http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=48449Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced that he is sponsoring legislation to fix an unintended flaw in legislation passed last year that is hindering the California Solar Initiative (CSI).
The program, administered by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), has been touted as the best in the country. But issues with Time of Use (TOU) rates have slowed applications for residential solar systems significantly. According to the CPUC, applications are down 78 percent in the first three months of the program compared with this time last year.
TOU rates are changing prices for electricity depending on the time of day. Prices go up during the day when demand is highest, and go down at night when demand is reduced. TOU rates are important for encouraging energy conservation, especially during the summer months. But TOU rates are also deterring people from investing in solar because they slow the financial payback for customers who use power during peak times.
The bill that created the solar program, SB 1, mandated that TOU rates be applied to all customers, including those who invest in solar. Now legislators are revisiting the bill to change language regarding TOU.
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