For the last year, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has been deliberating about the future of Net Energy Metering (NEM) in California. This policy determines how much solar owners are credited by utilities for energy produced by private solar panels.

The CPUC has been expected to release its third iteration of NEM, appropriately named NEM 3.0, for some time and the agency recently announced that its decision could come in July or August. Here is what’s at stake and how to stay involved in the coming months.

NEM 3.0 Impacts

Simply put, the current proposal for NEM 3.0 is not favorable to residential or commercial solar panel owners. NEM 3.0 will cut reimbursements for excess residential solar production by significantly and add grid-related fees to both commercial and residential customers. Fees will also be higher for customers with energy storage.

In addition to hurting existing solar owners, the NEM 3.0 proposal is expected to reduce the number of new rooftop installations as well. A recent poll showed that 64% of homeowners would be less likely to install solar if the new rates are confirmed. This is sure to offset the enormous gains in efficiency and cost savings the solar industry has made in recent years.

How to Stay Involved

While these facts can feel discouraging, there is still hope. If you would like to show your support for solar and energy independence, we have found a couple ways to get involved!

The Solar Rights Alliance has put together a petition to Governor Newsom opposing the current proposal for NEM 3.0, you can learn more here. Alternatively, this link will connect you to a call to Governor Newsom’s office, where you can share your personal thoughts on solar.

The California Solar + Storage Association (CALSSA) will be also hosting rallies in San Francisco and Los Angeles on June 2. RSVP here if you are interested in attending.

As always, if you have more questions about solar and NEM 3.0, the Sunworks team is happy to help. Feel free to reach out to us anytime!