Arkansas

Arkansas' New Net-Metering Policy: Solar Industry vs. Utilities

Published

1 year ago

September 23, 2024

Arkansas' New Net-Metering Policy: Solar Industry vs. Utilities

Austin Taylor, an installer with Delta Solar of Little Rock, performed maintenance tasks last week on an array that provides 10% of the power used by the city of England.

To Douglas Hutchings, the new net-metering credit for excess solar power that customers put onto the grid simply gives most of that power’s value to the customer’s utility company.

To Heather Kendrick, the new net-metering policy, mandated by state law for new solar arrays connected to the grid after Sept. 30, simply corrects a too-generous “subsidy” to solar owners.

It may not surprise you that Kendrick is a spokesperson for the state’s largest electric utility, Entergy Arkansas, and Hutchings is president of a solar developer, Delta Solar of Little Rock.

Solar power systems that have their interconnection documents in place by Sept. 30 are granted legacy status and will be “grandfathered in” at the old net-metering credit rate. That is basically the retail rate that consumers pay for electricity on their monthly bills, slightly over 10 cents per kilowatt-hour.

For systems that miss the deadline, owners’ credit will be about 4 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The change benefits power companies, not consumers or the environment, said Hutchings, whose company expects to lose its market for solar arrays on the farm. He said the state Public Service Commission, which oversees utilities in Arkansas, can’t get utilities to prove that an attractive net-metering credit gives array owners too much.

Kendrick told Arkansas Business that Entergy Arkansas’ current rates are 22% below the national average, and the investor-owned company is proud of that. “Our work to keep our rates more affordable has produced millions in savings for the Arkansas schools we serve and for our other customers,” she said.

Entergy favors net metering, she said, but the policy change “helps restore economic fairness for all customers who receive service,” those with and without net metering.

“It is unfair and inappropriate for all other customers to be forced to subsidize net-metering facilities through utility rates, nor require customers to pay a premium because those resources cannot be depended on to serve other customers,” Kendrick said.

In response, Hutchings suggested a serious look at comments on the PSC’s net-metering dockets.

“Something like five paid utility people talk and then 95 people ask them to provide data to back up their claims,” he said. “The data is never produced, so we can’t really have a productive conversation about what policies achieve the right balance of rewarding utilities for their investments while allowing Arkansans to claim some independence on how they produce and consume electricity.”

Hutchings said he’s seen data showing that demand-metered customers (generally commercial accounts) pay more than their fair share of infrastructure and maintenance costs even under the current retail net-metering rate. “Personally, I would love to see a lot more consumer protection on the residential side.”

Delta Solar has fewer than 25 employees. “We have always grown very intentionally with the goal of never having to negatively adjust to temporary disruptions,” Hutchings said. That served the company well when net-metering rules fell into limbo two years ago and Delta “couldn’t, in good faith, sell someone a solar array until there was clarity.”

He calculates the company would have doubled in size without the net-metering rule change.

Entergy companies have about 2,700 employees in Arkansas, and the utility clearly sees the value of the solar power it generates itself.

The utility has 281 megawatts of solar generation in place, 530 megawatts scheduled to come online later this year, and another 400 megawatts approved to start generating in 2025 “with more planned in the coming years,” Kendrick said.

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Arkansas

George Dunklin’s legacy of conservation in Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Published

7 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

George Dunklin’s legacy of conservation in Arkansas | Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Rex Nelson

[email protected]

Rex Nelson has been senior editor and columnist at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since 2017, and he has a biweekly podcast called “Southern Fried.”

After graduating from Ouachita Baptist University in 1981, he was a sportswriter for the Arkansas Democrat for a year before becoming editor of Arkadelphia’s Daily Siftings Herald. He was the youngest editor of a daily in Arkansas at age 23. Rex was then news and sports director at KVRC-KDEL from 1983-1985.

He returned to the Democrat as assistant sports editor in 1985. From 1986-1989, he was its Washington correspondent. He left to be Jackson T. Stephens’ consultant.

Rex became the Democrat-Gazette’s first political editor in 1992, but left in 1996 to join then-Gov. Mike Huckabee’s office. He also served from 2005-09 in the administration of President George W. Bush.

From 2009-2018, he worked stints at the Communications Group, Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities, and Simmons First National Corp.

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Arkansas

Hogs Look to Rebound After Midweek Split with Arkansas State

Published

19 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Hogs Look to Rebound After Midweek Split with Arkansas State

Arkansas got a quick reminder this week that baseball doesn’t hand out easy wins.

The Razorbacks head into the weekend after splitting a midweek set with Arkansas State, a two-game stretch that showed both the highs and lows of early season baseball.

Now, the Hogs turn the page and prepare to host UT Arlington in a three-game series at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Arkansas enters the weekend 7-2 overall. UT Arlington comes in at 2-6. First pitch Friday is set for 3 p.m., with Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Friday’s game will stream on SEC Network+.

