Don’t let utilities kill net metering

By Abigail Black, San Francisco

Saturday, June 6, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Regarding your article “NV Energy fights to keep rooftop solar from cutting into its profit” (lasvegassun.com, May 25):

You highlight how Nevada and California are experiencing the same legislative battle over whether net metering is going to be extended.

Californians should know that net metering is hugely important for increasing the availability of solar energy because it gives fair credit to solar customers on their utility bills. The current net-metering program is simple, well understood and fair. It is transparent and has provided long-term market certainty, which has been foundational to its success. It has been a highly popular and successful policy used in 44 states (www.votesolar.org/fact-room). California should build on this successful foundation.

There’s an important battle coming up at the California Public Utilities Commission regarding net metering — just like there is in Nevada. It will have a huge impact on the future of rooftop solar.

The soon-to-be-debated issue has to do with whether net metering will be available for new solar customers in our sunny state after the cap that will sunset the program in 2017. The utilities are trying to block the growth of rooftop solar because they see it as a threat to their old way of doing business. But Californians shouldn’t stand for that! Readers should contact the CPUC and ask the agency to extend net metering.