Senate approves legislation to allow consumers to use self-generated solar energy

On May 21, the state Senate approved legislation allowing entities such as schools, apartments, shopping centers and farms to consume their self-generated solar energy and save on utility costs, according to a press release. The bill now heads to the state Assembly for consideration.

SB 1374, which was authored by state Sen. Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park, would give utility customers with multiple meters the ability to be fairly compensated for their solar generation.

“SB 1374 removes a burdensome barrier and restores the ability for customers to self-consume the energy they produce on their property,” said Becker in a Tuesday, May 21, statement. “This bill is simply a matter of fairness. Multiple-metered customers should get the same treatment as everyone else – not have to sell their power to the utility at low prices and immediately buy it back at much higher retail prices.”

Many of California’s multi-metered buildings are schools which are working to transition to clean energy for its affordability and the healthier environments gas-free energy sources create. Schools are currently being charged high prices by utility companies for electricity used in classrooms and are compensated a low price for solar energy that’s exported to the utility, according to the release. 

“We must ensure our schools are resilient to the increasingly frequent and long-lasting impacts of climate change, and that our kids can stay in school and continue learning despite these disruptions,” said Stephanie Seidmon, program director of UndauntedK12, in a statement. “Solar energy and battery storage are critical to protecting learning time, and they’re critical to meeting our state’s clean energy and climate adaptation goals. We need it to pencil out for schools.”

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