Midweek Split Shows Two Sides of Arkansas

The midweek matchup with Arkansas State didn’t go the way the Razorbacks expected at first. In Game 1, Arkansas State won 12-4. It marked the first loss to the Red Wolves in program history.

The Hogs struggled on the mound and couldn’t keep pace as Arkansas State built separation. The result was a reminder that even in-state games can turn quickly if things slip early.

But 24 hours later, Arkansas looked like a different team.

In Game 2, the Razorbacks leaned on dominant pitching and edged Arkansas State 1-0 in a tight contest. It was the kind of bounce-back performance coaches want to see after a tough loss.

The split left Arkansas with lessons on both sides — how quickly things can unravel and how steady pitching can win a game even when runs are hard to find.

Home Comfort at Baum-Walker Stadium

Now the Razorbacks return to Baum-Walker Stadium looking to build momentum.

The Hogs have been strong at home and will try to use that setting to steady the ship after the midweek ups and downs. Playing in Fayetteville gives Arkansas a familiar environment and a chance to settle into its routine.

UT Arlington, meanwhile, is coming off a rough stretch. The Mavericks lost their midweek game to Dallas Baptist 6-1 and were swept in a weekend series against Lamar after winning the opener 10-2 before dropping the next two games.

Arkansas has the edge historically, leading the all-time series 7-1. The teams haven’t met since 2006, when the Razorbacks swept a series in Honolulu. This will be the first time UT Arlington plays in Fayetteville.

Pitching Matchups to Watch

The Hogs will roll out a strong weekend rotation.

Friday’s starter is right-hander Gabe Gaeckle (1-0, 1.93 ERA). He’ll face UT Arlington right-hander Caylon Dygert (0-0, 1.80 ERA). That matchup could set the tone for the series opener.

On Saturday, left-hander Hunter Dietz (0-1, 9.00 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Arkansas against Dylan Skolfield (0-2, 6.48 ERA) for the Mavericks.

Sunday’s game will feature left-hander Colin Fisher (1-0, 0.00 ERA) for the Razorbacks. UT Arlington has not yet named a starter for the series finale.

After seeing how important pitching was in the 1-0 win over Arkansas State, Arkansas will look for more steady outings from its starters and bullpen.

Finding Consistency Early

Through nine games, the Hogs have shown flashes of strong offense and solid pitching. But the midweek split showed that consistency is still forming.

The loss to Arkansas State proved that mistakes can pile up fast. The narrow win that followed showed that disciplined pitching and defense can close out tight games.

This weekend gives Arkansas another chance to sharpen its approach before the schedule gets tougher later in the season.

For fans, the path to watching is simple. Friday’s game streams on SEC Network+, and radio coverage will be available in Fayetteville on 92.1 FM and AM 1590, along with other affiliates across the state.

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Arkansas

No. 1 Arkansas leads SEC Indoor after first day finals

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

No. 1 Arkansas leads SEC Indoor after first day finals

Shawn Price
February 26, 2026

COLLEGE STATION – A victory in the 5,000m by Nick Busienei and third place in the distance medley relay had No. 1 Arkansas leading the team score with 18 points on the first day of the SEC Indoor Championships.

The Razorbacks produced 12 of those points in the 5,000m as Nick Busienei won the race in a meet record of 13;31.86, which ranks him No. 7 on the UA all-time list. Busienei bettered the meet record of 13:37.52 set by Razorback Patrick Kiprop in 2025.

James Sankei added two more points in placing seventh with a time of 13:44.57.

Dating back to 1992 when Arkansas competed in its first SEC Indoor meet, Busienei claimed the 21st title for the program and is the 14th Razorback to win the indoor 5,000m.

Six more points were added in the distance medley relay as Arkansas posted a time of 9:30.84 from the foursome of Owan Logorodi (2:58.46), Zyaire Nuriddin (46.51), Julian Carter (1:49.10), and Brian Masai (3:56.77).

South Carolina won the race in 9:30.08 with Ole Miss runner-up in 9:30.34. Florida originally placed third in 9:30.37 but was disqualified for spiking the baton at the conclusion of the race.

Jelani Watkins led the Razorback crew in the 200m prelims as three Arkansas sprinters advanced to the final. Watkins produced an indoor career best of 20.42 rank second overall to a 20.38 by Florida’s Wayna McCoy. Watkins remains No. 2 on the UA all-time list as he improved his previous time of 20.43.

Dapriest Hogans followed with a 20.63 that equaled his career best and his No. 8 ranking on the UA all-time list. Tevijon Williams clocked 20.65 to reach the final where 20.71 was the cutoff time. Jamarion Stubbs ran 20.87 in his prelim heat.

Cooper Williams completed the first day of the heptathlon in sixth place with 2,862 points. He started with a 7.43 in the 60m (736), then added a 21-9.5 (6.64) long jump (729). In the shot put, a mark of 36-8.25 (11.18) picked up 557 points. Williams wrapped up day one by topping the field in the high jump with a clearance of 6-8.25 for 840 points.

Link Lindsey placed 15 in the long jump with a mark of 23-6.75 (7.18).

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