WEBVTT
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Good morning.
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We need to start by establishing a quorum.
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Agenda Clerk, could you please call the role?
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Commissioner Houck?
Here.
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Commissioner Shiroma?
Present.
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Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
Here.
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President Reynolds?
Here.
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A quorum has been established.
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Welcome everyone to the
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California Public Utilities Commission meeting.
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I'm calling this meeting of January 27th, 2022,
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Public Agenda Number 3501 to order.
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Due to the Coronavirus pandemic,
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pursuant to the authorization of Section Two
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of Assembly Bill 361,
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we are conducting today's business meeting online
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by remote participation.
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The meeting is live streamed on the PUC's website.
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You can view the meeting at www.Adminmonitor.com/CA/CPUC.
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Closed captioning is available in English
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and Spanish through the webcast.
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To view the closed captioning,
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click the green button beneath the webcast video player,
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and follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
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We also have Spanish interpretation available
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during the public comment portion of today's meeting.
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Dial 800-857-1917,
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passcode: 3799627#,
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and follow the instructions
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to be connected to the Spanish line.
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I ask that my colleagues
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and today's speakers remain mindful,
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and speak clearly and slowly.
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I will also occasionally pause for interpretation.
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(operator speaks in Spanish)
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Public engagement is critical to the CPUC process.
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If you wish to make a public comment on the English line,
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dial into 800-58...
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Excuse me.
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Let me start over.
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800-857-1917, and enter passcode:
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9899501#, and press *1.
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You'll be placed into a queue,
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and the operator will take your name and information.
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You will be called upon to speak
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when we get to the public comment period in today's agenda.
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If you encounter difficulty
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calling into the public telephone line,
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please email Votingmeetinghelp@CPUC.CA.gov.
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Thank you to all the members of the public
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who have joined today.
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Before we begin public comment,
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I wanna pause for a moment to reflect on the month ahead.
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As we come to the end of January,
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and look forward towards February,
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we take this moment to acknowledge Black History Month,
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and the history and accomplishments of African Americans
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as we celebrate.
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As we strive to be better,
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we embrace the opportunities
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that Black History Month offers to honor the work
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and achievements of African Americans throughout history.
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Those achievements in politics, law,
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civil rights, the arts, entertainment, sports, and science,
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all aspects of this country's history,
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shape our realities today.
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The theme of this year's Black History Month
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is Black health and wellness.
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Given the continued presence of the COVID-19 pandemic,
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and the focus on African American history of physical
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and emotional health,
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the disparities that are readily apparent
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should be discussed and better understood.
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As a community, together, we remember the work,
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strife, accomplishments, and contributions
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of African Americans throughout history.
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But our work together is not done,
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and there is much more to be done.
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Inequality still burdens too many.
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And as decision makers this month, and every month,
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it is our responsibility to incorporate
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the principles of justice, inclusion,
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and equity into all that we do.
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February 1st also marks the start of the Lunar New Year,
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an auspicious holiday,
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and week long celebration with family and friends,
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symbolizing a fresh start and renewal.
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2022 is the year of the tiger.
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Both celebrations are a time of traditions
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and customs focusing on family, friends, and community.
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Wishing you all good health and good fortune.
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I will now turn to public comment.
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If you wish to make a public comment,
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and you have already dialed
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into the public comment telephone line,
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please press *1, and unmute your phone
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to enter the public comment queue.
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CPUC rules do not allow for parties
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and proceedings to speak about open proceedings.
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The public can make comments addressing items
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on the consent and regular agenda,
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as well as items not on the agenda.
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Please note that there will not be public comment
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on items 2, 17, and 18,
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and all items on the closed session agenda.
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You will have one minute to speak.
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You will hear a bell sound when your time is up.
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Please be mindful of other speakers in the queue,
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and keep to your allotted time.
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As a reminder,
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please speak clearly
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and slowly to accommodate Spanish interpreters
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who are available during the
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public comment portion of today's meeting.
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With that guidance in mind,
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I welcome today's speakers.
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I will now turn to the operator
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to open the public comment telephone line.
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Operator?
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The public comment line is now open.
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If you wish to speak during the public comment period,
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please press *1, unmute your phone,
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and clearly record your first and last name when prompted.
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Our first comment comes from Dylan Mathias.
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You may go ahead.
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Yeah, can you hear me?
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Yes, we can.
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Please proceed.
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Yeah, my name's Dylan.
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I work for First Response Solar.
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I'm one of the owners in Sebastopol.
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And I am calling in in regards to
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the decision about the CPUC and the energy metering.
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Just wanted to say that, the current proposal,
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I hope it's being revised and looked at it.
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The current proposal as is
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would ultimately end our industry,
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and I hope that the CPUC takes a look at it.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Operator, next caller, please.
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Our next caller is from Vincent Battaglia.
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You may go ahead.
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Good morning, Commissioners!
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My name is Vincent Battaglia.
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I'm the founder/CEO of Renova Energy Corporation,
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a rooftop solar and battery integrator founded in 2006.
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I represented a 275 person employee-owned company,
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with 10,000 happy customers,
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and a combined 35 million dollars
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in annual electric savings.
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I've got a true story for you.
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Our region is bifurcated
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by two of the state's electric utility monopolies,
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Southern California Edison
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and the Imperial Irrigation District.
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The Imperial Irrigation District
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created a Frankenstein monster called net billing in 2015.
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In the years since,
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net billing has eviscerated the choice of rooftop solar,
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so that they can maintain an unchecked monopoly.
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NEM3 is also called net billing.
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It was built by the utility monopoly
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for the utility monopoly.
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Guaranteed, it will eviscerate rate payer choice
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and thousands of rooftop solar careers,
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just as the Imperial Irrigation District has done.
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No, please, to NEM 3.0.
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Let's begin, instead,
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to dismantle the electric utility monopoly
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in favor of a cleaner energy future
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secured by rooftop solar.
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Thank you for my time.
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Thank you very much.
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Operator, next caller, please.
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Our next caller is Steve Beck.
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You may go ahead.
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Yes.
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My name is Steve Beck.
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To stop climate change,
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we must have government mandated incentives
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to promote new and existing solar.
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And if we pay people who have excess rooftop solar
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to sell it back to the grid,
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this will increase our use of renewable energy.
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Increasing our use of renewable energy
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is what it's all about.
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So if we pay people who have excess rooftop solar
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to sell it back to the grid,
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this will increase our use of renewable energy.
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Let's keep California the nation's leader
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in promoting solar power.
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Thank you, guys.
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Thank you.
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Operator, next caller, please.
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Our next caller is Carol Cole-Lewis.
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You may go ahead.
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Good morning.
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I am commenting on the proposed NEM tariff provisions.
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I've been an independent solar consultant in poor,
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rural Lake County since 2016.
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My customers are currently not eligible
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for any low income solar programs,
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because, evidently, Lake County air is not polluted enough.
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However, my homeowners still want rooftop solar,
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'cause they want more freedom
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and control over their own energy destiny.
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The proposed NEM revisions would not only bring
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my business here to a screeching halt,
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but also will prohibit my lower income Lake County neighbors
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and friends from going solar.
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Please consider the poor, rural California counties,
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and allow us to achieve more energy independence,
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and to do our part towards helping California achieve
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her climate action goals.
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I urge you to keep solar affordable,
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and reject the proposed NEM tariff revisions.
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Thank you for your time and consideration.
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Thank you.
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Operator, next caller, please.
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Our next caller is Joseph Robinson.
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You may go ahead.
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Good morning, Commissioners!
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My name is Joseph Robinson.
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I am retired.
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Two years ago, my wife and I downsized,
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and used part of the proceeds to pay for solar
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and batteries in our new residence.
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We now live in a HOA community
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in the High Desert of Apple Valley.
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We are not rich,
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unlike those who say, "Solar is for the rich".
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Now you wanna break your word.
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I ask myself, where is your honor?
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I say, no solar tax of any kind
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ensure us that solar will become more affordable
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for working folks, middle class households,
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retirees, and senior citizens.
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Do not turn your back on those
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who will be affected the most.
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A sudden spike in cost can cause many of us
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to cut back on food, medicine, transportation,
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home heating, and water usage.
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Fixed income, I'm sure you have heard of that.
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For the planet,
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(bell dinging)
go big, go bold,
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and help protect our precious planet.
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Thank you very much.
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I'd like to take a moment to recognize
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that we currently have 455 callers in the queue.
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If callers could take care
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to keep their comments within the one minute,
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and I would even ask
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if commenters could shorten their comments.
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We are listening very carefully to every single caller,
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but we have a lot of people waiting today,
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and for everyone's time,
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if we could keep comments as short as possible.
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Thank you very much.
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Operator, let's go to the next caller.
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Our next caller is Adlai Outa.
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You may go ahead.
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Again, Adlai Outa, we are not able to hear you.
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Can you please check
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your mute button?
Oh, can you hear me now?
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Can you hear me?
Yes, we can.
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Okay.
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My name is Adlai Outa with Magic Sun Solar,
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located in Loomis, near Sacramento.
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I've been selling residential solar now for over 12 years.
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NEM 3.0 in its current form will kill solar for me
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and the nearly 70,000 solar workers in California.
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It will also prevent hundreds of thousand
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California electricity consumers from going solar,
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because of the prohibitively high solar tax being proposed.
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Many of my customers are retirees on fixed income,
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or are just trying to stay above water
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due to rising electricity rates.
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NEM 3.0 will prevent them from doing so.
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The vast majority of my customers are regular,
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everyday people in middle class,
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residential PG&E territories,
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who are just trying to stay ahead
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of the rising cost of electricity.
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NEM 3.0 will prohibit them from going solar.
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Please prevent NEM 3.0 from going forward
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in its current form.
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Thank you.
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Thank you.
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Operator, next caller, please.
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The next caller is Mike Rosenfeld.
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You may go ahead.
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Mike Rosenfeld from Redondo Beach, California
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with Power of Public Benefit Company.
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I lost my job in December of 2019.
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Three months later, the pandemic hit.
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My family got hit with
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the biggest hardship we have ever faced.
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In September, 2020, I found Power,
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and have been learning and growing my own solar business.
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I have an eight-year-old daughter that I provide for.
00:15:42.940 --> 00:15:45.240
My business recently started picking up,
00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:48.570
and I'm finally climbing out of the hole from 2020.
00:15:48.570 --> 00:15:50.650
Every customer that has gone solar is happy
00:15:50.650 --> 00:15:52.090
and in a better place.
00:15:52.090 --> 00:15:53.150
I'm in a better place,
00:15:53.150 --> 00:15:55.070
and the planet is in a better place.
00:15:55.070 --> 00:15:56.740
So what are we doing here?
00:15:56.740 --> 00:16:00.100
The specifics of my story are unique, but my story is not.
00:16:00.100 --> 00:16:02.500
Solar energy is changing so many lives.
00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:03.680
Are we really gonna take away
00:16:03.680 --> 00:16:06.630
the tens of thousands of jobs that solar provides,
00:16:06.630 --> 00:16:08.253
and the hundreds of thousands of jobs
00:16:08.253 --> 00:16:10.090
that this exponentially growing industry
00:16:10.090 --> 00:16:11.800
will provide in the future?
00:16:11.800 --> 00:16:14.740
Please do not pass this proposed decision.
00:16:14.740 --> 00:16:16.360
California needs needs to continue
00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:18.210
to move forward, not backwards.
00:16:18.210 --> 00:16:19.660
Thank you.
00:16:19.660 --> 00:16:20.493
Thank you.
00:16:20.493 --> 00:16:22.490
Operator, next caller, please.
00:16:25.190 --> 00:16:27.700
Our next caller is Kyle Severns.
00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:28.550
You may go ahead.
00:16:29.870 --> 00:16:31.303
Hi, my name's Kyle Severns.
00:16:31.303 --> 00:16:34.000
I work for Solar Technologies in San Ramon.
00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:36.200
I'm proud to have worked in the solar industry in California
00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.360
for the last 15 years,
00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:40.317
and greatly hope to be able to do so for another 15.
00:16:40.317 --> 00:16:43.800
The CPUC's proposed decision would not allow me to do so,
00:16:43.800 --> 00:16:45.760
and would immediately halt the sustainable growth
00:16:45.760 --> 00:16:47.280
of green energy in our state,
00:16:47.280 --> 00:16:49.760
while killing thousands of solar jobs.
00:16:49.760 --> 00:16:51.650
Myself, and so many other California workers,
00:16:51.650 --> 00:16:52.650
have committed their lives
00:16:52.650 --> 00:16:54.470
to this great environmental cause.
00:16:54.470 --> 00:16:55.627
Please don't allow utility pressure
00:16:55.627 --> 00:16:58.140
and misinformation to undo that work.
00:16:58.140 --> 00:16:59.560
California must continue to lead
00:16:59.560 --> 00:17:01.200
when it comes to solar energy.
00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:03.740
This decision, as written, would instantly make California
00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:05.890
the least solar-friendly state in the country.
00:17:05.890 --> 00:17:07.470
Please say no to the solar tax,
00:17:07.470 --> 00:17:09.411
and reject this proposed disaster.
00:17:09.411 --> 00:17:10.244
Thank you.
00:17:11.108 --> 00:17:12.160
Thank you.
00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.713
Operator, next caller, please.
00:17:15.550 --> 00:17:17.180
Our next caller is Brett Phillips.
00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:18.030
You may go ahead.
00:17:19.130 --> 00:17:19.963
Good morning.
00:17:19.963 --> 00:17:20.796
My name is Brett Phillips.
00:17:20.796 --> 00:17:22.440
I'm a co-founder of Unico Solar,
00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:24.380
which is building and operating dozens of
00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:26.900
commercial solar projects throughout California.
00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:29.430
We bring clean, affordable energy to schools
00:17:29.430 --> 00:17:30.520
that educate our kids,
00:17:30.520 --> 00:17:32.210
life science companies that are performing
00:17:32.210 --> 00:17:33.680
life-saving research,
00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:35.277
farmers that put food on our tables,
00:17:35.277 --> 00:17:37.330
and many more organizations that provide
00:17:37.330 --> 00:17:39.580
important services to our communities.
00:17:39.580 --> 00:17:42.380
We strongly oppose the proposed NEM3 policy,
00:17:42.380 --> 00:17:43.750
which will kill our ability
00:17:43.750 --> 00:17:45.980
to continue this work in California.
00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:47.240
I have a one-year-old son,
00:17:47.240 --> 00:17:50.820
and for me, Unico Solar represents my duty as a parent
00:17:50.820 --> 00:17:51.840
and as a human being
00:17:51.840 --> 00:17:54.580
to leave a more sustainable world for ourselves
00:17:54.580 --> 00:17:55.870
and our children.
00:17:55.870 --> 00:17:57.670
Through many late nights and weekends,
00:17:57.670 --> 00:18:01.170
we are in the process of delivering on that responsibility,
00:18:01.170 --> 00:18:03.290
but NEM3 will kill that work,
00:18:03.290 --> 00:18:05.700
and force our business out of the state.
00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:08.980
I urge you to modify the NEM3 proposal to give our,
00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:11.550
to give customers the full value of electricity,
00:18:11.550 --> 00:18:14.290
and preserve our ability to deliver
00:18:14.290 --> 00:18:16.760
on our sacred duty to protect our climate
00:18:16.760 --> 00:18:18.060
for future generations.
00:18:18.060 --> 00:18:19.600
Thank you.
00:18:19.600 --> 00:18:20.640
Thank you.
00:18:20.640 --> 00:18:22.290
Operator, next caller, please.
00:18:24.910 --> 00:18:27.240
Our next caller is Steve Kruetzfeldt.
00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:28.140
Your line is open.
00:18:29.770 --> 00:18:31.260
Hi, this is Keith Kruetzfeldt.
00:18:31.260 --> 00:18:33.500
I am the owner of Suntegrity Solar.
00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:35.360
We've been installing rooftop solar
00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:37.320
in the North Bay for 12 years.
00:18:37.320 --> 00:18:38.500
And I'd just like to thank you
00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:40.540
for the chance to speak today.
00:18:40.540 --> 00:18:41.820
The utilities want you to believe
00:18:41.820 --> 00:18:44.970
the rich are going solar at the expense of the poor.
00:18:44.970 --> 00:18:46.480
The reality is,
00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:49.470
our largest customer base is the middle class
00:18:49.470 --> 00:18:51.170
that elects to go solar for financial
00:18:51.170 --> 00:18:52.670
and environmental benefits,
00:18:52.670 --> 00:18:56.090
including many PG&E employees.
00:18:56.090 --> 00:18:58.840
I implore you to abandon the proposed decision,
00:18:58.840 --> 00:19:00.360
and work closely with CalSSA
00:19:00.360 --> 00:19:05.360
to ensure NEM3 preserves the 50,000-plus jobs in California,
00:19:06.060 --> 00:19:09.280
and supports California's most important demographic,
00:19:09.280 --> 00:19:10.310
the middle class.
00:19:10.310 --> 00:19:11.930
Thank you.
00:19:11.930 --> 00:19:12.980
Thank you.
00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.633
Operator, next caller, please.
00:19:18.490 --> 00:19:20.410
Our next caller is Heath Kirin.
00:19:20.410 --> 00:19:21.260
you may go ahead.
00:19:22.680 --> 00:19:24.070
Thank you for allowing me to speak.
00:19:24.070 --> 00:19:26.040
My name is Heath Kirin with Excite Energy
00:19:26.040 --> 00:19:27.490
based in El Dorado County.
00:19:27.490 --> 00:19:28.600
I started my business eight years ago,
00:19:28.600 --> 00:19:30.890
and I've worked really hard to build it.
00:19:30.890 --> 00:19:33.210
I'm proud to employ 15 blue collar workers
00:19:33.210 --> 00:19:36.270
with livable wages, health benefits, and PTO.
00:19:36.270 --> 00:19:37.597
If the proposed decision is approved,
00:19:37.597 --> 00:19:39.570
I'll have to lay off everyone,
00:19:39.570 --> 00:19:41.420
and I'll no longer be able to honor my warranties
00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:43.360
to my thousand-plus customers.
00:19:43.360 --> 00:19:45.123
My employees have families, as do I.
00:19:45.123 --> 00:19:47.830
It will be heartbreaking for both them and us.
00:19:47.830 --> 00:19:49.990
Sadly, this is not an exaggeration.
00:19:49.990 --> 00:19:51.750
The proposed rule changes are terrible,
00:19:51.750 --> 00:19:54.320
and not even remotely economic for the industry.
00:19:54.320 --> 00:19:55.940
Unlike the utility propaganda,
00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:57.670
we are not solar billionaires.
00:19:57.670 --> 00:19:58.710
We are middle class.
00:19:58.710 --> 00:20:01.430
As a matter of fact, we don't know any solar billionaires.
00:20:01.430 --> 00:20:02.620
The only one who's quite famous
00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:05.090
made his money with electric vehicles and rockets.
00:20:05.090 --> 00:20:06.600
Please don't make the changes as proposed
00:20:06.600 --> 00:20:08.390
to the current net energy metering.
00:20:08.390 --> 00:20:11.070
Utilities won't lose a single job in either scenario.
00:20:11.070 --> 00:20:13.210
The solar industry will go out of business in California
00:20:13.210 --> 00:20:14.900
as the nation's leader in renewable energy
00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:16.100
with these changes.
00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:18.183
Thank you for your time and consideration.
00:20:19.258 --> 00:20:20.091
Thank you.
00:20:20.091 --> 00:20:21.553
Operator, next caller, please.
00:20:23.309 --> 00:20:25.030
Our next caller is Bill Stewart.
00:20:25.030 --> 00:20:25.883
You may go ahead.
00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:29.745
Yes, hi, thank you.
00:20:29.745 --> 00:20:31.660
I'm with SolarCraft in Novato,
00:20:31.660 --> 00:20:33.990
and I've been fully employed in the solar industry
00:20:33.990 --> 00:20:37.760
my entire professional life, spanning over 40 years.
00:20:37.760 --> 00:20:38.960
SolarCraft is employee-owned,
00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:42.720
and supports over 50 employee owners and our families.
00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:44.100
The proposed NEM3 decision
00:20:44.100 --> 00:20:46.490
will decimate the California solar industry,
00:20:46.490 --> 00:20:48.130
and be in direct contrast to
00:20:48.130 --> 00:20:50.973
California's stated climate goals.
00:20:50.973 --> 00:20:53.040
A recent independent study estimated
00:20:53.040 --> 00:20:57.110
the adoption of rooftop solar would be cut by more than half
00:20:58.544 --> 00:21:00.373
should this proposal be implemented.
00:21:01.370 --> 00:21:02.413
One other factor to consider,
00:21:02.413 --> 00:21:04.680
is that the solar industry has been required
00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:09.000
to provide labor and material warranties of up to 25 years.
00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:12.110
What will happen to those customers and those owners,
00:21:12.110 --> 00:21:14.650
if over 50% of solar companies in the state
00:21:14.650 --> 00:21:16.863
are unable to continue in business?
00:21:17.733 --> 00:21:21.027
I respectfully urge the Commission to reject the proposal.
00:21:21.027 --> 00:21:21.860
Thank you.
00:21:22.752 --> 00:21:23.585
Thank you.
00:21:23.585 --> 00:21:24.940
Operator, next caller, please.
00:21:27.540 --> 00:21:29.200
Our next caller is Greg Albright.
00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:30.050
You may go ahead.
00:21:31.309 --> 00:21:32.800
Good morning, Commissioners.
00:21:32.800 --> 00:21:36.050
I wake up with two nightmarish realizations every day.
00:21:36.050 --> 00:21:36.883
COVID is here,
00:21:36.883 --> 00:21:39.420
and California is trying to kill solar.
00:21:39.420 --> 00:21:41.570
Not sure what to do about the COVID,
00:21:41.570 --> 00:21:45.110
but you can fix this anti-solar NEM 3.0.
00:21:45.110 --> 00:21:48.480
Please author a new NEM that benefits the many,
00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:50.550
not just utilities.
00:21:50.550 --> 00:21:52.797
My name is Greg Albright of Freedom Forever.
00:21:52.797 --> 00:21:56.750
Our company started in my backyard around 10 years ago,
00:21:56.750 --> 00:21:59.650
and now employs 2,000 amazing, hardworking,
00:21:59.650 --> 00:22:01.660
and dedicated employees.
00:22:01.660 --> 00:22:03.780
Please don't take this away from us.
00:22:03.780 --> 00:22:06.420
I'm very confident that you'll find a better solution
00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:08.490
to meet everyone's needs.
00:22:08.490 --> 00:22:09.323
Thank you.
00:22:10.470 --> 00:22:11.360
Thank you.
00:22:11.360 --> 00:22:12.860
Operator, next caller, please.
00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:17.830
Our next caller is Aaron Nitzkin.
00:22:17.830 --> 00:22:18.680
You may go ahead.
00:22:20.350 --> 00:22:21.183
Yes.
00:22:21.183 --> 00:22:22.016
Hello, Commissioners.
00:22:22.016 --> 00:22:22.970
My name is Aaron Nitzkin.
00:22:22.970 --> 00:22:26.687
I've worked in the solar industry for over 18 years,
00:22:26.687 --> 00:22:29.190
and I currently work for Citadel Roofing & Solar.
00:22:29.190 --> 00:22:32.247
We're a large, residential roofing solar
00:22:32.247 --> 00:22:34.960
and battery contractor here.
00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.490
We're a family-owned business,
00:22:36.490 --> 00:22:38.180
with our headquarters in Vacaville,
00:22:38.180 --> 00:22:40.150
and we employ over 600 people,
00:22:40.150 --> 00:22:43.240
of which over 150 are primarily focused on
00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:44.400
our solar business.
00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:45.640
These employees are spread out
00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:48.280
throughout Northern California, the Central Valley,
00:22:48.280 --> 00:22:49.620
we have a lot there,
00:22:49.620 --> 00:22:51.780
and we're going in Southern California.
00:22:51.780 --> 00:22:53.560
We can take really good care of our employees,
00:22:53.560 --> 00:22:56.990
and as a result, we have very high job satisfaction,
00:22:56.990 --> 00:22:58.840
and relatively low turnover.
00:22:58.840 --> 00:23:00.540
And we have helped thousands of families,
00:23:00.540 --> 00:23:03.240
including many low income families, get solar,
00:23:03.240 --> 00:23:05.390
which has led to these families saving money,
00:23:05.390 --> 00:23:06.700
and having more disposable income
00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:09.010
to support other areas of their lives.
00:23:09.010 --> 00:23:10.610
The proposed decision as written
00:23:10.610 --> 00:23:14.200
would devastate the industry, as we've all said.
00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:15.033
And as a result of this,
00:23:15.033 --> 00:23:16.789
it would devastate our company,
00:23:16.789 --> 00:23:17.622
and the hundreds of families
00:23:17.622 --> 00:23:20.560
that rely on us for their livelihood.
00:23:20.560 --> 00:23:24.510
I ask you to please reject this proposed decision,
00:23:24.510 --> 00:23:26.176
and ensure that solar remains strong.
00:23:26.176 --> 00:23:27.730
(bell dinging)
00:23:27.730 --> 00:23:28.730
Thank you.
00:23:28.730 --> 00:23:30.230
Operator, next caller, please.
00:23:32.850 --> 00:23:35.540
Our next caller is Jim Jenal.
00:23:35.540 --> 00:23:36.390
you may go ahead.
00:23:37.449 --> 00:23:38.282
Good morning.
00:23:38.282 --> 00:23:39.115
My name is Jim Jenal.
00:23:39.115 --> 00:23:41.830
I'm the founder and CEO of Run on Sun,
00:23:41.830 --> 00:23:45.440
a solar and storage installation company in Pasadena.
00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:48.910
I saw the flyer that Edison distributed in my service area,
00:23:48.910 --> 00:23:52.137
claiming that the present net metering rules are, quote,
00:23:52.137 --> 00:23:55.590
"making billionaires and big businesses rich", unquote,
00:23:55.590 --> 00:23:57.020
and I just had to shake my head,
00:23:57.020 --> 00:23:59.750
as I really don't know who they're talking about.
00:23:59.750 --> 00:24:01.520
Run on Sun is a gross revenue,
00:24:01.520 --> 00:24:03.200
half a million a year company.
00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:05.260
Not exactly a big business.
00:24:05.260 --> 00:24:06.970
And no, I'm not a millionaire,
00:24:06.970 --> 00:24:08.700
let alone a billionaire!
00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:11.330
Nor is anyone I know in this industry.
00:24:11.330 --> 00:24:13.870
Most of us are small and scrappy,
00:24:13.870 --> 00:24:17.170
and are doing this because we believe in the mission
00:24:17.170 --> 00:24:20.283
to make the world a better place one roof at a time.
00:24:21.190 --> 00:24:24.230
And after all, isn't that what we all strive to achieve,
00:24:24.230 --> 00:24:26.723
to make the world a better place for our kids?
00:24:27.830 --> 00:24:30.090
The proposed decision does the opposite,
00:24:30.090 --> 00:24:32.040
and it needs to be scrapped.
00:24:32.040 --> 00:24:33.690
Thank you for your consideration.
00:24:35.300 --> 00:24:36.133
Thank you.
00:24:36.133 --> 00:24:37.733
Operator, next caller, please.
00:24:39.670 --> 00:24:41.640
Our next caller is David Rinearson.
00:24:41.640 --> 00:24:42.490
You may go ahead.
00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.313
Good morning.
00:24:44.313 --> 00:24:45.980
I'm David Rinearson from Huntington Beach.
00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:47.860
The utility argument that rooftop solar
00:24:47.860 --> 00:24:50.510
doesn't support the electrical grid is bogus.
00:24:50.510 --> 00:24:52.410
Solar provided enough power for the state
00:24:52.410 --> 00:24:55.510
to scale back more than 20 powerline projects in 2018 alone,
00:24:55.510 --> 00:24:59.510
saving 2.6 billion dollars for all ratepayers.
00:24:59.510 --> 00:25:02.070
And when my solar system produces (distorted audio)
00:25:02.070 --> 00:25:04.640
uncredited (distorted audio) per kilowatt hour,
00:25:04.640 --> 00:25:06.350
the utility resells that power
00:25:06.350 --> 00:25:09.660
for 30 to 49 cents per kilowatt hour,
00:25:09.660 --> 00:25:12.680
a gross margin of between 20 and 96%.
00:25:12.680 --> 00:25:13.870
Under the NEM3 proposal,
00:25:13.870 --> 00:25:15.470
my credit would drop to 5 cents,
00:25:15.470 --> 00:25:20.060
and utility gross margin would jump to between 400 and 880%.
00:25:20.060 --> 00:25:21.870
In fact, my annual electric bill under NEM3
00:25:21.870 --> 00:25:23.950
would be about three quarters of the bill ahead
00:25:23.950 --> 00:25:26.170
before I installed solar.
00:25:26.170 --> 00:25:27.490
That's why a recent poll showed,
00:25:27.490 --> 00:25:29.190
that if NEM3 goes into effect,
00:25:29.190 --> 00:25:32.350
95% of Californians would not invest in rooftop solar,
00:25:32.350 --> 00:25:33.940
killing the industry overnight,
00:25:33.940 --> 00:25:37.675
and destroying 60 to 70,000 good paying green jobs.
00:25:37.675 --> 00:25:39.640
NEM3 only benefits the utilities,
00:25:39.640 --> 00:25:42.570
and the CPUC is supposed to be the public's watchdog.
00:25:42.570 --> 00:25:44.720
NEM3 is bad for the environment,
00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.890
bad for the solar industry,
00:25:45.890 --> 00:25:49.010
and an unfair breach of trust to existing solar users.
00:25:49.010 --> 00:25:50.413
I urge you to block it.
00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.780
Thank you.
00:25:52.780 --> 00:25:54.280
Operator, next caller, please.
00:25:58.330 --> 00:26:00.497
Our next caller is Charlotte Blake.
00:26:00.497 --> 00:26:01.673
You may go ahead.
00:26:03.090 --> 00:26:03.923
Good morning.
00:26:03.923 --> 00:26:04.840
My name is Charlotte Blake,
00:26:04.840 --> 00:26:06.490
and I work for Blue Planet Energy,
00:26:06.490 --> 00:26:09.730
and I've been employed in the solar industry for 13 years.
00:26:09.730 --> 00:26:13.260
We need the CPUC to reject the current proposed NEM 3.0
00:26:13.260 --> 00:26:15.700
to protect solar growth in California.
00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:19.680
The most cost effective way to get a decarbonized grid
00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:23.240
is with robust deployment of distributed energy resources,
00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:24.700
and the investor-owned utilities
00:26:24.700 --> 00:26:28.210
should be prioritizing lower rates to make electrification
00:26:28.210 --> 00:26:31.000
an equitable, fair option for California.
00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:34.360
Local resilience is key for community strength and wellness.
00:26:34.360 --> 00:26:35.670
Thank you so much for your time,
00:26:35.670 --> 00:26:38.573
and for helping California live a sustainable future.
00:26:40.130 --> 00:26:40.963
Thank you.
00:26:40.963 --> 00:26:42.740
Operator, next caller, please.
00:26:44.310 --> 00:26:46.270
Our next caller is Anne Revere.
00:26:46.270 --> 00:26:47.120
You may go ahead.
00:26:48.900 --> 00:26:49.733
Thank you.
00:26:49.733 --> 00:26:52.300
My name is Anne Revere in San Francisco,
00:26:52.300 --> 00:26:54.240
and I am a consumer,
00:26:54.240 --> 00:26:59.240
and I paid nearly $16,000 in 2017 for eight solar panels.
00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:02.220
My main goal was to help the planet.
00:27:02.220 --> 00:27:05.130
I produce 100% of the energy I use,
00:27:05.130 --> 00:27:07.810
and send some back to the grid.
00:27:07.810 --> 00:27:11.810
I want all Californians in the planet to benefit from solar,
00:27:11.810 --> 00:27:14.940
but not at the expense of those who went first.
00:27:14.940 --> 00:27:17.670
The proposed plan seems to make it harder
00:27:17.670 --> 00:27:20.780
and more expensive for new solar owners.
00:27:20.780 --> 00:27:24.320
I hope the CPUC will develop a plan that is fair
00:27:24.320 --> 00:27:26.290
and balanced for the poor,
00:27:26.290 --> 00:27:29.690
and for those who can afford to buy solar energy.
00:27:29.690 --> 00:27:31.093
Thank you very much.
00:27:32.060 --> 00:27:32.893
Thank you.
00:27:32.893 --> 00:27:34.340
Operator, next caller, please.
00:27:36.270 --> 00:27:38.010
Our next caller is Nick Peterson.
00:27:38.010 --> 00:27:39.033
You may go ahead.
00:27:41.690 --> 00:27:43.170
Hi, I live in Albany, California
00:27:43.170 --> 00:27:46.370
in the PG&E service area, and I'm a NEM2 customer.
00:27:46.370 --> 00:27:50.470
The CPUC preliminary decision NEM3 is regressive
00:27:50.470 --> 00:27:52.020
and environmentally dangerous.
00:27:52.020 --> 00:27:54.890
It throws well-meaning Californians under the bus,
00:27:54.890 --> 00:27:57.860
along with the entire fledgling solar rooftop industry,
00:27:57.860 --> 00:28:01.090
in order to further entrench an outdated status quo
00:28:01.090 --> 00:28:04.970
electrical power system and its monopolistic corporations,
00:28:04.970 --> 00:28:07.760
while hiding behind a false claim of a rate shift.
00:28:07.760 --> 00:28:10.160
The most egregious rate shift is
00:28:10.160 --> 00:28:11.850
from the pocketbooks of Californians,
00:28:11.850 --> 00:28:13.210
especially low income Californians,
00:28:13.210 --> 00:28:15.990
to the bank accounts of investor-owned utility shareholders
00:28:15.990 --> 00:28:17.350
and corporate executives.
00:28:17.350 --> 00:28:19.120
This has got to stop!
00:28:19.120 --> 00:28:21.090
NEM changes need to be made,
00:28:21.090 --> 00:28:22.570
but not in the manner...
00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:26.370
The CPUC must go back to the drawing board
00:28:26.370 --> 00:28:28.950
with the support of the Governor and the state legislature,
00:28:28.950 --> 00:28:31.530
and created a holistic approach that supports
00:28:31.530 --> 00:28:34.270
and encourages private citizens to use their own resources
00:28:34.270 --> 00:28:36.750
to significantly address climate change using solar.
00:28:36.750 --> 00:28:38.630
We are the fifth largest economy in the world.
00:28:38.630 --> 00:28:41.670
We have the capacity to massively roll out
00:28:41.670 --> 00:28:43.310
sustainable energy on all fronts,
00:28:43.310 --> 00:28:46.500
not just through the monopolistic, profit-loaded utilities.
00:28:46.500 --> 00:28:47.457
You need to show
00:28:47.457 --> 00:28:48.492
the people of California,
(bell dinging)
00:28:48.492 --> 00:28:49.325
that you have heard us,
00:28:49.325 --> 00:28:50.733
and stop the-
Thank you very much.
00:28:50.733 --> 00:28:52.000
From doing the right thing.
00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:53.880
Sorry, we need to move to the next caller.
00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:56.323
Operator, next caller, please.
00:28:58.600 --> 00:29:00.450
Our next caller is Tyler Crossno.
00:29:00.450 --> 00:29:01.300
You may go ahead.
00:29:03.005 --> 00:29:03.990
Hello, Commissioners.
00:29:03.990 --> 00:29:04.847
My name is Tyler Crossno,
00:29:04.847 --> 00:29:07.210
and I work for Revel Energy in Irvine.
00:29:07.210 --> 00:29:08.900
First, I'd like to thank you all for listening
00:29:08.900 --> 00:29:10.990
to the many comments presented today.
00:29:10.990 --> 00:29:12.930
I've only been in the solar industry for two years,
00:29:12.930 --> 00:29:14.830
but the passion on display in this meeting
00:29:14.830 --> 00:29:16.610
clearly shows how egregious
00:29:16.610 --> 00:29:19.210
the current proposed decision is.
00:29:19.210 --> 00:29:20.330
I grew up here in California,
00:29:20.330 --> 00:29:21.490
learning about solar power
00:29:21.490 --> 00:29:23.350
and sustainability in elementary school,
00:29:23.350 --> 00:29:25.230
how our state can uniquely take advantage
00:29:25.230 --> 00:29:26.960
of all these sunny days.
00:29:26.960 --> 00:29:29.860
California has grown into a model for sustainability,
00:29:29.860 --> 00:29:31.620
but these changes to net energy metering
00:29:31.620 --> 00:29:34.240
are not sustainable, nor reasonable.
00:29:34.240 --> 00:29:36.670
Committee, I implore you to please
00:29:36.670 --> 00:29:38.710
reconsider this proposed decision.
