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Crowd reacts warmly to news that CPUC denied SDG&E charge as "illegal"
Photo by Bob Silvern
January 18, 2012 (San Diego) -- Over sixty San Diegans angered by SDG&E’s proposed tax (network use charge) on rooftop solar customers protested at the company’s Energy Innovation Center open house today, pleading: “Please don’t take our sunshine away.”
Unbeknownst to protesters, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a ruling during the same hour rejecting SDG&E’s proposal after concluding that the proposed charge would be illegal.
The proposed tax on solar customers could have reversed progress toward renewable energy and climate change goals and damaged the local job‐creating solar industry.
It also would have taken a harsh toll on owners of rooftop solar panels—including homeowners, school districts, municipal governments, and businesses—by charging them for energy they provide to the grid for others to use, said critics.
The nonprofit California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) determined that the typical San Diego area water district and elementary school with solar would see $85,000 and $8,000 annual increases in their energy bills, respectively. CCSE concluded that the increase on residential solar customers “could be enough to significantly reduce the value proposition for future solar buyers and could stifle San Diego’s burgeoning solar marketplace.” The local solar industry said it would “kill our industry.”
Before learning of the CPUC’s decision, San Marcos resident and solar homeowner Peg Mitchell said, "We always applauded SDG&E's efforts to promote efficiency and conservation but now we're surprised and angry that they are making a move that will effectively remove the main incentive to pursue solar as a clean, renewable source of energy."
Stephanie Jennings of Women Occupy San Diego said, “This solar tax SDG&E is trying to impose is just another example of what happens when powerful corporations motivated only by profit are able to influence public policy. SDG&E’s interests are inherently at odds with what’s best for the economy, public health, the environment and our nation’s energy independence. Their attempt to quash the growing distributed solar generation sector just to make a buck is nothing short of shameful.”
During the protest, the group sang improvised lyrics to the tune of “You are my Sunshine” to drive home its point. Upon hearing the news of the CPUC’s decision, SanDiego350.org volunteer organizer Pete Hasapopoulos said, “Hallelujah. Let the sun shine!”
Comments
SDGE charge for connection to the grid.
How can the utility even think of charging the public for generating electricity from which it benefits? Don't we already pay for that privilege with the automatic charge appended to every utility bill that attaches to the home whether or not it is connected to the grid? This charge goes to offset the cost of providing poles and wire for the consumers.
Since SDGE wants the consumers to pay for the fires the utility has caused, perhaps it would also like to disclose the salaries of their top managers, so the public can get a clearer picture of much they need this subsidy from the rate payers.