Last week San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) became the first utility in California to meet its limit for net-metering under California’s original rooftop solar subsidy with 90,000 rooftop solar installations in its service area, comprising 5 percent of its generation base. Now the utility is the first to transition to net-metering 2.0 for new rooftop solar power customers.
Under net metering 2.0 San Diego’s solar customers will still be compensated for the power they produce. However, there will be some changes to the program. Sullivan Solar Power, an installer in the region said solar arrays now have a one-time connection fee of $132 and that customers are charged 2 cents per kilowatt hour delivered to a home. “For a typical customer who uses 500 kilowatt hours per month, the new charge would amount to $10 per month,” the company said. In addition, starting in 2017 all SDG&E customers are now subject to time of use pricing.
Under the new plan customers can apply online for net metering. Applications will be accepted within 24 hours, according to SDG&E.
“Transitioning new private solar customers to the next phase of the net energy metering program is another sign that our region is a leader in the clean energy movement,” said Caroline Winn, chief energy delivery officer, SDG&E. “Advancing clean energy solutions like solar and electric vehicle adoption is one way we’re working hard to provide our customers with more sustainable energy choices.”
Those in the process of installing solar were notified that they would come under the new version of net metering earlier this month, SDG&E said.
Those customers who are already under the original net-metering program will stay under it for 20 years from the time they signed for it, SDG&E said. Such customers also can modify their systems if they need to.
The utility has aggressively supported solar energy and renewable energy. As such it said more than 33 percent of its electricity comes from renewable resources already and it is on track to deliver more than 40 percent of its electric generation from renewables by 2018. Ultimately the city plans to source 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2035.
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