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The Solar Bill of Rights was delayed once again by state lawmakers, even as utilities launched a new national attack that could end solar as we know it in California and across the U.S. Solar Bill of Rights delayed again The Solar Bill of Rights would stop utilities from hitting current and future solar users with new monthly fees that…

The utility that serves Los Angeles (LADWP) is considering charging a fee of up to $3,000 on people who install solar and battery storage systems. For homes and businesses with larger solar systems, the fee could be as much as $4,500. If approved, the fee will discourage Los Angeles residents from choosing solar and battery storage. LADWP’s proposed fee schedule….

Our state leaders shouldn’t wait for the next pandemic or power outage to remove barriers that discourage people from using the sun’s energy to power their homes and businesses. Our friends at the CA Solar & Storage Association have made a list of eight things state leaders could do right now to increase self-reliance through rooftop solar. Here’s some of…

Thanks to a strong outpouring of public comment from people like you, state regulators at the CA Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) rebuffed utility lobbyists on several fronts this Spring. SDG&E $39/month fee rejected In March, the CPUC officially rejected San Diego Gas & Electric’s proposal to add $39 / month to their customers’ energy bills. Over 2,500 San Diegans flooded the…

Community support is growing for SMUD to commit to closing their fossil fuel power plants, and start partnering with their customers to make, store and share more clean energy. SMUD has responded to several of the requests from the community. This post unpacks SMUD’s responses. Contact info@solarrights.org if you have a question or comment. The basic deal We’re in a…

In March 2019, SMUD proposed charging its solar customers an average of $40 to $60 per month. They canceled the proposal after a public outcry. SMUD then promised to conduct a public process to determine its solar policies for the future. Even as that process unfolds, SMUD keeps doing things that block people from making and storing solar energy on…

The CA Energy Commission voted last week to approve SMUD’s SolarShares proposal, which we predict will effectively block solar on most new homes in Sacramento area for twenty years. Many other utilities around the state supported SMUD’s proposal and we suspect they will seek the same deal. This, despite opposition from the hundreds of community members in Sacramento and around…

Update: February 10th, 2020: SMUD has resubmitted their proposal to block solar from going on all newly built homes in Sacramento. Their revised plan has no meaningful changes, and we remain opposed to their plan. Learn more about SMUD’s latest effort and take action. Read more here for the deep backstory. Proposal would have gutted the state’s new plan to…

The lights went out on millions of people this fall. This doesn’t need to be the new normal. Here are four things to know about how we can protect our homes and communities from power outages, and five actions our leaders should take to get us there. 1) Our electrical grid is fragile. Solar and battery storage should be a…