In this week’s news update, we discuss two important changes to net metering in Florida and California, and what you can do to help.
Proposed update to Florida net metering
Florida senator Jennifer Bradley recently introduced Senate Bill (SB) 1024, aimed at reducing the amount of compensation that Florida solar owners receive for net metering credits to about one-fourth its current value. Arguments in support of and against the bill echo those of similar situations across the country: the bill’s proponents argue that net metering unfairly places the burdens of grid maintenance charges on utility customers that don’t have solar, while opponents argue that it will severely reduce the benefits of going solar in Florida.
If passed, SB 1024 would require the Florida Legislature to set up a successor program to net metering by January 1, 2023. Solar owners who had their systems installed before that time would be grandfathered into the current net metering incentive for 10 years following the completion of their installation. If you’re interested in getting involved in the fight for net metering in Florida, check out this action guide by Solar United Neighbors.
Net metering 3.0 vote delayed
The upcoming decision by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to create a successor program for net metering 2.0 has garnered significant attention from politicians, solar industry advocates, and members of the general public. Due to the attention, the CPUC has delayed voting on net metering 3.0 until an undisclosed date. This is not an unusual move for the commission, as they frequently delay votes on matters that are controversial or have gathered significant public attention. When asked about the proposed changes at a news conference earlier this month, Governor of California Gavin Newsom stated, “We still have some work to do.”
At this point, it’s likely that the proposed changes will pass; however, Governor Newson’s comments indicate that some changes to the proposal are possible going forward. Read our article about net metering 3.0 for a summary of the proposed changes and for ways to urge state regulators to reverse these changes.
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