By Andrew Lemon ( March 30, 2018, 11:01 AM EDT) -- Rooftop solar panels allow consumers to reduce their utility bills by self-generating electricity that they would otherwise purchase from their electric utilities. Despite supportive government policy, solar panels have historically been prohibitively expensive for all but a few customers and utilities could safely ignore their presence in the marketplace. However, continued innovation has led to a gradual decrease in their costs. Today, companies like SolarCity and Vivant that offer consumers rooftop solar panels have emerged as serious competitors to electric utilities. Electric utilities, sometimes with the support of regulatory authorities, have responded with special pricing rules specifically for their customers who have installed rooftop solar panels....