The California Public Utilities Commission In On The Verge Of Destroying The Solar Power Industry In California
Everyone The California Public Utilities Commission under pressure from PG and E is considering a move that would destroy the solar industry in California.
Most of us have heard that old saying: "The operation was a success but the patient died." Some years ago, the Australian Federal government made a move that many considered visionary and courageous. They decided to make Australia a solar power generator. They urged the Australian state governments to waive all permitting regulations to expedite the installation of solar panels on homes, apartment buildings, office buildings, etc. They were almost giving away solar panels to users. Solar panels started to sprout up everywhere. The program was a huge success with one unintended consequence. The electric power production companies in all the Australian states found themselves going broke. All they had left was uneconomic customers. They came with, as the old saying goes, "Their hat in their hands" asking for help. It is unclear how the various Australian governments solved the problem. I seriously doubt that they put a tax on solar users to keep obsolete and often polluting power producers going.
Since Elena and I went solar, we have been delighted with the dramatic reduction in our monthly electricity bill that used to range between $400 and $600 US. We noticed last month an ominous new charge on the bill. It warned us that we would need to pay a "Solar Tune-Up Fee" of between $750 and $1,100 in August of 2022.
I started doing some in-depth research. Sure enough, PG and E finds themselves in a position like the Australian power-producing companies after solar power took off in Australia. They are left with uneconomic less affluent customers. They claim that they need this new tax or fee to protect poor power users from massive rate increases. They try to appear to be altruistic and champion of the poor. In reality, they know if they raise rates on the poorest power consumers, these people will have legal avenues to lower these rates because they do not have the money to pay the new higher bills. When this happens, their profit margins will fall greatly.
This matter will be looked at by the California Public Utilities Commission on 27 January. Fortunately for all of us, Governor Gavin Newsom is aware of this move. He is against such an action. He calls for a serious and long-term study to address the problem. If this new fee or tax went into being, no one would buy solar anymore. Our hopes for a green energy future would be dashed.
I see a possible solution here. It comes from South Africa. Eskom is the power company there. It has not reached a point where solar panels are threatening its revenues. It is suffering from a chronic problem called "load shedding." For some hours every day, the power goes off to customers. There are all sorts of noble plans in the works for wind farms, solar panel farms, clean nuclear energy, etc. These are long in the future. One group decided to "think outside the box" and come up with a counterintuitive solution. They identified three old and obsolete coal-powered plants still in service. Obviously, these plants spew tons of poison into the atmosphere each day. They also have huge maintenance expenses. The recommendation was to close these three old plants and redeploy the money being spent on them to more modern power plants. It would solve the problem short term. PG and E needs to consider this option seriously.