Rebate Debacle Rebuked
This year there has been a significant drop in the number ofCalifornia solar rebate applications; and indeed, many small installers have suffered an slowdown in their business this year. This is primarily due to an un-intended clause in the recentCalifornia rebate policy that required rebate recipients to purchase time of use power contracts. For a residential customer, this essentially made the cost per solar watt, the same as the peak rate (highest daily rate) from the utility. The consequence of this is that power would cost more from a person who made the investment in solar, than it would from the utility.
Now this obviously is a contradiction to the Governor’s million solar roofs program which is an ambitious goal to cut California’s dependence on fossil-based energies. In order to address this problem the Governor is rushing an amended bill through the California Legislature to fix the obvious fly in the ointment. The LA Time story has the details of this change and the benefits that removing the problem-causing clause will have.
Personally, I commend the Governor for taking steps to address this issue. I have been reading a number of solar blogs lately, and there seems to be discussion of conspiracy around the legislated loophole. Regardless, I will do my part to make sure the million roofs number happens.
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