San Diego Renewable Energy Society

SDG&E proposes hikes in electricity rates, including a monthly "transmission and distribution" surcharge for solar panels connected to the electrical grid that would apply to export and import of energy.

SDRES Position Paper on: SDG&E Charging Residential Customers with PV Systems a Network Use Charge

The San Diego Renewable Energy Society (SDRES) recommends that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) reject the "network use charge" proposed by San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) as the proposed charge will:

increase rates disproportionately for SDG&E customers that already have installed solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in violation of Net Energy Metering (NEM) law,

discourage the purchase of solar PV systems by other residents in SDG&E territory,

threaten California's goals to have:
- 3,000 MW of distributed solar energy systems installed by the end of 2016 for the Million Solar Roofs Initiative,
- 33% of retail electricity demand served by renewable sources by 2020 for Executive Order S-14-08 and the California Air Resource Board’s AB 32.

SDRES further recommends that the CPUC and California Energy Commission (CEC) investigate the actual costs incurred by SDG&E and their customers with solar PV systems before making any rulings to adjust utility rates. SDRES believes the rules that allow the CPUC to pass proposed rate increases need to be revised with respect to the current state of distributed generation made possible by residential solar PV systems. Read Full Position Paper

CCSE Analysis
SDG&E Proposes New Rates for Solar Customers San Diego Gas & Electric ( SDG&E) has filed their 2012 General Rate Case, which upon approval by the California Public Utilities Commission ( CPUC), will determine its rates and tariffs for 2012-2015. Read more

"It is unlikely that they'll get the legislature/governor to change the law anytime soon," the group wrote in a recent blog post. "However, after 2016, our clear skies forecast gets fuzzier." Read full article

A state regulator on Wednesday [01/18/2012] rejected San Diego Gas & Electric Co.'s proposed network use charge,..
CPUC REJECTS SDG&E PLAN TO CHARGE SOLAR HOMEOWNERS & BUSINESS OWNERS

San Diego Union Tribune
Letters: solar power, Saturday, December 10, 2011
If we are to follow Erik Bruvold’s premise (“Solar flare-up: Rate structure should be fair, economically sustainable” Dialog, Dec. 4), then those driving fuel-efficient electric or hybrid vehicles should pay an additional surcharge to the gasoline companies and governments because they’re using less gasoline, paying less tax on gas, which creates less revenue for the roads and the “grid” infrastructure they use. Read more

Carmel Valley News
Debra Reed, the CEO of Sempra Energy, and Michael Niggli, the COO of San Diego Gas & Electric, are dancing on the Titanic tonight. SDG&E filed an application to the Public Utilities Commission on Oct. 3 to effectively kill rooftop and commercial solar in San Diego County. Profits are up at Sempra Energy. Other utility executives around the nation play in the band. Full Story

The Sacramento Bee
Viewpoints: Home solar owners deserve a fair rate
Rooftop solar owners and installers in the San Diego Gas & Electric region are up in arms over recent proposed hikes in electricity costs. Full Story

SDG&E Fees Fact Sheet
Petition against rate hikes
Send letter to CPUC commissioners
Dianne Jacob's Letter

CPUC - proceeding A1110002: who is assigned to it, who supports it, and who is against, and why, and SDG&E Application, dated 10/03/2011, on the bottom of the page.

Currently SDG&E pays for a surplus energy generated by customers on net-metering 3.876 cents per kWh.

Please see SDG&E’s website for explanation of peak demand and compare it to the SDG&E’s CPUC Application. What is your conclusion?