To the editor,
I find myself in agreement with columnist Sammy Roth that the ongoing debate over net metering for existing rooftop solar systems is quite unnecessary. However, the conversation should pivot more towards how we can incentivize future rooftop solar implementations.
My wife and I recently decided to invest in solar panels paired with a battery backup system. This setup efficiently powers our home without us needing to tap into the grid. During peak sunlight hours, rather than selling excess power back to the grid, I use it to charge our electric vehicle. This change has significantly reduced our electric bill from nearly $300 to just $70 a month, not to mention eliminated fuel costs for our car. With these savings, combined with the 30% tax credit for our solar installation, our investment has proven to be extremely worthwhile.
What’s truly needed is support for homeowners who can’t afford the upfront costs of installing such systems. Apart from this, additional incentives seem unnecessary.
Karl Reitz, San Clemente
To the editor,
California utilities raise a valid point — the building and operation of the electrical grid undeniably incur costs and provide value. If customers were to pay solely for their consumed energy, these costs might not be adequately covered. Companies like Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric already address this through “demand charges” in some of their tariff schedules.
A fair and straightforward approach would be to impose a two-part charge for all customers, including those who reside in households. This would consist of a monthly fee for grid connection, paired with a separate charge based on net energy consumption. Such a system would eliminate any logical opposition to true net metering.
Bob Wieting, Simi Valley
To the editor,
The power utilities are plunging into a downward spiral. Every individual who installs solar panels becomes a lost revenue opportunity for them, leading utilities to spread misinformation and unfairly blame solar users for raising power prices. It’s clear they prioritize protecting their own financial interests over ours. As prices soar, more people turn to solar, further cutting into utility profits. Consequently, utilities try to inflate the cost of solar and shift the blame for their own price hikes. California needs extensive distributed solar energy to boost resilience and safeguard the environment.
Doug Macmillan, Torrance
To the editor,
Instead of penalizing solar panel incentives, we should be focusing on expanding them.
Edward Bravo, Walnut
To the editor,
Renewable energy shields us from supply disruptions, price unpredictability, and even geopolitical vulnerabilities. Plus, it helps mitigate the impacts of climate change, like storms, droughts, wildfires, rising seas, and ocean acidification, which result from our reliance on fossil fuels. It’s akin to buying a cheap printer only to be burdened with exorbitantly priced ink for its lifetime. Installing solar can lock in electricity costs at just pennies per kWh for up to 25 years.
Tom Hazelleaf, Seal Beach
