California's new solar energy proposal removes hefty grid connection fee
Author: Ruhi Soni and Peter Henderson
California regulators on November 10, 2022 revised their proposal for rooftop solar systems credits, a contentious matter as the state tries to expand renewable energy and respond to critics who want more equitable distribution of incentives. The new proposal offers hundreds of millions of dollars of new support for low-income customers, while excluding a monthly tax for solar homes to connect to the grid, a move critics say effectively favors richer Californians as they own the lion's share of the clean energy system. Affordable Clean Energy for All spokesperson Kathy Fairbanks said, "It is extremely disappointing that under this proposal, low-income families and all customers without solar will continue to pay a hidden tax on their electricity bills to subsidize rooftop solar for mostly wealthier Californians." The CPUC has previously justified its proposals by saying it wants to encourage battery storage so excess power can be stored instead of sold. The state has a target to generate 90% of its electricity from clean sources by 2035, but its grid is barely recovering from record heat waves this year.