00:29:38.710 --> 00:29:40.630
Thank you for your time.
00:29:40.630 --> 00:29:41.463
Thank you.
00:29:41.463 --> 00:29:43.163
Operator, next caller, please.
00:29:48.526 --> 00:29:50.000
Nailed it!
Our next caller
00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:51.500
is Jeff Howard.
00:29:51.500 --> 00:29:52.350
You may go ahead.
00:29:55.350 --> 00:29:56.360
Good morning, Commissioners.
00:29:56.360 --> 00:29:57.193
Jeff Howard.
00:29:57.193 --> 00:29:58.900
I live in Visalia, California.
00:29:58.900 --> 00:30:00.970
On a side note, with Black History Month,
00:30:00.970 --> 00:30:04.090
I hope you'll hear about a man named Edmond Wysinger,
00:30:04.090 --> 00:30:07.530
who's from Visalia, who was a slave,
00:30:07.530 --> 00:30:09.680
and he won a legal challenge
00:30:09.680 --> 00:30:11.980
in the California State Supreme Court
00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:15.920
to be able to send his son to White schools here in Visalia.
00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:17.730
Hope you'll learn more about that.
00:30:17.730 --> 00:30:19.950
I work for a company called Kuubix Energy.
00:30:19.950 --> 00:30:22.170
We have almost 500 employees,
00:30:22.170 --> 00:30:23.280
and the three founders
00:30:23.280 --> 00:30:25.340
started this company right here in Visalia,
00:30:25.340 --> 00:30:26.880
which is in Central California.
00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:30.170
If you've ever seen the movie, "McFarland, USA",
00:30:30.170 --> 00:30:31.070
those are my people.
00:30:31.070 --> 00:30:32.930
That's right around the corner.
00:30:32.930 --> 00:30:35.183
And that's what life is like here.
00:30:35.183 --> 00:30:38.120
I have solar coworkers who worked in the fields
00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:41.010
before joining this company.
00:30:41.010 --> 00:30:43.240
We install solar on their homes,
00:30:43.240 --> 00:30:44.960
on the average individual's homes,
00:30:44.960 --> 00:30:47.140
and in those neighborhoods that help
00:30:47.140 --> 00:30:51.740
the average Californian offset very expensive utility bills.
00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:53.560
I switched from the fuel industry
00:30:53.560 --> 00:30:55.590
after 11 years to come to solar,
00:30:55.590 --> 00:30:58.440
because renewable was supposed to be sustainable,
00:30:58.440 --> 00:31:00.940
and a secure industry in California.
00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.850
On a personal note,
00:31:01.850 --> 00:31:05.530
I'm the sole provider for my wife and four children,
00:31:05.530 --> 00:31:07.900
from senior down to fifth grade.
00:31:07.900 --> 00:31:10.150
We're a low margin business.
00:31:10.150 --> 00:31:13.810
Please think about my job, my family, my coworkers,
00:31:13.810 --> 00:31:17.140
as I previously described, and their families,
00:31:17.140 --> 00:31:21.560
when you vote, and please, please reject this proposal.
00:31:21.560 --> 00:31:23.953
Thank you.
(bell dinging)
00:31:23.953 --> 00:31:24.786
Thank you.
00:31:24.786 --> 00:31:26.313
Operator, next caller, please.
00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:30.370
Our next caller is Jeff Spies.
00:31:30.370 --> 00:31:31.940
You may go ahead.
00:31:31.940 --> 00:31:32.773
Yes, good morning.
00:31:32.773 --> 00:31:33.606
My name's Jeff Spies.
00:31:33.606 --> 00:31:35.320
I'm the president of Planet Plan Sets.
00:31:35.320 --> 00:31:39.030
We're a solar drafting company based in Anaheim, California.
00:31:39.030 --> 00:31:40.210
And I've worked in the California
00:31:40.210 --> 00:31:42.600
solar industry for 15 years.
00:31:42.600 --> 00:31:46.000
The NEM3 utility proposals are based on misinformation.
00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:47.600
They argue, the utilities argue,
00:31:47.600 --> 00:31:51.160
they can supply solar power with solar farms in the desert,
00:31:51.160 --> 00:31:54.600
but they ignore the massive cost to upgrade the wires
00:31:54.600 --> 00:31:56.570
that get that power to our neighborhoods
00:31:56.570 --> 00:31:58.170
from hundreds of miles away.
00:31:58.170 --> 00:32:00.740
Distributed generation, which we call rooftop solar,
00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:03.440
is a more cost effective option than grid power,
00:32:03.440 --> 00:32:07.700
if you look at the true cost benefit.
00:32:07.700 --> 00:32:10.250
We need consumers to be provided a fair rate structure
00:32:10.250 --> 00:32:14.390
that assesses this cost benefit to the grid properly.
00:32:14.390 --> 00:32:16.830
I respectfully request the Commission reject
00:32:16.830 --> 00:32:18.800
this disastrous NEM3 proposal.
00:32:18.800 --> 00:32:20.260
Thank you.
00:32:20.260 --> 00:32:21.250
Thank you.
00:32:21.250 --> 00:32:22.750
Operator, next caller, please.
00:32:25.100 --> 00:32:28.460
Our next caller is Rebecca Vartineck.
00:32:28.460 --> 00:32:29.410
You may I go ahead.
00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:32.550
Hi, I live in Menlo Park.
00:32:32.550 --> 00:32:34.350
I'm opposed to decisions
00:32:34.350 --> 00:32:37.120
to further tax installed solar panels.
00:32:37.120 --> 00:32:38.180
We need to make solar
00:32:38.180 --> 00:32:41.270
and battery installations more affordable, not less,
00:32:41.270 --> 00:32:43.910
for all energy users in California.
00:32:43.910 --> 00:32:45.320
Privately owned solar systems
00:32:45.320 --> 00:32:47.430
should be considered a truly important
00:32:47.430 --> 00:32:49.800
and valuable resource for supplementing power,
00:32:49.800 --> 00:32:53.080
versus buying power from out of state, higher priced,
00:32:53.080 --> 00:32:55.250
and offer higher polluting sources.
00:32:55.250 --> 00:32:57.800
California should be a leader in the United States,
00:32:57.800 --> 00:32:59.610
and the world, for that matter,
00:32:59.610 --> 00:33:01.680
for encouraging solar collection systems
00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:02.890
on all of our structures,
00:33:02.890 --> 00:33:05.380
homes, businesses, et cetera.
00:33:05.380 --> 00:33:08.620
Net metering makes home systems much more affordable
00:33:08.620 --> 00:33:11.540
for people to put solar on all feasible structures.
00:33:11.540 --> 00:33:13.780
This in turn provides power which is cleaner
00:33:13.780 --> 00:33:15.250
and more affordable for all.
00:33:15.250 --> 00:33:18.380
And finally, California needs to honor its commitment
00:33:18.380 --> 00:33:20.450
to current net metering customers,
00:33:20.450 --> 00:33:23.620
and to extend that to future solar installations.
00:33:23.620 --> 00:33:25.040
Thank you.
00:33:25.040 --> 00:33:25.930
Thank you.
00:33:25.930 --> 00:33:27.430
Operator, next caller, please.
00:33:29.860 --> 00:33:32.890
Our next caller is Ben Bellacheski.
00:33:32.890 --> 00:33:33.883
You may go ahead.
00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:40.440
Hi, my name is Ben Dellaheski,
00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:43.090
and I live in San Jose, California.
00:33:43.090 --> 00:33:45.950
I oppose the proposed NEM3 decision,
00:33:45.950 --> 00:33:49.053
because it is a major step backwards on clean energy.
00:33:50.030 --> 00:33:54.060
California is supposed to be a leader in sustainability,
00:33:54.060 --> 00:33:57.200
and Californians wanna be able to do their part
00:33:57.200 --> 00:33:59.500
to protect the environment.
00:33:59.500 --> 00:34:02.740
This decision will make solar unaffordable
00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:04.233
for most people in the state.
00:34:05.350 --> 00:34:08.240
The state should be making it easier
00:34:08.240 --> 00:34:12.380
for people to add solar to their homes and businesses,
00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:13.963
and not penalize them for it.
00:34:15.220 --> 00:34:17.860
We need to remove solar taxes,
00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:21.220
make solar more accessible to all Californians,
00:34:21.220 --> 00:34:24.490
and protect existing solar users.
00:34:24.490 --> 00:34:26.010
Thank you.
00:34:26.010 --> 00:34:26.970
Thank you.
00:34:26.970 --> 00:34:28.800
Operator, next caller, please.
00:34:30.600 --> 00:34:32.260
Our next caller is Erik Sattler.
00:34:32.260 --> 00:34:33.110
You may go ahead.
00:34:35.450 --> 00:34:36.630
Hi, my name is Erik Sattler.
00:34:36.630 --> 00:34:38.390
I'm the founder of Sattler Solar,
00:34:38.390 --> 00:34:41.640
a San Diego-based small business solar contractor.
00:34:41.640 --> 00:34:43.950
I started my business six years ago
00:34:43.950 --> 00:34:46.180
to be part of a solution,
00:34:46.180 --> 00:34:49.090
to be part of a sustainable energy future for all.
00:34:49.090 --> 00:34:54.090
Net Metering 3.0 will take away 95% of the market.
00:34:54.350 --> 00:34:57.120
It will be disastrous for our customer base,
00:34:57.120 --> 00:34:59.623
for our employees, and for my family.
00:35:00.492 --> 00:35:02.590
Let us continue to have a positive impact
00:35:02.590 --> 00:35:05.170
one roof at a time.
00:35:05.170 --> 00:35:06.400
Thank you.
00:35:06.400 --> 00:35:07.690
Thank you.
00:35:07.690 --> 00:35:09.190
Operator, next caller, please.
00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:21.900
Our next caller is Dustin Dunaway.
00:35:21.900 --> 00:35:22.750
You may go ahead.
00:35:24.730 --> 00:35:26.210
Hi, my name's Dustin Dunaway.
00:35:26.210 --> 00:35:29.060
I'm a co-founder of HDM Renewable Finance.
00:35:29.060 --> 00:35:31.580
I've been in solar for 12-plus years.
00:35:31.580 --> 00:35:33.130
Called in today asking you to reject
00:35:33.130 --> 00:35:37.040
the current proposal NEM 3.0.
00:35:37.040 --> 00:35:40.640
HDM provides a finance product that helps lower income,
00:35:40.640 --> 00:35:43.180
fixed income, and nonprofits.
00:35:43.180 --> 00:35:45.080
We're targeting 30 to 40 megawatts of solar
00:35:45.080 --> 00:35:47.220
in California this year,
00:35:47.220 --> 00:35:49.700
again, for nonprofit and low income.
00:35:49.700 --> 00:35:51.280
Types of organizations that we're helping go solar
00:35:51.280 --> 00:35:55.180
and save money: schools, houses of warships, church camps,
00:35:55.180 --> 00:35:57.350
hospice centers, youth and community centers,
00:35:57.350 --> 00:35:59.570
recovery centers, mental health facilities.
00:35:59.570 --> 00:36:02.060
These are the type of the organizations that,
00:36:02.060 --> 00:36:02.930
when they save that money,
00:36:02.930 --> 00:36:05.200
they put it right back into our community.
00:36:05.200 --> 00:36:07.430
And I'm hoping that we can reject this proposal,
00:36:07.430 --> 00:36:09.510
'cause, most likely, all these will fall out of the process,
00:36:09.510 --> 00:36:11.480
and not get installed.
00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:13.580
Thanks and have a great day.
00:36:13.580 --> 00:36:14.440
Thank you.
00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:15.893
Operator, next caller please.
00:36:17.750 --> 00:36:19.560
Our next caller is Frank Scotti.
00:36:19.560 --> 00:36:20.410
You may go ahead.
00:36:23.390 --> 00:36:25.130
Hello, Commissioners.
00:36:25.130 --> 00:36:27.050
Please reject NEM 3.0.
00:36:27.050 --> 00:36:29.568
My name is Frank Scotti with Solarponics.
00:36:29.568 --> 00:36:32.310
We're a solar installer on the Central Coast.
00:36:32.310 --> 00:36:34.960
We were founded in 1975.
00:36:34.960 --> 00:36:38.240
I installed solar on my personal home in 2008.
00:36:38.240 --> 00:36:40.970
And at that time, I believes so strongly in solar
00:36:40.970 --> 00:36:42.660
that I actually switched careers,
00:36:42.660 --> 00:36:45.480
and joined Solarponics in 2012.
00:36:45.480 --> 00:36:48.870
That year, we installed, I think, 27 PB jobs.
00:36:48.870 --> 00:36:51.930
Last year, we installed 270.
00:36:51.930 --> 00:36:53.480
We employed 45 people,
00:36:53.480 --> 00:36:54.777
and they're people just like me,
00:36:54.777 --> 00:36:57.980
who can't really see ourselves doing anything else.
00:36:57.980 --> 00:36:59.780
We shouldn't be here discussing
00:36:59.780 --> 00:37:02.600
how many of us may lose our jobs.
00:37:02.600 --> 00:37:04.810
We should really be celebrating our accomplishments
00:37:04.810 --> 00:37:07.460
and all we've done together, and move forward.
00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:10.110
So please do not approve NEM 3.0.
00:37:10.110 --> 00:37:11.597
Please save our jobs,
00:37:11.597 --> 00:37:13.835
and really, please save our legacy.
00:37:13.835 --> 00:37:15.166
Thank you.
00:37:15.166 --> 00:37:16.190
Thank you.
00:37:16.190 --> 00:37:17.733
Operator, next caller please.
00:37:21.300 --> 00:37:23.450
Our next caller is Steve Pariani.
00:37:23.450 --> 00:37:24.300
You may go ahead.
00:37:26.030 --> 00:37:27.173
Hello, can you hear me?
00:37:28.050 --> 00:37:29.306
Yes, we can.
Hello?
00:37:29.306 --> 00:37:30.320
Please proceed.
Okay, great.
00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:31.153
Yes, we can hear you.
Hello,
00:37:31.153 --> 00:37:31.986
my name's Steve Pariani,
00:37:31.986 --> 00:37:33.760
and I've been working in the solar industry
00:37:33.760 --> 00:37:34.963
for eight years now.
00:37:34.963 --> 00:37:36.890
When I started my own solar company,
00:37:36.890 --> 00:37:39.360
Solar Pro Energy Systems, about five years ago,
00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:41.180
I did so to support my family,
00:37:41.180 --> 00:37:43.970
but also to do my part in fighting climate change.
00:37:43.970 --> 00:37:45.537
I install solar power on people's homes
00:37:45.537 --> 00:37:48.300
and businesses to feed my wife and four children,
00:37:48.300 --> 00:37:50.930
but also, to create a better future for all of them,
00:37:50.930 --> 00:37:52.720
and all of Californians.
00:37:52.720 --> 00:37:54.350
The proposed decision facing you today
00:37:54.350 --> 00:37:56.060
would put Solar Pro out of business,
00:37:56.060 --> 00:37:59.407
and my workers, me, and thousands like us out of our jobs.
00:37:59.407 --> 00:38:01.680
The utility companies would like you to believe
00:38:01.680 --> 00:38:04.600
that standard ratepayers are subsidizing solar customers,
00:38:04.600 --> 00:38:07.300
because they can't raise solar homeowner's rates.
00:38:07.300 --> 00:38:09.990
The truth is, that rate increases on anyone
00:38:09.990 --> 00:38:12.470
are actually subsidizing PG&E's bankruptcy
00:38:12.470 --> 00:38:14.720
and lawsuits to their decades of neglect
00:38:14.720 --> 00:38:16.660
and wildfires they have caused.
00:38:16.660 --> 00:38:18.100
So my question to you is,
00:38:18.100 --> 00:38:19.500
why should those who have installed
00:38:19.500 --> 00:38:21.390
solar panels to fight climate change
00:38:21.390 --> 00:38:23.420
be taxed to subsidize the fossil fuel
00:38:23.420 --> 00:38:26.250
burning utility companies who are causing it?
00:38:26.250 --> 00:38:28.100
Please reject the proposed decision.
00:38:28.100 --> 00:38:30.230
Start from scratch to protect our jobs,
00:38:30.230 --> 00:38:31.997
and a greener feature for all of California.
00:38:31.997 --> 00:38:34.120
Thank you for your time.
00:38:34.120 --> 00:38:34.953
Thank you.
00:38:34.953 --> 00:38:36.370
Operator, next caller, please.
00:38:40.120 --> 00:38:45.120
Our next caller is Ernesto Montenero.
00:38:45.370 --> 00:38:46.220
You may go ahead.
00:38:47.560 --> 00:38:48.393
Good morning.
00:38:48.393 --> 00:38:50.647
My name is Ernesto Montenero,
00:38:51.590 --> 00:38:54.363
operations manager at Sustainable Technologies,
00:38:54.363 --> 00:38:58.010
a 22-year-old company in Alameda, California.
00:38:58.010 --> 00:39:01.260
We mostly work with the small farmers,
00:39:01.260 --> 00:39:04.270
building solar systems to make their operations
00:39:04.270 --> 00:39:09.270
more sustainable and more cost effective.
00:39:13.560 --> 00:39:16.300
I could say, that this proposed NEM3,
00:39:19.740 --> 00:39:24.740
basically, will make it impossible for farmers
00:39:26.190 --> 00:39:30.343
to really go solar.
00:39:31.850 --> 00:39:34.950
And also, I represent all the workers here
00:39:34.950 --> 00:39:36.450
at Sustainable Technologies
00:39:36.450 --> 00:39:41.450
that have been with me for 20 years, most of them,
00:39:41.900 --> 00:39:44.653
and they all have really good jobs,
00:39:45.780 --> 00:39:47.833
and they're all very concerned.
00:39:48.880 --> 00:39:53.880
I urge you to tax the PG&E, and not tax solar.
00:39:55.200 --> 00:39:59.392
We need to install more solar systems, not less.
00:39:59.392 --> 00:40:01.560
(bell dinging)
00:40:01.560 --> 00:40:03.080
Thank you very much.
00:40:03.080 --> 00:40:04.580
Operator, next caller, please.
00:40:08.450 --> 00:40:10.740
Our next caller is Chris Connolly.
00:40:10.740 --> 00:40:11.743
You may go ahead.
00:40:13.240 --> 00:40:14.269
Thanks.
00:40:14.269 --> 00:40:15.102
I'm Chris Connolly.
00:40:15.102 --> 00:40:17.700
My comment is about the proposed decision for NEM3.
00:40:17.700 --> 00:40:18.910
I'm a solar project developer
00:40:18.910 --> 00:40:22.050
at Centrica Business Solutions in San Francisco.
00:40:22.050 --> 00:40:25.090
11 years ago, I moved into a career in solar,
00:40:25.090 --> 00:40:28.183
because I needed my work life to mean something.
00:40:29.550 --> 00:40:31.970
The existential threat of climate change
00:40:31.970 --> 00:40:34.030
is paralyzing to an individual,
00:40:34.030 --> 00:40:37.113
and addressing it requires a huge collective effort.
00:40:38.300 --> 00:40:40.310
So working in solar, at the end of each day,
00:40:40.310 --> 00:40:43.173
I know my hard work is in direct service of that mission.
00:40:44.240 --> 00:40:47.020
A strong California solar industry
00:40:47.020 --> 00:40:48.640
is one of America's critical tools
00:40:48.640 --> 00:40:50.240
to reach our clean energy goals.
00:40:51.097 --> 00:40:52.733
"Our" clean energy goals!
00:40:54.100 --> 00:40:55.620
When we desperately need policies
00:40:55.620 --> 00:40:57.580
that expand and support solar,
00:40:57.580 --> 00:41:00.490
the proposed decision is a baffling setback,
00:41:00.490 --> 00:41:02.990
and I strongly urge the Commission to reject it.
00:41:02.990 --> 00:41:04.640
Thank you.
00:41:04.640 --> 00:41:05.540
Thank you.
00:41:05.540 --> 00:41:07.240
Operator, our next caller, please.
00:41:09.690 --> 00:41:12.320
Our next caller is Mark Byington.
00:41:12.320 --> 00:41:13.443
You may go ahead.
00:41:14.410 --> 00:41:15.647
My name is Mark Byington.
00:41:15.647 --> 00:41:18.490
I'm the president of Cobalt Power Systems.
00:41:18.490 --> 00:41:20.400
Cobalt has 80 employees,
00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:21.700
and we have been doing solar
00:41:21.700 --> 00:41:24.590
and energy storage for over 18 years.
00:41:24.590 --> 00:41:27.890
We urgently ask you to reject the proposed decision.
00:41:27.890 --> 00:41:30.360
It will decimate the solar industry.
00:41:30.360 --> 00:41:32.810
It will kill our jobs, our livelihood,
00:41:32.810 --> 00:41:34.630
and possibly our company.
00:41:34.630 --> 00:41:36.460
It will make solar unaffordable
00:41:36.460 --> 00:41:39.070
and financially unattractive.
00:41:39.070 --> 00:41:41.090
This is the opposite of what you should be doing
00:41:41.090 --> 00:41:42.600
as public policy.
00:41:42.600 --> 00:41:44.360
Solar is mission-critical
00:41:44.360 --> 00:41:47.100
to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels
00:41:47.100 --> 00:41:49.680
that are causing serious climate change.
00:41:49.680 --> 00:41:51.550
I'm sorry if distributed solar
00:41:51.550 --> 00:41:53.730
is inconvenient for the utilities,
00:41:53.730 --> 00:41:56.060
but it is right for the planet.
00:41:56.060 --> 00:41:57.890
If the CPUC moves forward
00:41:57.890 --> 00:42:00.340
with anything like the proposed decision,
00:42:00.340 --> 00:42:04.150
I believe you will come down on the wrong side of history.
00:42:04.150 --> 00:42:06.710
People in California want to install solar
00:42:06.710 --> 00:42:08.050
and energy storage.
00:42:08.050 --> 00:42:10.270
You should reject the proposed decision
00:42:10.270 --> 00:42:12.760
as bad policy for California.
00:42:12.760 --> 00:42:14.180
Thank you.
00:42:14.180 --> 00:42:15.013
Thank you.
00:42:15.013 --> 00:42:16.320
Operator, next caller, please.
00:42:18.841 --> 00:42:21.190
Our next caller is George Valenza.
00:42:21.190 --> 00:42:22.040
You may go ahead.
00:42:26.140 --> 00:42:27.890
Actually, it's Tor Valenza.
00:42:29.640 --> 00:42:31.190
My name is Tor Valenza, as I said,
00:42:31.190 --> 00:42:34.573
and I'm from UnThink Solar based in Oakland, California.
00:42:36.000 --> 00:42:38.297
I've worked in the solar industry for 13 years,
00:42:38.297 --> 00:42:40.270
and I've met people rich
00:42:40.270 --> 00:42:43.980
and poor who've worked in solar, and gone solar,
00:42:43.980 --> 00:42:46.110
and we all think that solar is magic.
00:42:46.110 --> 00:42:48.870
I mean, the sun shines on their roof,
00:42:48.870 --> 00:42:51.370
and it creates electricity.
00:42:51.370 --> 00:42:52.570
It's amazing.
00:42:52.570 --> 00:42:56.820
But this NEM 3.0 proposal that you're considering right now,
00:42:56.820 --> 00:42:59.000
it's gonna take that magic away from them.
00:42:59.000 --> 00:43:03.320
You're going to ignore numerous value of solar studies
00:43:03.320 --> 00:43:04.880
that show that rooftop solar
00:43:04.880 --> 00:43:08.510
defrays utility infrastructure costs for everyone,
00:43:08.510 --> 00:43:11.770
poor people, rich people,
00:43:11.770 --> 00:43:13.810
everyone who's connected to the grid.
00:43:13.810 --> 00:43:17.310
And then you're gonna wave your magic CPUC wand,
00:43:17.310 --> 00:43:19.400
and kill thousands of solar jobs,
00:43:19.400 --> 00:43:22.510
just like it happened in Nevada and Hawaii
00:43:22.510 --> 00:43:24.390
when they got net metering.
00:43:24.390 --> 00:43:27.170
And I urged you to look at those regions again,
00:43:27.170 --> 00:43:29.110
see what happened to the jobs,
00:43:29.110 --> 00:43:31.520
and what it did for the grid.
00:43:31.520 --> 00:43:32.353
So, you know,
00:43:32.353 --> 00:43:36.640
distribute clean power-
(bell dinging)
00:43:36.640 --> 00:43:38.200
Thank you very much.
00:43:38.200 --> 00:43:39.793
Operator, next caller, please.
00:43:43.180 --> 00:43:44.790
Our next caller is Jeff Baker.
00:43:44.790 --> 00:43:45.640
You may go ahead.
00:43:47.770 --> 00:43:48.720
Hello, Commissioners.
00:43:48.720 --> 00:43:51.830
My name is Jeff Baker, and I live in Santa Rosa.
00:43:51.830 --> 00:43:53.360
Although we are not wealthy,
00:43:53.360 --> 00:43:56.850
my wife and I decided to install rooftop solar
00:43:56.850 --> 00:43:58.900
and batteries in 2020.
00:43:58.900 --> 00:44:01.750
The main reason we did it was not to save money,
00:44:01.750 --> 00:44:03.860
but to help save the planet.
00:44:03.860 --> 00:44:06.370
After spending over $30,000,
00:44:06.370 --> 00:44:09.560
last year's rebate was less than $300.
00:44:09.560 --> 00:44:12.060
Still, we were happy to contribute
00:44:12.060 --> 00:44:15.140
knowing how beneficial and necessary it is.
00:44:15.140 --> 00:44:18.820
Reducing carbon emissions by using sustainable energy
00:44:18.820 --> 00:44:20.810
seems incredibly important,
00:44:20.810 --> 00:44:23.163
as our planet is warming at alarming rates
00:44:23.163 --> 00:44:26.040
due to the burning of fossil fuels.
00:44:26.040 --> 00:44:29.690
We are concerned for our children and our grandchildren,
00:44:29.690 --> 00:44:33.100
as well as all the other forms of life on this planet.
00:44:33.100 --> 00:44:35.430
Please do not take away the incentive
00:44:35.430 --> 00:44:37.660
for people to do the right thing.
00:44:37.660 --> 00:44:39.680
Please reject this proposal
00:44:39.680 --> 00:44:43.007
as bad policy for California and the Earth.
00:44:43.007 --> 00:44:45.369
Thank you, Commissioners.
00:44:45.369 --> 00:44:46.410
Thank you.
00:44:46.410 --> 00:44:47.910
Operator, next caller, please.
00:44:50.620 --> 00:44:52.460
Our next caller is Roger Williams.
00:44:52.460 --> 00:44:53.310
You may go ahead.
00:44:55.490 --> 00:44:56.927
Good morning, Commissioners.
00:44:56.927 --> 00:44:59.700
Thank you for the chance to speak.
00:44:59.700 --> 00:45:01.390
My name is Roger Williams.
00:45:01.390 --> 00:45:03.930
I live in Fairfax, California.
00:45:03.930 --> 00:45:07.180
20 years ago, I began doing PV in California,
00:45:07.180 --> 00:45:10.400
primarily in the East Bay around Oakland.
00:45:10.400 --> 00:45:13.450
I moved to California to get work in the solar industry.
00:45:13.450 --> 00:45:15.870
It was basically the only place
00:45:15.870 --> 00:45:17.933
you could get work in the US.
00:45:18.870 --> 00:45:22.900
Now, I'm concerned that I'm gonna have to leave California
00:45:22.900 --> 00:45:25.370
because of the proposed decision.
00:45:25.370 --> 00:45:28.440
I and thousands of others may have to leave
00:45:28.440 --> 00:45:32.690
to continue doing the work they love in the solar industry.
00:45:32.690 --> 00:45:34.890
Personally, I know hundreds of people
00:45:34.890 --> 00:45:38.090
and their families who might lose their job
00:45:38.090 --> 00:45:42.660
and livelihood due to this proposed decision.
00:45:42.660 --> 00:45:45.920
I respectfully ask you to reconsider,
00:45:45.920 --> 00:45:47.910
and redo the proposed decision,
00:45:47.910 --> 00:45:50.780
so it does not benefit the IOUs.
00:45:50.780 --> 00:45:53.633
Thank you for your time on this beautiful, sunny day.
00:45:54.560 --> 00:45:55.790
Thank you.
00:45:55.790 --> 00:45:57.290
Operator, next caller, please.
00:45:59.040 --> 00:46:02.210
Our next caller is Jose Contreras.
00:46:02.210 --> 00:46:03.060
You may go ahead.
00:46:04.200 --> 00:46:06.020
Hi, my name is Jose Contreras.
00:46:06.020 --> 00:46:08.950
I'm the president of Solare Energy in San Diego.
00:46:08.950 --> 00:46:11.280
I have worked in the past as a consultant in energy
00:46:11.280 --> 00:46:12.680
and other industries.
00:46:12.680 --> 00:46:14.590
I'm calling to ask the Commissioners to reject
00:46:14.590 --> 00:46:17.840
an extremely flawed decision on net metering.
00:46:17.840 --> 00:46:20.490
First, it is bad, long-term planning.
00:46:20.490 --> 00:46:22.550
It is based on a very short-term model
00:46:22.550 --> 00:46:24.720
that looks at incremental cost benefits,
00:46:24.720 --> 00:46:27.708
and is not appropriate for long-term planning.
00:46:27.708 --> 00:46:31.030
Second, it increases long-term utility rates.
00:46:31.030 --> 00:46:32.870
We're looking at billions of dollars
00:46:32.870 --> 00:46:36.160
on transmission-related improvements and capacity.
00:46:36.160 --> 00:46:38.773
Re-distributed generation, including rooftop solar,
00:46:38.773 --> 00:46:41.160
will help reduce our reliance on transmission,
00:46:41.160 --> 00:46:44.710
and help us avoid future expenses.
00:46:44.710 --> 00:46:48.060
Third, it imposes taxes on solar customers,
00:46:48.060 --> 00:46:49.750
just because they are no longer using
00:46:49.750 --> 00:46:51.160
as much of the services.
00:46:51.160 --> 00:46:52.500
This is ridiculous!
00:46:52.500 --> 00:46:53.840
Not just in the business world,
00:46:53.840 --> 00:46:56.240
but in any regulated industry.
00:46:56.240 --> 00:46:57.437
The world is watching.
00:46:57.437 --> 00:46:59.960
Don't let utilities run this show.
00:46:59.960 --> 00:47:01.680
Keep California as a leader in the fight
00:47:01.680 --> 00:47:04.223
against climate change with sound energy policies.
00:47:06.880 --> 00:47:07.860
Thank you.
00:47:07.860 --> 00:47:09.710
Operator, next caller, please.
00:47:13.010 --> 00:47:14.760
Our next caller is Danny Pham.
00:47:14.760 --> 00:47:15.610
You may go ahead.
00:47:17.060 --> 00:47:18.730
Commissioners, thank you for your time.
00:47:18.730 --> 00:47:19.940
My name is Danny Pham.
00:47:19.940 --> 00:47:21.700
I am an electrical contractor
00:47:21.700 --> 00:47:24.540
and owner of Sungenix Energy in San Jose.
00:47:24.540 --> 00:47:27.680
I've been in the solar industry for over 13 years.
00:47:27.680 --> 00:47:29.220
Net energy metering has helped
00:47:29.220 --> 00:47:31.340
to drive the success of our industry
00:47:31.340 --> 00:47:33.610
by providing a means to fairly account for
00:47:33.610 --> 00:47:35.390
and credit the solar electricity
00:47:35.390 --> 00:47:38.210
generated by households and businesses.
00:47:38.210 --> 00:47:41.380
This electricity benefits everyone on the grid.
00:47:41.380 --> 00:47:43.940
The changes proposed now will completely gut
00:47:43.940 --> 00:47:46.070
the net energy metering program.
00:47:46.070 --> 00:47:48.380
The drastic evaluation of NEM credits
00:47:48.380 --> 00:47:50.600
and outrageous per kilowatt fees
00:47:50.600 --> 00:47:52.960
will have a devastating impact on me
00:47:52.960 --> 00:47:54.950
and countless other solar professionals
00:47:54.950 --> 00:47:58.210
and solar consumers who just want to do the right thing
00:47:58.210 --> 00:48:01.240
for our environment and for California's future.
00:48:01.240 --> 00:48:03.080
So I urge you to do the right thing,
00:48:03.080 --> 00:48:05.480
and reject this proposed decision.
00:48:05.480 --> 00:48:06.570
We have the technology
00:48:06.570 --> 00:48:08.870
and the means to make solar more affordable,
00:48:08.870 --> 00:48:11.090
more equitable, and more accessible.
00:48:11.090 --> 00:48:13.830
By attacking the very foundation of net metering
00:48:13.830 --> 00:48:16.350
is ill-conceived and is not the answer.
00:48:16.350 --> 00:48:17.640
It is wrong on all levels,
00:48:17.640 --> 00:48:19.613
and must not be allowed to pass.
00:48:21.660 --> 00:48:22.700
Thank you.
00:48:22.700 --> 00:48:24.223
Operator, next caller, please.
00:48:26.380 --> 00:48:28.270
Our next caller is Patricia Blevins.
00:48:28.270 --> 00:48:29.410
You may go ahead.
00:48:29.410 --> 00:48:31.060
Yes, my name is Patricia Blevins,
00:48:31.060 --> 00:48:32.350
and I live in San Jose.
00:48:32.350 --> 00:48:35.130
NEM 3.0 has been written to increase the profits
00:48:35.130 --> 00:48:37.920
of the felon, PG&E, and other big power companies
00:48:37.920 --> 00:48:40.450
at the expense of the public and the planet,
00:48:40.450 --> 00:48:43.040
which is out of step with California's clean energy goals.
00:48:43.040 --> 00:48:47.540
I respectfully ask the CPUC to vote against NEM 3.0.
00:48:47.540 --> 00:48:49.860
Long distance power lines and wildfire mitigation
00:48:49.860 --> 00:48:52.910
are what's actually driving up our electricity cost.
00:48:52.910 --> 00:48:55.300
Rooftop solar actually benefits all ratepayers
00:48:55.300 --> 00:48:57.230
by lowering cost, while also increasing
00:48:57.230 --> 00:48:59.140
the resilience of the electric grid.
00:48:59.140 --> 00:49:00.670
Low and middle income households
00:49:00.670 --> 00:49:03.470
account for almost 50% of installed systems.
00:49:03.470 --> 00:49:05.140
Additionally, over 2,000 schools
00:49:05.140 --> 00:49:08.130
and hundreds of churches are powered by solar panels.
00:49:08.130 --> 00:49:11.280
NEM 3.0 will make solar unaffordable for most people,
00:49:11.280 --> 00:49:13.360
and penalize those who have already sacrificed
00:49:13.360 --> 00:49:14.400
to install solar panels
00:49:14.400 --> 00:49:15.887
and batteries under NEM 1.0 and 2.0
00:49:17.110 --> 00:49:20.530
by changing the rules and adding costs they never agreed to.
00:49:20.530 --> 00:49:22.700
The CPUC should keep rooftop solar
00:49:22.700 --> 00:49:26.250
and battery storage growing by defeating NEM 3.0.
00:49:26.250 --> 00:49:27.790
Thank you.
00:49:27.790 --> 00:49:28.650
Thank you.
00:49:28.650 --> 00:49:30.420
Operator, next caller, please.
00:49:32.270 --> 00:49:34.620
Our next caller is Gerald Radberry.
00:49:34.620 --> 00:49:35.470
You may go ahead.
00:49:37.210 --> 00:49:39.650
Good morning, Commissioners.
00:49:39.650 --> 00:49:42.633
I'm a homeowner on the Mendocino Coast.
00:49:43.630 --> 00:49:47.250
I support NEM reform that increases the climate
00:49:47.250 --> 00:49:51.440
and grid benefits of customer-sited clean energy generation
00:49:51.440 --> 00:49:53.380
through rate structures that encourage
00:49:53.380 --> 00:49:56.320
and dispatch of solar-paired batteries
00:49:56.320 --> 00:49:58.630
during the day when an electrical grid is strained,
00:49:58.630 --> 00:50:01.240
and fossil fuel plants are most polluting,
00:50:01.240 --> 00:50:04.777
such as the reform recently enacted by the Sacramento MUD.
00:50:05.660 --> 00:50:09.310
In turn, I oppose the current CPUC proposal.
00:50:09.310 --> 00:50:11.970
Imposing fixed charges only on those customers
00:50:11.970 --> 00:50:13.970
who choose to install solar
00:50:13.970 --> 00:50:15.630
impinges on customer's right
00:50:15.630 --> 00:50:17.950
to self-generate their own energy,
00:50:17.950 --> 00:50:20.980
violates every tenant of regulatory fairness,
00:50:20.980 --> 00:50:23.820
and is likely illegal under federal law.
