Monday, May 28, 2012

Sullivan Solar Power Stands Up in Recent Statewide Net Metering Debate

The solar energy industry has come together to dispute the investor owned utility companies' efforts to destabilize the net metering law. This law, effective in its current form since 1998, has enabled over 100,000 solar power systems to be connected to the grid. Various entities, including schools, businesses, water districts, and homeowners receive fair credit for the electricity their solar power systems provide to the grid through net-metering.

However, the utilities are refuting a Public Utilities Proposed Decision which would require them to comply with the legislature's directives. At issue is the cap, or number of systems that can be installed in California. Currently the law states that ratepayers are permitted to install solar power systems under net-metering until such time that the amount of power installed is equal to 5 percent of the sum of peak demand of each customer in a given utility territory. The utilities argue that the number of systems should be limited to only 5 percent of the utility's peak demand. This slight difference in language would result in a halving of the amount of solar that could be deployed in the State. Should the utilities succeed in rebuking the Public Utilities Commission and State Legislature on this issue, there will be a negative impact on solar employees, companies, and producers.

Dan Sullivan, president of San Diego-based solar company Sullivan Solar Power has recently entered the fray to oppose the utilities' unwillingness to comply with statute. Sullivan has ventured to San Francisco, most recently on May 3rd, to meet with the Public Utilities Commission and express his company's concerns in person. As witnessed in similar cases it is rare for a local solar integrator to engage the Public Utilities Commission on Statewide issues. This is generally left to industry associations. However, Sullivan recognizes his actions as vital to ensure that his customers and employees will continue to benefit from the opportunities that solar energy has to offer.

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