Solution to the Rooftop Solar vs Big Utility Solar Question Remains Undecided

It is imperative that all Californians become well versed on the issue of rooftop solar vs Big Utility solar. Big private utility interests have been laying the groundwork to slash a key California solar incentive program called Net Energy Metering.  Utility giants and some activist utility rate watchdogs as well as powerful union labor organizations say Net Metering is widening the gap between rich and poor.  The argument is based on the theory that only rich California residents are able to install rooftop solar panels on their homes, leaving the poor to pay ever-increasing Big Utility electricity bills. 

 

Rooftop Solar advocates argue that the rich vs poor argument is a lot of bunk.  The real incentive of Big Utility interests and the unions is to protect the large solar farms and transition lines that feather their coffers. The more individual rooftop solar is adopted, the less dollars are fed into Big Utility bank accounts.  Also, roof top solar is normally installed by non-union labor.  Construction of Big Utility solar and transmission facilities is commonly performed by union labor.

 

Net Energy Metering allows individuals to install rooftop solar panels on their properties and to sell excess electricity generated by their panels back to the energy grid, thereby reducing their personal energy costs.  Currently, with Net Metering in place, the average homeowner installation can recover the costs of installation in as little as 5 years.  After the cost recovery time, electricity becomes an income to the homeowner instead of an expense.  This seems to make a good deal of sense.

 

Big Utility interests, along with their chief supporter, California State Assembly Member Wendy Carrillo (Dem), have been trying to pass various renditions of “Assembly Bill 1139” which not only proposes to gut Net Metering but to also impose a hefty tax on rooftop solar systems that are already installed or would be installed under the newly initiated California law requiring all new residential units to incorporate rooftop solar and storage batteries.  Under Net Energy Metering, over 1,300,000 California homes have installed solar panels and are enhancing the grid.

 

According to experts, the effect of Assembly Bill 1139 would extend the cost recovery period for new solar installations to at least 20 years, destroying the cost effectiveness and the rooftop solar industry with a stroke of the pen. The success of this movement would seem to be counter to national efforts to reach 100% renewable energy status.   Fortunately, four attempts at passing AB1139 over the last several years have been soundly defeated by the activism of roof top solar advocates.

 

Big Utility interests are not giving up, however. The next attempt at destroying the California rooftop solar industry has already found its way into another rendition of AB1139.  It is therefore imperative that all Californians become well versed on the issue of rooftop solar vs Big Utility solar.  Fortunately, there is a wealth of information currently available.  Three good sources may be found at:

 

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-11-02/should-california-make-solar-more-expensive-inside-the-climate-justice-battle

 

https://www.savecaliforniasolar.org/news

 

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/story/2022-03-15/rooftop-solar-decision-remains-on-hold  

 

By John Nilsson

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