00:50:23.820 --> 00:50:27.180
Furthermore, the dramatic change from the current NEM policy
00:50:27.180 --> 00:50:31.710
will reduce customer adoption of clean energy in California
00:50:31.710 --> 00:50:33.350
at a time when more is needed
00:50:33.350 --> 00:50:34.827
to meet the state's climate goals,
00:50:34.827 --> 00:50:37.560
and to provide more energy resilience
00:50:37.560 --> 00:50:40.863
in the face of unprecedented wildfires and grid outages.
00:50:41.851 --> 00:50:44.310
(bell dinging)
I urge the-
00:50:44.310 --> 00:50:45.250
Thank you very much.
00:50:45.250 --> 00:50:47.250
Operator, next caller, please.
00:50:50.370 --> 00:50:52.510
Our next caller is Karen Palestra.
00:50:52.510 --> 00:50:53.360
You may go ahead.
00:50:54.550 --> 00:50:55.383
Hi.
00:50:57.420 --> 00:50:58.820
My name is Karen Polestra.
00:50:58.820 --> 00:51:00.760
I'm a part owner of a small solar
00:51:00.760 --> 00:51:03.190
contracting business in San Diego County.
00:51:03.190 --> 00:51:06.810
I've been in the solar industries for 17 years.
00:51:06.810 --> 00:51:09.550
We started our company in 2007,
00:51:09.550 --> 00:51:11.140
and since that time,
00:51:11.140 --> 00:51:13.490
other family members have joined us full-time,
00:51:13.490 --> 00:51:15.490
and have made a commitment to the solar,
00:51:16.360 --> 00:51:19.660
to solar as an industry of the future,
00:51:19.660 --> 00:51:21.483
and to be part of the solution.
00:51:22.960 --> 00:51:26.000
The decision on NEM3 directly affects our future,
00:51:26.000 --> 00:51:27.100
our family's future,
00:51:27.100 --> 00:51:29.720
and that of our employee and their families.
00:51:29.720 --> 00:51:31.140
We are a small business,
00:51:31.140 --> 00:51:34.573
not billionaires to get rich, looking to get rich.
00:51:35.920 --> 00:51:38.090
The majority of the solar industry
00:51:38.090 --> 00:51:40.150
is comprised of medium-sized businesses,
00:51:40.150 --> 00:51:43.510
small businesses, and family owned contractors, like us.
00:51:43.510 --> 00:51:45.190
There is plenty of information out there
00:51:45.190 --> 00:51:47.530
that shows what the effect of similar decisions
00:51:47.530 --> 00:51:49.440
on the solar industry was,
00:51:49.440 --> 00:51:51.030
not only in neighboring states,
00:51:51.030 --> 00:51:53.950
but also in other California utility districts.
00:51:53.950 --> 00:51:56.860
I'm asking you to reject the proposal as it is written.
00:51:56.860 --> 00:51:58.440
Thank you.
00:51:58.440 --> 00:51:59.320
Thank you.
00:51:59.320 --> 00:52:00.923
Operator, next caller, please.
00:52:02.630 --> 00:52:04.740
Our next caller is James Michaels.
00:52:04.740 --> 00:52:05.590
You may go ahead.
00:52:07.070 --> 00:52:08.290
Hi, this...
00:52:08.290 --> 00:52:09.910
Can you hear me?
00:52:09.910 --> 00:52:11.380
Yes, we can.
00:52:11.380 --> 00:52:13.830
Okay, this comment is representing
00:52:13.830 --> 00:52:17.870
Alternative Energy Systems out of Chico, California.
00:52:17.870 --> 00:52:19.570
We live in Northern California,
00:52:19.570 --> 00:52:23.600
which is ground zero for utility-sparked wildfires,
00:52:23.600 --> 00:52:26.340
like the Camp Fire and the Dixie Fire.
00:52:26.340 --> 00:52:29.750
Many of our employees lost their homes in these fires,
00:52:29.750 --> 00:52:31.363
and we were all affected.
00:52:32.200 --> 00:52:34.610
This place will never be the same.
00:52:34.610 --> 00:52:37.830
These fires were caused by utility negligence,
00:52:37.830 --> 00:52:40.500
and the fact that PG&E burned our houses,
00:52:40.500 --> 00:52:43.650
and now they wanna shut down our company and take our jobs,
00:52:43.650 --> 00:52:48.650
because we're their only competition is unbelievable.
00:52:48.950 --> 00:52:51.810
The proposed decision will empower this negligence,
00:52:51.810 --> 00:52:54.160
and hurt much needed innovation.
00:52:54.160 --> 00:52:56.760
Reports that solar...
00:52:56.760 --> 00:52:59.000
Reports that solar hurts the grid
00:52:59.000 --> 00:53:03.980
and only favors the wealthy are outdated and inaccurate.
00:53:03.980 --> 00:53:07.890
We need innovation in clean energy for accessibility,
00:53:07.890 --> 00:53:10.560
and job creation, not regression.
00:53:10.560 --> 00:53:14.010
We need a reasonable, common sense approach
00:53:14.010 --> 00:53:15.830
to this transition,
(bell dinging)
00:53:15.830 --> 00:53:18.081
like CalSSA has proposed.
Thank you very much
00:53:18.081 --> 00:53:21.350
Thank you very much.
for your comments.
00:53:21.350 --> 00:53:22.913
Operator, next caller, please.
00:53:25.640 --> 00:53:27.280
Our next caller is Zach Sharpe.
00:53:27.280 --> 00:53:28.617
You may go ahead.
00:53:29.570 --> 00:53:30.740
Hi, my name is Zach Sharpe,
00:53:30.740 --> 00:53:33.460
and I've been working for Luminalt Solar for nine years.
00:53:33.460 --> 00:53:36.810
I'm asking you to reject the proposed decision in full.
00:53:36.810 --> 00:53:38.430
My solar job has supported my family,
00:53:38.430 --> 00:53:40.240
and I've created a good life for my two daughters,
00:53:40.240 --> 00:53:42.160
both toddlers, in the Bay Area.
00:53:42.160 --> 00:53:43.110
If the proposed decision,
00:53:43.110 --> 00:53:44.890
or anything that resembles it, is approved,
00:53:44.890 --> 00:53:47.220
my job and the company I work for will be jeopardized,
00:53:47.220 --> 00:53:49.720
which directly affects the wellbeing of my family.
00:53:49.720 --> 00:53:51.380
Since rooftop solar is my career,
00:53:51.380 --> 00:53:52.880
we will likely have to move to another state
00:53:52.880 --> 00:53:54.500
that is more friendly to solar.
00:53:54.500 --> 00:53:56.690
I also speak for the thousands of Luminalt clients,
00:53:56.690 --> 00:53:58.800
many of whom are low income veterans
00:53:58.800 --> 00:54:00.530
or elderly on a fixed income,
00:54:00.530 --> 00:54:03.000
that rely on their utilities being low,
00:54:03.000 --> 00:54:04.590
and who rely on their solar
00:54:04.590 --> 00:54:06.770
and battery systems to provide backup power
00:54:06.770 --> 00:54:08.630
to their medical devices and air conditioners
00:54:08.630 --> 00:54:11.730
during this era of increasingly frequent power outages.
00:54:11.730 --> 00:54:14.410
These systems require servicing to operate properly.
00:54:14.410 --> 00:54:17.120
If Luminalt goes under, we can't service those systems.
00:54:17.120 --> 00:54:18.980
The state of California rightly requires us
00:54:18.980 --> 00:54:21.460
to provide a minimum 10 year warranty on battery systems
00:54:21.460 --> 00:54:23.290
to ensure consumers are protected.
00:54:23.290 --> 00:54:24.690
But if this decision goes through,
00:54:24.690 --> 00:54:26.820
the survival of many solar companies is threatened,
00:54:26.820 --> 00:54:29.130
and therefore, puts all of those warranties at risk.
00:54:29.130 --> 00:54:30.530
Thank you.
00:54:30.530 --> 00:54:31.820
Thank you.
00:54:31.820 --> 00:54:33.663
Operator, next caller, please.
00:54:36.357 --> 00:54:37.440
Our next caller...
00:54:37.440 --> 00:54:38.273
I'm sorry.
00:54:38.273 --> 00:54:41.124
Our next caller is Steve Saeger.
00:54:41.124 --> 00:54:42.800
You may go ahead.
00:54:42.800 --> 00:54:43.633
Good morning.
00:54:43.633 --> 00:54:45.770
My name is Steve Saeger with Quality Home Services in the
00:54:45.770 --> 00:54:47.370
Central Valley of California.
00:54:47.370 --> 00:54:49.140
All five major counties we serve
00:54:49.140 --> 00:54:52.270
have a poverty value ranging from 20 to 27%
00:54:52.270 --> 00:54:54.480
living below the poverty line.
00:54:54.480 --> 00:54:56.510
Based on the average solar facility in the Valley,
00:54:56.510 --> 00:54:59.570
the typical homeowner would pay $850 annually
00:54:59.570 --> 00:55:01.240
in connection fees alone.
00:55:01.240 --> 00:55:03.780
An increase of this magnitude is in no way equitable
00:55:03.780 --> 00:55:05.110
to the people living in poverty,
00:55:05.110 --> 00:55:08.710
and would shut out over 20% from the population
00:55:08.710 --> 00:55:10.540
of being able to afford taking steps
00:55:10.540 --> 00:55:13.560
that are in line with the goals of the state of California.
00:55:13.560 --> 00:55:15.870
During my nine years in this industry,
00:55:15.870 --> 00:55:18.230
I've watched numerous people rise out of poverty,
00:55:18.230 --> 00:55:20.000
start families, and some have gone off
00:55:20.000 --> 00:55:23.060
to start their own solar companies, and create new jobs.
00:55:23.060 --> 00:55:25.470
As proposed, this decision will stifle the growth
00:55:25.470 --> 00:55:26.990
of the renewable energy industry,
00:55:26.990 --> 00:55:28.440
hurt small businesses and families,
00:55:28.440 --> 00:55:30.273
while propping up monopolized power companies
00:55:30.273 --> 00:55:32.560
that are too big to fail.
00:55:32.560 --> 00:55:33.830
Thank you for all your hard work
00:55:33.830 --> 00:55:35.810
in regulating on the consumer behalf.
00:55:35.810 --> 00:55:37.570
Please don't cut those efforts short
00:55:37.570 --> 00:55:38.970
in rushing a policy through
00:55:38.970 --> 00:55:41.040
that would drastically change so many lives.
00:55:41.040 --> 00:55:42.430
Thank you.
00:55:42.430 --> 00:55:43.263
Thank you.
00:55:43.263 --> 00:55:44.760
Operator, next caller, please.
00:55:47.060 --> 00:55:50.090
Our next caller is Brandon Karashi.
00:55:51.447 --> 00:55:53.293
You may go ahead.
00:55:53.293 --> 00:55:54.693
Brandon Carlson?
00:55:56.790 --> 00:55:58.200
Yes, we can hear you.
Yes, go ahead.
00:55:58.200 --> 00:55:59.370
Okay, there you go. (chuckles)
00:55:59.370 --> 00:56:00.210
Thank you, Commissioners.
00:56:00.210 --> 00:56:01.600
My name is Brandon Carlson,
00:56:01.600 --> 00:56:02.850
and I'd like to state for the record
00:56:02.850 --> 00:56:05.350
my disappointment with the net metering proposal.
00:56:05.350 --> 00:56:06.910
I'm an applications engineer
00:56:06.910 --> 00:56:08.730
focused on low income communities,
00:56:08.730 --> 00:56:11.850
and have been in the solar industry for over 20 years now.
00:56:11.850 --> 00:56:13.760
I volunteer 20 to 30 hours a month
00:56:13.760 --> 00:56:15.080
developing electric codes
00:56:15.080 --> 00:56:17.110
and standards to assisting in finding solutions
00:56:17.110 --> 00:56:19.130
for all stakeholders involved.
00:56:19.130 --> 00:56:21.560
Thanks to your predecessors' decisions in the past,
00:56:21.560 --> 00:56:23.970
California leads the way in distributed solar.
00:56:23.970 --> 00:56:27.430
Solar users feel fairly treated, contractors have work,
00:56:27.430 --> 00:56:29.450
utilities have a great deal of control,
00:56:29.450 --> 00:56:30.800
and innovation in solar energy
00:56:30.800 --> 00:56:33.000
is booming more and more every day.
00:56:33.000 --> 00:56:34.870
There's a reason that code developers like me
00:56:34.870 --> 00:56:37.550
for the solar industry are nearly all located in California.
00:56:37.550 --> 00:56:41.250
Not Arizona, not Nevada, not Texas, but California.
00:56:41.250 --> 00:56:43.270
This proposal's drastic changes
00:56:43.270 --> 00:56:46.070
would be a hard load to California's solar future,
00:56:46.070 --> 00:56:49.530
and send all aspects of our industry elsewhere.
00:56:49.530 --> 00:56:51.980
Again, I implore you to find a better solution.
00:56:51.980 --> 00:56:53.790
Especially in times of COVID,
00:56:53.790 --> 00:56:56.080
we have plenty of time to find a better solution.
00:56:56.080 --> 00:56:57.870
Thank you for your time.
00:56:57.870 --> 00:56:58.703
Thank you.
00:56:58.703 --> 00:57:00.200
Operator, next caller, please.
00:57:02.180 --> 00:57:04.190
Our next caller is Connie.
00:57:04.190 --> 00:57:05.040
You may go ahead.
00:57:08.870 --> 00:57:10.280
Hi, my name is Connie.
00:57:10.280 --> 00:57:12.780
I work for Baker Electric Home Energy.
00:57:12.780 --> 00:57:15.140
As a former long-time utility worker,
00:57:15.140 --> 00:57:18.507
I am extremely disappointed in the proposed decision.
00:57:18.507 --> 00:57:19.340
The amount of money
00:57:19.340 --> 00:57:22.297
that the utilities make off of capital projects,
00:57:22.297 --> 00:57:23.440
and the amount of money
00:57:23.440 --> 00:57:26.810
that they pay their employees is astronomical.
00:57:26.810 --> 00:57:28.840
This is only feeding their greed.
00:57:28.840 --> 00:57:32.680
Not to mention, and if you remember, in 2014,
00:57:32.680 --> 00:57:36.960
it was founded that SCG&E purposely went after
00:57:36.960 --> 00:57:40.832
low income households to make money on late fees.
00:57:40.832 --> 00:57:43.600
The utilities don't care about low income households.
00:57:43.600 --> 00:57:44.980
Please say no to NEM3,
00:57:44.980 --> 00:57:47.900
and don't penalize sustainable energy.
00:57:47.900 --> 00:57:49.710
We must reject this decision.
00:57:49.710 --> 00:57:51.180
Thank you.
00:57:51.180 --> 00:57:52.013
Thank you.
00:57:52.013 --> 00:57:53.970
Operator, next caller, please.
00:57:55.770 --> 00:57:58.250
Our next caller is Emily Langenbahn.
00:57:58.250 --> 00:57:59.100
You may go ahead.
00:58:01.529 --> 00:58:02.362
Good morning.
00:58:02.362 --> 00:58:03.440
My name is Emily Langenbahn.
00:58:03.440 --> 00:58:06.260
I work for Renova Energy in the Coachella Valley.
00:58:06.260 --> 00:58:09.060
I'm asking you to scrap the NEM3 decision all together.
00:58:09.060 --> 00:58:11.620
The same program was put in place by the municipally owned
00:58:11.620 --> 00:58:14.880
Imperial Irrigation Districts in July, 2016.
00:58:14.880 --> 00:58:17.020
Their program started five years ago,
00:58:17.020 --> 00:58:19.340
and there's been a 100% decline
00:58:19.340 --> 00:58:22.000
year-over-year in solar installation.
00:58:22.000 --> 00:58:23.900
The ratepayers in that district fell victim
00:58:23.900 --> 00:58:26.800
to two drastic rate increases over the last year alone,
00:58:26.800 --> 00:58:29.900
with no option to save money through solar leasing
00:58:29.900 --> 00:58:32.800
or through a five year payback period after purchasing.
00:58:32.800 --> 00:58:34.150
Rooftop solar is flourishing
00:58:34.150 --> 00:58:36.180
in the neighboring SCE territory.
00:58:36.180 --> 00:58:38.090
Please do not destroy the progress we've made
00:58:38.090 --> 00:58:39.940
in favor of the utilities' bottom line.
00:58:39.940 --> 00:58:40.773
Thank you.
00:58:41.710 --> 00:58:42.543
Thank you.
00:58:42.543 --> 00:58:44.003
Operator, next caller, please.
00:58:51.332 --> 00:58:53.330
Our next caller is Tommy Winick.
00:58:53.330 --> 00:58:54.180
You may go ahead.
00:58:57.940 --> 00:58:58.777
Hello, my name is Tommy Winick,
00:58:58.777 --> 00:59:01.330
and I've been in solar energy since 2018.
00:59:01.330 --> 00:59:02.570
Prior to finding solar,
00:59:02.570 --> 00:59:04.427
I had $30,000 in student loan debt,
00:59:04.427 --> 00:59:06.290
$12,000 in personal debt,
00:59:06.290 --> 00:59:07.960
18,000 in auto loan debt,
00:59:07.960 --> 00:59:10.060
and no clue what to do, besides hide in depression,
00:59:10.060 --> 00:59:11.800
living paycheck to paycheck.
00:59:11.800 --> 00:59:16.470
I urge you to please set fire to this proposal,
00:59:16.470 --> 00:59:19.960
because California is on fire in January!
00:59:19.960 --> 00:59:23.650
Since 2018, I've helped over 100 families go solar.
00:59:23.650 --> 00:59:27.810
I have added over 1 million dollars to property values.
00:59:27.810 --> 00:59:30.210
I've created lasting friendships
00:59:30.210 --> 00:59:33.110
and good relationships with all of my homeowners.
00:59:33.110 --> 00:59:34.070
I had the opportunity
00:59:34.070 --> 00:59:37.190
to work with someone in Paradise, California,
00:59:37.190 --> 00:59:39.610
and this was the saddest experience of my life.
00:59:39.610 --> 00:59:44.270
Please do not be on the wrong side of our future.
00:59:44.270 --> 00:59:45.103
I urge you.
00:59:45.973 --> 00:59:47.456
Thank you.
00:59:47.456 --> 00:59:48.289
Thank you.
00:59:48.289 --> 00:59:49.380
Operator, next caller, please.
00:59:51.100 --> 00:59:53.010
Our next caller is Mike Davidson.
00:59:53.010 --> 00:59:53.860
You may go ahead.
00:59:55.650 --> 00:59:56.483
Good morning.
00:59:56.483 --> 00:59:57.660
My name is Mike Davidson.
00:59:57.660 --> 01:00:01.760
I'm calling from San Diego County Solar in Carlsbad.
01:00:01.760 --> 01:00:04.740
And 15 years ago, when I began my solar career,
01:00:04.740 --> 01:00:07.410
there were only a handful of solar companies
01:00:07.410 --> 01:00:08.720
in the San Diego area,
01:00:08.720 --> 01:00:11.570
and all of them were struggling to survive.
01:00:11.570 --> 01:00:14.910
In fact, it was necessary for me to work a second job
01:00:14.910 --> 01:00:17.690
for the first several years of my career.
01:00:17.690 --> 01:00:18.523
At that time,
01:00:18.523 --> 01:00:20.670
homeowners investing in a solar installation
01:00:20.670 --> 01:00:24.030
could expect a payback period of 10 to 20 years.
01:00:24.030 --> 01:00:25.850
It's common knowledge in the solar industry
01:00:25.850 --> 01:00:28.680
that homeowners' primary motivation to go solar
01:00:28.680 --> 01:00:31.200
is the prospect of saving money.
01:00:31.200 --> 01:00:33.210
As the cost of solar equipment has come down,
01:00:33.210 --> 01:00:36.510
companies like ours have been able to create
01:00:36.510 --> 01:00:39.470
thousands of good jobs, providing health insurance,
01:00:39.470 --> 01:00:41.700
and retirement benefits for employees.
01:00:41.700 --> 01:00:44.380
A 10 to 20 years payback
01:00:44.380 --> 01:00:47.660
is not a compelling value proposition for homeowners.
01:00:47.660 --> 01:00:51.370
The proposed NEM3 decision will take us back to a time
01:00:51.370 --> 01:00:52.780
when there were only a handful
01:00:52.780 --> 01:00:55.053
of struggling solar companies.
01:00:56.140 --> 01:00:58.723
I ask you to please reject the proposed decision.
01:01:00.280 --> 01:01:01.113
Thank you.
(bell dinging)
01:01:01.113 --> 01:01:02.010
Thank you.
01:01:02.010 --> 01:01:03.510
Operator, next caller, please.
01:01:06.170 --> 01:01:07.910
Our next caller is Adam Gerza.
01:01:07.910 --> 01:01:08.760
You may go ahead.
01:01:11.560 --> 01:01:12.393
Hi, good morning.
01:01:12.393 --> 01:01:13.350
This is Adam Gerza.
01:01:13.350 --> 01:01:17.080
I am the VP of Business Development with Energy Toolbase.
01:01:17.080 --> 01:01:19.120
We're a software company that specializes
01:01:19.120 --> 01:01:22.300
in modeling the economics of solar and storage.
01:01:22.300 --> 01:01:25.360
Developers use us to, you know, run avoided cost analysis
01:01:25.360 --> 01:01:27.300
and financial analysis.
01:01:27.300 --> 01:01:28.790
And we've always done this in a really,
01:01:28.790 --> 01:01:31.213
you know, objective fashion.
01:01:32.320 --> 01:01:34.750
We've been watching the proceeding very closely
01:01:34.750 --> 01:01:36.850
over the last 12 months.
01:01:36.850 --> 01:01:39.310
Certainly appreciate and kinda understand
01:01:39.310 --> 01:01:43.410
the difficult job the PUC has here to reform NEM.
01:01:43.410 --> 01:01:46.823
Our view is that the proposed decision does go way too far.
01:01:47.870 --> 01:01:49.180
We don't think it's a stretch to say,
01:01:49.180 --> 01:01:51.050
it would decimate the market,
01:01:51.050 --> 01:01:53.690
and, we think, result in pretty similar outcomes
01:01:53.690 --> 01:01:58.150
to what we saw firsthand in both Nevada and Hawaii
01:01:58.150 --> 01:02:01.100
when those, you know, markets abruptly changed their rules.
01:02:01.100 --> 01:02:05.880
So we encourage the PUC to reject it, and rework it.
01:02:05.880 --> 01:02:07.310
Thank you.
01:02:07.310 --> 01:02:08.360
Thank you.
01:02:08.360 --> 01:02:09.980
Operator, next caller, please.
01:02:12.850 --> 01:02:14.830
Our next caller is Jon Landsman.
01:02:14.830 --> 01:02:15.680
You may go ahead.
01:02:16.800 --> 01:02:17.780
Good morning, Commissioners.
01:02:17.780 --> 01:02:18.870
My name is Jon Landsman,
01:02:18.870 --> 01:02:19.960
and I'm the sales director
01:02:19.960 --> 01:02:22.240
for the Solar Bill Review team in Dublin.
01:02:22.240 --> 01:02:24.460
I've been in the industry for 10 years.
01:02:24.460 --> 01:02:27.310
I got involved on this journey having no idea whatsoever
01:02:27.310 --> 01:02:30.030
on the impact this career would have on me personally.
01:02:30.030 --> 01:02:32.300
I've helped over 1500 households go solar,
01:02:32.300 --> 01:02:35.180
reaching their financial and environmental goals.
01:02:35.180 --> 01:02:37.180
Whenever my days here on Earth are done,
01:02:37.180 --> 01:02:39.020
I'll know I've left the world a better
01:02:39.020 --> 01:02:40.360
than when I came into it
01:02:40.360 --> 01:02:42.510
by how much I've reduced the carbon footprint.
01:02:42.510 --> 01:02:43.890
In addition to those accomplishments,
01:02:43.890 --> 01:02:45.940
I've made a ton of friends with like-minded goals
01:02:45.940 --> 01:02:47.540
on helping customers.
01:02:47.540 --> 01:02:49.070
One of them is the owner of the company
01:02:49.070 --> 01:02:51.020
I work for today, Bill Gurgol.
01:02:51.020 --> 01:02:53.870
He started our small company that has about 15 employees
01:02:53.870 --> 01:02:56.990
that all genuinely care about each other and our customers.
01:02:56.990 --> 01:02:58.900
We wanna fulfill our promise to our customers
01:02:58.900 --> 01:03:01.570
by providing them with top-notch customer service,
01:03:01.570 --> 01:03:03.930
NEM 3.0, as it's currently being proposed,
01:03:03.930 --> 01:03:05.400
would take that away from us,
01:03:05.400 --> 01:03:07.290
as well as all the potential referrals
01:03:07.290 --> 01:03:09.160
that our customers wanna give us.
01:03:09.160 --> 01:03:11.150
I am appealing to all of the Commissioners
01:03:11.150 --> 01:03:14.910
to please reject NEM 3.0 as it's currently being proposed.
01:03:14.910 --> 01:03:17.430
Thank you so much for your consideration.
01:03:17.430 --> 01:03:18.400
Thank you.
01:03:18.400 --> 01:03:19.900
Operator, next caller, please.
01:03:21.930 --> 01:03:23.810
Our next caller is Norm Koenig.
01:03:23.810 --> 01:03:24.660
You may go ahead.
01:03:26.020 --> 01:03:28.170
Thank you to the members of the Commission
01:03:28.170 --> 01:03:30.920
for giving me a chance to share my grave concerns
01:03:30.920 --> 01:03:32.790
about this proposed decision.
01:03:32.790 --> 01:03:34.060
My name is Norm Koenig.
01:03:34.060 --> 01:03:36.140
I work as a home energy consultant
01:03:36.140 --> 01:03:38.780
at Treeium Energy in Valley Village,
01:03:38.780 --> 01:03:41.470
serving the greater Los Angeles area.
01:03:41.470 --> 01:03:42.570
I'm in my fifties,
01:03:42.570 --> 01:03:44.140
and at the beginning of the pandemic,
01:03:44.140 --> 01:03:48.870
I lost my job in corporate relocation for obvious reasons.
01:03:48.870 --> 01:03:52.230
I have since completely reinvented my professional self
01:03:52.230 --> 01:03:54.530
in the solar industry as a sales consultant,
01:03:54.530 --> 01:03:57.390
and I've never had greater job satisfaction.
01:03:57.390 --> 01:03:59.970
The solar industry is a great place to work,
01:03:59.970 --> 01:04:03.063
as 60,000 passionate Californians will tell you.
01:04:04.000 --> 01:04:06.940
The solar industry supports the great state of California's
01:04:06.940 --> 01:04:11.333
admirable goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2045.
01:04:12.400 --> 01:04:13.880
I'm wondering where all the people are
01:04:13.880 --> 01:04:17.930
who are supporting this proposed decision?
01:04:17.930 --> 01:04:20.177
Please reject NEM 3.0,
01:04:20.177 --> 01:04:21.890
and save California solar.
01:04:21.890 --> 01:04:23.280
Thank you.
01:04:23.280 --> 01:04:24.120
Thank you.
01:04:24.120 --> 01:04:25.653
Operator, next caller, please.
01:04:28.930 --> 01:04:30.970
Our next caller is Woody Hastings.
01:04:30.970 --> 01:04:31.820
You may go ahead.
01:04:33.780 --> 01:04:34.923
Can you hear me?
01:04:35.770 --> 01:04:36.603
Yes, we can.
01:04:36.603 --> 01:04:37.436
Okay, good.
01:04:37.436 --> 01:04:38.910
Good morning, President Reynolds and Commissioners.
01:04:38.910 --> 01:04:41.270
My name is Woody Hastings with the Climate Center.
01:04:41.270 --> 01:04:44.540
I'm speaking today to urge the Commission to reject the PD,
01:04:44.540 --> 01:04:46.870
go back to square one on this matter.
01:04:46.870 --> 01:04:47.797
We are in a climate crisis,
01:04:47.797 --> 01:04:51.040
and we need all the solar and storage we can get
01:04:51.040 --> 01:04:54.670
in the built environment first as quickly as possible,
01:04:54.670 --> 01:04:57.080
and the smart rules that can make that happen.
01:04:57.080 --> 01:04:59.620
The $8 fixed charge is extremely regressive,
01:04:59.620 --> 01:05:01.550
and not calibrated to specific costs,
01:05:01.550 --> 01:05:02.940
and should be discarded.
01:05:02.940 --> 01:05:06.810
The abrogation of the NEM1 and 2 20 year promise
01:05:06.810 --> 01:05:08.540
is patently unfair,
01:05:08.540 --> 01:05:12.050
and the immediate 80% cut on export bill credit
01:05:12.050 --> 01:05:13.320
is capricious and severe.
01:05:13.320 --> 01:05:15.770
It should be adjusted over time to be in line
01:05:15.770 --> 01:05:18.180
with actual agreed upon value of solar.
01:05:18.180 --> 01:05:20.750
Yes, utility scale solar is cheap,
01:05:20.750 --> 01:05:23.320
about 3 cents per kilowatt hour, but for whom?
01:05:23.320 --> 01:05:26.090
That is a low cost for the utilities, not for customers.
01:05:26.090 --> 01:05:27.610
It doesn't get passed along.
01:05:27.610 --> 01:05:29.340
Utility rates just keep going up,
01:05:29.340 --> 01:05:30.980
as they have been for 40 years.
01:05:30.980 --> 01:05:32.810
We need new rules that help everyone,
01:05:32.810 --> 01:05:35.410
including lower income customers,
01:05:35.410 --> 01:05:39.680
to deploy as much fuel-free, clean generation as they can
01:05:39.680 --> 01:05:40.740
on their sunny rooftops.
01:05:40.740 --> 01:05:42.878
Please reject-
(bell dinging)
01:05:42.878 --> 01:05:43.830
Those that support all
Thank you very much.
01:05:43.830 --> 01:05:45.180
income levels in the industry.
01:05:45.180 --> 01:05:46.275
Thank you.
Operator,
01:05:46.275 --> 01:05:47.108
next caller, please.
01:05:47.108 --> 01:05:47.941
Thank you.
01:05:50.290 --> 01:05:51.349
Next caller, please.
01:05:51.349 --> 01:05:52.182
Thanks.
01:05:53.330 --> 01:05:55.430
Our next caller is Mamun Rashid.
01:05:55.430 --> 01:05:56.280
You may go ahead.
01:05:57.885 --> 01:05:58.718
Good morning.
01:05:58.718 --> 01:05:59.830
My name is Mamun Rashid.
01:05:59.830 --> 01:06:02.020
I'm CEO of Auxin Solar.
01:06:02.020 --> 01:06:04.170
We're an American solar module manufacturer
01:06:04.170 --> 01:06:06.020
located in Santa Fe.
01:06:06.020 --> 01:06:07.450
I'm here to voice my concern
01:06:07.450 --> 01:06:09.970
about the proposed net metering change.
01:06:09.970 --> 01:06:13.290
In addition to the many environmental benefits of solar,
01:06:13.290 --> 01:06:15.790
it has distributed power generation.
01:06:15.790 --> 01:06:19.320
The deployment is distributed, creating thousands of jobs.
01:06:19.320 --> 01:06:21.160
Dis-incentivizing distributed
01:06:21.160 --> 01:06:22.360
deployments removes competition,
01:06:22.360 --> 01:06:26.090
which is not in the best interest of the end consumer.
01:06:26.090 --> 01:06:27.870
As an American manufacturer of solar panels,
01:06:27.870 --> 01:06:29.150
a lot of our customers serve
01:06:29.150 --> 01:06:30.910
the residential and commercial space.
01:06:30.910 --> 01:06:32.800
The proposed change would have a negative impact
01:06:32.800 --> 01:06:35.600
on this customer base on our local manufacturing jobs.
01:06:35.600 --> 01:06:37.120
We're already under pressure
01:06:37.120 --> 01:06:39.390
competing with unfairly priced imports,
01:06:39.390 --> 01:06:41.800
and typically priced out of the utility space.
01:06:41.800 --> 01:06:44.500
The proposed change to net metering will negatively impact
01:06:44.500 --> 01:06:46.280
our residential and commercial market.
01:06:46.280 --> 01:06:48.950
As California goes, so does the rest of the country.
01:06:48.950 --> 01:06:52.290
The proposed net metering change is turning back the clock.
01:06:52.290 --> 01:06:53.560
It is bad for the consumer,
01:06:53.560 --> 01:06:55.507
it is bad for the solar installation industry,
01:06:55.507 --> 01:06:58.830
and it is bad for domestic manufacturing and jobs.
01:06:58.830 --> 01:07:01.220
I urge you not to proceed with the proposed change.
01:07:01.220 --> 01:07:02.322
Thank you.
01:07:02.322 --> 01:07:03.230
(bell dinging)
01:07:03.230 --> 01:07:04.660
Thank you.
01:07:04.660 --> 01:07:06.713
Operator, next caller, please.
01:07:10.970 --> 01:07:12.930
Our next caller is Ross Williams.
01:07:12.930 --> 01:07:13.780
You may go ahead.
01:07:16.850 --> 01:07:17.840
Hi, good morning.
01:07:17.840 --> 01:07:22.180
My name is Ross Williams, CEO of HES Solar in San Diego.
01:07:22.180 --> 01:07:23.990
I'm gonna keep this short in an effort to allow
01:07:23.990 --> 01:07:26.610
as many of the 400-plus solar supporters on this call
01:07:26.610 --> 01:07:28.830
to speak in opposition.
01:07:28.830 --> 01:07:31.410
We all know this proposed decision is awful policy,
01:07:31.410 --> 01:07:33.290
and needs to be dramatically changed.
01:07:33.290 --> 01:07:34.220
Please do the right thing.
01:07:34.220 --> 01:07:35.053
Thank you.
01:08:04.540 --> 01:08:06.983
Operator, do we have another caller?
01:08:08.550 --> 01:08:10.570
Our next caller is John Semington.
01:08:10.570 --> 01:08:11.420
You may go ahead.
01:08:13.410 --> 01:08:14.780
Hi, thank you for the time.
01:08:14.780 --> 01:08:17.310
I'm the managing partner of Peak Demand.
01:08:17.310 --> 01:08:20.130
We do consulting and executive search in renewables.
01:08:20.130 --> 01:08:22.380
Also, a solar consumer.
01:08:22.380 --> 01:08:25.700
Please reconsider this Net Metering 3.0 decision.
01:08:25.700 --> 01:08:27.857
It will be horrible for California consumers
01:08:27.857 --> 01:08:29.640
on the solar side,
01:08:29.640 --> 01:08:31.350
particularly as we're already seeing
01:08:31.350 --> 01:08:32.970
enormous bill increases,
01:08:32.970 --> 01:08:36.060
both for gas and power across the board.
01:08:36.060 --> 01:08:38.010
As an employer of individuals
01:08:38.010 --> 01:08:40.010
that rely on the solar industry,
01:08:40.010 --> 01:08:42.620
and companies that are growing in the solar industry,
01:08:42.620 --> 01:08:44.760
this will decimate solar jobs.
01:08:44.760 --> 01:08:45.627
So thank you,
01:08:45.627 --> 01:08:47.453
and please reconsider your decision.
01:08:48.510 --> 01:08:49.343
Thank you.
01:08:49.343 --> 01:08:50.660
Operator, next caller, please.
01:08:52.390 --> 01:08:54.070
Our next caller is John Huxsol.
01:08:54.070 --> 01:08:54.920
You may go ahead.
01:08:57.350 --> 01:08:58.520
Hello.
01:08:58.520 --> 01:08:59.500
Thank you, Commissioners.
01:08:59.500 --> 01:09:00.537
This is John Huxsol.
01:09:00.537 --> 01:09:03.390
I work for Mendocino Solar Service
01:09:03.390 --> 01:09:06.310
up in Mendocino County on the North Coast.
01:09:06.310 --> 01:09:07.640
I've been there for nine years.
01:09:07.640 --> 01:09:08.900
I like my solar career,
01:09:08.900 --> 01:09:11.930
because it feels good and right to provide clean energy
01:09:11.930 --> 01:09:14.310
to so many homes in our area.
01:09:14.310 --> 01:09:17.220
If this new NEM3 proposal is accepted,
01:09:17.220 --> 01:09:19.210
solar will not be affordable for
01:09:20.207 --> 01:09:22.520
any more homeowners in Mendocino County,
01:09:22.520 --> 01:09:25.160
and our company would have to shut its doors.
01:09:25.160 --> 01:09:26.177
I would lose my job,
01:09:26.177 --> 01:09:27.700
and I don't know what my wife
01:09:27.700 --> 01:09:30.280
and I will do without my solar career.
01:09:30.280 --> 01:09:33.951
California is the leader in the nation in solar.
