California Assembly passes pro-renewables bill

Sep 13, 2013 - The California State Assembly on Thursday gave the go-ahead to a bill that would allow the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to lift the 33% renewable share requirement for utilities, among other provisions.

The legislation AB 327, passed the state senate earlier this month, while Governor Jerry Brown will now have the final say.

The bill also preserves California’s net metering programme -- a mechanism that allows owners of rooftop solar systems to get compensations for the power they feed to the grid. Under AB 327 the utilities regulator will make changes to the programme that would come into force in 2017.

Furthermore, the proposed legislation will give CPUC the right to adjust calculations of utility bill rates in order to reduce bills for high-end energy users in California’s inland areas. It is expected that the changes will result in higher bills for consumers living at coastal areas. AB 327 also authorises the commission to introduce a fixed charge of no more than USD 10 (EUR 0.075) to the monthly bills of residential consumers.

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