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Pella Cooperative Electric has withdrawn a proposed fee for new solar and wind customers who connect with its distribution system.

The change was announced after complaints that the $85 monthly charge discouraged the use of green energy. According to Pella Cooperative, a few of their members had appealed the charges to the Iowa Utilities Board and Consumer Advocate’s office, citing unfair or discriminatory pricing.

CEO of Pella Cooperative John Smith tells KNIA/KRLS News they aim to ensure that every one of their members is treated fairly, and that the claims were untrue.

“We had tried to install or put a tariff into place that would change the way we would bill for energy,” Smith says. “It primarily affected those people that don’t buy 100% of their energy from us that are supplementing that through a solar or alternative energy system.”

He says they decided to withdraw the proposed increase until they can better educate their customers and the community about recovery costs.

“We’re going to go back and review again and revisit it and make sure what we are trying to do is going to be accomplished in a fair and equitable fashion for all the members, not just one classifcation,” Smith says. “Fairness and equality is what we’re striving for.”

Many statewide organizations were opposed to the change as well, citing it would only hurt the growth of renewable energy production in the state.