Promoted to homepage Archives

CPUC blocks rooftop solar for farms, schools, and many renters. Will state lawmakers overrule them?

November 17, 2023

For years, the utilities have tried and failed to block homeowners from making and using their own solar energy. We’ve stopped them every time. But last month, the utilities succeeded in blocking solar rights for schools, farmers, and many renters. This, despite overwhelming opposition from renters’ advocates, affordable housing organizations, school districts, farmers, and the general public. At this point, …

Six tips for buying a solar-powered battery

July 5, 2023

Thinking of getting a solar-powered battery for your home or business to protect you from the next power outage? Here’s six tips to help you figure it all out. For deeper dives: Solar Rights Alliance: Solar-Powered Batteries Webinar The Energy Show’s podcast: Which Batteries Are Best For Your Home? Solar-powered batteries can let you keep — and use — all …

California’s Ratepayer Advocate Working Against Rooftop Solar

March 20, 2023

The Utility Reform Network (TURN) has been an advocate for ratepayers, lobbying the CPUC to keep utility bills low. TURN’s fight has been an uphill battle, as California’s crazy high electricity bills indicate. But TURN certainly gets an E for effort. Unfortunately, TURN is now using their reputation to attack rooftop solar, using the same arguments as the utilities. They …

San Diego County plan would deliver SDG&E more profits while undercutting rooftop solar

February 17, 2023

On May 24th, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on an SDG&E-backed plan that will set the stage to spend billions of ratepayer dollars on unnecessary long distance power lines. It will also cut the legs out from under rooftop solar. If the plan passes, it’ll set the stage for higher utility bills and more …

Proposed Utility Tax would increase electricity bills for millions, undermine rooftop solar, and discourage conservation

February 6, 2023

Summary At the direction of the California State Legislature, the utilities the the CA Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) are proposing to charge most residential ratepayers a Utility Tax of $24 to $70 per month. Even a $24/month Utility Tax would be twice times the national average. This mandatory Utility Tax would increase electricity bills on millions for working Californians who …

Frequently asked questions about changes to California’s rooftop solar rules (aka “NEM3”)

January 26, 2023

Defying overwhelming public opposition, state officials voted in late 2022 to make drastic changes to California’s rooftop solar rules (called “net energy metering”). The decision by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will make it much more expensive to get rooftop solar starting in mid-April 2023. The decision mostly affects those who do not yet have solar, but can affect …

CPUC voted to send rooftop solar off a cliff

December 16, 2022

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) unanimously voted on December 15th to make drastic changes to the state’s rooftop solar rules. Read the final decision (NEM3) Fact sheet How the CPUC’s decision may affect you Key details Most consumers who get solar after April 2023 will see an average 75% reduction in the credit they receive for sharing their extra …

The net metering policy that puts consumers at the center

September 19, 2022

Most people, including Governor Newsom, agree that the CPUC’s proposed rooftop solar decision (Net Energy Metering 3.0 or “NEM3”) needs to be changed. The billion dollar question now is, “what changes will Governor Newsom and the CPUC make?” Since the CPUC’s original proposal from December is so extreme, measuring the effectiveness of the Governor’s response must be based on basic …

Update: Solar Tax defeated, again!

August 30, 2022

We are happy to report that the authors of SB 846 have agreed to clarify in writing that the bill will not impose a Solar Tax on the solar energy you produce and consume at home. In other words, you helped defeat the Solar Tax. Again. This is the third time in the last year we have had to fight to …

The Solar Tax is Back (and the Solar Cliff, too)

May 13, 2022

On May 9th, the CPUC formally requested input on three changes they are considering to rooftop solar net metering. Among these changes is a Solar Tax of $300 to $600 per year on average. In other words, the CPUC appears to be pursuing a re-packaged version of their disastrous proposal in December. As we feared, the utilities have so captured …