Solar power bill introduced (Calif.)

http://www.sthelenastar.com/articles/2008/12/26/news/local/doc4951bdd87f990776963870.txt

State Senator Patricia Wiggins, D-Santa Rosa, has introduced new legislation to encourage more production of solar power by compensating smaller producers for all of the solar power that they generate.

Currently, residential electric utility customers can participate in the state’s solar program, known as the California Solar Initiative (CSI), and receive subsidies for the installation of photovoltaic panels to produce solar power. Residents may also participate in “net-energy metering,” a program that allows electrical customers to receive credits for the amount of solar power they produce against their electric bills; however, any solar power they produce beyond their use is returned to their respective utility providers for free.

SB 7 would allow customers to contribute more solar-based power to the electrical grid.

Any power produced beyond a customer’s own use would be compensated (either by credit or payment) at the same rate a utility provider would pay for power from any other source, referred to as the “Market Price Referents.”

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There are many people here with pv systems, and they are not too pleased that their payment is in the form of a totally useless credit.

Now, compensation would be a massive incentive. And I hope this bill passes. The ratcheting down of incentives may reverse with the new admin.

What portion of the PV systems in CA generate a NET amount of electricity over the year?

One has three homes on his property. Two rental houses. He's got 30KW in photovoltaics, and generates a net surplus. Granted that is not on the coast. It's in Healdsburg, CA. But they have fog most mornings.

But the definition of "net" seems to be related to the amount consumed from the grid. I say seems to be because the relevant paragraph (7) fails to specify, however associated para (5)&(6) are explicit:

"(5) "Net energy metering" means measuring the difference between
the electricity supplied through the electric grid and the
electricity generated by an eligible customer-generator and fed back
to the electric grid over a 12-month period as described in
subdivision (h). An eligible customer-generator who already owns an
existing solar or wind turbine electrical generating facility, or a
hybrid system of both, is eligible to receive net energy metering
service in accordance with this section.
(6) "Net surplus customer-generator" means an eligible
customer-generator that generates more electricity during a 12-month
period than is supplied by the electric distribution utility or
cooperative to the eligible customer-generator during the same
12-month period.
(7) "Net surplus electricity" means all electricity generated by
an eligible customer-generator measured in kilowatthours over a
12-month period that exceeds the amount of electricity consumed by
that eligible customer-generator.
(8) "Net surplus electricity compensation" means a payment at a
per kilowatthour rate offered by the electric distribution utility or
cooperative to the net surplus customer-generator for net surplus
electricity pursuant to subdivision (h).

http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/09-10/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sb_7_bill_20081201_introduced.html