Local Government: San Diego County, California
Date Created: 11/14/08
Last updated: 12/23/08
San Diego County, CA Approves Fair Price for Surplus Residential Solar Energy
The Board of Supervisors approved pricing for surplus residential solar energy. In 2007, the California Solar Initiative made available $3.3 billion to subsidize solar installations, also called photo voltaic systems (PV). Citing a desire to lessen the nation’s dependence on foreign oil and help the environment, more and more San Diego homes and businesses are taking advantage of solar incentives and buying PV systems. In recent months, increasing energy costs have made residential PV especially attractive. Energy experts report that more San Diego homeowners would buy residential PV systems if allowed to sell surplus energy to San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG and E). Current law doesn’t allow such sales. Right now, for systems up to one megawatt, net excess generation is carried forward on a customer’s bill for 12 months. Any yearly excess goes to the utility. Unfortunately, important legislation that would have removed this barrier did not make it through the California Legislature this year. Assembly Bill 1920 (Huffman) would have given so-called "net metered" utility customers the option to sell surplus generation to SDG and E. Similar legislation is expected to be reintroduced next year. By changing the net metering policy for residential PV systems in California, the region will likely experience an increase in solar generation.
Issue History
| 12/23/08 | The Board of Supervisors approved the fair price at the 11/18/08 meeting.
| | 11/14/08 | The Board of Supervisors will consider a fair price at the 11/18/08 meeting.
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