Government Watch: July 3, 2024

This bill restores the ability for utility customers with on-site solar generation to be credited for self-consuming that electricity in the same way as single family homeowners, even when the solar generation and electricity consumption are split between separate meters on the same property. For example, a school may have solar generated over its parking lot that is separately metered from the electricity being used by the classrooms. Currently, that solar energy is considered “exported” to the utility and compensated at only a very low price while the electricity for the classroom is simultaneously being purchased from the utility at a much higher price. SB 1374 will make sure that the school is fairly compensated by netting out generation and consumption occurring during the same time period across the multiple meters at that same school site, rather than treating all the solar energy as exported. By doing so, the bill will ensure that all utility customers, including apartment buildings, schools, community colleges, universities, water agencies, city facilities, farms and shopping centers with on-site generation are given fair and equal treatment for the energy that they self-consume, according to Becker’s office.

It now heads to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration.