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bananas

(27,509 posts) Fri Oct 2, 2015, 04:21 PM Oct 2015

Solar power vs. SDG&E: Utilities commission soon to rule on measure to end net metering

http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2015/oct/01/ticker-solar-power-vs-sdge/?google_editors_picks=true

Solar power vs. SDG&E

Utilities commission soon to rule on measure to end net metering

By Dave Rice, Oct. 1, 2015

A statewide panel convened by the Sierra Club on Wednesday (September 30) took aim at efforts by San Diego Gas & Electric and other utilities statewide that could limit the spread of private solar installations across California. The group also pushed for a bill that would expand solar use in low-income neighborhoods.

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"AB 693 will create a 300-megawatt program to put solar on multi-family affordable housing," says Cervas. "It will invest up to $100 million per year over the next ten years — if signed, it will be the largest investment in solar for the environmental justice community to date."

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Legislation requires the commission, by the end of 2015, to consider changing net-metering rules once a cap of 5 percent of the state's total energy generation is met. That cap is expected to be hit in the first quarter of 2016 by SDG&E’s customers, the fastest of the three investor-owned utility regions in the state.

"The reality is that utilities see solar power as a threat to their way of doing business," Churchill asserts. "They're monopolies that make money building big, expensive power plants and transporting it — having customers harness free sunshine directly threatens that business model.

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Solar power vs. SDG&E: Utilities commission soon to rule on measure to end net metering (Original Post) bananas Oct 2015 OP

back in the early 70's nykym Oct 2015 #1

If it's good for the environment, and good for the public, must be bad for Wall Street sorechasm Oct 2015 #2

nykym

(3,063 posts)

1. back in the early 70's

Reply to bananas (Original post)

Fri Oct 2, 2015, 04:59 PM

Oct 2015

my ex wife's uncle worked for Con Ed we talked often about solar energy.
He agreed it was a good thing but added it will not go too far until the utilities
can figure out how to charge you for the use of the sun.

sorechasm

(631 posts)

2. If it's good for the environment, and good for the public, must be bad for Wall Street

Reply to bananas (Original post)

Sat Oct 3, 2015, 01:31 PM

Oct 2015

It should be a no brainer. The sun's free energy being sold back to the grid, making solar power profitable for the general public, but this business model is not good for big power companies. (BTW, all power companies were created with public funds.)

Churchill says net metering has been "essential for making rooftop solar accessible." But under a proposal being considered by the California Public Utilities Commission, the system could be going away.

Legislation requires the commission, by the end of 2015, to consider changing net-metering rules once a cap of 5 percent of the state's total energy generation is met. That cap is expected to be hit in the first quarter of 2016 by SDG&’s customers, the fastest of the three investor-owned utility regions in the state.

"The reality is that utilities see solar power as a threat to their way of doing business," Churchill asserts. "They're monopolies that make money building big, expensive power plants and transporting it — having customers harness free sunshine directly threatens that business model.

Thanks for keeping us informed, Bananas!

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