California has long been a national leader on clean energy and climate change. That’s why it’s such a disappointment to see the California Public Utilities Commission considering a proposal it claims will promote equity, when in fact the changes would make it harder for residents, businesses, houses of worship and other establishments to afford rooftop solar.
The proposal, set for a decision in the coming weeks, would dramatically weaken the state’s popular net energy metering program, cutting the credits on electric bills for the excess power generated by rooftop solar systems by up to 80%. It would also require solar owners in many communities to pay utilities a monthly “grid participation charge” averaging $48, which would be the highest such fees in the nation.
We are not opposed to modernizing solar incentives as the market changes. The utilities commission says changes are necessary to ensure that solar customers are doing their part to maintain the grid, and to prevent a cost shift for maintaining solar onto non-solar energy users, including low-income residents. But the current proposal will reduce the value of solar for low-income residents, too.
