‑cost ("buy‑all/sell‑all") approach and how it differs from the one‑to‑one buyback that grandfathered early adopters. After discussion about revenue impacts, system limits and possible models such as tiered rates or a city‑scale floating array, a commissioner moved to ask staff to gather options and cost estimates; the motion passed unanimously.

Phil, an electric department staff member who led the presentation, said the city currently has 53 rooftop solar customers with about 387 kW of capacity and that roughly 40 customers remain grandfathered on the older one‑to‑one credit policy. "We have right at 40 customers who are grandfathered in under the old policy," Phil said during the presentation.

Commissioners asked staff to return with (1) estimated capital or equipment upgrades needed to accept more rooftop solar without causing equipment failures, (2) a penalty analysis tied to the Grand River Dam Authority's (GRDA) interconnection limit, and (3) revenue projections for community‑scale options such as a floating solar array. The motion instructs staff to present a range of options rather than to select a single path forward.

The vote sends the matter back to staff for cost estimates and feasibility analysis; commissioners did not adopt a specific policy change at the meeting.