Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is proposing that the California Public Utility Commission approve a usage-based demand charge and new compensation for the amount solar customers are credited when they deliver power back to the grid. The net impact of the changes proposed by PG&E would be about $20 monthly for a typical prospective solar customer planning to install a 3.7 kW solar system. PG&E said, “It will better reflect the value of that power to other customers who will use it. Solar customers would still realize savings of more than 50 percent on their monthly bill.”

Bills for existing solar customers and customers who do not generate solar power would not be affected. PG&E is also proposing that solar customer bills be reconciled monthly, replacing annual true-ups.

PG&E also is advocating that the state count rooftop solar toward its new renewable energy targets.