01:09:33.951 --> 01:09:37.410
Rooftop solar will not kill utility workers' jobs,
01:09:37.410 --> 01:09:40.480
nor does solar raise costs for other ratepayers.
01:09:40.480 --> 01:09:42.550
These two things are myths.
01:09:42.550 --> 01:09:44.990
We need a combination of utility scale solar
01:09:44.990 --> 01:09:47.840
and rooftop solar in order to meet
01:09:47.840 --> 01:09:49.750
California's energy goals.
01:09:49.750 --> 01:09:51.427
This proposal doesn't make sense,
01:09:51.427 --> 01:09:53.530
and I urge you to reject it.
01:09:53.530 --> 01:09:54.433
Thank you.
01:09:55.540 --> 01:09:56.570
Thank you.
01:09:56.570 --> 01:09:58.513
Operator, next caller, please.
01:09:59.570 --> 01:10:01.910
Our next caller is Steve Kuttner.
01:10:01.910 --> 01:10:02.883
You may go ahead.
01:10:05.130 --> 01:10:07.230
Hello, CPUC, President Reynolds,
01:10:07.230 --> 01:10:08.660
and Commissioners.
01:10:08.660 --> 01:10:10.810
Steve Kuttner, project developer,
01:10:10.810 --> 01:10:12.300
Sun Light & Power, Berkeley.
01:10:12.300 --> 01:10:15.460
And I've worked in solar power for seven-plus years.
01:10:15.460 --> 01:10:16.680
Chose the career to be part of
01:10:16.680 --> 01:10:18.290
the clean energy movement in California,
01:10:18.290 --> 01:10:21.460
and I enjoy working with tens of thousands of others
01:10:21.460 --> 01:10:23.270
towards a more or sustainable future.
01:10:23.270 --> 01:10:26.640
Californians seem to wanna harvest sunshine
01:10:26.640 --> 01:10:27.750
for cleaner energy.
01:10:27.750 --> 01:10:30.800
And NEM compensation, re-compensation, today
01:10:30.800 --> 01:10:34.040
affords a significant and widely accessible path
01:10:34.040 --> 01:10:36.573
to clean energy, helping keep our planet livable.
01:10:37.440 --> 01:10:40.900
But globally, we do slip into environmental catastrophe,
01:10:40.900 --> 01:10:45.010
as existential risk for young people and future generations.
01:10:45.010 --> 01:10:47.300
Eyes are on the state of California.
01:10:47.300 --> 01:10:50.810
The proposed decision would kill my job, and is a disaster.
01:10:50.810 --> 01:10:52.980
You must reject this.
01:10:52.980 --> 01:10:54.720
Thank you for listening.
01:10:54.720 --> 01:10:55.553
Thank you.
01:10:55.553 --> 01:10:57.023
Operator, next caller, please.
01:11:02.310 --> 01:11:04.290
Our next caller is Robert Gumm.
01:11:04.290 --> 01:11:05.140
You may go ahead.
01:11:06.770 --> 01:11:08.270
Yes, my name is Robert Gumm
01:11:08.270 --> 01:11:11.460
from B & B Solar in Redding, California.
01:11:11.460 --> 01:11:15.150
I've been involved in solar for 45 years continuously.
01:11:15.150 --> 01:11:18.750
Started when it was water heating, pool heating, and such,
01:11:18.750 --> 01:11:20.090
the liquid heating.
01:11:20.090 --> 01:11:23.290
I've watched 45 years the industry to grow to this point.
01:11:23.290 --> 01:11:27.480
It's a little discouraging to see this particular decision
01:11:27.480 --> 01:11:32.140
that's being looked on to destroy those 45 years of work
01:11:32.140 --> 01:11:35.840
that assisted the Californians to save on their bills,
01:11:35.840 --> 01:11:38.910
help the environment, and do the things that are correct.
01:11:38.910 --> 01:11:41.420
I feel that if the industry works
01:11:41.420 --> 01:11:45.910
with the solar industry utilities and with the Commission,
01:11:45.910 --> 01:11:47.670
we can come up with a better proposal
01:11:47.670 --> 01:11:49.470
that will be more fitting.
01:11:49.470 --> 01:11:53.090
And I also want to warn the issue
01:11:53.090 --> 01:11:54.780
of abandoning people this year
01:11:54.780 --> 01:11:56.830
who have started their systems,
01:11:56.830 --> 01:11:58.500
and now are facing the prospect
01:11:58.500 --> 01:12:01.090
of not having to be cost efficient,
01:12:01.090 --> 01:12:03.470
or achieve what they were promised.
01:12:03.470 --> 01:12:07.110
I really urge that this existing decision be scrapped,
01:12:07.110 --> 01:12:08.300
start over, and do something
01:12:08.300 --> 01:12:09.860
that'll work for the environment,
01:12:09.860 --> 01:12:11.690
and work for all the workers
01:12:11.690 --> 01:12:14.040
in this area.
(bell dinging)
01:12:14.040 --> 01:12:15.590
Thank you.
01:12:15.590 --> 01:12:17.313
Operator, next caller, please.
01:12:19.040 --> 01:12:20.730
Our next caller is Jerry Gruber.
01:12:20.730 --> 01:12:21.580
You may go ahead.
01:12:26.205 --> 01:12:28.705
Was that Gary Gerber?
01:12:29.818 --> 01:12:31.670
Yes, please proceed.
Yes, go ahead.
01:12:31.670 --> 01:12:32.503
Okay.
01:12:32.503 --> 01:12:33.610
Good morning, Commission.
01:12:33.610 --> 01:12:34.753
My company, Sun Light & Power,
01:12:34.753 --> 01:12:37.010
we have 80 passionate employees.
01:12:37.010 --> 01:12:38.850
We're employee-owned.
01:12:38.850 --> 01:12:39.683
We've been designing
01:12:39.683 --> 01:12:43.000
and installing solar systems for over 45 years,
01:12:43.000 --> 01:12:43.920
and in all those years,
01:12:43.920 --> 01:12:46.610
I've never seen such an existential threat
01:12:46.610 --> 01:12:51.000
to the future of solar than I'm seeing now in this NEM3 PD.
01:12:51.000 --> 01:12:52.600
I'm actually especially worried
01:12:52.600 --> 01:12:54.210
about the effect this PD would have
01:12:54.210 --> 01:12:57.843
on our nonprofit, multifamily, affordable housing clients,
01:12:57.843 --> 01:13:00.150
which we have hundreds.
01:13:00.150 --> 01:13:02.960
Solar, under NEM, has become an integral contributor
01:13:02.960 --> 01:13:05.850
to the financial success of these housing projects.
01:13:05.850 --> 01:13:09.480
This PD will severely undercut the ability of PB systems
01:13:09.480 --> 01:13:12.120
to provide the critical savings.
01:13:12.120 --> 01:13:15.820
You know, the utilities claim that the so-called cost shift
01:13:15.820 --> 01:13:18.020
is costing low income utility users,
01:13:18.020 --> 01:13:21.070
but then they concoct this disingenuous plan
01:13:21.070 --> 01:13:23.450
that is going to hurt those very people,
01:13:23.450 --> 01:13:25.500
while putting thousands of solar workers
01:13:25.500 --> 01:13:27.640
into the ranks of unemployed.
01:13:27.640 --> 01:13:30.350
Please do not allow this PD to stand.
01:13:30.350 --> 01:13:31.840
Thank you.
01:13:31.840 --> 01:13:32.673
Thank you.
01:13:32.673 --> 01:13:34.590
Operator, next caller, please.
01:13:36.370 --> 01:13:38.170
Our next caller is Jared Slusser.
01:13:38.170 --> 01:13:39.020
You may go ahead.
01:13:40.410 --> 01:13:42.020
Hello, my name is Jared Slusser.
01:13:42.020 --> 01:13:43.930
I'm the owner of Transform Power.
01:13:43.930 --> 01:13:46.820
We are a local solar installer in Temecula.
01:13:46.820 --> 01:13:49.750
Commissioners, please say no to NEM3.
01:13:49.750 --> 01:13:52.864
These proposed changes would put my company out of business,
01:13:52.864 --> 01:13:55.180
and I would be forced to lay off my employees.
01:13:55.180 --> 01:13:56.490
If NEM3 passes,
01:13:56.490 --> 01:13:59.600
I will be looking to move to a solar-friendly state,
01:13:59.600 --> 01:14:01.990
such as Texas or Florida.
01:14:01.990 --> 01:14:03.940
My customers are also very concerned,
01:14:03.940 --> 01:14:07.500
and have been calling me since this solar tax was announced.
01:14:07.500 --> 01:14:10.220
These low income and middle class families invested
01:14:10.220 --> 01:14:12.050
in a clean energy future.
01:14:12.050 --> 01:14:13.540
This proposed tax will put
01:14:13.540 --> 01:14:16.180
an unfair financial burden on them.
01:14:16.180 --> 01:14:17.350
The state of California
01:14:17.350 --> 01:14:20.125
and the country are watching your decision.
01:14:20.125 --> 01:14:23.870
To all the linemen and utility workers listening today,
01:14:23.870 --> 01:14:26.230
please join us in the solar industry.
01:14:26.230 --> 01:14:28.200
We need your skills and talents,
01:14:28.200 --> 01:14:29.870
and have many job openings.
01:14:29.870 --> 01:14:32.230
We look forward to working with you.
01:14:32.230 --> 01:14:35.100
Commissioners, please reject NEM3.
01:14:35.100 --> 01:14:35.933
Thank you.
01:14:36.780 --> 01:14:37.650
Thank you.
01:14:37.650 --> 01:14:39.150
Operator, next caller, please.
01:14:42.478 --> 01:14:44.728
Our next caller is Mark Crowdis.
01:14:45.984 --> 01:14:49.483
You may go ahead.
(interposing voices)
01:14:51.466 --> 01:14:53.560
(male mumbles indistinctly)
01:14:53.560 --> 01:14:55.060
Again, Mark Crowdis,
01:14:55.060 --> 01:14:56.366
your line is open.
Hi, this-
01:14:56.366 --> 01:14:57.199
Yes, hi!
01:14:57.199 --> 01:14:59.830
This is Mark Crowdis with 127 Energy,
01:14:59.830 --> 01:15:01.620
based in the City of Napa.
01:15:01.620 --> 01:15:03.290
I am a native Californian,
01:15:03.290 --> 01:15:06.743
and I have been working in the solar industry since 1997.
01:15:06.743 --> 01:15:09.880
What we do, is development in finance.
01:15:09.880 --> 01:15:12.830
I've worked in over 35 states.
01:15:12.830 --> 01:15:14.910
What I've seen in virtually every state
01:15:14.910 --> 01:15:18.250
that has a structure similar to NEM 3.0,
01:15:18.250 --> 01:15:20.700
which is, essentially, a standby charge,
01:15:20.700 --> 01:15:24.550
is that there's almost no solar industry.
01:15:24.550 --> 01:15:27.250
What I'm asking you to do is reject this proposal,
01:15:27.250 --> 01:15:29.770
and identify other options.
01:15:29.770 --> 01:15:32.500
In terms of low income folks in the marketplace,
01:15:32.500 --> 01:15:35.970
creating a credit facility, but via the state,
01:15:35.970 --> 01:15:37.100
you could help them.
01:15:37.100 --> 01:15:39.170
And in the event that you want to also
01:15:39.170 --> 01:15:40.550
deal with the duck curve,
01:15:40.550 --> 01:15:42.680
you could have distributed energy storage,
01:15:42.680 --> 01:15:44.750
which now is cost effective.
01:15:44.750 --> 01:15:46.470
Please reject this proposal,
01:15:46.470 --> 01:15:48.647
because we will lose way too many jobs,
01:15:48.647 --> 01:15:51.580
and climate change will not be being addressed via solar
01:15:51.580 --> 01:15:53.890
in the state of California any further.
01:15:53.890 --> 01:15:55.280
Thank you.
01:15:55.280 --> 01:15:56.113
Thank you.
01:15:56.113 --> 01:15:58.403
Operator, next caller, please.
01:16:00.048 --> 01:16:01.780
Our next caller is Jim Jenner.
01:16:01.780 --> 01:16:02.630
You may go ahead.
01:16:03.870 --> 01:16:04.703
Thank you.
01:16:04.703 --> 01:16:05.630
My name is Jim Jenner.
01:16:05.630 --> 01:16:08.950
I own and operate Fusion Power Design in Lodi.
01:16:08.950 --> 01:16:09.880
I've been building solar
01:16:09.880 --> 01:16:12.840
and storage in the Central Valley for 15 years.
01:16:12.840 --> 01:16:16.900
I urge you to reconsider the proposed NEM 3.0.
01:16:16.900 --> 01:16:19.470
Every single solar system that I've personally designed
01:16:19.470 --> 01:16:22.537
and installed has been based on solid financial goals,
01:16:22.537 --> 01:16:24.643
and a modest return on investment.
01:16:24.643 --> 01:16:27.350
This is especially true for commercial systems.
01:16:27.350 --> 01:16:30.230
A five year return on investment has always been my goal,
01:16:30.230 --> 01:16:32.410
and allows all California families
01:16:32.410 --> 01:16:34.470
an opportunity to invest in themselves,
01:16:34.470 --> 01:16:37.930
and get the added benefit of producing clean energy.
01:16:37.930 --> 01:16:42.900
The current NEM 3.0 would allow a 12 year ROI in best cases,
01:16:42.900 --> 01:16:44.700
and that includes battery incentive.
01:16:45.560 --> 01:16:47.880
This will destroy the momentum
01:16:47.880 --> 01:16:50.207
that has been created for clean energy in California,
01:16:50.207 --> 01:16:53.780
and turn solar back into a purely luxury item.
01:16:53.780 --> 01:16:57.010
It is clear to me that California has the opportunity
01:16:57.010 --> 01:16:59.830
to have the electoral grid in the nation,
01:16:59.830 --> 01:17:01.400
but the only way that this will happen
01:17:01.400 --> 01:17:04.147
is if we continue to allow distributed solar
01:17:04.147 --> 01:17:05.680
and storage to grow,
01:17:05.680 --> 01:17:06.964
and the public has a right
01:17:06.964 --> 01:17:09.462
to have an equal share in this process.
01:17:09.462 --> 01:17:10.333
Thank you.
Thank you.
01:17:10.333 --> 01:17:12.180
Thank you for your comment.
01:17:12.180 --> 01:17:13.803
Operator, next caller, please.
01:17:15.460 --> 01:17:17.950
Our next comment is Dan Jamal.
01:17:17.950 --> 01:17:18.800
You may go ahead.
01:17:20.981 --> 01:17:22.820
Hi, it's actually Sam Jammal.
01:17:22.820 --> 01:17:25.040
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.
01:17:25.040 --> 01:17:27.410
My name is Sam Jammal and I work for Mosaic.
01:17:27.410 --> 01:17:30.220
For over 10 years, Mosaic's been headquartered in Oakland.
01:17:30.220 --> 01:17:32.160
Our mission's 100% clean energy for all.
01:17:32.160 --> 01:17:32.993
Since our founding,
01:17:32.993 --> 01:17:35.160
we've helped nearly 80,000 families in California
01:17:35.160 --> 01:17:36.670
add solar to their homes.
01:17:36.670 --> 01:17:37.820
We finance solar loans.
01:17:37.820 --> 01:17:39.296
We've worked with small, medium,
01:17:39.296 --> 01:17:41.160
and large installers across the state.
01:17:41.160 --> 01:17:41.993
We know this industry well,
01:17:41.993 --> 01:17:44.470
and just how harmful the proposed decision will be.
01:17:44.470 --> 01:17:46.518
Yet, we're looking at potentially
01:17:46.518 --> 01:17:49.790
nearly $700 in new fees to add solar.
01:17:49.790 --> 01:17:52.560
Plus, in Southern California Edison territory,
01:17:52.560 --> 01:17:55.110
it'd actually be more expensive to add solar to your home
01:17:55.110 --> 01:17:56.623
than neighbors who choose not to.
01:17:56.623 --> 01:17:59.060
This is a huge step backwards for California.
01:17:59.060 --> 01:18:00.900
The state really is still committed
01:18:00.900 --> 01:18:01.910
to clean energy adoption,
01:18:01.910 --> 01:18:04.259
and it's really unfortunate after all the wildfires
01:18:04.259 --> 01:18:05.280
and droughts in recent years.
01:18:05.280 --> 01:18:08.173
And so we hope the Commission rejects this decision,
01:18:08.173 --> 01:18:09.380
comes back to the table,
01:18:09.380 --> 01:18:10.730
and focuses on how to make solar
01:18:10.730 --> 01:18:12.470
more affordable to families,
01:18:12.470 --> 01:18:14.900
and really tries to move the state forward on climate.
01:18:14.900 --> 01:18:16.850
I think, right now, we're in a critical moment,
01:18:16.850 --> 01:18:18.400
and the Commission has an opportunity, really,
01:18:18.400 --> 01:18:21.500
to correct course, and work with the industry,
01:18:21.500 --> 01:18:24.530
and work with the different partners out there
01:18:24.530 --> 01:18:27.290
to make this-
(bell dinging)
01:18:27.290 --> 01:18:28.230
Thank you.
01:18:28.230 --> 01:18:29.260
Thank you for your comment.
01:18:29.260 --> 01:18:31.093
Operator, next caller, please.
01:18:33.530 --> 01:18:34.960
Our next caller is Ed Murray.
01:18:34.960 --> 01:18:35.810
You may go ahead.
01:18:37.709 --> 01:18:38.542
Hey, thank you.
01:18:38.542 --> 01:18:39.375
Good morning.
01:18:39.375 --> 01:18:42.990
Thank you, President Reynolds and Commissioners, PUC staff.
01:18:42.990 --> 01:18:46.503
I'm Ed Murray, president of Aztec Solar in Rancho Cordova.
01:18:47.783 --> 01:18:50.820
The company that I run is about 50 employees,
01:18:50.820 --> 01:18:54.180
similar to the 720 companies that are involved in
01:18:54.180 --> 01:18:56.530
California Solar and Storage Association,
01:18:56.530 --> 01:18:58.670
which I'm the president of.
01:18:58.670 --> 01:19:02.820
Right now, there's 70,000 or so employed in California.
01:19:02.820 --> 01:19:05.970
That will at least go in half, if not more,
01:19:05.970 --> 01:19:07.700
that will lose those jobs.
01:19:07.700 --> 01:19:11.440
The other side of this is the equity issue.
01:19:11.440 --> 01:19:13.860
There is no huge equity problem.
01:19:13.860 --> 01:19:15.240
There's only opportunity.
01:19:15.240 --> 01:19:17.470
The largest single group of solar adopters today
01:19:17.470 --> 01:19:20.420
are families earning under $100,000 per year.
01:19:20.420 --> 01:19:22.510
These are working class, middle class,
01:19:22.510 --> 01:19:25.480
school teachers, mail carriers, grocery store workers.
01:19:25.480 --> 01:19:26.880
They are going solar at a rate
01:19:26.880 --> 01:19:28.880
of two times out of the wealthiest.
01:19:28.880 --> 01:19:30.720
If you make solar more expensive,
01:19:30.720 --> 01:19:32.836
this is who you cut out of the energy economy.
01:19:32.836 --> 01:19:34.296
Thank you.
01:19:34.296 --> 01:19:35.420
Thank you.
01:19:35.420 --> 01:19:36.920
Operator, next caller, please.
01:19:39.550 --> 01:19:41.450
Our next caller is Ben Justino.
01:19:41.450 --> 01:19:42.300
You may go ahead.
01:19:43.840 --> 01:19:44.673
Hi!
01:19:44.673 --> 01:19:46.860
Thanks for hearin' us out.
01:19:46.860 --> 01:19:47.693
My name is Ben.
01:19:47.693 --> 01:19:49.810
I'm a solar installer from Berkeley, California.
01:19:49.810 --> 01:19:53.320
I've been installing solar for the past 15 years.
01:19:53.320 --> 01:19:55.620
Distributed solar installation provides a career,
01:19:55.620 --> 01:20:00.620
and not just a temp job, installing utility scale solar.
01:20:00.750 --> 01:20:02.820
This NEM3 proposal puts my career,
01:20:02.820 --> 01:20:06.250
and tens of thousands of careers like mine, at serious risk.
01:20:06.250 --> 01:20:08.720
The major flaw in this proposed NEM3
01:20:08.720 --> 01:20:12.990
is the monthly fine per kilowatt of solar installed.
01:20:12.990 --> 01:20:15.770
This would effectively stop new installations.
01:20:15.770 --> 01:20:18.080
It would also send pricing signals to homeowners
01:20:18.080 --> 01:20:21.560
with 15-year-old systems to remove their existing systems,
01:20:21.560 --> 01:20:23.010
rather than maintain them.
01:20:23.010 --> 01:20:25.430
The state and federal government have spent billions
01:20:25.430 --> 01:20:26.870
encouraging solar installation,
01:20:26.870 --> 01:20:29.220
and this monthly fine turns that investment
01:20:29.220 --> 01:20:30.940
into a complete waste.
01:20:30.940 --> 01:20:33.480
Please consider keeping the current interconnection fee,
01:20:33.480 --> 01:20:35.993
instead of this monthly $8 per kilowatt fine.
01:20:37.150 --> 01:20:38.630
Thanks.
01:20:38.630 --> 01:20:39.620
Thank you.
01:20:39.620 --> 01:20:41.133
Operator, next caller, please.
01:20:45.080 --> 01:20:48.250
Our next caller is from Meghan Stimmler.
01:20:48.250 --> 01:20:49.100
You may go ahead.
01:20:50.450 --> 01:20:51.670
Hi, my name's Meghan Stimmler.
01:20:51.670 --> 01:20:54.310
I am the sales director for my family's solar company,
01:20:54.310 --> 01:20:55.853
SolarHut, in El Dorado County.
01:20:56.960 --> 01:20:59.230
My father started the business in 2008.
01:20:59.230 --> 01:21:01.340
I came from Sacramento State
01:21:01.340 --> 01:21:03.420
as an environmental post-science major.
01:21:03.420 --> 01:21:04.700
We have served our community,
01:21:04.700 --> 01:21:07.870
and that has been devastated by fires and public shutoffs.
01:21:07.870 --> 01:21:08.990
People in El Dorado County
01:21:08.990 --> 01:21:12.140
are reliant on electricity staying on,
01:21:12.140 --> 01:21:13.250
and they want to save money.
01:21:13.250 --> 01:21:16.900
Since 2012, pricing has increased tenfold.
01:21:16.900 --> 01:21:20.220
NEM 3.0 will devastate my company and my family.
01:21:20.220 --> 01:21:22.230
Director asked changes of grandfathering
01:21:22.230 --> 01:21:25.720
is gonna affect my home and several hundred of my customers.
01:21:25.720 --> 01:21:29.120
We need a gradual step down of the credits,
01:21:29.120 --> 01:21:30.660
not a drastic one.
01:21:30.660 --> 01:21:34.030
We need to not tax homeowners wanting to go solar,
01:21:34.030 --> 01:21:37.860
and we need not to destroy 60,000 solar jobs.
01:21:37.860 --> 01:21:41.250
Don't be a destroyer of livelihoods and green future.
01:21:41.250 --> 01:21:42.580
Thank you.
01:21:42.580 --> 01:21:43.480
Thank you.
01:21:43.480 --> 01:21:44.980
Operator, next caller, please.
01:21:47.090 --> 01:21:48.697
Our next caller is Vicki Vaugn.
01:21:48.697 --> 01:21:49.833
You may go ahead.
01:21:52.900 --> 01:21:53.733
Hi, good morning.
01:21:53.733 --> 01:21:55.170
My name is Vicki Vaugn.
01:21:55.170 --> 01:21:58.380
I work at Solar Works in Sonoma County.
01:21:58.380 --> 01:22:01.400
We've been in business since 1986,
01:22:01.400 --> 01:22:06.360
and employ 11 people on very thin profit margins.
01:22:06.360 --> 01:22:09.340
I echo all the other commenters' concerns
01:22:09.340 --> 01:22:12.410
about the negative impact that the proposed NEM changes
01:22:12.410 --> 01:22:14.300
would have on our industry,
01:22:14.300 --> 01:22:18.210
especially on other small businesses like ours.
01:22:18.210 --> 01:22:20.280
And I would support fair
01:22:20.280 --> 01:22:22.670
and balanced revisions to net metering
01:22:22.670 --> 01:22:25.870
that would distribute the cost of grid maintenance
01:22:25.870 --> 01:22:30.063
and resilience projects amongst all utility customers,
01:22:30.960 --> 01:22:33.310
not just of solar customers.
01:22:33.310 --> 01:22:34.780
Thanks.
01:22:34.780 --> 01:22:35.613
Thank you.
01:22:35.613 --> 01:22:37.153
Operator, next caller, please.
01:22:39.700 --> 01:22:41.810
Our next caller is Veronica Lombardi.
01:22:41.810 --> 01:22:42.660
You may go ahead.
01:22:44.350 --> 01:22:45.183
Hi, good morning.
01:22:45.183 --> 01:22:47.960
Thank you for listening to our comments this morning.
01:22:47.960 --> 01:22:50.800
I work with California Clean Energy in Berkeley.
01:22:50.800 --> 01:22:52.370
We've been in business for 12 years
01:22:52.370 --> 01:22:57.370
providing financing to nonprofits, churches, and schools.
01:22:58.950 --> 01:23:03.950
You've heard from many, many people that NEM3 will not,
01:23:04.150 --> 01:23:06.130
you know, make us feasible anymore.
01:23:06.130 --> 01:23:09.130
We can tell you, that we do that math every day,
01:23:09.130 --> 01:23:11.980
and we know for a fact that it will make us non-feasible.
01:23:11.980 --> 01:23:13.830
Our company's small.
01:23:13.830 --> 01:23:16.190
We don't charge these churches and schools very much.
01:23:16.190 --> 01:23:19.920
And NEM3 will, effectively, end our business.
01:23:19.920 --> 01:23:24.320
So we really urge you to reject this proposal as it is,
01:23:24.320 --> 01:23:25.550
go back to the drawing board,
01:23:25.550 --> 01:23:28.280
and hope we can come up with something more equitable.
01:23:28.280 --> 01:23:29.593
Thank you.
01:23:29.593 --> 01:23:30.426
Thank you.
01:23:30.426 --> 01:23:31.850
Operator, next caller, please.
01:23:33.440 --> 01:23:36.400
Our next caller is JD Dillon.
01:23:36.400 --> 01:23:37.250
You may go ahead.
01:23:39.330 --> 01:23:40.220
Hi, Commissioners!
01:23:40.220 --> 01:23:41.053
I'm JD Dillon,
01:23:41.053 --> 01:23:43.930
representing about a hundred Tigo employees
01:23:43.930 --> 01:23:46.090
in Santa Clara County,
01:23:46.090 --> 01:23:49.070
and the eight people and pets of the Dillon family
01:23:49.070 --> 01:23:50.790
in Contra Costa County.
01:23:50.790 --> 01:23:55.030
So in 2017, I joined the solar industry.
01:23:55.030 --> 01:23:57.400
Soon after, my daughter proudly declared
01:23:57.400 --> 01:24:00.530
at her elementary school's Daddy and Donuts Day
01:24:00.530 --> 01:24:02.360
that her dad was in solar.
01:24:02.360 --> 01:24:04.380
That is not something she would've been able to say
01:24:04.380 --> 01:24:06.500
when I was in semi-connectors.
01:24:06.500 --> 01:24:07.960
And I'm not sure if you know,
01:24:07.960 --> 01:24:11.170
but 8% of California homes have solar.
01:24:11.170 --> 01:24:13.630
We're second only to Hawaii in the United States,
01:24:13.630 --> 01:24:15.870
and our influence is staggering.
01:24:15.870 --> 01:24:18.350
Where California goes, the country goes,
01:24:18.350 --> 01:24:20.260
and indeed, where the world goes,
01:24:20.260 --> 01:24:22.560
and I take that very seriously.
01:24:22.560 --> 01:24:26.307
So I think we're in a unique position to unite the state
01:24:26.307 --> 01:24:28.440
and the country around solar.
01:24:28.440 --> 01:24:29.840
I'm actually a proud Republican
01:24:29.840 --> 01:24:33.010
who works alongside Democrats and independents alike
01:24:33.010 --> 01:24:35.390
to help the planet with this great technology.
01:24:35.390 --> 01:24:40.240
Not too many issues can unite the country like this.
01:24:40.240 --> 01:24:43.110
So let's reject this decision, so we can work together,
01:24:43.110 --> 01:24:45.040
change the world one rooftop at a time.
01:24:45.040 --> 01:24:46.110
In the process,
(bell dinging)
01:24:46.110 --> 01:24:47.887
I can keep making daughter proud.
01:24:47.887 --> 01:24:48.780
Thank you very much.
01:24:48.780 --> 01:24:50.090
Thank you for your comment.
01:24:50.090 --> 01:24:51.723
Operator, next caller, please.
01:24:53.990 --> 01:24:56.160
Our next caller is Scott Connolly.
01:24:56.160 --> 01:24:57.010
You may go ahead.
01:24:58.260 --> 01:25:01.170
Yes, good morning from sunny Palm Springs.
01:25:01.170 --> 01:25:04.440
Do not let special interest of utility corporations
01:25:04.440 --> 01:25:06.590
try to dismantle solar incentives
01:25:06.590 --> 01:25:07.930
and the progress we have made
01:25:07.930 --> 01:25:09.930
to reduce our carbon emissions.
01:25:09.930 --> 01:25:11.888
I am proud to be a solar user,
01:25:11.888 --> 01:25:15.060
and it makes me feel good to be doing my part
01:25:15.060 --> 01:25:19.400
to help save the environment, and mitigate climate change.
01:25:19.400 --> 01:25:21.060
The proposal is unfair.
01:25:21.060 --> 01:25:24.620
It is an ex-post-facto-type law.
01:25:24.620 --> 01:25:27.780
It retroactively changes the legal consequences
01:25:27.780 --> 01:25:30.723
of actions that we made prior,
01:25:33.110 --> 01:25:36.450
before this, solar users made decisions
01:25:36.450 --> 01:25:38.280
and large financial investment
01:25:38.280 --> 01:25:41.410
based on the given factors at the time.
01:25:41.410 --> 01:25:42.500
We need to promote
01:25:42.500 --> 01:25:45.037
and provide incentives for rooftop solar,
01:25:45.037 --> 01:25:49.860
and to help mitigate climate change, and provide solar jobs.
01:25:49.860 --> 01:25:53.160
Thank you, and that's my end conclusion.
01:25:53.160 --> 01:25:54.030
Thank you.
01:25:54.030 --> 01:25:55.593
Operator, next caller, please.
01:25:58.720 --> 01:26:01.620
Our next caller is Jennifer Pickering-Kronick.
01:26:01.620 --> 01:26:02.470
You may go ahead.
01:26:05.640 --> 01:26:07.010
Hi.
01:26:07.010 --> 01:26:08.930
My name is Jennifer Pickering-Kronick.
01:26:08.930 --> 01:26:10.400
In late 2009,
01:26:10.400 --> 01:26:12.170
after being laid off for a second time
01:26:12.170 --> 01:26:14.050
within a 10 year period,
01:26:14.050 --> 01:26:16.050
I took the initiative to invest in solar training,
01:26:16.050 --> 01:26:19.070
and founded a small contracting firm in February of 2010
01:26:19.070 --> 01:26:20.973
called NewGen Energy Corporation.
01:26:21.810 --> 01:26:22.990
I'm passionate about solar,
01:26:22.990 --> 01:26:24.930
because I feel it's a critical technology
01:26:24.930 --> 01:26:26.630
to the reduction of greenhouse gases,
01:26:26.630 --> 01:26:29.960
which it protects future generations.
01:26:29.960 --> 01:26:31.660
On a personal note, for 12 years,
01:26:31.660 --> 01:26:35.340
solar has become the very foundation of my livelihood,
01:26:35.340 --> 01:26:37.410
that of an amazing small workforce,
01:26:37.410 --> 01:26:39.950
and thousands like us working hard every day
01:26:39.950 --> 01:26:41.733
in the California solar industry.
01:26:42.780 --> 01:26:43.613
As it's written,
01:26:43.613 --> 01:26:44.810
I'm extremely concerned about
01:26:45.912 --> 01:26:48.880
the negative impacts NEM3 will have on this industry.
01:26:48.880 --> 01:26:50.080
Not only is it gonna jeopardize
01:26:50.080 --> 01:26:53.267
the livelihoods of an incredible workforce in California,
01:26:53.267 --> 01:26:55.160
but it will debilitate future growth
01:26:55.160 --> 01:26:57.220
in a critical green energy.
01:26:57.220 --> 01:26:59.660
Please rewrite NEM3 to promote a more fair
01:26:59.660 --> 01:27:02.450
and balanced approach to this industry.
01:27:02.450 --> 01:27:03.283
Thank you.
01:27:04.200 --> 01:27:05.240
Thank you.
01:27:05.240 --> 01:27:06.940
Operator, our next caller, please.
01:27:08.567 --> 01:27:10.110
Our next caller is Jake Marshall.
01:27:10.110 --> 01:27:10.973
You may go ahead.
01:27:12.400 --> 01:27:13.850
Hi, my name's Jake Marshall
01:27:13.850 --> 01:27:16.540
with CED Greentech in San Diego.
01:27:16.540 --> 01:27:17.920
And I gotta tell you,
01:27:17.920 --> 01:27:19.970
I have 65 employees here,
01:27:19.970 --> 01:27:22.720
and they are all scared to death right now
01:27:22.720 --> 01:27:24.560
that their job is in jeopardy,
01:27:24.560 --> 01:27:26.190
and they don't deserve to feel like that
01:27:26.190 --> 01:27:28.180
in an industry that they put so much into
01:27:28.180 --> 01:27:31.130
for the past 12 years that we've been in business.
01:27:31.130 --> 01:27:33.423
In the past 18 months,
01:27:34.370 --> 01:27:37.580
we've had 12 brand new babies at our location
01:27:37.580 --> 01:27:39.190
with people who are starting their lives,
01:27:39.190 --> 01:27:42.150
and depending on this industry to support their families.
01:27:42.150 --> 01:27:43.840
These are hardworking people.
01:27:43.840 --> 01:27:47.210
You don't need a college degree to work in this industry
01:27:47.210 --> 01:27:48.810
or for my company.
01:27:48.810 --> 01:27:53.100
And so until you tell me where my people are gonna work
01:27:53.100 --> 01:27:57.100
once NEM3 goes through as proposed,
01:27:57.100 --> 01:28:00.630
then you cannot let this happen.
01:28:00.630 --> 01:28:04.960
So please, I want you to reject NEM3,
01:28:04.960 --> 01:28:07.020
unless you wanna go tell all these babies
01:28:07.020 --> 01:28:09.040
that their dads and moms don't have jobs.
01:28:09.040 --> 01:28:12.530
So you can tell Benny, and Sienna, and Nolan,
01:28:12.530 --> 01:28:17.530
and Nicoli, Farrow, Gage, Callem, Nicari, Mizel, Caleb,
01:28:17.750 --> 01:28:19.750
all these kids that
01:28:19.750 --> 01:28:21.962
their mom and dad-
(bell dinging)
01:28:21.962 --> 01:28:24.630
Thank you very much for your comment.
01:28:24.630 --> 01:28:26.343
Operator, next caller, please.
01:28:27.930 --> 01:28:30.210
Our next caller is Daniel M. King.
01:28:30.210 --> 01:28:31.060
You may go ahead.
01:28:37.200 --> 01:28:38.033
Hi.
01:28:38.033 --> 01:28:40.245
My name's Daniel Lanking.
01:28:40.245 --> 01:28:41.078
Can you hear me?
01:28:42.090 --> 01:28:43.560
Yes, go ahead.
01:28:43.560 --> 01:28:44.900
Hi, my name's Daniel Lanking,
01:28:44.900 --> 01:28:47.940
and I'm an energy consultant for Sandbar Solar,
01:28:47.940 --> 01:28:50.230
which is a small electrical contractor
01:28:50.230 --> 01:28:52.890
employing about 50 people in Santa Cruz.
01:28:52.890 --> 01:28:55.210
I started working in solar in 2013,
01:28:55.210 --> 01:28:59.190
and I left the industry for a few years,
01:28:59.190 --> 01:29:00.340
but ultimately came back,
01:29:00.340 --> 01:29:02.910
because there's really no job that I like better
01:29:02.910 --> 01:29:05.180
than helping people use their rooftops
01:29:05.180 --> 01:29:08.960
to generate clean, reliable energy for their homes.
01:29:08.960 --> 01:29:10.740
Knowing that I'm making a difference for people
01:29:10.740 --> 01:29:12.470
and the planet is really what gets me
01:29:12.470 --> 01:29:13.920
out of bed every morning,
01:29:13.920 --> 01:29:16.480
and I'm sure that I'm not alone in that.
