As a solar expert and avid enthusiast, I have some exciting news to share that could revolutionize the use of solar energy in the multi-meter property sector in California. Recently, a bill has been proposed that aims to address the challenges faced by renters, farmers, schools, and other multiple-meter property holders in fully maximizing the potential of solar energy.
This bill, known as SB 1374, is a response to the reductions in solar incentives, crippling several solar programs within the state. It aims to level the playing field, offering schools, farms, and apartments the same benefits as single-family homes in solar billing structures.
As it currently stands, multi-meter properties face barriers in optimizing the solar energy they generate. They’re essentially forced to sell their solar energy output to the electricity utility and then buy it back at comparatively higher rates. This practice significantly diminishes the value of having a solar array for homes, farms or schools.
The beauty of solar panels for your home or property is the promise of energy independence and reduced costs. Current policies, however, limit self-consumption of the electricity produced by rooftop solar panels for these multi-meter properties. This translates to lower savings and muted advantages from this renewable energy source.
The introduction of Senate Bill 1374 is heralded as a game-changing move that doesn’t just restore the potential of solar energy, but also expands it, unlocking a level of energy self-sufficiency for all kinds of property holders.
According to Senator Josh Becker, who sponsored the bill, this rectifies an inherent unfairness in the current system. “SB 1374 removes a burdensome barrier and restores the ability for customers to self-consume the energy they produce on their property”, he stated. The bill ensures that multiple-metered customers receive the same treatment and benefits as everyone else when it comes to leveraging solar energy.
Utilities, predictably, have opposed this decision, arguing non-solar customers unfairly subsidize those with solar. They also argue that the bill may cause grid upgrades, triggering high costs. However, an analysis from the California Public Utilities Commission contends that non-residential solar programs have not contributed to a cost shift.
Advocates for Senate Bill 1374 argue that this could significantly benefit schools struggling with an electricity affordability crisis. In Oakland alone, public schools have experienced a $1.5 million utility bill increase in the past year. Allowing them to fully utilize and consume solar energy would substantially reduce costs, creating savings that could be funneled back into educational programs.
With climate change and clean energy a global concern, this bill could potentially rewrite the narratives for solar companies and homeowners contemplating solar energy. In my view, the overturn of the current solar crediting and billing structure is a step in the right direction, empowering more people to choose solar, reducing reliance on traditional utilities and, ultimately, promoting a greener future.
For now, all eyes are on Governor Gavin Newsom as the solar community eagerly awaits his approval of this revolutionary bill. We hope this brings significant change, encouraging more homeowners to consider solar panels for their properties and spreading the solar wave even further.
Original Articlehttps://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/06/06/california-bill-amends-ruling-that-gutted-value-of-solar-for-multi-meter-properties/
