With an anticipated Dec. 15 fee vote looming, the California Photo voltaic & Storage Affiliation (CALSSA) remains to be hoping to persuade the California Public Utilities Fee to make extra modifications to NEM 3.0, the subsequent step within the state’s photo voltaic net-metering program. CALSSA is utilizing all instruments at its disposal — from public stress to conversations with commissioners — to push for some remaining tweaks to the brand new net-metering regime.
“That is going to harm it doesn’t matter what, however proper now it’s fairly devastating ache,” mentioned Bernadette Del Chiaro, govt director of CALSSA.
Above all, the group is looking for increased export compensation charges for a extra gradual “glide path” than the one specified by the proposed choice (PD). CALSSA’s unique proposal to the CPUC was an eight-year glide path, however the PD incorporates a five-year path with a 75% common lower of exported vitality worth from NEM 2.0 in 12 months 1. CALSSA says that glide path is extra of a cliff.
The construction for the brand new web billing proposal consists of base hourly export compensation charges with a special 24-hour profile for every month and for weekends vs. weekdays. Photo voltaic clients additionally obtain a small averted price adder in PG&E and SCE territory.
An instance of a base export compensation charge chart for PG&E clients on weekdays put collectively by CALSSA. The warmth map highlights the bottom and highest export charges for the 12 months. These charts would apply to each residential and business photo voltaic clients.
The Prevented Price adders, which is able to stay fixed for a buyer for 9 years from the interconnection date within the PD. The adders will lower by 20% yearly till they attain zero.
The CPUC has emphasised {that a} main aim of NEM 3.0 is to encourage extra individuals to pair photo voltaic with storage to dispatch photo voltaic to the grid when it wants the ability most. However CALSSA believes these modifications will not be practically complete sufficient to help the expansion of a wholly new trade.
“No one ought to should open up this [Avoided Cost Calculator] chart every day and see if they need to reprogram their battery. We’re not there but. That is the entire thought of the [glide path],” Del Chiaro mentioned.
CALSSA can also be pushing for extra parity for the business sector in NEM 3.0, together with colleges, flats, farms and different entities. Whereas residential clients in PG&E or SCE territory obtain a small averted price adder, business clients obtain no adder within the PD.
“They’re treating business fairly roughly,” Del Chiaro mentioned.
The CPUC is accepting feedback on the PD till Nov. 30. CALSSA is contributing to these feedback, speaking to commissioners instantly and organizing a day of rallies on Dec. 1. The rallies will happen in cities throughout the state, from San Francisco to San Diego, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. PT that day.
In accordance with the CPUC’s proceeding brochure, an Alternate Proposed Resolution will be filed by a commissioner previous to the ultimate vote. In that case, the commissioners take into account the PD and the Alternate Proposed Resolution on the Voting Assembly. CALSSA will probably be pushing for an alternate proposal till that day.