01:29:16.480 --> 01:29:19.260
The proposed decision is an absolute disaster,
01:29:19.260 --> 01:29:21.110
and I ask you to reject it outright,
01:29:21.110 --> 01:29:22.540
and come up with a new proposal
01:29:22.540 --> 01:29:25.320
that will allow California solar industry
01:29:25.320 --> 01:29:26.831
to continue to thrive.
01:29:26.831 --> 01:29:27.664
Thank you.
01:29:28.560 --> 01:29:29.393
Thank you.
01:29:29.393 --> 01:29:30.943
Operator, next caller, please.
01:29:33.660 --> 01:29:36.370
Our next caller is Susan Dembowski.
01:29:36.370 --> 01:29:37.220
You may go ahead.
01:29:38.240 --> 01:29:39.073
Good morning.
01:29:39.073 --> 01:29:40.389
My name is Susan Dembowski.
01:29:40.389 --> 01:29:43.430
I live in the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California.
01:29:43.430 --> 01:29:44.960
My interest in is in California
01:29:44.960 --> 01:29:46.880
achieving its clean energy goals,
01:29:46.880 --> 01:29:48.610
while ensuring energy equity
01:29:48.610 --> 01:29:50.430
for low to moderate income rate-payers,
01:29:50.430 --> 01:29:53.530
and encouraging good, local, clean energy jobs,
01:29:53.530 --> 01:29:56.440
and supporting small and minority businesses.
01:29:56.440 --> 01:29:59.280
However, the proposed decision is a solar tax,
01:29:59.280 --> 01:30:00.630
which will prevent California
01:30:00.630 --> 01:30:02.610
from realizing these objectives.
01:30:02.610 --> 01:30:05.480
It will discourage ratepayers of all incomes
01:30:05.480 --> 01:30:08.440
from making the big expenditures that will be required.
01:30:08.440 --> 01:30:10.277
It will be unaffordable for low, working,
01:30:10.277 --> 01:30:12.070
and middle class ratepayers.
01:30:12.070 --> 01:30:13.650
Only the wealthy will invest in it,
01:30:13.650 --> 01:30:16.440
while rooftop solar ratepayers will get back
01:30:16.440 --> 01:30:18.600
significantly less for the excess energy
01:30:18.600 --> 01:30:20.100
they export to the grid.
01:30:20.100 --> 01:30:23.390
All ratepayers will pay very high monthly solar fees.
01:30:23.390 --> 01:30:26.844
Please expand rooftop solar's attainability,
01:30:26.844 --> 01:30:29.840
especially for low to moderate income ratepayers,
01:30:29.840 --> 01:30:33.410
honor existing solar users' protection for 20 years,
01:30:33.410 --> 01:30:35.500
and don't target rooftop solar ratepayers
01:30:35.500 --> 01:30:37.630
with discriminatory fixed charges.
01:30:37.630 --> 01:30:38.463
Thank you.
01:30:39.800 --> 01:30:40.760
Thank you.
01:30:40.760 --> 01:30:42.580
Operator, next caller, please.
01:30:44.870 --> 01:30:46.950
Our next caller is Tim Glanville.
01:30:46.950 --> 01:30:47.783
You may go.
01:30:49.510 --> 01:30:50.660
Hi, thanks.
01:30:50.660 --> 01:30:51.493
My name is Tim Glanville.
01:30:51.493 --> 01:30:54.510
I work with Solar Technologies in the Bay Area.
01:30:54.510 --> 01:30:57.230
I've been in the solar industry for 10 years now.
01:30:57.230 --> 01:31:00.160
The proposed decision, or really, anything close to it,
01:31:00.160 --> 01:31:01.700
would kill my job,
01:31:01.700 --> 01:31:04.167
the jobs of the 80-plus employees in my company,
01:31:04.167 --> 01:31:05.750
and it could be a death sentence
01:31:05.750 --> 01:31:08.580
to California solar industry as a whole.
01:31:08.580 --> 01:31:11.650
The proposed NEM tariff provision is so counterintuitive
01:31:11.650 --> 01:31:13.350
to the climate goals of our state.
01:31:13.350 --> 01:31:15.990
It would be a huge step in the wrong direction.
01:31:15.990 --> 01:31:17.070
California should be a leader
01:31:17.070 --> 01:31:18.510
in the fight against climate change,
01:31:18.510 --> 01:31:22.350
and I urge the CPUC to reject this utility profit grab,
01:31:22.350 --> 01:31:25.400
and make sure solar remains a viable option for the people.
01:31:25.400 --> 01:31:26.910
Thank you.
01:31:26.910 --> 01:31:27.743
Thank you.
01:31:27.743 --> 01:31:29.143
Operator, next caller please.
01:31:31.730 --> 01:31:33.580
Our next caller is Jenny Ross.
01:31:33.580 --> 01:31:34.430
You may go ahead.
01:31:37.760 --> 01:31:39.310
Thank you for hearing me.
01:31:39.310 --> 01:31:41.010
My name is Sherry Ross,
01:31:41.010 --> 01:31:44.530
and I'm a senior citizen living in San Diego.
01:31:44.530 --> 01:31:47.430
And since 2018, my electric bill has tripled.
01:31:47.430 --> 01:31:50.090
I'm planning to use savings to purchase solar panels
01:31:50.090 --> 01:31:52.960
to help the environment and control my cost.
01:31:52.960 --> 01:31:56.530
It is unjust to force me to pay a tax to the utility
01:31:56.530 --> 01:31:58.860
for generating my own electricity.
01:31:58.860 --> 01:32:02.720
It is equally unjust to not honor the promises
01:32:02.720 --> 01:32:04.930
to current solar users.
01:32:04.930 --> 01:32:08.810
Your decision on net energy metering should be set aside.
01:32:08.810 --> 01:32:10.533
Again, thank you for hearing me.
01:32:11.370 --> 01:32:12.260
Thank you.
01:32:12.260 --> 01:32:13.760
Operator, next caller, please.
01:32:15.800 --> 01:32:17.220
Our next caller is Randy Wise.
01:32:17.220 --> 01:32:18.070
You may go ahead.
01:32:20.052 --> 01:32:22.034
Good morning, Commissioners.
01:32:22.034 --> 01:32:23.330
Does Governor Newsom
01:32:23.330 --> 01:32:26.450
and the CPUC really wanna associate themselves with PG&E?
01:32:27.540 --> 01:32:29.150
Here's a company who's responsible for
01:32:29.150 --> 01:32:31.890
over 2,000 wildfires in the last five years,
01:32:31.890 --> 01:32:35.630
and you want to reward them with a rooftop solar tax?
01:32:35.630 --> 01:32:37.130
Really?
01:32:37.130 --> 01:32:38.010
Here's a company who's
01:32:38.010 --> 01:32:39.940
inadvertently killed its own customers,
01:32:39.940 --> 01:32:42.390
and you're proposing giving them a bonus
01:32:42.390 --> 01:32:45.290
by gutting the solar power credit by 80%?
01:32:45.290 --> 01:32:46.490
Really?
01:32:46.490 --> 01:32:48.910
PG&E has been charged with multiple felonies,
01:32:48.910 --> 01:32:50.457
and you say, "Good job"!
01:32:50.457 --> 01:32:53.690
"We'll help you gut all rooftop solar power for decades."
01:32:53.690 --> 01:32:54.880
Really?
01:32:54.880 --> 01:32:55.713
Come on!
01:32:55.713 --> 01:32:59.160
Governor Newsom just survived a recall election last year.
01:32:59.160 --> 01:33:01.127
Does the CPUC really wanna **** off current
01:33:01.127 --> 01:33:03.750
and future rooftop solar homeowners,
01:33:03.750 --> 01:33:05.910
an enormous coalition of organizations
01:33:05.910 --> 01:33:07.690
and community leaders?
01:33:07.690 --> 01:33:08.523
Not to mention,
01:33:08.523 --> 01:33:09.460
responsible for laying off
01:33:09.460 --> 01:33:13.120
thousands of solar panel installers in an election year.
01:33:13.120 --> 01:33:14.530
Really?
01:33:14.530 --> 01:33:16.220
Let's get real.
01:33:16.220 --> 01:33:20.180
No one thinks your new NEM proposal is a good idea,
01:33:20.180 --> 01:33:21.970
and that's the real truth.
01:33:21.970 --> 01:33:23.070
Let's turn off the lights
01:33:23.070 --> 01:33:24.570
on this proposal-
(bell dinging)
01:33:24.570 --> 01:33:25.878
Thank you very much.
(interposing voices)
01:33:25.878 --> 01:33:27.223
Thank you for your comment.
01:33:28.490 --> 01:33:30.113
Operator, next caller, please.
01:33:31.630 --> 01:33:33.750
Our next caller is Wrede Whitney.
01:33:33.750 --> 01:33:34.600
You may go ahead.
01:33:36.370 --> 01:33:38.830
Hi, good morning, Commissioner President,
01:33:38.830 --> 01:33:40.810
and all those listening today.
01:33:40.810 --> 01:33:42.170
My name is Wrede Whitney,
01:33:42.170 --> 01:33:44.080
I'm the owner of WC Whitney, Inc,
01:33:44.080 --> 01:33:47.620
a renewable energy broker that started in the solar,
01:33:47.620 --> 01:33:50.893
California solar industry in 1983.
01:33:51.750 --> 01:33:56.480
We ask that the Utilities Commission do what's fair.
01:33:56.480 --> 01:33:57.750
We know that they're inundated
01:33:57.750 --> 01:33:59.660
with a lot of work at this point.
01:33:59.660 --> 01:34:04.130
But what is fair for not only the utility companies,
01:34:04.130 --> 01:34:06.310
but please the homeowners here in California
01:34:06.310 --> 01:34:07.433
who need it the most.
01:34:08.650 --> 01:34:10.780
The proposed decision of Net Metering 3
01:34:10.780 --> 01:34:14.590
as it's written now is definitely one-sided,
01:34:14.590 --> 01:34:16.193
and not fair to the homeowners.
01:34:17.180 --> 01:34:19.450
We ask that you reject this proposal,
01:34:19.450 --> 01:34:21.030
and create something that's fair.
01:34:21.030 --> 01:34:21.863
Thank you.
01:34:22.710 --> 01:34:23.543
Thank you.
01:34:23.543 --> 01:34:24.923
Operator, next caller, please.
01:34:27.360 --> 01:34:29.040
Our next caller is Steve Chan.
01:34:29.040 --> 01:34:29.890
You may go ahead.
01:34:32.210 --> 01:34:33.990
Hi, thank you for your time.
01:34:33.990 --> 01:34:34.850
My name's Steve Chan,
01:34:34.850 --> 01:34:37.030
and I work at a company called TerraVerde Energy
01:34:37.030 --> 01:34:38.690
based out of San Francisco.
01:34:38.690 --> 01:34:41.370
I'm calling today as a solar worker,
01:34:41.370 --> 01:34:42.347
yes, and who depends on this.
01:34:42.347 --> 01:34:46.680
I've been working in solar for the past three, four years.
01:34:46.680 --> 01:34:49.430
I'm a young professional only in my mid-20s,
01:34:49.430 --> 01:34:52.250
and I'm also calling to you as a young person
01:34:52.250 --> 01:34:55.050
who has to live for the next 80 years on this planet,
01:34:55.050 --> 01:34:56.890
who has to deal with the climate impacts,
01:34:56.890 --> 01:34:58.720
who has to deal with these wildfires.
01:34:58.720 --> 01:35:00.230
I'm a lifelong Californian.
01:35:00.230 --> 01:35:01.063
Born and raised here.
01:35:01.063 --> 01:35:02.010
And I love California.
01:35:02.010 --> 01:35:05.230
But every year, we see that these effects are getting worse.
01:35:05.230 --> 01:35:06.730
The droughts are getting worse.
01:35:06.730 --> 01:35:08.230
Fires getting worse.
01:35:08.230 --> 01:35:10.130
And this is my life that I'm talking about here.
01:35:10.130 --> 01:35:12.330
I'm speaking for my own self-interest,
01:35:12.330 --> 01:35:14.230
and for the self-interest of Millennials
01:35:14.230 --> 01:35:16.320
and Gen Zs who have to deal with these impacts.
01:35:16.320 --> 01:35:19.557
So yes, I'm talking to you for my livelihood, for my job,
01:35:19.557 --> 01:35:21.140
and I wanna keep working in this industry,
01:35:21.140 --> 01:35:21.973
and I love working in this industry,
01:35:21.973 --> 01:35:24.210
but also, just my life.
01:35:24.210 --> 01:35:25.170
I deserve...
01:35:25.170 --> 01:35:28.470
I have a right to have a good, and fair,
01:35:28.470 --> 01:35:30.433
and safe life on this planet.
01:35:30.433 --> 01:35:32.108
Thank you.
01:35:32.108 --> 01:35:32.941
Thank you.
01:35:32.941 --> 01:35:34.273
Operator, next caller, please.
01:35:35.971 --> 01:35:37.730
Our next caller is Cynthia Lau.
01:35:37.730 --> 01:35:38.580
You may go ahead.
01:35:40.740 --> 01:35:41.990
Hello?
01:35:41.990 --> 01:35:43.370
Can you hear me?
01:35:43.370 --> 01:35:44.203
Yes, I can.
01:35:44.203 --> 01:35:45.630
Please proceed.
01:35:45.630 --> 01:35:47.010
My name is Cynthia Lau.
01:35:47.010 --> 01:35:48.420
I'm from Stockton.
01:35:48.420 --> 01:35:51.790
I am a member of the CEEE.
01:35:51.790 --> 01:35:54.517
I am also involved in various community
01:35:54.517 --> 01:35:56.300
and civical organization.
01:35:56.300 --> 01:35:57.800
Before any meeting,
01:35:57.800 --> 01:35:59.850
someone would always mention the weather,
01:35:59.850 --> 01:36:02.060
and the rising cost of utilities.
01:36:02.060 --> 01:36:04.700
No real mention of the role of climate change
01:36:04.700 --> 01:36:09.590
and systemic inequity, which has led to these rising costs.
01:36:09.590 --> 01:36:11.300
I would like for you to reconsider
01:36:11.300 --> 01:36:13.960
your proposed decision on net metering.
01:36:13.960 --> 01:36:16.180
Please revise the current proposal,
01:36:16.180 --> 01:36:18.560
and ensure that there are no civil tax,
01:36:18.560 --> 01:36:20.680
solar becomes more affordable
01:36:20.680 --> 01:36:23.030
for working and middle class households,
01:36:23.030 --> 01:36:25.670
and honor the existing 20 year protection
01:36:25.670 --> 01:36:29.280
for solar users on NEM1 and NEM2.
01:36:29.280 --> 01:36:33.000
We wanna decrease our reliance on fossil fuels,
01:36:33.000 --> 01:36:35.260
and increase renewable energy
01:36:35.260 --> 01:36:37.730
to meet our climate change goals.
01:36:37.730 --> 01:36:41.040
More rooftops solar will also help to protect
01:36:41.040 --> 01:36:43.490
the last of our remaining open space.
01:36:43.490 --> 01:36:46.070
Rooftop solar reduces the need
01:36:46.070 --> 01:36:49.570
for large solar wind farms and transmission lines.
01:36:49.570 --> 01:36:51.750
Please reconsider.
(bell dinging)
01:36:51.750 --> 01:36:54.220
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
01:36:54.220 --> 01:36:55.783
Operator, next caller, please.
01:36:58.220 --> 01:37:00.750
Our next caller is from Larry Giustino.
01:37:00.750 --> 01:37:01.600
You may go ahead.
01:37:02.860 --> 01:37:05.320
Yes, my name is Larry Giustino,
01:37:05.320 --> 01:37:09.340
president of A1 Sun in Berkeley, California.
01:37:09.340 --> 01:37:10.950
We're a small company.
01:37:10.950 --> 01:37:13.510
We employ about 20 people with good benefits,
01:37:13.510 --> 01:37:15.603
and central services in the Bay Area.
01:37:16.500 --> 01:37:19.190
So while growing our career is extremely important,
01:37:19.190 --> 01:37:21.070
there are a few things that need to be attended to.
01:37:21.070 --> 01:37:24.480
First, the utility analysis doesn't give
01:37:24.480 --> 01:37:27.340
full credit for solar kilowatts.
01:37:27.340 --> 01:37:29.390
It doesn't include AC load reduction,
01:37:29.390 --> 01:37:31.240
wildfire risk reduction,
01:37:31.240 --> 01:37:33.590
or local efficiency gains, health benefits,
01:37:33.590 --> 01:37:35.520
all these things that are not in that analysis.
01:37:35.520 --> 01:37:36.970
So it's flawed.
01:37:36.970 --> 01:37:39.290
So the imaginary cost shift
01:37:39.290 --> 01:37:41.700
doesn't give full credit for solar benefits,
01:37:41.700 --> 01:37:43.270
so it results in an undervaluation.
01:37:43.270 --> 01:37:45.253
That's a big flaw.
01:37:45.253 --> 01:37:48.210
If the utilities really wanna help lower income households
01:37:48.210 --> 01:37:49.910
take the millions of dollars that are wasted
01:37:49.910 --> 01:37:51.040
on these misleading ads,
01:37:51.040 --> 01:37:52.880
and provide it directly to the folks
01:37:52.880 --> 01:37:55.820
that are struggling with their bills, clear.
01:37:55.820 --> 01:37:57.820
Second, Gavin Newsom, you know,
01:37:57.820 --> 01:38:01.480
he's introduced this new energy charging structure.
01:38:01.480 --> 01:38:04.170
How are we gonna charge that with coal?
01:38:04.170 --> 01:38:05.310
Okay, third,
01:38:05.310 --> 01:38:07.610
utilities claim there's a surplus of solar energy.
01:38:07.610 --> 01:38:08.443
Incorrect.
01:38:08.443 --> 01:38:09.993
We can easily store solar energy,
01:38:10.910 --> 01:38:13.236
and solve some urgent challenges.
01:38:13.236 --> 01:38:14.590
At the same time-
(bell dinging)
01:38:14.590 --> 01:38:16.726
Of ocean water, pumping water-
Thank you very much.
01:38:16.726 --> 01:38:17.882
Thank you for your comment.
(interposing voices)
01:38:17.882 --> 01:38:19.020
To produce green hydrogen, et cetera.
01:38:19.020 --> 01:38:20.080
So instead of just-
Thank you.
01:38:20.080 --> 01:38:21.090
We do need to end now.
(interposing voices)
01:38:21.090 --> 01:38:23.550
Operator, next caller, please.
Stop!
01:38:25.967 --> 01:38:28.410
Our next caller is Rebecca Ruben.
01:38:28.410 --> 01:38:29.260
You may go ahead.
01:38:31.780 --> 01:38:33.280
Hi, my name is Rebecca Ruben,
01:38:33.280 --> 01:38:35.430
and I live in Felton, California,
01:38:35.430 --> 01:38:37.420
and I'm a rooftop solar user.
01:38:37.420 --> 01:38:39.160
We put solar on our home just last year,
01:38:39.160 --> 01:38:41.650
because my electricity bills were over $200,
01:38:41.650 --> 01:38:44.300
as well as the power outages we experience from PG&E.
01:38:45.550 --> 01:38:46.940
Rooftop solar and a storage battery
01:38:46.940 --> 01:38:48.390
is the best way to protect ourselves
01:38:48.390 --> 01:38:51.240
from constant rate hikes and power outages.
01:38:51.240 --> 01:38:53.040
We should be able to control our energy bills,
01:38:53.040 --> 01:38:54.440
and give back to the environment,
01:38:54.440 --> 01:38:56.130
especially when we are expected to switch
01:38:56.130 --> 01:38:58.370
to electric cars and appliances.
01:38:58.370 --> 01:39:00.400
Rooftop solar let's us do that.
01:39:00.400 --> 01:39:03.740
I strongly oppose the proposed M 3.0 decision.
01:39:03.740 --> 01:39:06.230
Please, no solar tax of any kind.
01:39:06.230 --> 01:39:08.257
Ensure that solar becomes more affordable for working
01:39:08.257 --> 01:39:10.810
and middle class households, not less.
01:39:10.810 --> 01:39:12.790
And honor the existing 20 year protection
01:39:12.790 --> 01:39:14.440
for solar users like myself.
01:39:14.440 --> 01:39:16.440
Thank you for your time.
01:39:16.440 --> 01:39:17.273
Thank you.
01:39:17.273 --> 01:39:18.930
Operator, our next caller, please.
01:39:22.853 --> 01:39:23.817
Our next caller is Peter Aardema.
01:39:23.817 --> 01:39:25.363
You may go ahead.
01:39:30.620 --> 01:39:31.453
Hello?
01:39:31.453 --> 01:39:32.960
Yeah, my name is Peter Aardema.
01:39:32.960 --> 01:39:36.160
I'm an installer in San Diego.
01:39:36.160 --> 01:39:37.777
I've got five employees.
01:39:37.777 --> 01:39:39.140
From what I can tell,
01:39:39.140 --> 01:39:42.070
this net effective NEM 3.0 is to move panels
01:39:42.070 --> 01:39:43.780
from their maintenance of homeowners
01:39:43.780 --> 01:39:45.340
to the utility companies.
01:39:45.340 --> 01:39:47.460
The utility companies want to put this,
01:39:47.460 --> 01:39:49.700
put these panels out in the middle of the desert,
01:39:49.700 --> 01:39:51.860
far away from the homes they supply,
01:39:51.860 --> 01:39:53.680
then dragged to potentially dangerous
01:39:53.680 --> 01:39:55.140
and visually offensive power lines
01:39:55.140 --> 01:39:57.640
all over the state to reach their customers.
01:39:57.640 --> 01:39:59.660
This would put many of the 500 callers
01:39:59.660 --> 01:40:02.620
currently in this queue, not to mention me,
01:40:02.620 --> 01:40:03.980
and their employees out of business,
01:40:03.980 --> 01:40:06.130
with no one to support the existing systems
01:40:08.004 --> 01:40:09.450
they carefully installed.
01:40:09.450 --> 01:40:11.110
What happens if this passes as written,
01:40:11.110 --> 01:40:13.840
and the pushback is then coming from environmental groups,
01:40:13.840 --> 01:40:16.330
Indian tribes, groups that are forced to live
01:40:16.330 --> 01:40:18.270
next to a once open field of panels,
01:40:18.270 --> 01:40:21.650
instead of valuable California open space?
01:40:21.650 --> 01:40:23.830
Is this really the direction we want to go?
01:40:23.830 --> 01:40:25.460
Give more power to the few,
01:40:25.460 --> 01:40:26.653
take it away from the public?
01:40:26.653 --> 01:40:28.220
This is exactly what's wrong
01:40:28.220 --> 01:40:30.100
with most of California's policies,
01:40:30.100 --> 01:40:32.220
and what's driving people away.
01:40:32.220 --> 01:40:33.301
This favors the rich.
01:40:33.301 --> 01:40:35.150
It favors monopolies,
(bell dinging)
01:40:35.150 --> 01:40:36.910
and ignores the wishes of its residents.
01:40:36.910 --> 01:40:37.743
Very much.
01:40:37.743 --> 01:40:39.330
We appreciate your comment.
01:40:39.330 --> 01:40:40.830
Operator, next caller, please.
01:40:43.300 --> 01:40:45.400
Our next caller is Margaret *******.
01:40:45.400 --> 01:40:46.250
You may go ahead.
01:40:48.070 --> 01:40:50.330
Yes, my name is Margaret *******.
01:40:50.330 --> 01:40:51.260
Good morning.
01:40:51.260 --> 01:40:52.770
I live in Santa Cruz, California,
01:40:52.770 --> 01:40:56.480
and I strongly oppose the current M 3.0 proposal.
01:40:56.480 --> 01:40:58.530
The utilities are claiming
01:40:58.530 --> 01:41:00.960
that the current system is inequitable,
01:41:00.960 --> 01:41:02.030
while at the same time,
01:41:02.030 --> 01:41:04.780
they continue to rely heavily on fossil fuels
01:41:04.780 --> 01:41:06.520
and natural gas power plants,
01:41:06.520 --> 01:41:08.550
which are disproportionately located
01:41:08.550 --> 01:41:09.940
in disadvantaged communities.
01:41:09.940 --> 01:41:12.370
These communities have extreme exposure
01:41:12.370 --> 01:41:15.180
to fossil fuel toxins and dangerous chemicals.
01:41:15.180 --> 01:41:18.250
It has resulted in their children having asthma,
01:41:18.250 --> 01:41:20.530
and being born with birth defects.
01:41:20.530 --> 01:41:22.830
This kind of inequity is real inequity.
01:41:22.830 --> 01:41:25.020
The more solar reliant we become,
01:41:25.020 --> 01:41:27.010
the less fossil fuels we use,
01:41:27.010 --> 01:41:31.400
and the safer lower income and communities of color are.
01:41:31.400 --> 01:41:32.940
The real equity issue is about
01:41:32.940 --> 01:41:34.940
the devastating effects of fossil fuels.
01:41:34.940 --> 01:41:37.680
We cannot move away from fossil fuels without solar
01:41:37.680 --> 01:41:40.650
and rooftop solar is an essential piece
01:41:40.650 --> 01:41:41.980
of the solar solution.
01:41:41.980 --> 01:41:46.640
So I do not believe that NEM3 is good for the middle class
01:41:46.640 --> 01:41:47.760
or lower income people,
01:41:47.760 --> 01:41:51.280
who include almost 50% of solar users.
01:41:51.280 --> 01:41:52.620
This model will make
01:41:52.620 --> 01:41:55.370
all solar users-
(bell dinging)
01:41:55.370 --> 01:41:57.070
Thank you very much.
01:41:57.070 --> 01:41:58.890
Operator, next caller, please.
01:42:04.070 --> 01:42:05.760
Our next caller is Sandra Rennie.
01:42:05.760 --> 01:42:06.610
You may go ahead.
01:42:08.480 --> 01:42:09.313
Good morning.
01:42:09.313 --> 01:42:12.780
Thank you for hearing my story, which is a personal one.
01:42:12.780 --> 01:42:15.770
Presently, a solar system is being installed
01:42:15.770 --> 01:42:17.770
on the roof of our house.
01:42:17.770 --> 01:42:20.870
We're adding solar to do our part for the climate,
01:42:20.870 --> 01:42:22.610
to lower our energy bill,
01:42:22.610 --> 01:42:25.770
and to be able to afford to be a bit warmer.
01:42:25.770 --> 01:42:29.570
We live in mild climate San Diego County.
01:42:29.570 --> 01:42:33.290
Even so, in winter, our house is cold.
01:42:33.290 --> 01:42:36.800
We turn the heat on for only two hours in the morning,
01:42:36.800 --> 01:42:38.520
and then we turn it off,
01:42:38.520 --> 01:42:43.363
because our winter bill is nearly $700 per month.
01:42:44.330 --> 01:42:47.050
I am constantly cold,
01:42:47.050 --> 01:42:48.960
even with two sweaters.
01:42:48.960 --> 01:42:53.960
My husband and I are retired with modest incomes.
01:42:53.990 --> 01:42:58.700
Our new solar system will pay for itself in 7.1 years
01:42:58.700 --> 01:43:01.350
under the present rate structure.
01:43:01.350 --> 01:43:03.990
If the PUC adopts this change
01:43:03.990 --> 01:43:06.770
as requested by the utility company,
01:43:06.770 --> 01:43:08.920
the value of our energy savings
01:43:08.920 --> 01:43:11.640
will basically go to the utility.
01:43:11.640 --> 01:43:14.590
We will not be able to afford more warmth,
01:43:14.590 --> 01:43:17.300
and I don't think-
(bell dinging)
01:43:17.300 --> 01:43:18.520
Thank you very much.
01:43:18.520 --> 01:43:20.360
We appreciate your comment.
01:43:20.360 --> 01:43:21.973
Operator, next caller, please.
01:43:25.430 --> 01:43:26.960
Our next caller is Henry Maui.
01:43:26.960 --> 01:43:27.823
You may go ahead.
01:43:30.220 --> 01:43:33.650
Hi, my wife and I are solar customers
01:43:33.650 --> 01:43:36.040
living in San Francisco.
01:43:36.040 --> 01:43:39.500
Like many of the electricity customers in California
01:43:39.500 --> 01:43:42.570
who invested in solar panels and batteries,
01:43:42.570 --> 01:43:46.270
we will likely not break even for 20 or more years
01:43:46.270 --> 01:43:49.920
on our investment under our current rate system.
01:43:49.920 --> 01:43:51.010
We did it mainly
01:43:51.010 --> 01:43:55.130
because it's the right thing to do to combat climate change.
01:43:55.130 --> 01:43:58.990
NEM3 penalizes current solar customers,
01:43:58.990 --> 01:44:00.380
and will likely discourage
01:44:00.380 --> 01:44:03.160
any other customers from going solar.
01:44:03.160 --> 01:44:06.920
This is a big gift to the fossil fuel industry
01:44:06.920 --> 01:44:10.280
at the expense of future generations
01:44:10.280 --> 01:44:13.320
dealing with the effects of climate change.
01:44:13.320 --> 01:44:16.993
We should be encouraging customers to adopt solar energy.
01:44:17.930 --> 01:44:20.750
When PG&E needs more income from its customers,
01:44:20.750 --> 01:44:22.750
it seems only fair that this comes from
01:44:22.750 --> 01:44:25.170
an increase to the grid maintenance fee
01:44:25.170 --> 01:44:28.440
and electric rates equally to all customers,
01:44:28.440 --> 01:44:29.720
solar and non-solar.
01:44:29.720 --> 01:44:33.070
And for the past 105 minutes,
01:44:33.070 --> 01:44:35.710
you have yet to hear from anyone supporting NEM3.
01:44:36.769 --> 01:44:38.614
Doesn't that tell you something?
01:44:38.614 --> 01:44:39.447
Thank you.
01:44:39.447 --> 01:44:40.280
Thank you very much.
01:44:40.280 --> 01:44:42.400
We appreciate your comment.
01:44:42.400 --> 01:44:43.943
Operator, next caller, please.
01:44:45.500 --> 01:44:47.420
Our next caller is Richard Blum.
01:44:47.420 --> 01:44:48.270
You may go ahead.
01:44:50.800 --> 01:44:52.280
Hello, Richard Blum.
01:44:52.280 --> 01:44:54.560
I'm a homeowner in San Diego.
01:44:54.560 --> 01:44:55.890
To address global warming,
01:44:55.890 --> 01:44:59.813
we need more, not less, solar energy generation.
01:44:59.813 --> 01:45:04.250
This proposal would drastically decrease new
01:45:04.250 --> 01:45:07.020
photovoltaic deployment with associated adverse effects
01:45:07.020 --> 01:45:10.100
on jobs and climate change.
01:45:10.100 --> 01:45:11.890
There's a problem with time of day mismatch
01:45:11.890 --> 01:45:13.800
between generation and use.
01:45:13.800 --> 01:45:16.460
The solution is better storage.
01:45:16.460 --> 01:45:18.010
We don't have a battery on our system,
01:45:18.010 --> 01:45:19.830
and are concerned about both cost,
01:45:19.830 --> 01:45:22.583
and the risk of overheating and fire.
01:45:23.440 --> 01:45:25.580
Storage technology will catch up,
01:45:25.580 --> 01:45:29.700
but we need more photovoltaic panels on the roofs now,
01:45:29.700 --> 01:45:31.490
not sometime in the future.
01:45:31.490 --> 01:45:33.030
Claims that this proposal is about
01:45:33.030 --> 01:45:35.470
redistribution of wealth or income is a hoax,
01:45:35.470 --> 01:45:36.303
and in any case,
01:45:36.303 --> 01:45:38.611
would be the wrong approach to those issues.
01:45:38.611 --> 01:45:40.687
Thank you.
01:45:40.687 --> 01:45:41.673
Thank you.
01:45:41.673 --> 01:45:43.540
I did wanna take a moment to
01:45:43.540 --> 01:45:45.290
thank everyone for their patience.
01:45:45.290 --> 01:45:48.620
We still have over 300 callers in the queue,
01:45:48.620 --> 01:45:50.410
and I wanted to let everyone know
01:45:50.410 --> 01:45:54.110
that we'll be taking a 15 minute break at noon.
01:45:54.110 --> 01:45:56.530
Until then, we'll proceed with the callers.
01:45:56.530 --> 01:45:58.133
Operator, next caller, please.
01:46:00.350 --> 01:46:02.360
Our next caller is Kenny Tew.
01:46:02.360 --> 01:46:03.210
You may go ahead.
01:46:04.220 --> 01:46:05.053
Hi, good morning.
01:46:05.053 --> 01:46:06.220
And thank you for the opportunity
01:46:06.220 --> 01:46:08.280
to address the Commission this morning.
01:46:08.280 --> 01:46:09.280
My name is Kenny Tew.
01:46:09.280 --> 01:46:12.900
I work for a company called GoGreenSolar in Orange County.
01:46:12.900 --> 01:46:16.170
We're a really small business with just 24 employees.
01:46:16.170 --> 01:46:19.900
Every employee is very critical to our success.
01:46:19.900 --> 01:46:23.260
If NEM 3.0 moves forward under the PD,
01:46:23.260 --> 01:46:26.043
it would devastate our business, our lives,
01:46:27.162 --> 01:46:29.620
and the families of all of our employees.
01:46:29.620 --> 01:46:30.700
We love our work.
01:46:30.700 --> 01:46:33.010
We consider it a calling and a mission.
01:46:33.010 --> 01:46:36.360
When one of our customers completes their solar project,
01:46:36.360 --> 01:46:38.110
we have taken a small step
01:46:38.110 --> 01:46:39.790
to provide a more sustainable planet
01:46:39.790 --> 01:46:41.800
for generations to come.
01:46:41.800 --> 01:46:43.300
Our customers are much like us,
01:46:43.300 --> 01:46:45.510
hardworking and middle class families
01:46:45.510 --> 01:46:47.550
trying to improve their lives and communities.
01:46:47.550 --> 01:46:51.860
NEM makes rooftop solar a terrible investment, period.
01:46:51.860 --> 01:46:54.360
I encourage the Commission to stop,
01:46:54.360 --> 01:46:56.460
follow your mission statement,
01:46:56.460 --> 01:46:59.293
and draft a new decision that protects California jobs,
01:47:00.826 --> 01:47:03.210
our economy, families, the environment, and consumers.
01:47:03.210 --> 01:47:05.310
Thank you for your time and consideration.
01:47:06.580 --> 01:47:07.413
Thank you.
01:47:07.413 --> 01:47:08.873
Operator, next caller, please.
01:47:10.918 --> 01:47:12.730
Our next caller is Tom Cotter.
01:47:12.730 --> 01:47:13.580
You may go ahead.
01:47:18.660 --> 01:47:19.970
My name is Tom Cotter.
01:47:19.970 --> 01:47:23.130
I'm with Powur, a public benefit corporation.
01:47:23.130 --> 01:47:25.410
I've worked in solar for 15 years,
01:47:25.410 --> 01:47:28.600
and the sole provider for my wife and three kids.
01:47:28.600 --> 01:47:30.790
I've also had solar on my house in Clovis
01:47:30.790 --> 01:47:32.980
for the last 13 years.
01:47:32.980 --> 01:47:35.670
I'm incredibly proud of the solar progress
01:47:35.670 --> 01:47:37.190
we've made in our state.
01:47:37.190 --> 01:47:38.610
It was just a few years ago
01:47:38.610 --> 01:47:40.600
we celebrated the success
01:47:40.600 --> 01:47:42.490
of the Million Solar Roofs Initiative
01:47:42.490 --> 01:47:45.180
with Governor Schwarzenegger and Brown.
01:47:45.180 --> 01:47:47.640
But I'm deeply concerned about this PD,
01:47:47.640 --> 01:47:51.210
because, as written, it would reverse our progress,
01:47:51.210 --> 01:47:54.220
and end my career in California,
01:47:54.220 --> 01:47:55.780
and it would decimate the careers
01:47:55.780 --> 01:47:58.470
of thousands of solar professionals I know,
01:47:58.470 --> 01:48:01.110
and force hundreds of us to leave the state.
01:48:01.110 --> 01:48:04.340
I respectfully request the Commission push pause,
01:48:04.340 --> 01:48:05.760
and rethink the PD.
01:48:05.760 --> 01:48:07.320
Thank you.
01:48:07.320 --> 01:48:08.180
Thank you.
01:48:08.180 --> 01:48:09.680
Operator, next caller, please.
01:48:18.830 --> 01:48:20.860
Our next caller is Rozz Sohailey.
01:48:20.860 --> 01:48:21.710
You may go ahead.
01:48:23.640 --> 01:48:25.420
Hello, my name is Rozz Sohailey,
01:48:25.420 --> 01:48:27.380
and I am a California native.
