Add your voice to the movement to save rooftop solar in California! Bowing to pressure from “investor owned utilities” (PG&E and its southern California partners in crime), the California Public Utilities Commission has proposed to drastically increase the cost of rooftop solar by
- Cutting the “net energy metering” credit by 80% (from an average of 25 cents per kilowatt hour to between 5 and 7 cents). This is the payment solar customers get when they upload electricity to the grid. It’s essential to making their initial investment in solar panels affordable.
- Adding a monthly “solar connection” flat fee averaging $57 for all residential solar customers. Schools and churches with more panels would pay between $950 and $3,400/month.
These measures would halt the progress toward rooftop solar and increase climate and environmental injustice.
The CPUC is planning to vote on this proposal sometime in February. But comments are needed at the next meeting on January 27.
Over 120,000 people have already submitted a public comment to the governor and CPUC. The editorial boards of the Sacramento Bee, LA Times and SF Chronicle have panned the CPUC’s proposal. But more is needed to show the breadth and depth of public opposition to this proposal.
* Sign the petition telling Governor Newsom to stop the plan to destroy rooftop solar.
* Call the Governor: 916-445-2841. Leave a message that you support rooftop soar, the fastest path to a clean energy grid; and are against punishing fees and drastically reduced compensation for excess power. More talking points in this toolkit. Hand-write a letter to the Governor! Real letters are rare and get noticed. Send to: 1021 O Street, Suite 9000 Sacramento, CA 95814.
* Write a letter to the editor of your local paper! Use the toolkit to craft a short letter to the editor. Letters to the editor are followed closely by our elected officials.
* Post to social media!
* Testify at the coming PUC meeting on Thursday, January 27th:
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Plan to dial into the CPUC’s phone line no later than 9:50 AM on Thursday 1/27. The CPUC’s meeting begins at 10 AM, and public comment begins shortly after. Many people are expected to give a public comment, which means you may be on hold for a while, perhaps more than two hours.
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Prepare Your Public Comment
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Solar Rights Alliance will host an optional prep call on Wednesday, January 26th at 6:00 pm to provide more background information, review tips to make an effective public comment, and answer questions.
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Provide Public Comment on January 27th – Instructions
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Call: 1-800-857-1917, passcode: 9899501# (Spanish speakers: 1-800-857-1917, passcode: 3799627#)
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To make a public comment during the public comment period, press *1 (star one) when you wish to speak to be placed in a queue by the operator. Once you press *1 you will be prompted to state your name and/or organization.
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Wait times may be lengthy depending on the number of speakers. Participants will be placed on mute in “listen-only” mode until the public comment portion of the meeting.
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To watch the meeting while you are on hold: www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc. (Note: To make a comment, you must join via the phone line.)
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If you experience difficulty calling into the Public Comment line, please send an email to VotingMeetingHelp@cpuc.ca.gov or call (415) 703-5263.
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