The rebate program was part of the state’s Renewable Energy Standard authorized by voters in 2008. It was intended to jump-start solar energy in the Show-Me state by requiring utilities to provide a customer rebate to ratepayers who installed rooftop panels.

Investor-owned utilities must generate 15 percent of their power from renewables by 2021 under the RES, but the law bars rates from rising more than 1 percent due to compliance with the law.

The utilities said last year the solar rebates would push their renewable plans past that cap. In November, the PSC approved agreements between them, ratepayer groups and other solar industry players placing caps on the rebates.

In the St. Louis area, Ameren Missouri’s November agreement stipulated it would pay up to $91.9 million in solar rebates. Within a month, the last $50 million worth were spoken for, and new rebates have been on hold since the end of December. The utility only pays rebates once the solar panels are installed, and projects must be complete by the end of this month to qualify for the full rebate.

Ameren has asked the commission to suspend its rebates indefinitely once it pays the remainder to customers completing solar installations.