Solar Advocates Applaud PG&E Commitment to Expand Net Metering Program

Gov. Schwarzenegger Secures Critical Win for Continued Solar Market, Job Growth in California

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week Governor Schwarzenegger secured a commitment from PG&E to increase the amount of solar net metering allowed in its territory from 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent of peak demand. Advocates at Vote Solar and the Solar Alliance applaud the move which will allow continued rooftop solar market growth and job creation in California.

“With guidance from Governor Schwarzenegger, PG&E has made the decision to go above and beyond current law to support the right of its customers to receive the full economic benefits of going solar. We applaud both parties’ impressive leadership on the issue”

“Net metering is the policy backbone of a strong rooftop solar market in California. This commitment provides a critical near-term solution for the looming net metering program cap. We particularly thank the Governor for his personal involvement in assuring sustained solar market growth as part of California’s aggressive climate goals. In that spirit of collaboration, we look forward to working with the Governor, Assemblymember Skinner and the utilities in the coming legislative cycle to develop a joint plan for net metering that supports a robust, long-term solar market,” said Sara Birmingham, Solar Alliance lead for California.

“With guidance from Governor Schwarzenegger, PG&E has made the decision to go above and beyond current law to support the right of its customers to receive the full economic benefits of going solar. We applaud both parties’ impressive leadership on the issue,” said Adam Browning, executive director of Vote Solar. “With this short-term fix in place, we would welcome opportunity to consider eliminating all net metering caps in the 2010 legislative session, a move that would allow maximum private investment in solar to reduce the state’s peak power demand and harmful carbon emissions.”

Net metering is a simple billing arrangement that allows solar customers to get fair retail credit for the excess electricity their systems generate during daytime hours. Today more than 50,000 California homes and businesses take advantage of the state’s net metering program.

Existing law requires California’s major electric utilities to make net metering available to customers until the total program capacity exceeds 2.5 percent of the utility’s peak demand. Data from the state’s solar rebate program indicates that there may be enough applications to hit the 2.5 percent program cap in PG&E territory as early as the first half of 2010. Under leadership from Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the state legislature attempted to raise the cap to 5 percent through a bill, AB 560, which ran in the 2009 session. Despite widespread support among policymakers and stakeholders, the legislative session ended without passing AB 560 into law. This commitment from PG&E solves an immediate need to allow continued net metering access in the utility’s territory until state law can be changed.

About Vote Solar:

Vote Solar is a grassroots non-profit organization working to combat climate change and foster economic development by bringing solar energy into the mainstream. Since 2002 Vote Solar has engaged in state, federal and local advocacy campaigns to remove regulatory barriers and implement policies needed to bring solar to scale. www.votesolar.org

About Solar Alliance:

The Solar Alliance is a state-focused association of solar equipment manufacturers, integrators and financiers specifically working with state administrators, legislators and utilities to establish cost-effective solar policies and programs. www.solaralliance.org