01:48:27.380 --> 01:48:30.800
I've always been so proud to be from a progressive state
01:48:30.800 --> 01:48:32.090
that champions initiative
01:48:32.090 --> 01:48:34.520
that paves the way for other states to follow.
01:48:34.520 --> 01:48:36.560
I am heartbroken and disgusted
01:48:36.560 --> 01:48:38.330
that during our climate crisis,
01:48:38.330 --> 01:48:40.000
when we are supposed to be working to meet
01:48:40.000 --> 01:48:41.440
our clean energy goals,
01:48:41.440 --> 01:48:44.590
you're considering taxing people for having solar.
01:48:44.590 --> 01:48:46.790
I'm completely opposed to the solar tax
01:48:46.790 --> 01:48:49.580
or any fees that would punish folks who have solar.
01:48:49.580 --> 01:48:50.950
This is wrong.
01:48:50.950 --> 01:48:52.370
It is completely immoral.
01:48:52.370 --> 01:48:53.780
If you care about our futures
01:48:53.780 --> 01:48:55.460
and the generations that follow,
01:48:55.460 --> 01:48:58.280
you will do all that you can to protect clean energy.
01:48:58.280 --> 01:49:00.560
No taxes or fees on renewable energy.
01:49:00.560 --> 01:49:02.330
Not now, not ever.
01:49:02.330 --> 01:49:03.530
Thank you for listening.
01:49:04.460 --> 01:49:05.293
Thank you.
01:49:05.293 --> 01:49:06.603
Operator, next caller, please.
01:49:08.330 --> 01:49:10.907
Our next caller is Niels Lund.
01:49:10.907 --> 01:49:12.687
You may go ahead.
01:49:12.687 --> 01:49:13.906
Yes, hi, thank you.
01:49:13.906 --> 01:49:15.920
My name is Neils Lund.
01:49:15.920 --> 01:49:18.870
I live in Encinitas in Southern California.
01:49:18.870 --> 01:49:21.758
My wife and I are both retired, moderate income.
01:49:21.758 --> 01:49:25.520
I have solar panels on my house and an electric car,
01:49:25.520 --> 01:49:29.300
so I feel proud to drive and partially heat my home
01:49:29.300 --> 01:49:31.310
with the power from the sun.
01:49:31.310 --> 01:49:34.560
I'm reducing the consumption of fossil fuel,
01:49:34.560 --> 01:49:38.200
doing what I can to combat climate change.
01:49:38.200 --> 01:49:42.500
If a solar tax was forced on me, I would feel betrayed.
01:49:42.500 --> 01:49:43.580
It's not fair
01:49:43.580 --> 01:49:45.580
that those of us doing the right thing
01:49:45.580 --> 01:49:47.180
to help save our planet
01:49:47.180 --> 01:49:50.040
should be penalized with a solar tax.
01:49:50.040 --> 01:49:51.940
I spent a considerable amount of money
01:49:51.940 --> 01:49:55.670
to do the right thing to help with California's efforts
01:49:55.670 --> 01:49:57.640
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
01:49:57.640 --> 01:50:00.700
and I should not be penalized for doing so.
01:50:00.700 --> 01:50:03.770
A solar tax is a betrayal of me
01:50:03.770 --> 01:50:06.790
and our beautiful state of California.
01:50:06.790 --> 01:50:08.259
Thank you.
01:50:08.259 --> 01:50:09.092
Thank you.
01:50:09.092 --> 01:50:10.523
Operator, next caller, please.
01:50:12.840 --> 01:50:14.710
Our next caller is Cynthia Chalet.
01:50:14.710 --> 01:50:15.560
You may go ahead.
01:50:16.840 --> 01:50:18.310
Hi, this is Cynthia Chalet.
01:50:18.310 --> 01:50:19.810
I'm in Sacramento.
01:50:19.810 --> 01:50:23.190
And I wanna tell you that we need to promote
01:50:23.190 --> 01:50:26.620
the faster use of rooftop solar, not slow it down.
01:50:26.620 --> 01:50:29.130
Even our local utility says
01:50:29.130 --> 01:50:31.580
that they can not meet their solar goals
01:50:31.580 --> 01:50:34.780
without doubling rooftop solar in Sacramento.
01:50:34.780 --> 01:50:38.570
And we will not do that if you put this extra tax on solar.
01:50:38.570 --> 01:50:41.000
No solar tax, please!
01:50:41.000 --> 01:50:45.670
And save jobs, save the climate, look up.
01:50:45.670 --> 01:50:46.503
Thank you.
01:50:46.503 --> 01:50:47.336
Bye.
01:50:47.336 --> 01:50:48.169
Thank you.
01:50:48.169 --> 01:50:49.050
Thank you.
01:50:49.050 --> 01:50:50.550
Operator, next caller, please.
01:50:54.940 --> 01:50:57.200
Our next caller is Teresa Acero.
01:50:57.200 --> 01:50:58.243
You may go ahead.
01:50:59.540 --> 01:51:00.390
Hello?
01:51:01.580 --> 01:51:02.963
Yes, we can hear you.
01:51:04.140 --> 01:51:07.250
Hello?
Please go ahead.
01:51:07.250 --> 01:51:08.083
Oh.
01:51:08.083 --> 01:51:09.590
Hi, my name is Teresa Acero.
01:51:09.590 --> 01:51:10.610
I live in Chula Vista,
01:51:10.610 --> 01:51:13.970
and I've had solar for over 20 years.
01:51:13.970 --> 01:51:15.450
I overproduce.
01:51:15.450 --> 01:51:16.620
I've always overproduced,
01:51:16.620 --> 01:51:20.530
and SDGE sells my extra kilowatts
01:51:20.530 --> 01:51:23.400
for much more than it credits me for.
01:51:23.400 --> 01:51:24.630
Now I have a battery,
01:51:24.630 --> 01:51:28.740
and I only use the grid to give SDG&E energy.
01:51:28.740 --> 01:51:30.410
Charging me to use the grid
01:51:30.410 --> 01:51:33.950
is like charging a power plant to use the grid.
01:51:33.950 --> 01:51:36.770
Solar on rooftop saves money for everyone,
01:51:36.770 --> 01:51:40.580
and saves our valuable open space environment
01:51:40.580 --> 01:51:44.210
from destruction by huge, unnecessary projects.
01:51:44.210 --> 01:51:47.920
The state and utilities should rent rooftops from landlords
01:51:47.920 --> 01:51:51.430
and low income residents for solar and batteries.
01:51:51.430 --> 01:51:56.430
The city should reduce the minimum amount paid to utilities,
01:51:57.960 --> 01:52:00.200
since growing numbers of CCAs
01:52:00.200 --> 01:52:05.200
is making them into bill makers and maintenance providers.
01:52:07.860 --> 01:52:10.290
Much less costly jobs than
01:52:10.290 --> 01:52:14.740
providing electric utilities.
(bell dinging)
01:52:14.740 --> 01:52:15.573
Thank you.
01:52:15.573 --> 01:52:16.950
Thank you very much.
01:52:16.950 --> 01:52:18.450
Operator, next caller, please.
01:52:19.686 --> 01:52:22.930
Our next caller is Kaylee Underhill.
01:52:22.930 --> 01:52:23.780
You may go ahead.
01:52:25.350 --> 01:52:26.680
My name is Kaylee Underhill,
01:52:26.680 --> 01:52:28.790
and I live in Long Beach, California.
01:52:28.790 --> 01:52:31.860
I'm calling in today because the sun belongs to everyone,
01:52:31.860 --> 01:52:34.150
and the last thing we should do is tax it.
01:52:34.150 --> 01:52:37.100
No solar tax, not even a dime.
01:52:37.100 --> 01:52:38.980
This Commission has an honorable objective
01:52:38.980 --> 01:52:41.360
to help Californians receive safe, clean,
01:52:41.360 --> 01:52:43.730
and affordable utility services.
01:52:43.730 --> 01:52:46.500
The utilities' long distance power lines are not safe,
01:52:46.500 --> 01:52:49.570
they are not clean, and they are not affordable.
01:52:49.570 --> 01:52:51.640
These lines spark devastating wildfires,
01:52:51.640 --> 01:52:53.510
rely on dirty energy sources,
01:52:53.510 --> 01:52:57.410
and cost consumers an estimated 9 billion a year.
01:52:57.410 --> 01:52:59.220
Rooftop solar is safe,
01:52:59.220 --> 01:53:00.990
rooftop solar is clean,
01:53:00.990 --> 01:53:03.430
and rooftop solar can continue to become more
01:53:03.430 --> 01:53:04.907
and more affordable for working
01:53:04.907 --> 01:53:06.430
and middle class Californians,
01:53:06.430 --> 01:53:08.700
if this proposed decision is fixed.
01:53:08.700 --> 01:53:11.010
Please do not tax the sun.
01:53:11.010 --> 01:53:12.287
Do not make solar less affordable
01:53:12.287 --> 01:53:14.050
for those who need it most.
01:53:14.050 --> 01:53:17.590
Do not roll back protections for existing solar customers.
01:53:17.590 --> 01:53:19.113
Please protect rooftop solar,
01:53:19.113 --> 01:53:21.950
so that we can build the clean energy future
01:53:21.950 --> 01:53:23.093
our children deserve.
01:53:25.540 --> 01:53:26.373
Thank you.
01:53:26.373 --> 01:53:27.720
Operator, next caller, please.
01:53:31.320 --> 01:53:34.433
Our next caller is Dooms Johandes.
01:53:36.890 --> 01:53:37.803
You may go ahead.
01:53:51.342 --> 01:53:53.620
(female speaks indistinctly)
01:53:53.620 --> 01:53:56.723
Again, Dooms Johandes, your line is open.
01:54:09.200 --> 01:54:11.000
And Dooms Johandes, your line is open.
01:54:11.000 --> 01:54:11.863
You may go ahead.
01:54:14.260 --> 01:54:15.093
Hello?
01:54:16.430 --> 01:54:18.287
Yes, go ahead please.
Yes, please proceed.
01:54:18.287 --> 01:54:20.960
Hi, my name is James Johandes.
01:54:20.960 --> 01:54:23.653
I live in Arroyo Grande, California.
01:54:24.720 --> 01:54:28.603
Governor Newsom-
(male speaks in Spanish)
01:54:30.634 --> 01:54:32.360
Can you hear me?
01:54:32.360 --> 01:54:33.210
Yes.
01:54:36.010 --> 01:54:37.100
I trust you
01:54:37.940 --> 01:54:41.440
to act in the best interests of the people,
01:54:41.440 --> 01:54:43.270
not the utilities.
01:54:43.270 --> 01:54:47.023
I trust you to keep your promises.
01:54:48.050 --> 01:54:50.220
I trust you not to burden the people
01:54:50.220 --> 01:54:51.920
with another utility charge,
01:54:51.920 --> 01:54:54.650
which would, in effect, harm the environment
01:54:55.570 --> 01:54:57.903
by crippling solar generation.
01:54:58.950 --> 01:55:03.173
Please, please find the strength to act on our behalf.
01:55:04.100 --> 01:55:07.950
I trust you, Governor Newsom and Commission members.
01:55:07.950 --> 01:55:10.440
I trust you to do the right thing.
01:55:10.440 --> 01:55:11.542
Thank you very much.
01:55:11.542 --> 01:55:14.740
(female speaks in Spanish)
01:55:14.740 --> 01:55:16.030
Thank you.
01:55:16.030 --> 01:55:17.673
Operator, next caller, please.
01:55:22.890 --> 01:55:26.260
Our next caller is Albero Testero.
01:55:26.260 --> 01:55:27.110
You may go ahead.
01:55:31.400 --> 01:55:32.233
Hello?
01:55:33.650 --> 01:55:35.290
Can you hear me?
01:55:35.290 --> 01:55:36.873
Yes, please proceed.
01:55:38.270 --> 01:55:40.030
My name is Al Castro.
01:55:40.030 --> 01:55:42.730
I live in Saratoga, California.
01:55:42.730 --> 01:55:45.490
I am a retired rocket scientist.
01:55:45.490 --> 01:55:47.733
I oppose the proposed decision.
01:55:48.570 --> 01:55:53.250
Rooftop solar is the solution towards energy independence.
01:55:53.250 --> 01:55:57.610
Nine years ago, I design and install a solar system.
01:55:57.610 --> 01:56:02.580
My system supplies power for my home and my electric car.
01:56:02.580 --> 01:56:06.020
Every day, I supply power into the grid
01:56:06.020 --> 01:56:09.120
during critical consumption times.
01:56:09.120 --> 01:56:12.030
I believe I am part of the solution.
01:56:12.030 --> 01:56:16.360
I think that what you're trying to do is just wrong.
01:56:16.360 --> 01:56:18.590
No solar tax of any kind.
01:56:18.590 --> 01:56:22.780
I believe we are being penalized for good behavior.
01:56:22.780 --> 01:56:24.410
Please stop.
01:56:24.410 --> 01:56:26.850
I oppose the proposed decision.
01:56:26.850 --> 01:56:28.783
Thank you and have a good day.
01:56:28.783 --> 01:56:30.600
Bye.
Thank you.
01:56:30.600 --> 01:56:32.100
Operator, next caller, please.
01:56:33.790 --> 01:56:36.490
Our next caller is Audrey Echenosa.
01:56:36.490 --> 01:56:37.340
You may go ahead.
01:56:38.240 --> 01:56:39.580
Thank you.
01:56:39.580 --> 01:56:40.413
Good morning.
01:56:41.270 --> 01:56:43.080
I'm a Berkeley resident.
01:56:43.080 --> 01:56:48.050
My husband and I own a small 1.71 kilowatt system
01:56:48.050 --> 01:56:49.283
with no batteries.
01:56:50.410 --> 01:56:54.020
And we appreciate the importance of the grid
01:56:54.020 --> 01:56:55.950
to provide clean, affordable,
01:56:55.950 --> 01:57:00.150
and reliable electricity to our homes and businesses.
01:57:00.150 --> 01:57:02.930
But we also adamantly refuse
01:57:02.930 --> 01:57:06.470
to prop off PG&E stewardship
01:57:06.470 --> 01:57:09.430
of the transmission and distribution lines.
01:57:09.430 --> 01:57:13.030
The IOUs monopoly should be revoked.
01:57:13.030 --> 01:57:15.040
And in the case of PG&E,
01:57:15.040 --> 01:57:17.680
its service territory broken up
01:57:17.680 --> 01:57:19.840
in favor of more manageable,
01:57:19.840 --> 01:57:22.270
not for profit, public agencies
01:57:22.270 --> 01:57:26.400
that better serve the many needs of local communities.
01:57:26.400 --> 01:57:27.493
Thank you very much.
01:57:28.540 --> 01:57:29.550
Thank you.
01:57:29.550 --> 01:57:31.430
Operator, next caller, please.
01:57:32.610 --> 01:57:34.500
Our next caller is Paul Sullivan.
01:57:34.500 --> 01:57:35.433
You may go ahead.
01:57:37.070 --> 01:57:37.970
Hello, Commissioners.
01:57:37.970 --> 01:57:39.270
My name is Paul Sullivan,
01:57:39.270 --> 01:57:43.480
and I'm directly responsible for 14 energy consultants
01:57:43.480 --> 01:57:44.640
and their wellbeing.
01:57:44.640 --> 01:57:46.870
Many are the sole providers for their family,
01:57:46.870 --> 01:57:48.880
and they're passionate about what they do.
01:57:48.880 --> 01:57:50.470
Thanks for the opportunity to provide comment
01:57:50.470 --> 01:57:52.300
on the proposed NEM decision.
01:57:52.300 --> 01:57:54.300
In short, just start over.
01:57:54.300 --> 01:57:55.647
If the PD stands as is,
01:57:55.647 --> 01:57:57.890
the utilities will succeed in ridding themselves
01:57:57.890 --> 01:58:00.370
of rooftop solar in California,
01:58:00.370 --> 01:58:01.670
and will have the solar industry,
01:58:01.670 --> 01:58:04.100
just like North Dakota, none.
01:58:04.100 --> 01:58:05.550
I've been in solar for 17 years.
01:58:05.550 --> 01:58:08.540
I put solar in my house to save money, and I did,
01:58:08.540 --> 01:58:11.300
but I soon realized more good was being done with my choice
01:58:11.300 --> 01:58:12.540
than just saving money.
01:58:12.540 --> 01:58:14.390
It was doing my part to help save our planet.
01:58:14.390 --> 01:58:15.290
I had to share that.
01:58:15.290 --> 01:58:18.230
Went to work for the company that installed my system.
01:58:18.230 --> 01:58:19.250
I entered this industry
01:58:19.250 --> 01:58:20.760
to make a difference in people's lives.
01:58:20.760 --> 01:58:22.267
First, by saving them some money,
01:58:22.267 --> 01:58:23.140
and more holistically,
01:58:23.140 --> 01:58:25.630
to free ourselves from the fossil fuel addiction.
01:58:25.630 --> 01:58:27.850
I beg you to scrap this proposal,
01:58:27.850 --> 01:58:29.440
write one that has a gentle path,
01:58:29.440 --> 01:58:32.210
that doesn't kill tens of thousands of jobs overnight.
01:58:32.210 --> 01:58:33.523
Thank you for listening.
01:58:35.070 --> 01:58:36.100
Thank you very much.
01:58:36.100 --> 01:58:37.600
Operator, next caller, please.
01:58:39.091 --> 01:58:41.130
Our next caller is Michael Powers.
01:58:41.130 --> 01:58:41.980
You may go ahead.
01:58:44.000 --> 01:58:44.840
Hello, Commissioners.
01:58:44.840 --> 01:58:45.940
My name is Michael Powers,
01:58:45.940 --> 01:58:48.380
and I work for Stellar Solar in San Diego.
01:58:48.380 --> 01:58:49.470
In the past 20 years,
01:58:49.470 --> 01:58:51.440
we've installed more than 14,000
01:58:51.440 --> 01:58:54.720
rooftop solar energy systems in Southern California,
01:58:54.720 --> 01:58:56.990
including vital nonprofit institutions,
01:58:56.990 --> 01:59:00.940
like the SOCC Institute in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
01:59:00.940 --> 01:59:02.730
As a locally owned and operated business,
01:59:02.730 --> 01:59:05.197
we employ about a hundred professionals and skilled workers,
01:59:05.197 --> 01:59:08.550
and over 40% of them identify as Black, Asian,
01:59:08.550 --> 01:59:10.170
or Latino heritage.
01:59:10.170 --> 01:59:13.220
Many of them have worked for us for more than 10 years.
01:59:13.220 --> 01:59:15.087
Most of our workers have families to support,
01:59:15.087 --> 01:59:18.130
and our annual payroll exceeds 10 million dollars.
01:59:18.130 --> 01:59:21.219
However, your proposed decision on NEM 3.0
01:59:21.219 --> 01:59:24.770
would put all of this and those families in jeopardy.
01:59:24.770 --> 01:59:25.603
With due respect,
01:59:25.603 --> 01:59:27.190
please reject and revise it.
01:59:27.190 --> 01:59:28.023
Thank you.
01:59:28.860 --> 01:59:30.380
Thank you.
01:59:30.380 --> 01:59:32.190
It is 12 o'clock now.
01:59:32.190 --> 01:59:34.563
We will be taking a 15 minute break.
01:59:35.960 --> 01:59:38.693
So we will resume at 12:15.
01:59:39.580 --> 01:59:41.060
By today's conference is resumed.
01:59:41.060 --> 01:59:42.860
President Reynolds, you may proceed.
01:59:44.930 --> 01:59:45.830
Thank you.
01:59:45.830 --> 01:59:49.210
First, we need to establish a quorum with the clerk.
01:59:49.210 --> 01:59:50.333
Please call the role.
01:59:51.740 --> 01:59:54.083
Commissioner Houck?
Here.
01:59:55.287 --> 01:59:58.712
Commissioner Shiroma?
Present.
01:59:58.712 --> 02:00:01.712
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
Here.
02:00:02.560 --> 02:00:05.053
President Reynolds?
Here.
02:00:05.950 --> 02:00:06.783
Thank you.
02:00:06.783 --> 02:00:07.730
We have a quorum.
02:00:07.730 --> 02:00:11.990
We are resuming the public comment portion of our agenda.
02:00:11.990 --> 02:00:13.660
I wanted to remind speakers
02:00:13.660 --> 02:00:16.710
that you will have up to one minute to make your comment.
02:00:16.710 --> 02:00:20.360
You will hear a bell sound when your time is up.
02:00:20.360 --> 02:00:23.520
And please remember, brevity is your friend.
02:00:23.520 --> 02:00:27.310
We have many, many people still in the queue,
02:00:27.310 --> 02:00:28.960
people who have been waiting already
02:00:28.960 --> 02:00:30.300
a long time this morning.
02:00:30.300 --> 02:00:32.530
So if you are able to shorten your comments,
02:00:32.530 --> 02:00:36.530
that will give everyone a chance to have a time to speak,
02:00:36.530 --> 02:00:38.750
and will minimize the waiting period.
02:00:38.750 --> 02:00:40.480
Thank you very much.
02:00:40.480 --> 02:00:42.793
Operator, let's take the next caller.
02:00:45.070 --> 02:00:46.740
Our next caller is Jennifer Gass.
02:00:46.740 --> 02:00:47.590
You may go ahead.
02:00:48.650 --> 02:00:50.540
Hi, my name is Jennifer Gass,
02:00:50.540 --> 02:00:53.460
and I'm a blind homeowner and rooftop solar user
02:00:53.460 --> 02:00:55.900
here in Stockton, California.
02:00:55.900 --> 02:00:58.130
I'm on a fixed income.
02:00:58.130 --> 02:00:59.690
I got solar originally
02:00:59.690 --> 02:01:01.870
because I knew it was better for the environment,
02:01:01.870 --> 02:01:04.690
and the state was encouraging it,
02:01:04.690 --> 02:01:07.770
but mostly because it would save me a little money,
02:01:07.770 --> 02:01:11.350
and I can't afford a tax on solar.
02:01:11.350 --> 02:01:13.203
A lot of people I know can't.
02:01:14.770 --> 02:01:17.110
Or any increases in our utilities,
02:01:17.110 --> 02:01:21.310
especially now on a fixed income when times are hard.
02:01:21.310 --> 02:01:25.570
I urge you not to adopt the proposed solar tax today.
02:01:25.570 --> 02:01:26.403
Thank you.
02:01:27.770 --> 02:01:28.730
Thank you.
02:01:28.730 --> 02:01:30.293
Operator, next caller, please.
02:01:32.900 --> 02:01:35.210
Our next caller is Hellen Birecki.
02:01:35.210 --> 02:01:36.060
You may go ahead.
02:01:37.590 --> 02:01:39.120
Hi, my name is Helena Birecki,
02:01:39.120 --> 02:01:42.153
and I was born and raised in California.
02:01:42.153 --> 02:01:44.020
I live in San Francisco.
02:01:44.020 --> 02:01:46.433
We've heard two hours of comments saying,
02:01:47.837 --> 02:01:52.217
"Save our electricity, save jobs, save the planet, look up".
02:01:53.480 --> 02:01:57.853
I am completely echoing everybody's comments so far,
02:01:58.940 --> 02:02:03.940
and asking the CPUC to reject the proposed decision,
02:02:05.900 --> 02:02:09.903
and remake it, so it includes no solar tax of any kind.
02:02:11.070 --> 02:02:15.920
We need all of California's policies working together
02:02:15.920 --> 02:02:17.640
to ensure that solar becomes more,
02:02:17.640 --> 02:02:18.887
not less, affordable for working
02:02:18.887 --> 02:02:20.840
and middle class households.
02:02:20.840 --> 02:02:23.160
And I'd urge the Commission to consider
02:02:23.160 --> 02:02:27.610
the climate necessity, not only for mitigation,
02:02:27.610 --> 02:02:29.250
which the CPUC's own report say,
02:02:29.250 --> 02:02:31.360
we need to triple existing rooftop solar
02:02:31.360 --> 02:02:34.950
to meet our energy goals, but also adaptation.
02:02:34.950 --> 02:02:38.630
With the fire in Big Sur not yet under control in January,
02:02:38.630 --> 02:02:41.270
it reminds us of the power shutoffs
02:02:41.270 --> 02:02:43.320
to millions of people who aren't even
02:02:43.320 --> 02:02:47.600
in the fire risk zone in the summers,
02:02:47.600 --> 02:02:50.000
and how many lives of people who need to keep
02:02:51.360 --> 02:02:52.580
medication refrigerated,
(bell dings)
02:02:52.580 --> 02:02:54.562
et cetera, will be safe.
Thank you very much.
02:02:54.562 --> 02:02:56.620
Thank you.
Thank you.
02:02:56.620 --> 02:02:58.163
Operator, next caller, please.
02:02:59.690 --> 02:03:01.293
Our next caller is William Macy.
02:03:01.293 --> 02:03:02.710
You may go ahead.
02:03:03.945 --> 02:03:05.500
Yeah, I'm William Macy,
02:03:05.500 --> 02:03:07.853
and I live in San Jose, California.
02:03:08.710 --> 02:03:12.970
I urge the CPUC to reject the current NEM3 proposal.
02:03:12.970 --> 02:03:14.647
As a middle class resident in California,
02:03:14.647 --> 02:03:17.180
and rooftop solar and battery owner,
02:03:17.180 --> 02:03:18.850
I am seeing my electric costs
02:03:18.850 --> 02:03:21.520
associated with these technologies spiral upwards,
02:03:21.520 --> 02:03:25.070
because of PG&E infrastructure delivery costs
02:03:25.070 --> 02:03:27.950
that make them increasingly expensive year-over-year.
02:03:27.950 --> 02:03:30.460
Without affordable alternatives to our power companies,
02:03:30.460 --> 02:03:33.010
or options to disconnect from PG&E's grid,
02:03:33.010 --> 02:03:34.970
and avoid the escalating costs,
02:03:34.970 --> 02:03:37.490
this leaves consumers of all income brackets
02:03:37.490 --> 02:03:39.780
open to uncontrollable energy bills
02:03:39.780 --> 02:03:41.950
for the foreseeable future.
02:03:41.950 --> 02:03:45.270
Consumers are now paying for PG&E's decades long lack
02:03:45.270 --> 02:03:47.320
of investment in infrastructure,
02:03:47.320 --> 02:03:49.270
and this is unfair to all consumers.
02:03:49.270 --> 02:03:50.610
Please do the right thing.
02:03:50.610 --> 02:03:52.320
Reject this proposal.
02:03:52.320 --> 02:03:53.760
Thank you.
02:03:53.760 --> 02:03:54.593
Thank you.
02:03:54.593 --> 02:03:56.020
Operator, next caller, please.
02:03:58.030 --> 02:04:00.270
Our next caller is Troy Carroll.
02:04:00.270 --> 02:04:01.120
You may go ahead.
02:04:02.990 --> 02:04:04.060
Yeah, my name's Troy Carroll.
02:04:04.060 --> 02:04:07.843
I've been in the solar industry for the past seven years.
02:04:08.900 --> 02:04:11.910
The proposed Net Metering 3 is just ridiculous.
02:04:11.910 --> 02:04:12.940
It'll be devastating,
02:04:12.940 --> 02:04:15.530
and gut the solar industry in California.
02:04:15.530 --> 02:04:17.140
We're supposed to be the leaders
02:04:17.140 --> 02:04:19.338
in green energy in the nation,
02:04:19.338 --> 02:04:21.943
and honestly, it's become a farce.
02:04:23.210 --> 02:04:24.930
The documentation that was sent out
02:04:24.930 --> 02:04:26.580
by the utilities this past weekend
02:04:26.580 --> 02:04:28.330
is just shy of being reliable,
02:04:28.330 --> 02:04:31.463
and only meant to perpetuate their monopoly on California.
02:04:35.630 --> 02:04:36.830
Thank you.
02:04:36.830 --> 02:04:38.330
Operator, next caller, please.
02:04:40.320 --> 02:04:42.820
Our next caller is Amber Woodworth.
02:04:42.820 --> 02:04:44.480
You may go ahead.
02:04:44.480 --> 02:04:45.313
Hello.
02:04:45.313 --> 02:04:48.440
I am Amber Woodworth from Rise Energy in Humboldt County.
02:04:48.440 --> 02:04:50.590
I implore you also to please oppose
02:04:50.590 --> 02:04:53.290
the drastic changes to net energy metering.
02:04:53.290 --> 02:04:55.560
Please imagine what our future will look like
02:04:55.560 --> 02:04:57.560
when we reach California's climate goals.
02:04:57.560 --> 02:04:59.313
100% clean energy.
02:05:00.210 --> 02:05:02.240
On one hand, there could be vast infrastructure
02:05:02.240 --> 02:05:04.560
built over open land and sea.
02:05:04.560 --> 02:05:05.940
All energy, including for heat
02:05:05.940 --> 02:05:08.040
and transportation would come from
02:05:08.040 --> 02:05:10.180
centralized sources controlled by the few,
02:05:10.180 --> 02:05:12.870
all powerful corporate monopolies.
02:05:12.870 --> 02:05:14.340
It may seem efficient,
02:05:14.340 --> 02:05:17.300
but at the expense of resiliency, safety,
02:05:17.300 --> 02:05:20.090
small businesses, self autonomy, and nature,
02:05:20.090 --> 02:05:22.650
this is not the future we want.
02:05:22.650 --> 02:05:24.750
On the other hand, with distributed solar
02:05:24.750 --> 02:05:27.750
and storage built into our homes and communities,
02:05:27.750 --> 02:05:30.210
we create a future where there is local control,
02:05:30.210 --> 02:05:33.950
energy independence, resilience, power to the people,
02:05:33.950 --> 02:05:35.263
and efficient land use.
02:05:36.210 --> 02:05:39.210
Rooftop solar owners and installer are rightly proud.
02:05:39.210 --> 02:05:42.220
Please do not enact regulation that would tax
02:05:42.220 --> 02:05:45.200
and kill citizen-owned distributed generation.
02:05:45.200 --> 02:05:46.760
Thank you.
02:05:46.760 --> 02:05:47.690
Thank you.
02:05:47.690 --> 02:05:49.390
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:05:50.610 --> 02:05:52.300
Our next caller is James Pearson.
02:05:52.300 --> 02:05:53.133
You may go ahead
02:05:59.860 --> 02:06:01.450
Again, James Pearson, your line is open.
02:06:01.450 --> 02:06:02.950
Please check your mute button.
02:06:13.000 --> 02:06:15.040
And should we go to the next caller?
02:06:15.040 --> 02:06:16.170
Yes, please, Operator.
02:06:16.170 --> 02:06:17.600
Thank you.
02:06:17.600 --> 02:06:19.270
Our next caller is David Rush.
02:06:19.270 --> 02:06:20.120
You may go ahead.
02:06:21.480 --> 02:06:23.100
Over the past two decades,
02:06:23.100 --> 02:06:26.930
thousands of middle class Californians, like my wife and I,
02:06:26.930 --> 02:06:28.850
both retired teachers,
02:06:28.850 --> 02:06:31.210
did what we thought was the right thing.
02:06:31.210 --> 02:06:35.670
We answered the call to help save our planet to go solar.
02:06:35.670 --> 02:06:37.180
Now, the message that we are getting,
02:06:37.180 --> 02:06:40.030
is that rooftop solar is a problem,
02:06:40.030 --> 02:06:41.533
not a part of the solution.
02:06:42.380 --> 02:06:43.213
For four years,
02:06:43.213 --> 02:06:46.600
we listened to a president declare that he alone
02:06:46.600 --> 02:06:49.890
could fix all the problems that plague our country.
02:06:49.890 --> 02:06:53.160
Likewise, the utilities are now now telling us
02:06:53.160 --> 02:06:57.780
we alone can fix our clean energy problems,
02:06:57.780 --> 02:07:00.440
and do it more cheaply for everyone.
02:07:00.440 --> 02:07:03.280
Many experts in the field don't believe it.
02:07:03.280 --> 02:07:06.860
Credible studies rebut the utilities' projections
02:07:06.860 --> 02:07:09.490
that rooftop solar creates a huge cost shift
02:07:09.490 --> 02:07:11.460
to other ratepayers.
02:07:11.460 --> 02:07:12.940
Now is not the time to throw
02:07:12.940 --> 02:07:16.920
all of our clean energy eggs in one basket.
02:07:16.920 --> 02:07:21.310
There are too many unknowns to conclude that utilities alone
02:07:21.310 --> 02:07:23.800
will best solve our clean energy needs.
02:07:23.800 --> 02:07:25.400
Thank you.
02:07:25.400 --> 02:07:26.660
Thank you.
02:07:26.660 --> 02:07:27.949
Operator, next caller, please.
02:07:27.949 --> 02:07:32.949
Our next caller is Meaghan Mroz-Barrett.
02:07:33.360 --> 02:07:34.210
You may go ahead.
02:07:38.140 --> 02:07:40.520
Hi, my name is Meaghan Mroz-Barrett.
02:07:40.520 --> 02:07:42.590
I have been in the solar,
02:07:42.590 --> 02:07:44.710
worked in the solar industry for seven years,
02:07:44.710 --> 02:07:46.190
and I'm also a solar customer.
02:07:46.190 --> 02:07:50.200
I work for Solar Technologies out of Antioch, California.
02:07:50.200 --> 02:07:52.400
I joined the solar industry
02:07:52.400 --> 02:07:54.580
after completing my Masters in Regional Planning
02:07:54.580 --> 02:07:56.120
in order to have a direct impact
02:07:56.120 --> 02:07:58.540
on the adoption of renewable energy in California.
02:07:58.540 --> 02:08:02.910
I love helping businesses realize energy savings,
02:08:02.910 --> 02:08:04.290
and improve their financials
02:08:04.290 --> 02:08:06.720
by adding solar to their properties.
02:08:06.720 --> 02:08:10.200
I strongly oppose this decision due to the negative impacts
02:08:10.200 --> 02:08:13.690
it will have on our future customers and our industry.
02:08:13.690 --> 02:08:16.580
Help save my and my coworkers careers
02:08:16.580 --> 02:08:18.140
by rejecting this proposal.
02:08:18.140 --> 02:08:18.973
Thank you.
02:08:19.890 --> 02:08:20.790
Thank you.
02:08:20.790 --> 02:08:22.290
Operator, next caller, please.
02:08:36.690 --> 02:08:38.680
Our next caller is Diane Andrews.
02:08:38.680 --> 02:08:39.530
You may go ahead.
02:08:40.750 --> 02:08:41.970
Hello, I'm Diane Andrews
02:08:41.970 --> 02:08:43.370
in Bakersfield, California,
02:08:43.370 --> 02:08:46.320
and I oppose the proposed decision.
02:08:46.320 --> 02:08:48.340
And the only way to properly address it
02:08:48.340 --> 02:08:50.990
is there to be no solar tax of any kind.
02:08:50.990 --> 02:08:52.730
Solar should become more affordable
02:08:52.730 --> 02:08:55.200
for the working and the middle class, and not less.
02:08:55.200 --> 02:08:56.330
The 20 year protection,
02:08:56.330 --> 02:08:58.980
which encouraged us to bear the cost of adding solar,
02:08:58.980 --> 02:09:00.510
should be honored.
02:09:00.510 --> 02:09:03.300
Local rooftop solar and battery storage is the best
02:09:03.300 --> 02:09:05.840
and proven way for people to protect themselves
02:09:05.840 --> 02:09:07.200
from power outages.
02:09:07.200 --> 02:09:09.580
It is especially important for people with disability
02:09:09.580 --> 02:09:11.590
and medical issues on a fixed income,
02:09:11.590 --> 02:09:14.770
the seniors and the disabled, the veterans, like my husband,
02:09:14.770 --> 02:09:16.520
whose budgets are devastated
02:09:16.520 --> 02:09:19.420
when other increases like this are added on,
02:09:19.420 --> 02:09:21.850
California will not meet its climate change goals
02:09:21.850 --> 02:09:24.030
if we back off from rooftop solar.
02:09:24.030 --> 02:09:25.160
The state itself has said
02:09:25.160 --> 02:09:27.070
that we need to triple the amount of solar
02:09:27.070 --> 02:09:29.070
to get off of the fossil fuels,
02:09:29.070 --> 02:09:30.880
both the large and the rooftops.
02:09:30.880 --> 02:09:33.940
We can't do that alone with large scale renewables.
02:09:33.940 --> 02:09:35.757
We ask you to honor the promise made to us,
02:09:35.757 --> 02:09:37.690
and the protection of 20 years,
02:09:37.690 --> 02:09:40.180
and not to penalize those who have done the right thing
02:09:40.180 --> 02:09:42.130
for our ecology and our economy.
02:09:42.130 --> 02:09:42.963
Thank you.
02:09:44.020 --> 02:09:44.853
Thank you.
