California Regulators Decide Utilities Can’t Charge Solar-Killing Fees

[n2doc]

On Tuesday, California regulators issued a decision that state utilities could not charge certain fees for solar-plus-storage systems in homes and offices, clearing the way for such projects to proceed.

For about a year, California’s big three utilities — Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric, and San Diego Gas And Electric — have been charging customers, be they individuals or businesses, various fees for setting up a solar system on their property that includes battery storage. That includes an $800 interconnection application fee, as well as various other charges that can bring the cost between $1,400 and $3,700. The utilities also insisted such systems go through an extensive review process for, they claimed, safety purposes, and to ensure the systems weren’t just storing power produced by the utilities and then seeking credit for it under California’s net metering rules.

Solar system installers said the hurdles have ground new solar-battery projects to a halt. SolarCity, the biggest solar provider in the US, said that only 12 of the 500 customers that signed up for its solar battery systems have been connected to the grid. Among other efforts, SolarCity has started up a pilot project to provide commercial buildings with both a solar array and battery produced by Tesla Motors.

But Tuesday’s decision by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) scuttled many of those obstacles. Under CPUC’s proposal, distributed generation systems (usually solar, but not limited to it) that are eligible for net metering, and that are over 10 kilowatts, must keep their storage component under that 10 kilowatt capacity. For smaller systems, there would be no size limit. Systems over 10 kilowatts will also need a separate meter to keep track of the interchange between electricity generation and battery charging. For smaller systems, local data from the net metering system will be used to tease out the energy drawn into the battery. “Trusting the solar-storage system to measure its own give-and-take status against the grid,” as GreenTech Media put it.

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http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/04/17/3427739/california-regulators-solar-batteries/

[JimDandy]

1. Good decision! n/t

[Vincardog]

2. ++gOOD FUCK THE intransient monopolistic power companies

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Common sense. Oligarchy sense says "kill solar, any way, any how". It also says "Fuck USA".

The oligarchy places short term profits higher than the long term health of the nation known as the US of A.

It says let other countries get a leap ahead on solar because our oligarchic dinosaur fossil fuel businesses can thereby reap fat short term profits.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

6. Have you seen their homes?

When you have an "old money" mansion complete with a grand ballroom it's to entertain other "old money" families including the heads of 19 century energy industries. These people don't mix outside of their class and all of these solar companies are seen as a fad run by hippie types that don't CARE about "the important things",....like marble floors.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. Cool. You will now be able to date a hollywood movie by rooftop solar.

[KamaAina]

5. Yes!

The CPUC is not exactly known as a bastion of progressivism. But this time they got it right.

[Tikki]

7. I am always in awe of my So Cal neighbors that use solar energy. I live in a So Cal Middle Class...

neighborhood. These neighbors, for the most part, saved up or sacrificed in some way to make solar
energy a part of their every day living.
On my 1 mile walk daily*, I see at least 3 dozen solar units, of various configurations, and more as time goes by.

Tikki
*I try to mix up my walk route as much as possible.

[Callmecrazy]

8. In the next fifty years...

Electric utility corporations are going to go the way of the Dodo bird. Yet they behave as if they will decide whether you may have electricity. To hell with that. I predict that in fifty years it will be the minority that uses utility power service. To think that they want to charge you for a "safety inspection" in your home is ludicrous. My home is none of their business and they will not be welcome to "have a look around" and charge me for the intrusion.
Prices for solar arrays on residential units have already gone down so significantly that it is now a serious consideration when building new homes and apartment complexes. And that's a great thing. Every home will have its own power generating and storage system. Power companies will go extinct and will be kicking and screaming the whole way.

I say tell them to call 9-2-2. For W-A-A!

[CFLDem]

9. I'd say

the only entities using power companies in 50 years will be manufacturing and large commercial operations.

Good- the current model is an antiquated burden and a national security risk.