CA state mandated rate restructure July 2024

[Ampster]

Yep. Last year we had fixed charges that added up to about $6 a month.

My fixed charges are about $10 per month and paid monthly except when I get climate credit. I am actually a Net consumer of one mWh but have a small dollar credit balance which washes out the Net consumption. I am not clear what happens to the NBCs but I recall they were offset by dollar credit balance.

[Reid1boys]

I went solar in San Diego in 2019 on NEM 2.0 and haven't paid a penny to the POCO since. I feel like this proposed plan is a kick in the teeth. I wonder if I will be able to offset the monthly charge with my over-generation, like I currently do with non bypass-able charges under NEM 2.0. Though it would be more difficult with lower kWh rates. Also in regards to the CARE program under SDGE, it is my understanding and experience that SDGE asks the customer to state their income and then may ask the customer to provide verification if necessary. To the best of my knowledge the POCO do not have the ability to check incomes on their own. While on that subject... what is considered a "Household" under their proposed plan? I live with someone, we are not married and do not co-mingle our finances. I own the home and pay all the bills even though my partner works. In my book that is a household of one.

the details have not been finalized. Household income is likely to mean just that.... same address on tax return... one household.
Also, income verification process is yet to be figure out yet... hopefully the blowback from this is going to be so huge it will never come to fruition. Also, not a chance of you offsetting the set fee.

[RichardCullip]

Like PugPower, I went solar in San Diego County in 2019 and have yet to pay SDG&E a penny for electricity. After the last true in April I have a $37 or so credit carried over to start of this next true up cycle. The California Climate Credit (paid three times this past true up period) combined with a small excess generation payout led to a credit at the end of the 12 month billing cycle.

[jflorey2]

I am surprised you don't have a small minimum fixed charge even with NEM 2.0. For sure you will have Non Bypassable Charges which may be reduced at True Up.

Yep. Last year we had fixed charges that added up to about $6 a month.

[PugPower]

That is correct. All my fixed and non-bypassable charges are currently taken care of at true-up, with a credit leftover which turns into peanuts after being converted to wholesale pricing.

[Ampster]

I went solar in San Diego in 2019 on NEM 2.0 and haven't paid a penny to the POCO since. ........

I am surprised you don't have a small minimum fixed charge even with NEM 2.0. For sure you will have Non Bypassable Charges which may be reduced at True Up.

[PugPower]

I went solar in San Diego in 2019 on NEM 2.0 and haven't paid a penny to the POCO since. I feel like this proposed plan is a kick in the teeth. I wonder if I will be able to offset the monthly charge with my over-generation, like I currently do with non bypass-able charges under NEM 2.0. Though it would be more difficult with lower kWh rates. Also in regards to the CARE program under SDGE, it is my understanding and experience that SDGE asks the customer to state their income and then may ask the customer to provide verification if necessary. To the best of my knowledge the POCO do not have the ability to check incomes on their own. While on that subject... what is considered a "Household" under their proposed plan? I live with someone, we are not married and do not co-mingle our finances. I own the home and pay all the bills even though my partner works. In my book that is a household of one.

[J.P.M.]

Yep, and it is a sad state of affairs that the vast majority of people pay zero attention to the world in which they live.

And with social entropy being at the root of the sloth.
If so, then that probably also applies to most readers of this forum.
I've tried to remember the old saying: Have the balls to change what you can, the patience to accept what you can't change and the wisdom to know the difference.

[Reid1boys]

Yep. A lot of people aren't even going to notice until they get the first bill.

Yep, and it is a sad state of affairs that the vast majority of people pay zero attention to the world in which they live.

[jflorey2]

IM thinking the battle is just starting.

Yep. A lot of people aren't even going to notice until they get the first bill.

[Reid1boys]

IM thinking the battle is just starting.

https://https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2023/05/08/the-income-graduated-fixed-charges-in-california-will-harm-customers-with-low-electric-bills/

[jflorey2]

The end result can be the same. But there's a big difference philosophically between providing assistance to someone (such as the SDGE Care program) and pricing a product / service based on one's income.

But they provide that assistance by basing their pricing on one's income.

I agree with you that there are a lot of problems with doing that. But they are doing it.

[CharlieEscCA]

Aren't they effectively the same thing? i.e. if you don't qualify for the lower prices you pay more?

The end result can be the same. But there's a big difference philosophically between providing assistance to someone (such as the SDGE Care program) and pricing a product / service based on one's income.

If this is allowed to stand, and I'm not sure it won't, then be prepared for your water rates to be set based on your income, groceries, and on and on.

It's just wrong.

[Ampster]

Aren't they effectively the same thing? i.e. if you don't qualify for the lower prices you pay more?

I agree, that system has been in place for a long time. The new proposal seems to be an extension of that. I agree it is a significant extension and one that appears to more directly affect higher income households than the current ones which are implicit in the current rates.

[jflorey2]

I just do not believe in prices being set by income. It's one thing for pricing to be effectively lower on some means based "assistance", but it's another for the price charged to be higher based on income/means.

Aren't they effectively the same thing? i.e. if you don't qualify for the lower prices you pay more?