The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) has recently released their long-anticipated update to the solar net energy metering (NEM) rules for California. This third iteration, NEM3 looks to correct some of the imbalances and cost-shifts that occur from solar to non-solar customers and incentivize the inclusion of batteries with residential solar, but how it has been proposed would potentially do more harm than good.

‍

In this quick conversation, Atmos co-founder & CEO Ravi Mikkelsen speaks with Carter Lavin, the Membership Director, for the California Solar and Storage Association (CALSSA) about what it would mean for the California solar industry, and specifically residential customers and installers.

‍

‍

We agree that NEM needs to evolve, but so does our overall rate and incentive structure to better incorporate smart meters, solar, battery storage, electrification, and our ability to automatically time-shift loads through constantly improving modern hardware & software. The proposal as written is in opposition to the state's goals of decarbonization and overly punitive to early-adopters of solar and does not adequately address the benefits that they bring to the grid, nor does this rule effectively solve the issues that it intends to. Our hope is that Governor Newsom and the CPUC further modify the proposal before their final ruling in January.

‍

CalSSA is a 501(c)6 not for profit, and is included on the Atmos' platform for customers to donate to, fee-free. All donations made to CalSSA through Atmos go into the "Save our Solar Fund".

‍

Learn More & Upcoming Events

— On Jan 13, 2022 at 11AM, CalSSA is organizing a rally in front of the CPUC's offices in San Francisco.

— In-depth LA Times article by Sammy Roth

— CPUC press release & full draft text