Melvin Ladousier: PG&E tardy in putting solar customers online
Our neighbors had solar panels installed on their home four months ago and Pacific Gas & Electric’s representative was onsite to inspect and sign off on the contractor’s work. Yet PG&E has to date failed to allow them to use the system. Solar contractors have continually, for the past year, called us trying to get us to have solar panels installed on our house. We are reluctant to consider going to such great expense only to have PG&E delay putting it online.
Several months ago it came to light that PG&E is petitioning the California Public Utilities Commission for elimination of the A6 tariff and move solar customers to the A10 classification which includes demand charges. The “grandfathering” of existing A6 customers has yet to be resolved. Under the A10 tariff, payback on investment for the homeowner would be realized not in 5 years, as under the A6 tariff, but in 20 years. That’s bad for the solar homeowner but good for PG&E. When it comes to going green, PG&E seems to speak out of both sides of its mouth. Time for the CPUC to start reading between the lines of PG&E petitions and start looking out for the consumer.
Melvin Ladousier, Merced
This story was originally published October 26, 2015 at 1:11 PM with the headline "Melvin Ladousier: PG&E tardy in putting solar customers online."