Assembly committee weakens bill aimed at reducing solar rooftop incentives

Assembly committee weakens bill aimed at reducing solar rooftop incentives

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Assemblywoman Calderon's Proposal to Limit Solar Credits: What's the Buzz?

In a series of unexpected moves, Assemblywoman Lisa Calderon has put forth Assembly Bill 942, a proposal that could drastically impact California's rooftop solar panel owners. The bill is slated for its first hearing before the Utilities and Energy Committee, causing quite the stir among the solar community.

The Breakdown:California's current Net Energy Metering (NEM) system, which offers energy credits to homeowners who install solar panels, might undergo a significant shake-up if AB 942 passes. As it stands, credits would be limited to a 10-year term for those who adopt solar panels prior to 2025, half the 20-year period the state had initially committed to. However, the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee has already scrapped this provision, leaving another that would discontinue the program for homeowners selling their properties.

Controversy Galore:Angry rooftop solar owners have flooded the committee with pleas to reject the bill. According to one Simi Valley resident, Dwight James, who is still repaying his solar system loan, "We just listed our home for sale yesterday. We didn't expect the state to renege on its promise."

Calderon, a former executive at Southern California Edison, has defended her proposal, stating that the financial credits given to solar panel owners for excess electricity they send to the grid are driving up electric bills for non-solar customers. Major utilities such as Edison and the state's two other large for-profit electric companies, as well as members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, support the bill.

The Long and Winding Road Ahead:With the amendment, the bill passed 10 to 5, moving on to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. However, the question remains whether this bill is truly fair to all Californians or a bid to preserve utility monopolies.

Stay tuned for updates on this controversial piece of legislation and how it might influence California's rooftop solar future.

Climate & Environment

Controversial Proposal: Assemblywoman Calderon's Solar Credits Reduction

In the midst of California's push for a greener energy future, Assemblywoman Calderon's bill to slash solar credits for rooftop owners has sparked strong opposition.

The legislation is set to impact customers served by investor-owned utilities but won't affect those served by municipal utilities. Several members of the Utilities & Energy Committee have shared that their offices have been inundated with calls and emails from solar customers.

For Subscribers### California's Solar Fiasco: Protecting Monopolies or Balancing Costs?

In the escalating debate surrounding Assemblywoman Calderon's proposed bill, solar advocates challenge the assertion that the legislation is necessary to protect the utility industry's monopoly. The Solar Rights Alliance and environmental groups argue that retroactively changing contracts undermines trust with solar adopters and threatens California’s clean energy goals. On the contrary, analyses suggest rooftop solar saved ratepayers $1.5 billion annually by reducing grid infrastructure costs. The bill is set to be heard by the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee, and its passage could have significant repercussions for California's rooftop solar industry.

1. Assemblywoman Lisa Calderon's proposal, AB 942, aims to significantly alter California's rooftop solar credit system.
2. The Net Energy Metering (NEM) system, which offers credits to homeowners with solar panels, might be revised if AB 942 is passed.
3. Under the proposed bill, solar panel owners could see their energy credits limited to a 10-year term, a departure from the initial 20-year commitment.
4. In response, the Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee has removed this particular provision from the bill.
5. Another provision that could end the solar crediting program for homeowners selling their properties remains in the bill.
6. Solar panel owners have vocalized their opposition to the bill, expressing concerns over the state potentially reneging on its promises.
7. Assemblywoman Calderon, a former Southern California Edison executive, defends the bill, alleging that solar credits contribute to increased electric bills for non-solar customers.
8. Major utilities such as Edison, along with members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, back the bill.
9. The bill has moved past the Utilities and Energy Committee with an amendment, heading now to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
10. The controversy surrounding AB 942 stems from questions about fairness to all Californians and potential preservation of utility monopolies.
11. Analyses indicate that rooftop solar has been saving ratepayers $1.5 billion per year by reducing grid infrastructure costs.
12. The solar industry in California may face significant changes if AB 942 is passed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, with potential consequences for the state's climate-change and environmental-science policies, general news, politics, finance, business, policy-and-legislation, and entertainment sectors, including Hollywood and the Los Angeles Rams.

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