NEM Sucessor Tariff *Proposed* Decision relased by the CPUC

[DanKegel]

So the changes -- one-time fee to connect, small fee per kwh stored in the infinite grid battery, and mandatory TOU rates -- seem like a good compromise; they move solar closer to realistic costs in three different areas without taking away the incentive to install solar. It's kind of a best case scenario; everybody gets something.

That said, I wish there was more emphasis on utility scale solar. It's more economical by far. But keeping the residential solar market alive isn't a bad thing.

[DanKegel]

Oh, and one more thing: these rules only cover installations in the next four years, so "net metering 3.0" is coming.

That's probably good. Solar and energy storage technology, penetration, and federal subsidies are moving targets, and it's probably good to true up net metering policy again once we're further down the adoption curve, and federal ITC starts ramping down.

[MikeInRialto]

It's nice to see how the electric companies are all for the environment. BAHAHAHAHAH! It will be interesting to see how ethings play out when businesses start installing the solar windows that are coming out soon. How I get to see when everyone can generate&store their own energy free from the grid =)

[DanKegel]

The utilities would be very, very unhappy

Essentially, they hate the cost of subsidizing this stuff. They seem to think nobody benefits but the direct recipient of the subsidy, and ignore the benefit to society.

Fun fact: utilities that deliver both gas and electricity don't have a problem with efficiency programs that switch users from gas water heaters to hybrid electric water heaters -- but SoCalGas forbids any incentives for that kind of switch. Too much of a threat to their bottom line.

[MikeInRialto]

actually SCE is offering a rebate if you switch to a hybrid gas/electric water heater, but of course they would... that is $ they are not getting if it is gas only.

[sensij]

Here is the final decision, as approved:

http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDoc.../158181678.PDF

A big deal is made in the dissents about NEM customers being exempted from paying the same transmission access charges as all other grid participants, and also Smart Inverters, apparently coming by 2017.