State regulators have raised the rate Dominion Energy must pay independent solar providers.

Public Service Commissioners reversed a requirement that Dominion pay $21.12 per mega watt hour on 10-year contracts from 2020 to 2024 and $23.75 from 2025 to 2029.

Instead, it will pay $27.51 to $32.52 depending on the season and peak demand.

The commission is considering longer contracts.

Solar advocates say longer contracts help solar farms win financing and investors.

Dominion said this will raise ratepayers’ bills.

Advocates say solar can produce the clean power that SC Electric & Gas’s failed $9 billion nuclear project was supposed to produce at reduced costs.

Solar and environmental groups say the earlier ruling could have killed expansion of non-polluting solar farms.

Solar power advocates said this will be good for ratepayers in the future.

Advocates say requiring utilities to pay more helps solar grow, increases competition and ensures costs remain stable by reducing reliance on natural gas and other energy sources.

Solar advocates asked if regulators favored utilities over renewable energy.

Some have said they will work to replace commissioners more friendly to ratepayers than utilities.

Lawmakers will vote this year to fill 4 PSC seats but some lawmakers want more than 1 candidate recommended for each seat.

Commissioners said receiving more information changed their minds.

Commissioner Florence Belser who represents Lexington County said she found “enlightenment” from one consultant’s report.