In a number of days, we can have a ultimate choice from the California Public Utilities Fee that’s set to have an effect on a whole lot of 1000’s of Californians contemplating rooftop photo voltaic.
The proposed choice introduced final month would considerably scale back internet vitality metering credit by 75% for promoting extra vitality in rooftop photo voltaic merchandise and sharing it with neighbors. This transforms photo voltaic functionality when it’s wanted greater than ever.
As a photo voltaic and storage contractor based mostly in San Diego, my firm Baker Electrical Dwelling Vitality installs rooftop photo voltaic which is a vital a part of assembly California’s clear vitality objectives. Sadly, San Diego Fuel & Electrical and different investor-owned utilities put their revenue motives first.
Along with elevating charges once more by 8% beginning in January, they’re pushing laborious to make rooftop photo voltaic a financially unattractive different with a view to keep their management. That is unreasonable and counterproductive to California’s aim of getting 90% of its electrical energy from net-zero sources by 2035.
Based on the California Photo voltaic and Storage Affiliation, “distributed photo voltaic vitality techniques have added a complete of 13 gigawatts of photo voltaic vitality to the state, roughly the dimensions of six nuclear energy vegetation. As well as, the shoppers with photo voltaic and battery storage add practically 1 gigawatt of vitality storage, which has performed an vital position in protecting the lights on throughout current warmth waves.
Utilities try to promote the parable that photo voltaic is just for the wealthy. However internet metering may also help native companies like ours deliver rooftop photo voltaic to working- and middle-class neighborhoods. These hardworking people and households signify practically half of all new photo voltaic prospects within the state at the moment and already pay the very best utility charges within the nation.
If the proposed insurance policies are adopted, the 75% internet vitality metering credit score cuts will take impact on April 15, 2023. Those that buy rooftop photo voltaic earlier than that date will probably be grandfathered into the web metering charges set in 2016 and the credit can’t be modified for 20 years. After the deadline, new prospects are out of luck and can obtain decrease credit.
In a current op-ed, Congressmen Mike Levin and Mike Thompson wrote that the CPUC’s proposal would “wipe out the worth” of their efforts to move the Inflation Discount Act that will lengthen the tax credit score for residential rooftop photo voltaic in 10 years and enhance the credit score from 26% to 30%.
Why will we transfer backwards as we transfer ahead? It is time for California to behave. If the state is really concerned with participating low-income residents within the transition to renewable vitality, now and sooner or later, take into account offering help and incentives.
A number of of our Baker Electrical Dwelling Vitality employees joined others in rallies throughout California earlier this month calling on the CPUC and Gov. Gavin Newsom to maintain photo voltaic rising and inexpensive. We hope our voices will probably be heard earlier than the December fifteenth vote.
We strongly urge the CPUC and Gov. Newsom to maintain photo voltaic inexpensive for hard-working California households.
Mike Teresso is the president of Baker Electrical Dwelling Vitality in Escondido. He lives in San Diego.
