Power Struggle: The Clash Between Musk and Buffett in Nevada’s

Solar Energy Business

By: Dinalyn M. Nepuscua

Bloomberg’s Musk vs. Buffett, a Solar War in the Desert Heats Up talks about the
plights of the residents of Nevada who have been affected by the PUC ruling which has
revised the State’s net metering program which usually benefits the residents but now it
has come to benefit Warren Buffet who owns Nevada Energy, a public utility in charge
of the net metering program. Prior to the new ruling, the residents of Nevada has
invested with solar panels with the end goal of saving money spent on electricity and to
help save the environment. This is where Elon Musk come into place where he is the
owner of SolarCity, one of the solar companies who is doing business in the State which
helps the residents to put up solar panels without any down payment. The basis of the
new ruling is that the Neveda Energy has realized that the residents are paying less
than what they should be paying and sometimes Neveda Energy has to pay the
residents more when the residents have generated power more than what they
consume. This then results to the loss of profit on the part of public utility. The effect of
the new ruling is that most of the residents in Nevada would be paying more in
electricity than what was originally envisioned when they put up the solar panels in the
hopes of saving money in the long run.
The main issue of the video is whether the new ruling should be reconsidered
and be made in favor of the residents and solar companies. This is because the new
ruling has adverse effect to the consumers as they would be paying more than what
they have expected to pay. It is the residents of Nevada who will be immensely affected
by this ruling and the environmental aspect has already been taken out of the equation.
Therefore, I would take the side of the residents of Nevada. My personal belief
dictates that it is better to side with the oppressed instead of siding with the power-
hungry individual. It must be noted that these residents are only collateral damage of
the singular intent of the ruling which is to generate more revenue and profit. I believe in
the principle of “Vox Populi” or the voice of the people shall be supreme especially in
times where the situation begs for a disparity between the rich and the poor, there being
an oppressor and the oppressed. As a result of the new ruling, many would be paying
increased rates of electricity bill and many have lost their job because solar companies
have started to pull-out in doing business in Nevada. All in all, the new ruling will have a
big impact on the economic and political aspect of Nevada. Hence, I think it is only wise
to say that reconsideration of the new ruling shall be granted.