02:09:44.853 --> 02:09:46.533
Operator, next caller, please.
02:09:50.280 --> 02:09:52.140
Our next caller is Rosalyn Young.
02:09:52.140 --> 02:09:52.990
You may go ahead.
02:09:53.940 --> 02:09:55.400
My name is Rosalyn Young,
02:09:55.400 --> 02:09:58.300
and my family has homes with solar in San Francisco
02:09:58.300 --> 02:10:00.240
and outside of Stockton.
02:10:00.240 --> 02:10:01.810
I believe that the CPUC
02:10:01.810 --> 02:10:05.875
should protect the people of California, not PG&E.
02:10:05.875 --> 02:10:07.950
PG&E wants to break their contract
02:10:07.950 --> 02:10:11.150
with the existing solar customers.
02:10:11.150 --> 02:10:12.840
We installed solar in good faith.
02:10:12.840 --> 02:10:13.960
It was expensive,
02:10:13.960 --> 02:10:15.650
but it was worth it for the environment,
02:10:15.650 --> 02:10:18.290
and that we could eventually recoup our investment
02:10:18.290 --> 02:10:23.170
through the agreed upon net metering over 20 years.
02:10:23.170 --> 02:10:25.410
Now, PG&E wants to cheat us
02:10:25.410 --> 02:10:27.650
with a huge monthly access fee,
02:10:27.650 --> 02:10:30.940
and vastly reduced net metering benefits.
02:10:30.940 --> 02:10:32.730
If anyone else did business like this,
02:10:32.730 --> 02:10:35.890
they would go out of business or go to jail.
02:10:35.890 --> 02:10:38.300
PG&E needs to honor their commitment
02:10:38.300 --> 02:10:40.760
to existing solar customers,
02:10:40.760 --> 02:10:42.240
and they must continue programs
02:10:42.240 --> 02:10:46.220
that enable middle class households to afford rooftop solar,
02:10:46.220 --> 02:10:49.410
a small monthly infrastructure fee like we have now,
02:10:49.410 --> 02:10:52.770
and full credit for the energy that rooftop panels produce,
02:10:52.770 --> 02:10:53.693
and send back to the grid
02:10:53.693 --> 02:10:56.440
that PG&EE sells to other customers.
02:10:56.440 --> 02:10:58.350
Thank you.
(bell dinging)
02:10:58.350 --> 02:10:59.320
Thank you.
02:10:59.320 --> 02:11:01.020
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:11:04.380 --> 02:11:05.940
Our next caller is Sunny Wang.
02:11:05.940 --> 02:11:06.803
You may go ahead.
02:11:07.960 --> 02:11:09.240
Hi, I'm Connie Wang
02:11:09.240 --> 02:11:11.030
speaking on behalf of Aurora Solar,
02:11:11.030 --> 02:11:13.820
a solar software solution company
02:11:13.820 --> 02:11:15.950
headquartered in San Francisco.
02:11:15.950 --> 02:11:17.820
My team of 300 work every day
02:11:17.820 --> 02:11:20.100
to help contractors drive solar adoption
02:11:20.100 --> 02:11:21.750
and energy independence.
02:11:21.750 --> 02:11:23.510
And the current proposal will tank
02:11:23.510 --> 02:11:25.610
California's bright solar market,
02:11:25.610 --> 02:11:27.460
and layoff thousands of jobs.
02:11:27.460 --> 02:11:29.370
I respectfully ask you to find a solution
02:11:29.370 --> 02:11:32.520
that doesn't include a tax for harvesting energy
02:11:32.520 --> 02:11:34.950
from a star that belongs to no one,
02:11:34.950 --> 02:11:36.650
a solution that works for the public,
02:11:36.650 --> 02:11:38.600
and eases the NEM changes,
02:11:38.600 --> 02:11:40.500
so that the industry doesn't collapse.
02:11:40.500 --> 02:11:41.600
Thank you for my time.
02:11:42.520 --> 02:11:43.650
Thank you.
02:11:43.650 --> 02:11:45.150
Operator, next caller, please.
02:11:52.610 --> 02:11:54.970
Our next caller is Kathleen Giustino.
02:11:54.970 --> 02:11:55.820
You may go ahead.
02:11:57.310 --> 02:11:58.520
Yes, good afternoon.
02:11:58.520 --> 02:12:00.050
My name is Kathleen Giustino.
02:12:00.050 --> 02:12:02.170
I'm the CFO for A1 Sun,
02:12:02.170 --> 02:12:04.710
an (mumbles) solar energy company
02:12:04.710 --> 02:12:06.280
and energy storage company.
02:12:06.280 --> 02:12:09.970
We founded it in 2007 after self-installing on our own.
02:12:09.970 --> 02:12:13.490
We share our expertise to help others in our neighborhood
02:12:14.410 --> 02:12:15.980
get the solar benefits,
02:12:15.980 --> 02:12:19.760
and to help the planet reduce global warming
02:12:19.760 --> 02:12:21.650
one system at a time.
02:12:21.650 --> 02:12:25.630
The proposed NEM 3.0 will destroy our company,
02:12:25.630 --> 02:12:28.870
and stall the California state goals for
02:12:28.870 --> 02:12:30.620
assaulting global warming.
02:12:30.620 --> 02:12:32.380
Incentivized rooftop solar,
02:12:32.380 --> 02:12:33.530
you don't have the line laws.
02:12:33.530 --> 02:12:35.470
There's no fires and deaths.
02:12:35.470 --> 02:12:37.003
Keep wildlands wild.
02:12:38.780 --> 02:12:42.250
We don't need the CPUC to gut our company,
02:12:42.250 --> 02:12:45.880
and hurt our country and our climate.
02:12:45.880 --> 02:12:48.820
So please rewrite the NEM3,
02:12:48.820 --> 02:12:51.130
and make it useful for everybody.
02:12:51.130 --> 02:12:53.300
Kathleen Giustino, I'm with A1 Sun in Berkeley.
02:12:53.300 --> 02:12:54.800
Thank you.
02:12:54.800 --> 02:12:55.640
Thank you.
02:12:55.640 --> 02:12:57.140
Operator, next caller, please.
02:13:01.130 --> 02:13:03.800
Our next caller is Gardio Sanoya.
02:13:03.800 --> 02:13:04.650
You may go ahead.
02:13:12.110 --> 02:13:15.203
Again, Gardio Sanoya, your line is open.
02:13:16.060 --> 02:13:17.560
Please check your mute button.
02:13:18.640 --> 02:13:20.060
Hello?
02:13:20.060 --> 02:13:21.890
Hi, you may go ahead.
Yes, we can hear you.
02:13:21.890 --> 02:13:23.603
Oh, my name is Darby Osnaya.
02:13:28.120 --> 02:13:29.290
So...
02:13:29.290 --> 02:13:32.883
Yes, Darby Osnaya here on occupied Tongva land in Colton.
02:13:33.920 --> 02:13:38.920
So thank you, CPU, for everything that you have done.
02:13:39.510 --> 02:13:42.010
I'm just calling to let y'all know that,
02:13:42.010 --> 02:13:45.470
you know, here in Colton, occupied Tongva land,
02:13:45.470 --> 02:13:49.150
we definitely live with the effects of air pollution
02:13:49.150 --> 02:13:50.920
and climate change every day.
02:13:50.920 --> 02:13:53.120
We are part of a disadvantaged community.
02:13:53.120 --> 02:13:55.690
I live right next to the train tracks,
02:13:55.690 --> 02:13:58.570
so polluted air is my life right here.
02:13:58.570 --> 02:14:02.180
So we are asking y'all to please vote
02:14:02.180 --> 02:14:04.487
to approve the IRP,
02:14:05.330 --> 02:14:07.760
to approve the new 38 million metric ton
02:14:07.760 --> 02:14:09.310
greenhouse gas emission limit,
02:14:09.310 --> 02:14:13.320
and continue working towards a 30 million metric ton,
02:14:13.320 --> 02:14:16.520
and eventually, even lower greenhouse gas target.
02:14:16.520 --> 02:14:18.840
Please do not waste any ratepayer money on dirty
02:14:18.840 --> 02:14:20.210
and polluting gas plants.
02:14:20.210 --> 02:14:23.640
Reject all proposals for new gas resources,
02:14:23.640 --> 02:14:26.680
and please retire existing gas plants now,
02:14:26.680 --> 02:14:30.323
beginning with those in-
(bell dinging)
02:14:32.550 --> 02:14:34.690
Thank you very much.
02:14:34.690 --> 02:14:36.393
Operator, next caller, please.
02:14:37.920 --> 02:14:39.870
Our next caller is Steve Bardwell.
02:14:39.870 --> 02:14:40.720
You may go ahead.
02:14:42.830 --> 02:14:43.663
Yes, hello.
02:14:43.663 --> 02:14:45.540
My name is Steve Bardwell.
02:14:45.540 --> 02:14:46.470
I am the president of the
02:14:46.470 --> 02:14:49.280
Morongo Basin Conservation Association,
02:14:49.280 --> 02:14:51.923
located in the High Desert near Joshua Tree.
02:14:52.900 --> 02:14:57.480
We are in opposition to the proposed decision,
02:14:57.480 --> 02:15:01.820
and we encourage the Commission to rewrite NEM 3.0
02:15:01.820 --> 02:15:04.060
to encourage more rooftop solar
02:15:04.060 --> 02:15:05.820
within the built environment,
02:15:05.820 --> 02:15:08.717
close to the ultimate point of use.
02:15:08.717 --> 02:15:11.560
It's critical to develop a distributed
02:15:13.861 --> 02:15:15.370
electrical generation system
02:15:15.370 --> 02:15:18.010
that promotes equity and resilience.
02:15:18.010 --> 02:15:20.480
The value of resilience will become obvious
02:15:20.480 --> 02:15:21.880
when the big one hits,
02:15:21.880 --> 02:15:23.930
and long distance transmission lines
02:15:23.930 --> 02:15:26.040
are damaged or destroyed.
02:15:26.040 --> 02:15:29.500
The alternative to rooftop is desert utility scale.
02:15:29.500 --> 02:15:33.570
One only need look at the proposed Stagecoach Solar Project
02:15:33.570 --> 02:15:34.910
north of Lucerne Valley,
02:15:34.910 --> 02:15:39.910
that would ruin over 3,000 acres of intact habitat.
02:15:39.940 --> 02:15:43.680
I encourage the CPUC to think about
02:15:43.680 --> 02:15:47.520
Governor Newsom's executive order, N-82-20,
02:15:47.520 --> 02:15:48.353
which calls for
02:15:48.353 --> 02:15:51.153
conservation of 30%-
(bell dinging)
02:15:51.153 --> 02:15:53.760
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
02:15:53.760 --> 02:15:54.593
Thank you.
02:15:54.593 --> 02:15:56.030
Operator, next caller, please.
02:15:57.330 --> 02:15:59.240
Our next caller is Thomas Irvin.
02:15:59.240 --> 02:16:00.090
You may go ahead.
02:16:10.030 --> 02:16:11.410
Don't pass this
02:16:14.200 --> 02:16:15.800
rooftop solar (distorted audio).
02:16:17.210 --> 02:16:19.910
We need no tax on solar,
02:16:19.910 --> 02:16:24.910
and preserve the 20 year for existing customers.
02:16:26.870 --> 02:16:27.703
Thank you.
02:16:28.590 --> 02:16:29.680
Thank you.
02:16:29.680 --> 02:16:31.363
Operator, next caller, please.
02:16:33.590 --> 02:16:35.890
Our next caller is Glen Colwell.
02:16:35.890 --> 02:16:36.740
You may go ahead.
02:16:39.820 --> 02:16:41.210
Hi, my name is Glen Colwell.
02:16:41.210 --> 02:16:42.220
I'm a retired homeowner
02:16:42.220 --> 02:16:44.350
on a fixed income in Arcata, California.
02:16:44.350 --> 02:16:45.310
I am middle class.
02:16:45.310 --> 02:16:47.470
I've invested in rooftop, solar with net metering
02:16:47.470 --> 02:16:48.680
on every house I've lived in
02:16:48.680 --> 02:16:50.647
to get control of my utility bills,
02:16:50.647 --> 02:16:53.790
while my neighbors pay 300 to 400 a month for power,
02:16:53.790 --> 02:16:55.790
and can't afford groceries.
02:16:55.790 --> 02:16:57.240
If this solar tax passes,
02:16:57.240 --> 02:16:59.620
you will be hurting people like me!
02:16:59.620 --> 02:17:01.880
The only way to fix this proposal is
02:17:01.880 --> 02:17:04.170
no solar tax of any kind.
02:17:04.170 --> 02:17:05.580
Make solar more affordable
02:17:05.580 --> 02:17:08.290
to middle class households, not less.
02:17:08.290 --> 02:17:10.070
Honor the promised 20 year protection
02:17:10.070 --> 02:17:12.810
for solar users like me.
02:17:12.810 --> 02:17:15.650
Consumers should be able to control their utility bills.
02:17:15.650 --> 02:17:17.930
Rooftop solar saves all users money,
02:17:17.930 --> 02:17:19.460
whether they have solar or not,
02:17:19.460 --> 02:17:23.370
by reducing wear and tear on long distance power lines
02:17:23.370 --> 02:17:26.420
we produce and share locally.
02:17:26.420 --> 02:17:28.557
Decentralized rooftop solar and battery storage
02:17:28.557 --> 02:17:30.260
is the best way for people like me
02:17:30.260 --> 02:17:32.760
to protect themselves from power outages.
02:17:32.760 --> 02:17:35.010
Climate change is happening now.
02:17:35.010 --> 02:17:37.960
Why would you nickel and dime rooftop solar?
02:17:37.960 --> 02:17:39.010
Open space?
02:17:39.010 --> 02:17:40.840
Rooftop solar reduces the need
02:17:40.840 --> 02:17:44.130
to develop large solar wind farms and transmission lines.
02:17:44.130 --> 02:17:45.610
(bell dinging)
Let's be smart
02:17:45.610 --> 02:17:47.650
about how we transition-
Thank you very much.
02:17:47.650 --> 02:17:51.080
And utilize rooftops.
Thank you.
02:17:51.080 --> 02:17:52.893
Operator, next caller, please.
02:17:54.210 --> 02:17:55.980
Our next caller is Kristin Kirk.
02:17:55.980 --> 02:17:56.830
You may go ahead.
02:17:58.800 --> 02:18:00.060
My name is Kristin Kirk.
02:18:00.060 --> 02:18:02.660
I'm a solar sales rep for SunPower by Precis,
02:18:02.660 --> 02:18:04.920
a local Southern California company.
02:18:04.920 --> 02:18:07.440
I'm worried for my job, the company I work for,
02:18:07.440 --> 02:18:08.660
my clients in the queue,
02:18:08.660 --> 02:18:10.480
and the solar industry as a whole.
02:18:10.480 --> 02:18:14.570
NEM 3.0 only favors the utility companies,
02:18:14.570 --> 02:18:17.620
and I urge the CPUC to consider the consequences
02:18:17.620 --> 02:18:20.600
if this is implemented as it stands now.
02:18:20.600 --> 02:18:22.280
The customers in the queue are nervous
02:18:22.280 --> 02:18:23.610
they may end up in 3.0.
02:18:24.540 --> 02:18:26.620
As there was a desirable payback period
02:18:26.620 --> 02:18:28.810
in a good investment under 2.0,
02:18:28.810 --> 02:18:30.870
this could drastically change.
02:18:30.870 --> 02:18:33.530
If PTO is in the hands of the utility,
02:18:33.530 --> 02:18:35.680
that's concerning, as they have an incentive
02:18:35.680 --> 02:18:38.587
to not process applications in a timely manner.
02:18:38.587 --> 02:18:41.170
I have a number of clients rebuilding houses
02:18:41.170 --> 02:18:44.120
that were burned in fires and building ADUs,
02:18:44.120 --> 02:18:46.390
so they're required to have solar now.
02:18:46.390 --> 02:18:47.660
They're outraged that they're
02:18:47.660 --> 02:18:51.130
legally required to have solar, and could end up in 3.0,
02:18:52.220 --> 02:18:54.160
and they'd have to pay enormous grid charges
02:18:54.160 --> 02:18:58.570
and receive unfair compensation for their solar generation.
02:18:58.570 --> 02:19:01.490
I urge the CPUC to reject this proposal,
02:19:01.490 --> 02:19:02.710
and go back to the drawing board
02:19:02.710 --> 02:19:04.758
to come up with-
(bell dinging)
02:19:04.758 --> 02:19:06.740
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
02:19:06.740 --> 02:19:07.573
Thank you.
02:19:07.573 --> 02:19:08.860
Operator, next caller, please.
02:19:12.120 --> 02:19:14.010
Our next caller is Duncan Cleminshaw.
02:19:14.010 --> 02:19:14.860
You may go ahead.
02:19:16.750 --> 02:19:17.980
Good afternoon, Commissioners.
02:19:17.980 --> 02:19:18.907
My name is Duncan Cleminshaw,
02:19:18.907 --> 02:19:21.610
and I live in Alameda with my wife, Mary,
02:19:21.610 --> 02:19:24.210
my daughter, Samantha, my son, Cole.
02:19:24.210 --> 02:19:26.020
And this is actually my 14th year
02:19:26.020 --> 02:19:28.730
feeding my family in solar.
02:19:28.730 --> 02:19:30.760
I work for GAF Energy in San Jose,
02:19:30.760 --> 02:19:34.540
where we just, I mean, just finished building
02:19:34.540 --> 02:19:37.210
a brand new factory to make solar energy shingles
02:19:37.210 --> 02:19:38.920
for your home's roof.
02:19:38.920 --> 02:19:40.150
When other companies were taking
02:19:40.150 --> 02:19:43.110
manufacturing jobs out of California,
02:19:43.110 --> 02:19:44.740
we decided California's our home,
02:19:44.740 --> 02:19:47.320
and we put our stake in the ground here.
02:19:47.320 --> 02:19:49.610
These are good paying, meaningful jobs
02:19:49.610 --> 02:19:52.442
that make a difference, that have full benefits.
02:19:52.442 --> 02:19:55.600
Our growing company has more than 150 employees,
02:19:55.600 --> 02:19:58.260
most of us with families here in the Bay Area,
02:19:58.260 --> 02:20:02.450
and all of us are betting our livelihoods and our futures
02:20:02.450 --> 02:20:05.170
that rooftop solar has a future in California.
02:20:05.170 --> 02:20:08.590
Please do not let NEM3 wipe out all of our jobs,
02:20:08.590 --> 02:20:12.190
and all of this hard work, as we're just getting started.
02:20:12.190 --> 02:20:13.680
Thank you.
02:20:13.680 --> 02:20:14.600
Thank you.
02:20:14.600 --> 02:20:16.123
Operator, next caller, please.
02:20:19.330 --> 02:20:22.040
Our next caller is from Wayne Morgan.
02:20:22.040 --> 02:20:22.890
You may go ahead.
02:20:24.560 --> 02:20:25.640
Hello, Commissioners.
02:20:25.640 --> 02:20:28.490
With regards to the NEM3 PD,
02:20:28.490 --> 02:20:31.540
the export compensation is far too low.
02:20:31.540 --> 02:20:35.970
Referring to SCE's 2020 annual report, page 63,
02:20:35.970 --> 02:20:38.750
how is it that SCE's cost of purchased power
02:20:38.750 --> 02:20:42.970
and fuel is 36% of its operating expenses,
02:20:42.970 --> 02:20:46.880
and yet, the PD only pays pennies for net metering exports?
02:20:46.880 --> 02:20:50.710
And this percentage would be 41%,
02:20:50.710 --> 02:20:53.120
if it weren't for the wildfire expenses.
02:20:53.120 --> 02:20:54.700
This leads me to the conclusion
02:20:54.700 --> 02:20:57.380
that the avoided cost calculator isn't reflected
02:20:57.380 --> 02:20:59.700
of the avoided costs.
02:20:59.700 --> 02:21:02.670
There may be many other NEM customer-supplied benefits
02:21:02.670 --> 02:21:04.773
that should be taken into account also.
02:21:05.870 --> 02:21:06.950
We also need to value
02:21:06.950 --> 02:21:10.060
the solar generated by owners without store,
02:21:10.060 --> 02:21:12.430
as this energy will be needed locally
02:21:12.430 --> 02:21:15.230
to charge batteries for storage on EVs.
02:21:15.230 --> 02:21:16.860
As far as social justice,
02:21:16.860 --> 02:21:17.810
the biggest gain would be,
02:21:17.810 --> 02:21:20.600
that if the customers in IOU areas
02:21:20.600 --> 02:21:23.270
would be given the same rates as POUs.
02:21:23.270 --> 02:21:25.300
In 2022, for example,
02:21:25.300 --> 02:21:28.090
SCE's peak rate will be 49 cents,
02:21:28.090 --> 02:21:30.297
versus SMUD's-
(bell dinging)
02:21:30.297 --> 02:21:32.510
That's 50% higher.
02:21:32.510 --> 02:21:34.350
Thank you very much.
02:21:34.350 --> 02:21:35.370
Thank you for your comment.
02:21:35.370 --> 02:21:37.013
Operator, next caller, please.
02:21:38.820 --> 02:21:41.410
Our next caller is Chris Shunman.
02:21:41.410 --> 02:21:42.260
You may go ahead.
02:21:44.270 --> 02:21:45.840
Hi, my name is Chris Shunman,
02:21:45.840 --> 02:21:48.200
and I am a resident of Lake County.
02:21:48.200 --> 02:21:50.453
I oppose any solar tax in this proposed.
02:21:51.300 --> 02:21:53.390
I dislike PG&E greatly,
02:21:53.390 --> 02:21:56.330
and installed solar to do my part to fight climate change
02:21:56.330 --> 02:21:59.420
for the future of my elementary-aged children and family.
02:21:59.420 --> 02:22:01.910
Each year, since 2015,
02:22:01.910 --> 02:22:06.690
I have weathered PG&E-caused fires,
02:22:06.690 --> 02:22:10.110
terrible air quality, smoke days from PG&E fires,
02:22:10.110 --> 02:22:14.060
and PG&E forced PSPS's.
02:22:14.060 --> 02:22:17.320
I never want to send the criminals at PG&E
02:22:17.320 --> 02:22:20.380
a dime of my hard earned money again.
02:22:20.380 --> 02:22:23.070
Please save my solar independence,
02:22:23.070 --> 02:22:28.070
and keep these crooks away from my solar power freedom.
02:22:28.534 --> 02:22:29.992
Thank you.
02:22:29.992 --> 02:22:30.880
Thank you.
02:22:30.880 --> 02:22:33.013
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:22:35.530 --> 02:22:37.470
Our next caller is Marcy Snyder.
02:22:37.470 --> 02:22:38.303
You may go ahead
02:22:47.190 --> 02:22:49.190
Again, Marcy Snyder, your line is open.
02:22:49.190 --> 02:22:50.690
Please check your mute button.
02:23:00.130 --> 02:23:00.963
And should we go
02:23:00.963 --> 02:23:02.920
to the next caller?
Ms. Snyder?
02:23:02.920 --> 02:23:04.660
Yes, let's go to the next caller.
02:23:04.660 --> 02:23:06.640
Thank you, Operator.
02:23:06.640 --> 02:23:08.890
Our next caller is Amy Josephec.
02:23:09.800 --> 02:23:10.650
You may go ahead.
02:23:11.650 --> 02:23:12.750
Hi there.
02:23:12.750 --> 02:23:14.030
So now I'm really confused.
02:23:14.030 --> 02:23:16.130
I thought the idea was for California to lead
02:23:16.130 --> 02:23:19.730
in making solar power more available, not less affordable?
02:23:19.730 --> 02:23:21.650
There's a climate crisis now,
02:23:21.650 --> 02:23:24.290
and it defies logic to tax owners, like me,
02:23:24.290 --> 02:23:26.780
who really wanna put panels on rooftops.
02:23:26.780 --> 02:23:28.610
Please take a stand against the solar tax,
02:23:28.610 --> 02:23:30.960
and vote to make rooftop solar more affordable
02:23:30.960 --> 02:23:33.460
for middle and working class people, not less.
02:23:33.460 --> 02:23:34.610
Please side with the people
02:23:34.610 --> 02:23:36.310
and with all of our futures.
02:23:36.310 --> 02:23:39.103
Thank you, and here's to sun-filled days ahead.
02:23:40.530 --> 02:23:41.363
Thank you.
02:23:41.363 --> 02:23:42.840
Operator, next caller, please.
02:23:45.257 --> 02:23:47.250
Our next caller is Peter Erwin.
02:23:47.250 --> 02:23:48.100
You may go ahead.
02:23:57.900 --> 02:23:58.733
Sorry.
02:23:58.733 --> 02:24:00.560
Hello, my name is Peter Erwin.
02:24:00.560 --> 02:24:03.920
My company's PJ Erwin Electric out of Oakland.
02:24:03.920 --> 02:24:05.610
I'm a second generation electrician
02:24:05.610 --> 02:24:08.130
in a trade that is quickly aging out.
02:24:08.130 --> 02:24:09.700
I've only been in solar for four years,
02:24:09.700 --> 02:24:10.730
but in those four years,
02:24:10.730 --> 02:24:13.040
I've seen more young, idealistic people
02:24:13.040 --> 02:24:15.600
join my business than ever before.
02:24:15.600 --> 02:24:17.370
They come to solar to make a difference.
02:24:17.370 --> 02:24:19.340
It's a field with a low barrier to entry,
02:24:19.340 --> 02:24:22.010
so I see people show up that may not have the opportunities
02:24:22.010 --> 02:24:24.010
or education I got.
02:24:24.010 --> 02:24:25.130
And these folks now have
02:24:25.130 --> 02:24:26.940
a venue to exercise their integrity,
02:24:26.940 --> 02:24:29.850
and a place to put these positive principles.
02:24:29.850 --> 02:24:30.980
My company is small,
02:24:30.980 --> 02:24:33.570
and already more expensive than the big players.
02:24:33.570 --> 02:24:35.990
Our solar business will 100% go away
02:24:35.990 --> 02:24:38.550
if any of these proposals pass.
02:24:38.550 --> 02:24:40.790
I'll close my doors, a few jobs will go away,
02:24:40.790 --> 02:24:41.880
and I'll do something else.
02:24:41.880 --> 02:24:43.000
Life goes on.
02:24:43.000 --> 02:24:44.090
My biggest concern is,
02:24:44.090 --> 02:24:45.890
leaving these young people without a place
02:24:45.890 --> 02:24:49.640
to put their hearts and bodies to do good for the planet.
02:24:49.640 --> 02:24:52.990
Please don't take away this opportunity for young people.
02:24:52.990 --> 02:24:53.910
Thank you for considering
02:24:53.910 --> 02:24:55.860
the deep implications of your decision.
02:24:57.690 --> 02:24:58.523
Thank you.
02:24:58.523 --> 02:24:59.793
Operator, next caller, please.
02:25:01.380 --> 02:25:03.530
Our next caller is Laura Deehan.
02:25:03.530 --> 02:25:04.380
You may go ahead.
02:25:08.210 --> 02:25:10.201
Hello, this is Laura Deehan.
02:25:10.201 --> 02:25:13.160
I'm the State Director for Environment California.
02:25:13.160 --> 02:25:14.430
Thank you, President Reynolds,
02:25:14.430 --> 02:25:16.167
and Commissioners, and staff.,
02:25:17.300 --> 02:25:21.220
At the recent Joint Agency Report from SB 100,
02:25:21.220 --> 02:25:23.350
showed that we're going to need
02:25:23.350 --> 02:25:26.690
to more than triple the amount of energy
02:25:26.690 --> 02:25:31.690
from rooftop solar by 2045 to get to California's targets.
02:25:32.240 --> 02:25:33.440
And we know that we really need to
02:25:33.440 --> 02:25:35.950
get to those targets even faster,
02:25:35.950 --> 02:25:38.310
because of the urgency of the climate crisis
02:25:38.310 --> 02:25:41.420
that we're experiencing all around us in our state
02:25:41.420 --> 02:25:43.490
with the wildfires and the drought.
02:25:43.490 --> 02:25:46.660
That's why Environment California joined 17 state
02:25:46.660 --> 02:25:49.390
and national environmental organizations
02:25:49.390 --> 02:25:52.330
to oppose the punitive solar penalties
02:25:52.330 --> 02:25:55.470
proposed in the proposed decision,
02:25:55.470 --> 02:26:00.113
and to urge you to make sure that the revised proposal,
02:26:01.090 --> 02:26:03.350
that it honors existing customers' agreements,
02:26:03.350 --> 02:26:06.980
and really takes into account the true value of solar.
02:26:06.980 --> 02:26:08.430
We have the potential to get
02:26:08.430 --> 02:26:12.770
three quarters of our energy needs from rooftop solar.
02:26:12.770 --> 02:26:16.350
Let's make sure that we get as much of it as we can.
02:26:16.350 --> 02:26:17.373
Thank you so much.
02:26:18.570 --> 02:26:19.520
Thank you.
02:26:19.520 --> 02:26:21.053
Operator, next caller, please.
02:26:25.010 --> 02:26:26.890
Our next caller is Celeste Duffy.
02:26:26.890 --> 02:26:28.138
You may go ahead.
02:26:28.138 --> 02:26:31.471
(indistinct chattering)
02:26:38.030 --> 02:26:40.860
Please begin speaking, Ms. Duffy.
02:26:40.860 --> 02:26:41.693
Again-
Hi!
02:26:41.693 --> 02:26:42.970
Ms. Duffy, your line is open.
02:26:42.970 --> 02:26:43.803
Go ahead.
02:26:43.803 --> 02:26:45.060
Oh, hi, yes.
02:26:45.060 --> 02:26:47.320
My name is Celeste Duffy, and I live in Sebastopol.
02:26:47.320 --> 02:26:48.740
I oppose the solar tax bill.
02:26:48.740 --> 02:26:51.390
I feel strongly solar should be more affordable to all,
02:26:51.390 --> 02:26:53.750
and the honoring of existing 20 year protection
02:26:53.750 --> 02:26:55.760
for solar users is the right thing to do.
02:26:55.760 --> 02:26:58.710
My family of four recently experienced a $500 power bill
02:26:58.710 --> 02:27:00.400
for a small home,
02:27:00.400 --> 02:27:02.900
despite having efficient appliances,
02:27:02.900 --> 02:27:04.820
doing laundry and charging our AV after 9 PM.
02:27:04.820 --> 02:27:05.940
We're doing all the right things
02:27:05.940 --> 02:27:08.480
that's prescribed by the P&G website,
02:27:08.480 --> 02:27:10.920
but we're still experiencing high bills.
02:27:10.920 --> 02:27:11.930
So we're waiting, currently,
02:27:11.930 --> 02:27:14.190
for a rooftop solar installation.
02:27:14.190 --> 02:27:15.023
With that-
02:27:20.530 --> 02:27:21.363
Thank you.
02:27:21.363 --> 02:27:22.460
Operator, next caller, please.
02:27:25.150 --> 02:27:27.750
Our next caller is Eric Ike.
02:27:27.750 --> 02:27:28.600
You may go ahead.
02:27:31.720 --> 02:27:32.553
Hi.
02:27:34.110 --> 02:27:35.140
Thank you.
02:27:35.140 --> 02:27:38.260
I have had rooftop solar since 2001.
02:27:38.260 --> 02:27:40.970
Our household recently updated our aging panels.
02:27:40.970 --> 02:27:42.220
We don't do it for profit,
02:27:42.220 --> 02:27:46.170
but rather to play a role in fighting climate change.
02:27:46.170 --> 02:27:48.730
Contrary to what the utilities are arguing,
02:27:48.730 --> 02:27:51.320
residential rooftop, solar represents
02:27:51.320 --> 02:27:55.200
substantial investment in our grid by homeowners and others.
02:27:55.200 --> 02:27:57.970
Rooftop solar is environmentally responsible,
02:27:57.970 --> 02:28:00.090
and it offsets grid project costs,
02:28:00.090 --> 02:28:02.720
benefiting everyone, including low income households,
02:28:02.720 --> 02:28:05.650
as well as utility companies themselves.
02:28:05.650 --> 02:28:08.530
Rooftop solar should be encouraged, not punished.
02:28:08.530 --> 02:28:11.730
I understand that the utility operating costs are going up,
02:28:11.730 --> 02:28:13.640
and while I'm okay with increasing fees
02:28:13.640 --> 02:28:14.940
for access to the grid,
02:28:14.940 --> 02:28:17.710
it must be done fairly, rather than singling,
02:28:17.710 --> 02:28:19.540
rather than by singling out one group,
02:28:19.540 --> 02:28:21.370
like rooftop solar producers.
02:28:21.370 --> 02:28:22.570
Thank you for listening.
02:28:23.520 --> 02:28:24.353
Thank you.
02:28:24.353 --> 02:28:25.723
Operator, next caller, please.
02:28:29.700 --> 02:28:32.430
Our next caller is Álvaro Casanova.
02:28:32.430 --> 02:28:33.280
You may go ahead.
02:28:34.690 --> 02:28:37.180
Hello, my name is Álvaro Palacios Casanova,
02:28:37.180 --> 02:28:38.770
a staff conservation advocate
02:28:38.770 --> 02:28:41.500
representing the California Native Plant Society.
02:28:41.500 --> 02:28:44.360
CNPS is a statewide nonprofit organization
02:28:44.360 --> 02:28:47.450
with more than 11,000 members and 35 chapters
02:28:47.450 --> 02:28:50.650
dedicated to the conservation of our state's flora.
02:28:50.650 --> 02:28:54.970
CNPS opposes the CPUC's proposed decision on net metering.
02:28:54.970 --> 02:28:57.280
This proposal further disenfranchises
02:28:57.280 --> 02:28:59.170
environmental justice communities,
02:28:59.170 --> 02:29:01.497
penalizes current rooftop solar customers,
02:29:01.497 --> 02:29:03.920
and makes access to rooftop solar
02:29:03.920 --> 02:29:06.330
out of reach for many Californians.
02:29:06.330 --> 02:29:08.810
Meanwhile, the need for investor-owned utility companies
02:29:08.810 --> 02:29:10.720
to develop large scale, centralized,
02:29:10.720 --> 02:29:14.890
renewable energy farms in biodiverse areas would increase.
02:29:14.890 --> 02:29:16.750
These large scale industrial projects
02:29:16.750 --> 02:29:18.710
are incompatible with habitats
02:29:18.710 --> 02:29:20.450
that contain rare flora and fauna,
02:29:20.450 --> 02:29:22.200
and would impede California
02:29:22.200 --> 02:29:25.180
in reaching both its 3030 in-climate goals.
02:29:25.180 --> 02:29:28.110
This proposed decision serves no one, other than the IOUs,
02:29:28.110 --> 02:29:29.730
and that is unjust.
02:29:29.730 --> 02:29:31.540
In closing, we urge the CPUC
02:29:31.540 --> 02:29:33.350
not to move forward with this decision
02:29:33.350 --> 02:29:35.020
that will harm communities, habitats,
02:29:35.020 --> 02:29:36.640
and California's reputation as a leader
02:29:36.640 --> 02:29:38.280
in the fight against climate change.
02:29:38.280 --> 02:29:39.280
Thank you very much.
02:29:40.420 --> 02:29:41.253
Thank you.
02:29:41.253 --> 02:29:42.590
Operator, next caller, please.
02:29:44.480 --> 02:29:46.520
Our next caller is Al Nastrom.
02:29:46.520 --> 02:29:47.513
You may go ahead.
02:29:48.818 --> 02:29:50.350
Hi.
02:29:50.350 --> 02:29:52.470
I live in the South Bay,
02:29:52.470 --> 02:29:56.670
and I taught financial analysis before retiring.
02:29:56.670 --> 02:29:58.790
I am very worried about climate change,
02:29:58.790 --> 02:30:01.810
and have been proud of California's role in this area.
02:30:01.810 --> 02:30:03.260
I am also a homeowner
02:30:03.260 --> 02:30:06.853
getting a solar system installed in my home as we speak.
02:30:07.760 --> 02:30:11.290
Based on my review of the proposed decision by
02:30:11.290 --> 02:30:15.360
the CPUC report of 12/13,
02:30:15.360 --> 02:30:18.970
and my actual cost data and expected savings,
02:30:18.970 --> 02:30:22.210
I conclude, that if I was looking to buy
02:30:22.210 --> 02:30:27.193
my systems within the new net filing tariff, billing tariff,
02:30:28.140 --> 02:30:29.500
I could not afford it,
02:30:29.500 --> 02:30:32.770
with serious implications for the future of this planet.
02:30:32.770 --> 02:30:35.530
Your report stated, your objective is to enable
02:30:35.530 --> 02:30:37.290
a payback of 10 years.
