“We are confident that a reconsidered, modernized NEM proposal will strike the balance of expanding access to rooftop solar and energy storage.”

CALIFORNIA—A group of twenty California State Legislators—comprising both Senators and Assemblymembers from both political parties—urged the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to keep solar growing, affordable, and in line with California’s clean energy goals, in a letter issued to Alice Reynolds, Chair of the CPUC this week. 

Referencing the CPUC’s “proposed decision on current net energy metering (NEM),” the state legislators lauded the CPUC’s “desire to adhere to the ‘guiding principles’ of sustainable growth amongst all ratepayers”, as well as “expanded clean energy access to low-income and environmental justice communities”, but expressed deep concerns over specific elements of the proposed decision.

In the letter, California legislators noted that a monthly solar fee could “significantly depress the clean energy market, negatively impact California-based businesses and jobs, and impact the availability of much needed affordable housing.” They added that this fee, along with a 70-80% cut in solar energy credits would effectively penalize families, educational, non-profit, and agricultural institutions investing in energy and storage to help California meet its clean energy future. 

“We are confident that a reconsidered, modernized NEM proposal will strike the balance of expanding access to rooftop solar and energy storage, while maintaining the structure needed to continue to build a more resilient, equitable, and clean electric grid,” the letter concluded. 

State Senator Nancy Skinner and Assemblymember Cristina Garcia also sent individual letters to the CPUC earlier this year urging the commission to protect rooftop solar in California, expressing concerns over creating economic and environmental setbacks for California’s consumers and exacerbating inequities in access to clean energy. 

The letter from California state legislators follows a recent congressional letter to the CPUC from twenty-six California members of congress in support of rooftop solar that said, “imposing a tax on solar panels and reducing the rate of solar power exports by as much as 80 percent would label California as a climate straggler, not a climate leader.” They also expressed concern that the proposed decision runs counter to federal renewable energy policies and “would reportedly cut California’s rooftop solar market in half by 2024.” 

The CPUC is considering changes to “net energy metering,” the state policy that makes rooftop solar and storage more affordable for consumers of all types by compensating them for the excess energy they produce and share with their neighbors. Currently 1.3 million consumers use net metering, including thousands of public schools, churches and affordable housing developments, and it is the main driver of California’s world-renowned rooftop solar market. As a result of net metering, working and middle class neighborhoods are just under half of the rooftop solar market and the fastest growing segment today. 

Recent polling shows the continued popularity of rooftop solar and net metering in California, along with the extreme unpopularity of CPUC’s proposed decision. Support for protecting rooftop solar is also reflected in endorsements by the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, Santa Cruz Sentinel, and San Luis Obispo Tribune editorial boards.

The CPUC delayed consideration of its proposed decision indefinitely following intense backlash from solar consumers, solar workers, small businesses, faith leaders, affordable housing advocates, environmentalists and conservation groups. 

The twenty State Legislators from California who signed on to the letter to CPUC Chair Alice Reynolds, dated March 14th, include:

• Senator Josh Becker

• Senator John Laird

• Assemblymember Phil Ting

• Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham

• Assemblymember James Gallagher

• Assemblymember Marc Berman

• Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber

• Assemblymember Marc Levine

• Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin 

• Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel

• Senator Scott Weiner

• Senator Mike Mcguire

• Assemblymember Jim Wood

• Assemblymember Phillip Chen

• Assemblymember Al Muratsutchi

• Assemblymember Christopher Ward

• Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian

• Assemblymember Buffy Wicks

• Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan

• Assemblymember Evan Low