California slashes incentives for new rooftop solar, promotes batteries to shift grid costs

Source: The San Diego Union-Tribune | By Rob Nikolewski

The California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday overhauled its rules for rooftop solar power, slashing subsidies for new solar installations while providing incentives for customers to add battery storage to their systems.

Mark Toney, TURN’s executive director called Thursday’s vote “a small step in the right direction” but said the decision “fails to significantly reduce the rapidly growing portion” of rates that all utility customers pay.

“These costs will instead be disproportionately born by the 45 percent of Californians, and two-thirds of low-income customers, who rent their homes, cannot install solar and will be left to pick up the tab,” he said.