1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The Newsom Administration's proposal to break nearly two million existing solar contracts is unacceptable. Retroactively changing the terms for solar customers who signed up before April 2023 by slashing their net metering credits and imposing new fees violates the state's interconnection agreements. These solar owners made investments with the reasonable expectation that their 20-year net metering contracts would be honored, as is standard practice based on solar panel warranties. Reneging on these deals erodes consumer confidence and threatens the state's clean energy goals. Rather than penalizing rooftop solar, which provides substantial benefits by reducing utility infrastructure needs, efforts should focus on reining in the utilities' excessive spending that is the primary driver of high rates. Rooftop solar helps reduce costs for all ratepayers - it saved $1.5 billion in 2024 alone. The Administration should address the root causes of rising rates instead of scapegoating solar owners to cover for its failure to properly regulate monopoly utility profits and expenditures. I urge you to reject this misguided proposal that breaks legally binding solar contracts. Honor the existing terms for pre-2023 solar customers and take action to control wasteful utility spending that burdens all Californians with inflated electricity bills. Upholding solar rights is crucial for meeting our clean energy needs affordably and equitably.