Increased net metering cap in California signed into law

Sacramento, CA, U.S.A. --- (METERING.COM) --- March 1, 2010 - Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger last week signed Bill AB 510, which raises the requirement on net metering in California in order to ensure that home and business owners continue to invest in solar power.
 
“California is showing the rest of the nation and the world that you can protect the environment and the economy at the same time,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “AB 510 will help us achieve our aggressive environmental and renewable energy goals by growing investment in solar and wind power throughout the state and reducing greenhouse gas emissions while creating green jobs at the same time.”

The current net metering requirement is 2.5 percent, but with solar installations rapidly growing in California and more than 50,000 homes and businesses generating their own solar power, many utilities have reached or are close to meeting this. AB 510 raises the requirement on net metering to 5 percent.

This follows the signing by Governor Schwarzenegger last year of other related legislation, including Bill AB 920, which expanded net metering programs to include solar or wind power, and SB 32, which increased limits for California’s feed-in tariff program including the size of eligible generation facilities from 1.5 MW to 3 MW.