California Supreme Court to review rooftop solar net metering

[usonian]

The state’s highest court granted review to a lawsuit challenging a “regressive” rooftop solar policy called NEM 3.0.

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/04/11/california-supreme-court-to-review-rooftop-solar-net-metering/

A controversial rooftop solar rulemaking decision has risen to the Supreme Court of California, with the state’s highest court granting review for a petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity.

The case involves NEM 3.0, a rate structure that went into effect in April 2023. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a request by the state’s largest investor-owned utilities to cut compensation to customers that export excess solar generation to the grid, a process called net energy metering.

Net metering rates were rapidly cut by 80% under NEM 3.0. This change, combined with a high interest rate environment, has pushed the state’s robust rooftop solar industry off a cliff, damaging the return on investment for homeowners, and leading to more than 17,000 solar jobs lost, demand falling 80% post-implementation, and numerous companies filing for bankruptcy.

“The commission’s new rooftop solar policy enables the utilities’ self-interested attack on rooftop solar,” said Bill Powers, an energy expert with The Protect Our Communities Foundation. “The real problem is heedless pursuit of maximum profit by the utilities at the expense of reasonable rates and commonsense climate action.”

At issue:

did the Commission fail to proceed in the manner required by section 2827.1(b)(3), which mandates that a net energy metering tariff must be ‘based on the costs and benefits of the renewable electrical generation facility?’”

You've got three guesses. Hint:
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
✅ Yes

(IMNSHO)

[Dem2theMax]

1. Yay!

I hope they do right by consumers. I was going to get solar. But after what they allowed the utility companies to do, there was no point.

Why have an EV if you don't have solar?

California has definitely been going backwards when it comes to solar. So I hope they get it right this time.

[Think. Again.]

2. A blatant attempt by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)

....to make sure the utility companies can rip off home-generated electricity.

[TeamProg]

3. The CPUC always acts as though it is made up of paid off utility lobbyists.

They have been screwing consumers probably since Reagan was governor.

[The Mouth]

4. But our current assholes on the PUC have all been appointed by either Brown or Newsom

California Democratic Party gets a major 'FAIL' on this one. Of course Newsom is a billionaire, so why should he give a dam.