02:30:37.290 --> 02:30:40.190
However, the payback on my system,
02:30:40.190 --> 02:30:43.230
including the 12 kilowatt panel system,
02:30:43.230 --> 02:30:45.790
19.2 kilowatts in batteries
02:30:45.790 --> 02:30:49.470
and preparatory underlayment replacement,
02:30:49.470 --> 02:30:50.780
and all incentives,
02:30:50.780 --> 02:30:55.490
including the market transition credit, would be 37 years.
02:30:55.490 --> 02:30:58.320
Not 10 years.
(bell dinging)
02:30:58.320 --> 02:31:00.421
It could be-
Thank you very much.
02:31:00.421 --> 02:31:01.870
Thank you.
Thank you.
02:31:01.870 --> 02:31:04.020
Operator, next caller, please.
02:31:06.130 --> 02:31:07.700
Our next caller is Russell King.
02:31:07.700 --> 02:31:08.550
You may go ahead.
02:31:09.510 --> 02:31:11.160
I'm Russ King in Richmond.
02:31:11.160 --> 02:31:15.150
In ice, near the South Pole, going back 800,000 years,
02:31:15.150 --> 02:31:17.160
carbon dioxide was under
02:31:17.160 --> 02:31:20.330
300 parts per million in the atmosphere,
02:31:20.330 --> 02:31:23.620
until mankind found fossil fuel.
02:31:23.620 --> 02:31:28.380
This Monday, CO2 reached 4 20, 420.
02:31:28.380 --> 02:31:30.700
The resulting climate crisis
02:31:30.700 --> 02:31:33.224
is already causing fatal heat waves,
02:31:33.224 --> 02:31:36.480
worse droughts and floods, crop failures,
02:31:36.480 --> 02:31:40.210
wildfires, rising sea, extinctions,
02:31:40.210 --> 02:31:42.770
and is turning the ocean acidic.
02:31:42.770 --> 02:31:45.720
Last June, the heat outright killed
02:31:45.720 --> 02:31:48.720
almost 600 people in British Columbia.
02:31:48.720 --> 02:31:51.360
One town set a new record for Canada
02:31:51.360 --> 02:31:55.180
at an astonishing 121 degrees,
02:31:55.180 --> 02:31:57.420
and then burned down.
02:31:57.420 --> 02:32:01.030
Over 46% of a electricity generated in California
02:32:01.030 --> 02:32:03.770
comes from burning natural gas.
02:32:03.770 --> 02:32:05.610
Bring that down to zero.
02:32:05.610 --> 02:32:07.920
Promote rooftop solar.
02:32:07.920 --> 02:32:09.510
Thank you.
02:32:09.510 --> 02:32:10.520
Thank you.
02:32:10.520 --> 02:32:12.083
Operator, next caller, please.
02:32:13.700 --> 02:32:15.750
Our next caller is Jared Menning.
02:32:15.750 --> 02:32:16.600
You may go ahead.
02:32:17.730 --> 02:32:19.640
In just about 24 hours,
02:32:19.640 --> 02:32:20.990
we Californians have emitted
02:32:20.990 --> 02:32:23.650
over a million tons of greenhouse gases.
02:32:23.650 --> 02:32:26.440
That's enough to cover the entire County of San Francisco
02:32:26.440 --> 02:32:29.850
to adapt to 15 feet with a pure CO2 gas.
02:32:29.850 --> 02:32:32.070
And in another foot or two, since this meeting started.
02:32:32.070 --> 02:32:35.740
Another 15 feet today, tomorrow, every other day,
02:32:35.740 --> 02:32:38.750
driving us recklessly closer to climate disaster.
02:32:38.750 --> 02:32:40.610
Ours efforts to stop this are still minuscule,
02:32:40.610 --> 02:32:41.980
but one of the few bright lights
02:32:41.980 --> 02:32:44.950
are the one million solar roofs now in California.
02:32:44.950 --> 02:32:46.440
Net billing tariffs will, overnight,
02:32:46.440 --> 02:32:48.520
destroy our rooftop solar industry.
02:32:48.520 --> 02:32:50.760
We cannot afford to wait for new transmission lines
02:32:50.760 --> 02:32:52.330
and massive solar farms,
02:32:52.330 --> 02:32:54.440
and all their permits, and all their delays.
02:32:54.440 --> 02:32:56.310
We cannot afford more huge wildfires
02:32:56.310 --> 02:32:58.000
and their massive emissions.
02:32:58.000 --> 02:33:00.670
This tariff needs to be utterly scrapped.
02:33:00.670 --> 02:33:03.930
Let's re-start with the prime aim to massively increase
02:33:03.930 --> 02:33:06.540
distributed solar power, not kill us.
02:33:06.540 --> 02:33:09.040
Please remember the word "public" in PUC,
02:33:09.040 --> 02:33:11.680
and please act in the interest of all Californians,
02:33:11.680 --> 02:33:13.480
not the outdated utilities.
02:33:13.480 --> 02:33:14.313
Thank you.
02:33:15.210 --> 02:33:16.110
Thank you.
02:33:16.110 --> 02:33:17.703
Operator, next caller, please.
02:33:20.981 --> 02:33:22.660
Our next caller is James Irving.
02:33:22.660 --> 02:33:23.510
You may go ahead.
02:33:25.240 --> 02:33:26.110
Thank you.
02:33:26.110 --> 02:33:27.150
I'm James Irving.
02:33:27.150 --> 02:33:30.370
I run a cattle ranch west of Paso Robles.
02:33:30.370 --> 02:33:32.877
Last summer, after five outages,
02:33:32.877 --> 02:33:35.920
and one including 28 hours,
02:33:35.920 --> 02:33:38.000
I decided to borrow the money
02:33:38.000 --> 02:33:41.870
to invest in a $40,000 solar system.
02:33:41.870 --> 02:33:45.040
It was based on the projected return
02:33:45.040 --> 02:33:48.490
and payback to run the three houses
02:33:48.490 --> 02:33:50.650
and the wells on the ranch.
02:33:50.650 --> 02:33:55.570
This system, this proposed system, is completely wrong.
02:33:55.570 --> 02:33:59.130
It's a violation of the contract that was set up,
02:33:59.130 --> 02:34:03.700
and I do object very strongly to any tax.
02:34:03.700 --> 02:34:07.676
For those of us who are providing power into the grid,
02:34:07.676 --> 02:34:10.183
that we should be rewarded, not taxed,
02:34:10.183 --> 02:34:12.960
and the state should do what they can
02:34:12.960 --> 02:34:16.000
to increase battery storage.
02:34:16.000 --> 02:34:17.320
Thank you for your time
02:34:17.320 --> 02:34:19.640
in listening to all of our complaints.
02:34:19.640 --> 02:34:21.080
Thank you.
02:34:21.080 --> 02:34:21.960
Thank you.
02:34:21.960 --> 02:34:23.460
Operator, next caller, please.
02:34:27.720 --> 02:34:29.220
Our next caller is Susy Boyd.
02:34:29.220 --> 02:34:30.070
You may go ahead.
02:34:31.470 --> 02:34:32.870
Good morning, Commissioners.
02:34:32.870 --> 02:34:35.920
I'm Susy Boyd with Mojave Desert Land Trust.
02:34:35.920 --> 02:34:37.350
The Mojave Desert Land Trust
02:34:37.350 --> 02:34:39.430
works to preserve our public lands,
02:34:39.430 --> 02:34:42.430
with over 120,000 acres acquired
02:34:42.430 --> 02:34:45.520
across the Mojave and Colorado Deserts.
02:34:45.520 --> 02:34:48.620
While we support transition to clean energy,
02:34:48.620 --> 02:34:52.390
the proposed NEM3 rule removes economic incentive
02:34:52.390 --> 02:34:54.670
to promote rooftop solar.
02:34:54.670 --> 02:34:59.070
Large scale solar utility plans are projected to occupy
02:34:59.070 --> 02:35:02.730
over a half million acres of desert lands.
02:35:02.730 --> 02:35:05.600
With that number, exponentially greater,
02:35:05.600 --> 02:35:08.270
if rooftop solar is reduced.
02:35:08.270 --> 02:35:11.970
Desert land sequester 10% of our state's carbon,
02:35:11.970 --> 02:35:14.610
if the land is left undisturbed.
02:35:14.610 --> 02:35:18.070
California must prove it's an environmental leader,
02:35:18.070 --> 02:35:20.790
and make rooftop solar an integral part
02:35:20.790 --> 02:35:22.950
of its 2030 strategy.
02:35:22.950 --> 02:35:24.183
Thank you so much.
02:35:25.264 --> 02:35:26.290
Thank you.
02:35:26.290 --> 02:35:27.903
Operator, next caller, please.
02:35:29.640 --> 02:35:31.290
Our next caller is Sharon Grant.
02:35:31.290 --> 02:35:32.163
You may go ahead.
02:35:36.060 --> 02:35:38.890
Hi, Sharon Grant, (speaks indistinctly).
02:35:38.890 --> 02:35:41.580
I'm retired, and have had solar, rooftop solar,
02:35:41.580 --> 02:35:42.770
for eight years,
02:35:42.770 --> 02:35:47.240
saving thousands of dollars and kilowatts of energy.
02:35:47.240 --> 02:35:51.433
It's unconscionable for CPUSC to personally,
02:35:52.520 --> 02:35:56.180
sorry, to penalize rooftop solar,
02:35:56.180 --> 02:35:58.600
and allow energy monopolies
02:35:58.600 --> 02:36:02.063
to discourage California residents from installing solar.
02:36:03.960 --> 02:36:05.940
As a public utility,
02:36:05.940 --> 02:36:10.260
I urge the CPUC to assist residents to add solar,
02:36:10.260 --> 02:36:14.440
not help power monopolies to increase their profits.
02:36:14.440 --> 02:36:18.510
And the only people who want to gut solar
02:36:18.510 --> 02:36:22.510
are the people who figured out how to make a profit from it.
02:36:22.510 --> 02:36:26.280
So please protect the public good and the environment,
02:36:26.280 --> 02:36:27.970
not the power monopolies.
02:36:27.970 --> 02:36:29.570
Thank you.
02:36:29.570 --> 02:36:30.460
Thank you.
02:36:30.460 --> 02:36:32.160
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:36:35.330 --> 02:36:37.160
Our next caller is Daniel Berso.
02:36:37.160 --> 02:36:38.010
You may go ahead.
02:36:39.490 --> 02:36:41.330
Hello, my name is Daniel Bertow.
02:36:41.330 --> 02:36:43.570
I live in Petaluma, California,
02:36:43.570 --> 02:36:46.330
and I am a solar customer.
02:36:46.330 --> 02:36:48.620
I budgeted and planned.
02:36:48.620 --> 02:36:50.150
It was not an easy decision.
02:36:50.150 --> 02:36:52.260
It was a struggle to come up with the finances
02:36:52.260 --> 02:36:54.700
to install the solar in my house.
02:36:54.700 --> 02:36:57.620
And then, now, with the proposed changes,
02:36:57.620 --> 02:37:00.360
that puts my financial stability at risk.
02:37:00.360 --> 02:37:02.500
Please don't penalize me, or punish me,
02:37:02.500 --> 02:37:03.740
for doing the right thing
02:37:03.740 --> 02:37:07.130
by increasing solar access, and reducing carbon,
02:37:07.130 --> 02:37:08.960
our carbon footprint.
02:37:08.960 --> 02:37:10.560
Thank you so much for your time.
02:37:11.400 --> 02:37:12.233
Thank you.
02:37:12.233 --> 02:37:14.787
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:37:18.642 --> 02:37:20.240
Our next caller is Mike Pane.
02:37:20.240 --> 02:37:21.090
You may go ahead.
02:37:22.700 --> 02:37:23.870
Hello, Commissioners.
02:37:23.870 --> 02:37:25.730
Thank you for taking my call.
02:37:25.730 --> 02:37:26.750
My name is Mike Pane,
02:37:26.750 --> 02:37:29.980
and I am not only a solar and energy storage customer,
02:37:29.980 --> 02:37:33.020
but also a solar and storage business owner.
02:37:33.020 --> 02:37:35.830
My company, Synergy Solar, based in Sebastopol,
02:37:35.830 --> 02:37:37.720
has seven employees.
02:37:37.720 --> 02:37:40.920
The NEM3 proposal could put us out of business.
02:37:40.920 --> 02:37:43.210
I've been in the industry for 19 years,
02:37:43.210 --> 02:37:46.020
after soul searching around what career move
02:37:46.020 --> 02:37:48.590
would help ensure there was a habitable planet
02:37:48.590 --> 02:37:52.750
for my then 10-year-old daughter, and future grandchildren.
02:37:52.750 --> 02:37:53.930
Solar was the answer,
02:37:53.930 --> 02:37:56.060
and I believe it still is one of the major ways
02:37:56.060 --> 02:37:57.920
to combat climate change.
02:37:57.920 --> 02:38:00.450
Distributed solar and storage reduces the need
02:38:00.450 --> 02:38:01.480
for transmission lines,
02:38:01.480 --> 02:38:04.430
which, in turn, reduces wildfire risks,
02:38:04.430 --> 02:38:08.720
and increases customers' resiliency in energy independence.
02:38:08.720 --> 02:38:12.450
I urge you to make solar and storage stronger, not weaker.
02:38:12.450 --> 02:38:14.870
The NEM3 proposal would not only contradict
02:38:14.870 --> 02:38:16.480
California's climate goals,
02:38:16.480 --> 02:38:18.300
but would also cripple the industry,
02:38:18.300 --> 02:38:21.830
and impact the career paths of our employees and myself.
02:38:21.830 --> 02:38:22.663
Thank you.
02:38:23.510 --> 02:38:24.450
Thank you.
02:38:24.450 --> 02:38:26.150
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:38:28.550 --> 02:38:30.410
Our next caller is Cherene Birkholz.
02:38:30.410 --> 02:38:31.260
You may go ahead.
02:38:33.290 --> 02:38:34.767
Hello, my name is Cherene Birkholz,
02:38:34.767 --> 02:38:36.640
and I live in Long Beach.
02:38:36.640 --> 02:38:38.970
I oppose the NEM 3.0 proposal.
02:38:38.970 --> 02:38:42.050
It is deeply flawed, and it can't be fixed.
02:38:42.050 --> 02:38:44.890
There should be no tax of any kind on rooftop solar,
02:38:44.890 --> 02:38:47.550
and the utilities should honor their existing
02:38:47.550 --> 02:38:50.350
20 year protection for solar users.
02:38:50.350 --> 02:38:52.853
I invested in solar panels in 2019,
02:38:52.853 --> 02:38:55.330
with the understanding that my investment
02:38:55.330 --> 02:38:57.330
was protected for 20 years.
02:38:57.330 --> 02:39:00.510
I am appalled that the CPUC would allow the utilities
02:39:00.510 --> 02:39:03.610
to shorten their promise to their customers.
02:39:03.610 --> 02:39:06.620
I invested in solar panels for two reasons.
02:39:06.620 --> 02:39:09.410
First, to take control of my energy bills.
02:39:09.410 --> 02:39:12.710
The second, was that solar is good for the environment.
02:39:12.710 --> 02:39:15.870
I am convinced that the proposed NEM 3.0
02:39:15.870 --> 02:39:17.790
would kill rooftop solar.
02:39:17.790 --> 02:39:20.380
The middle class and lower income people
02:39:20.380 --> 02:39:22.750
who want to take control of their utility bills,
02:39:22.750 --> 02:39:25.340
and want to help fight climate change
02:39:25.340 --> 02:39:26.990
should not be locked out.
02:39:26.990 --> 02:39:27.823
Thank you.
02:39:28.740 --> 02:39:29.770
Thank you.
02:39:29.770 --> 02:39:31.470
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:39:34.137 --> 02:39:36.950
Our next caller is Judy Pinegar.
02:39:36.950 --> 02:39:37.923
You may go ahead.
02:39:40.780 --> 02:39:42.510
Yes, my name is Judy Pinegar,
02:39:42.510 --> 02:39:45.520
and I live outside of Loomis in Placer County.
02:39:45.520 --> 02:39:48.860
I've been a solar producer since 2012.
02:39:48.860 --> 02:39:50.490
I installed a system on my roof,
02:39:50.490 --> 02:39:53.880
and was okay with a $200 a month PG&E bill.
02:39:53.880 --> 02:39:58.800
Six years later, in 2018, the bill was $900 a month.
02:39:58.800 --> 02:40:00.500
So I leased a solar array,
02:40:00.500 --> 02:40:02.680
and I now pay about 330 a month,
02:40:02.680 --> 02:40:05.671
and still have to pay more to PG&E (speaks indistinctly).
02:40:05.671 --> 02:40:08.400
I do not think there should be a tax on solar power.
02:40:08.400 --> 02:40:11.770
56 to $91 a month is way too much.
02:40:11.770 --> 02:40:13.677
I am personally paying for everything I produce,
02:40:13.677 --> 02:40:16.750
and PG&E is taking advantage of my production.
02:40:16.750 --> 02:40:19.830
PG&E pays 25 cents per kilowatt hour I produce,
02:40:19.830 --> 02:40:23.650
and turns around and sells it for 38 cents an hour or more.
02:40:23.650 --> 02:40:25.890
And their proposal to reduce my payment
02:40:25.890 --> 02:40:28.350
to only five to seven per kilowatt hour.
02:40:28.350 --> 02:40:30.390
We need solar power to be more available
02:40:30.390 --> 02:40:32.870
for middle class ratepayers like myself.
02:40:32.870 --> 02:40:35.100
After 10 years of doing the right thing to save energy
02:40:35.100 --> 02:40:36.440
and help stop the climate change,
02:40:36.440 --> 02:40:38.770
why should I have to pay a tax to PG&E?
02:40:40.940 --> 02:40:41.850
Thank you.
02:40:41.850 --> 02:40:43.550
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:40:46.408 --> 02:40:47.241
I'm done.
Our next caller
02:40:47.241 --> 02:40:48.920
is Brett Garrett.
02:40:48.920 --> 02:40:49.770
You may go ahead.
02:40:52.420 --> 02:40:55.830
Hi, this is Brett Garrett in Goleta, California.
02:40:55.830 --> 02:40:56.960
I'm a volunteer with the
02:40:56.960 --> 02:40:59.550
California Alliance for Community Energy,
02:40:59.550 --> 02:41:02.410
and I'm calling on you to save rooftop solar.
02:41:02.410 --> 02:41:04.810
The proposed decision is based on the mislead,
02:41:04.810 --> 02:41:06.420
the avoided cost calculator,
02:41:06.420 --> 02:41:07.640
which fails to recognize
02:41:07.640 --> 02:41:10.070
the community benefits of rooftop solar,
02:41:10.070 --> 02:41:13.160
such as health benefits, resilience, local jobs,
02:41:13.160 --> 02:41:16.470
reduced wildfires, and reducing power shutoffs.
02:41:16.470 --> 02:41:18.810
All overlooked in the avoided cost calculators,
02:41:18.810 --> 02:41:21.610
and in the proposed NEM3 decision.
02:41:21.610 --> 02:41:22.900
California should be a leader
02:41:22.900 --> 02:41:24.730
in supporting President Biden's plans
02:41:24.730 --> 02:41:26.660
to expand rooftop solar.
02:41:26.660 --> 02:41:29.447
Don't punish solar customers with fixed monthly charges,
02:41:29.447 --> 02:41:32.540
and the extreme reduction of compensation.
02:41:32.540 --> 02:41:35.537
Existing customers have been promised 20 years of NEM,
02:41:36.875 --> 02:41:37.800
and those promises should be kept.
02:41:37.800 --> 02:41:39.400
Please support rooftop solar,
02:41:39.400 --> 02:41:42.000
and also incentivize battery storage.
02:41:42.000 --> 02:41:44.190
The existing proposal will leave wealthy customers
02:41:44.190 --> 02:41:46.920
with their own batteries to defect from the grid,
02:41:46.920 --> 02:41:49.063
the exact opposite of what is needed.
02:41:49.910 --> 02:41:53.060
Please reject or change the proposed decision.
02:41:53.060 --> 02:41:54.620
Thank you.
02:41:54.620 --> 02:41:55.453
Thank you.
02:41:55.453 --> 02:41:57.100
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:41:58.670 --> 02:42:00.500
Our next caller is Jason Jackson.
02:42:00.500 --> 02:42:01.350
You may go ahead.
02:42:04.370 --> 02:42:05.980
Hi, my name is Jason Jackson.
02:42:05.980 --> 02:42:09.000
I'm CEO of Vital Energy Solutions in Sonoma County
02:42:09.000 --> 02:42:10.980
with 34 employees.
02:42:10.980 --> 02:42:12.650
I've been in all aspects of solar
02:42:12.650 --> 02:42:15.250
and the alternative energy industry in the Bay Area,'
02:42:15.250 --> 02:42:17.890
and nationally, since the Carter administration.
02:42:17.890 --> 02:42:19.327
I'm proud of working in this industry,
02:42:19.327 --> 02:42:22.020
and I love the passionate people in solar.
02:42:22.020 --> 02:42:24.340
This proposed decision, NEM3,
02:42:24.340 --> 02:42:27.690
will absolutely cripple the industry for years to come.
02:42:27.690 --> 02:42:30.170
All eyes are on this at this critical time.
02:42:30.170 --> 02:42:32.380
We have to think beyond the economic agenda
02:42:32.380 --> 02:42:33.890
of the utility companies.
02:42:33.890 --> 02:42:36.080
A lot of good people are going to be out of work,
02:42:36.080 --> 02:42:38.880
and won't be able to afford solar and storage.
02:42:38.880 --> 02:42:40.330
At a time when we are all living
02:42:40.330 --> 02:42:42.387
with the obvious impacts of climate change,
02:42:42.387 --> 02:42:44.950
and the increasing unreliability of the grid,
02:42:44.950 --> 02:42:47.210
this is absolutely the wrong direction.
02:42:47.210 --> 02:42:48.380
California has been leading
02:42:48.380 --> 02:42:50.480
the green energy movement for the country.
02:42:50.480 --> 02:42:52.690
In the interest of protecting the climate
02:42:52.690 --> 02:42:55.290
for our children and for future generations,
02:42:55.290 --> 02:42:56.460
we need to be very careful
02:42:56.460 --> 02:42:59.010
about the impact of decisions we make today.
02:42:59.010 --> 02:43:01.440
Don't vote for this proposed decision.
02:43:01.440 --> 02:43:02.500
Start over.
02:43:02.500 --> 02:43:03.810
I thank you for your time.
02:43:03.810 --> 02:43:05.210
Thank you.
02:43:05.210 --> 02:43:06.150
Thank you.
02:43:06.150 --> 02:43:08.213
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:43:10.500 --> 02:43:12.460
Our next caller is Peter Davis.
02:43:12.460 --> 02:43:13.310
You may go ahead.
02:43:15.610 --> 02:43:17.980
You know, I'm Peter Davis from San Bruno,
02:43:17.980 --> 02:43:20.660
and this new net billing tariff is grossly unfair,
02:43:20.660 --> 02:43:22.420
as it's based ridiculous assumptions,
02:43:22.420 --> 02:43:25.620
as many experts have already described.
02:43:25.620 --> 02:43:27.770
For me, I have the only solar roof in my neighborhood,
02:43:27.770 --> 02:43:30.260
so my excess electricity never leaves the block.
02:43:30.260 --> 02:43:32.090
This proposal would allow PG&E
02:43:32.090 --> 02:43:34.430
to pay me 6 cents for my electricity,
02:43:34.430 --> 02:43:35.800
and turn around and sell it to my neighbor
02:43:35.800 --> 02:43:38.390
20 feet away for 25 cents.
02:43:38.390 --> 02:43:40.490
But, you know, I wouldn't even see that 5 cents,
02:43:40.490 --> 02:43:42.370
'cause I'd be paying PG&E 60 bucks a month
02:43:42.370 --> 02:43:44.560
just for the rights of solar panels.
02:43:44.560 --> 02:43:45.990
This is just crazy.
02:43:45.990 --> 02:43:47.100
You know, even the mafia
02:43:47.100 --> 02:43:49.320
wouldn't come up with a shakedown like this.
02:43:49.320 --> 02:43:50.690
My house, it's partially shaded,
02:43:50.690 --> 02:43:52.460
and so my a payoff time is not 10 years.
02:43:52.460 --> 02:43:53.740
It's not five years.
02:43:53.740 --> 02:43:55.090
It's 17 years.
02:43:55.090 --> 02:43:56.350
And now, I have to replace my roof,
02:43:56.350 --> 02:43:57.320
and so I'll have to pay extra
02:43:57.320 --> 02:43:59.370
to take the solar panels off and on again.
02:43:59.370 --> 02:44:02.790
I could never afford to install solar under this new tariff.
02:44:02.790 --> 02:44:04.090
While the utilities claim to be
02:44:04.090 --> 02:44:06.320
on the side of economic access for all,
02:44:06.320 --> 02:44:08.140
this would have exactly the opposite impact,
02:44:08.140 --> 02:44:10.600
freezing out low and middle income households
02:44:10.600 --> 02:44:12.410
just when solar has got affordable,
02:44:12.410 --> 02:44:15.330
and is being installed at all economic levels.
02:44:15.330 --> 02:44:16.810
You're the PUC.
02:44:16.810 --> 02:44:18.480
Please stand up for the public.
02:44:18.480 --> 02:44:20.470
Don't support legacy utilities.
02:44:20.470 --> 02:44:21.303
Thank you.
02:44:22.160 --> 02:44:23.120
Thank you.
02:44:23.120 --> 02:44:24.763
Operator, next caller, please.
02:44:26.540 --> 02:44:28.320
Our next caller is Molly McCoy.
02:44:28.320 --> 02:44:29.153
You may go ahead
02:44:37.470 --> 02:44:39.070
Again, Molly McCoy, your line is open.
02:44:39.070 --> 02:44:41.082
Please check your mute button.
02:44:41.082 --> 02:44:43.830
Oh! (clears throat)
02:44:43.830 --> 02:44:44.663
Good morning.
02:44:44.663 --> 02:44:45.500
My name is Molly McCoy,
02:44:45.500 --> 02:44:48.300
and I'm a Ventura County resident and college student.
02:44:48.300 --> 02:44:51.030
I strongly oppose any type of solar panel tax.
02:44:51.030 --> 02:44:53.560
Rooftop solar must be affordable for all Californians.
02:44:53.560 --> 02:44:55.680
I am implore the committee to honor
02:44:55.680 --> 02:44:58.480
the existing 20 year protection for solar users,
02:44:58.480 --> 02:45:00.220
like myself and my family.
02:45:00.220 --> 02:45:01.870
As a young adult here in California,
02:45:01.870 --> 02:45:04.710
I am dependent on public officials, such as yourself,
02:45:04.710 --> 02:45:06.700
to protect my generation from the devastating
02:45:06.700 --> 02:45:09.060
ramifications of climate change.
02:45:09.060 --> 02:45:11.490
We are the ones that have to live with your decisions.
02:45:11.490 --> 02:45:13.590
Reliance on greenhouse gas emissions
02:45:13.590 --> 02:45:16.260
creates a positive feedback loop in our ecosphere,
02:45:16.260 --> 02:45:19.233
which progressively worsen the climate crisis.
02:45:20.210 --> 02:45:22.710
We must transition to renewable energy
02:45:22.710 --> 02:45:24.360
to mitigate these consequences,
02:45:24.360 --> 02:45:25.800
such as the heat waves, droughts,
02:45:25.800 --> 02:45:28.240
and wildfires we are all familiar with.
02:45:28.240 --> 02:45:29.760
I, along with the 400
02:45:29.760 --> 02:45:32.260
and counting constituents calling in today,
02:45:32.260 --> 02:45:33.687
urge you to protect solar,
02:45:33.687 --> 02:45:38.040
and reject the NEM 3.0 in this current proposal.
02:45:38.040 --> 02:45:39.630
California has a responsibility
02:45:39.630 --> 02:45:41.490
to lead the way in the climate movement.
02:45:41.490 --> 02:45:43.017
My generation, the United States,
02:45:43.017 --> 02:45:44.710
and the world is counting on you.
02:45:44.710 --> 02:45:45.910
Thank you for your time.
02:45:46.870 --> 02:45:47.703
Thank you.
02:45:47.703 --> 02:45:49.100
Operator, next caller, please.
02:45:52.000 --> 02:45:53.790
Our next caller is Dina Lane.
02:45:53.790 --> 02:45:54.640
You may go ahead.
02:45:55.620 --> 02:45:57.680
Yes, thank you, Commissioners.
02:45:57.680 --> 02:46:01.130
My name is Dina Lane, and I'm retired.
02:46:01.130 --> 02:46:02.650
I live in Upland, California,
02:46:02.650 --> 02:46:06.427
and installed rooftop solar on my home in 2018
02:46:08.080 --> 02:46:10.780
to afford summer heating bills.
02:46:10.780 --> 02:46:15.733
My family needs reliable low cost electric power,
02:46:17.030 --> 02:46:20.944
because we have a medical device in the house
02:46:20.944 --> 02:46:23.160
that we must maintain,
02:46:23.160 --> 02:46:27.340
and we need to stabilize summer electric bills
02:46:27.340 --> 02:46:30.763
since I'm on a fixed middle income ratepayer.
02:46:32.360 --> 02:46:34.060
This past weekend,
02:46:34.060 --> 02:46:37.933
our electricity was out for over 20 hours.
02:46:38.830 --> 02:46:42.700
Please help me to maintain my dignity
02:46:42.700 --> 02:46:47.700
to continue to afford solar system, my solar system,
02:46:48.007 --> 02:46:52.730
and install an affordable battery storage system to it.
02:46:52.730 --> 02:46:56.050
Lastly, please continue to honor,
02:46:56.050 --> 02:47:01.050
and not renege, on the 20 year protection for solar units.
02:47:03.089 --> 02:47:05.000
We thank you-
(bell dinging)
02:47:05.000 --> 02:47:05.833
Thank you.
02:47:05.833 --> 02:47:07.090
Thank you for your comment.
02:47:07.090 --> 02:47:09.200
Operator, next caller, please.
02:47:10.550 --> 02:47:12.780
Our next caller is Bill Brown.
02:47:12.780 --> 02:47:13.630
You may go ahead.
02:47:15.090 --> 02:47:18.473
Hi, thank you for listening to us today,
02:47:19.350 --> 02:47:21.481
Commissioners and Miss President,
02:47:21.481 --> 02:47:24.550
and being so kind in the process.
02:47:24.550 --> 02:47:28.160
And I put rooftop solar on my house,
02:47:28.160 --> 02:47:30.773
because we had a $600 utility bill,
02:47:32.230 --> 02:47:34.550
and I wanted to cut down on costs.
02:47:34.550 --> 02:47:37.050
I also remember the days...
02:47:37.050 --> 02:47:39.810
I'm a native Californian in the Los Angeles area.
02:47:39.810 --> 02:47:43.760
I remember when the skies were gray because of smog
02:47:43.760 --> 02:47:45.590
and all the pollution from cars,
02:47:45.590 --> 02:47:47.670
and our state stepped up and changed that
02:47:47.670 --> 02:47:52.670
with the whole smog on cars.
02:47:53.790 --> 02:47:56.380
Now, that's starting to happen with solar,
02:47:56.380 --> 02:47:58.770
and you guys wanna cut it off.
02:47:58.770 --> 02:48:03.770
I implore you, CPUC, Governor Newsom, to not do that,
02:48:04.040 --> 02:48:07.200
not make solar unaffordable to everybody,
02:48:07.200 --> 02:48:08.230
but to promote it,
02:48:08.230 --> 02:48:11.690
to let it be allowed to continue in an industry
02:48:11.690 --> 02:48:14.720
to keep our skies blue, like they are today,
02:48:14.720 --> 02:48:17.970
to cut down on pollution,
02:48:17.970 --> 02:48:20.320
and enable us to have
02:48:20.320 --> 02:48:22.933
cheap renewable energy through rooftop solar.
02:48:24.540 --> 02:48:26.270
Thank you very much.
02:48:26.270 --> 02:48:28.130
Operator, next caller, please.
02:48:31.180 --> 02:48:33.890
Our next caller is Mike Mclaughlin.
02:48:33.890 --> 02:48:35.650
You may go ahead.
02:48:35.650 --> 02:48:37.080
Hi, my name is Mike Mclaughlin.
02:48:37.080 --> 02:48:38.770
I just retired after 31 years
02:48:38.770 --> 02:48:40.217
in the waste and recycle industry,
02:48:40.217 --> 02:48:42.550
and I live in Brentwood, California.
02:48:42.550 --> 02:48:44.180
I'm strongly opposed to the proposal
02:48:44.180 --> 02:48:46.690
put forth by the CPUC and utilities.
02:48:46.690 --> 02:48:48.720
There should be no solar tax surcharge
02:48:48.720 --> 02:48:50.440
or connection fee of any kind.
02:48:50.440 --> 02:48:51.610
You should be working to ensure
02:48:51.610 --> 02:48:54.590
that solar becomes more affordable for everyone.
02:48:54.590 --> 02:48:56.910
We're all expected to switch to electric vehicles
02:48:56.910 --> 02:48:59.030
and appliances in the very near future.
02:48:59.030 --> 02:49:02.008
You're gonna need more solar installations, not less.
02:49:02.008 --> 02:49:04.010
(clears throat) California will not meet
02:49:04.010 --> 02:49:07.200
its climate change goals if we back away from rooftop solar.
02:49:07.200 --> 02:49:09.240
The state itself says, "We need to triple the amount
02:49:09.240 --> 02:49:11.930
of solar power to get off of fossil fuels".
02:49:11.930 --> 02:49:15.230
We can't conserve our way to these goals.
02:49:15.230 --> 02:49:16.560
At this time, when it's so urgent
02:49:16.560 --> 02:49:19.360
to get more clean energy to the grid,
02:49:19.360 --> 02:49:23.173
why would you propose such a tax on rooftop solar?
02:49:28.380 --> 02:49:29.590
Thank you very much.
02:49:29.590 --> 02:49:31.290
Operator, the next caller, please.
02:49:33.290 --> 02:49:34.930
Our next caller is Alice Root.
02:49:34.930 --> 02:49:35.780
You may go ahead.
02:49:37.890 --> 02:49:40.330
Hi, this is Alice Root
02:49:40.330 --> 02:49:43.803
from rough and Redding, Northern California.
02:49:45.340 --> 02:49:47.910
I'm opposed to the proposed rule change
02:49:47.910 --> 02:49:49.210
for solar reimbursement.
02:49:49.210 --> 02:49:51.350
It's not fair to change
02:49:51.350 --> 02:49:54.660
and go back on your promise in 2016,
02:49:54.660 --> 02:49:57.358
that we would be guaranteed fair reimbursement.
02:49:57.358 --> 02:50:01.900
We still owe over $8,000 on the system we installed
02:50:01.900 --> 02:50:06.440
for about $22,000 in 2019.
02:50:06.440 --> 02:50:08.120
Last year, we already paid
02:50:08.120 --> 02:50:12.100
almost three and a half times more for PG&E energy
02:50:12.100 --> 02:50:13.750
than we did the previous year,
02:50:13.750 --> 02:50:17.850
even though we produced more solar to send back to the grid.
02:50:17.850 --> 02:50:20.070
But because of the mandatory rate change
02:50:20.070 --> 02:50:23.891
to time of day metering plan,
02:50:23.891 --> 02:50:28.891
we are already paying a huge increase.
02:50:28.980 --> 02:50:30.150
This needs to stop.
02:50:30.150 --> 02:50:32.710
I ask you to scrap this plan,
02:50:32.710 --> 02:50:35.193
and have no solar tax whatsoever.
02:50:37.090 --> 02:50:38.860
Thank you.
Thank you.
02:50:38.860 --> 02:50:41.190
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:50:43.480 --> 02:50:46.070
Our next caller is Marcy Snyder.
02:50:46.070 --> 02:50:46.903
You may go ahead
02:50:52.610 --> 02:50:54.780
Again, Marcy Snyder, your line is open.
02:50:54.780 --> 02:50:55.783
You may go ahead.
02:51:06.900 --> 02:51:09.323
Operator, let's move to the next caller.
02:51:13.490 --> 02:51:14.970
Our next caller is Olivia.
02:51:14.970 --> 02:51:15.833
You may go ahead.
02:51:18.029 --> 02:51:20.240
Oh, hi, yes, can you hear me?
02:51:20.240 --> 02:51:22.300
Yes, thank you.
Okay, hi.
02:51:22.300 --> 02:51:23.133
This is Olivia.
02:51:23.133 --> 02:51:24.163
I'm a homeowner.
02:51:25.020 --> 02:51:28.770
I am here today to ask that you reject the proposal
02:51:28.770 --> 02:51:31.620
of adding solar tax to solar homeowners.
02:51:31.620 --> 02:51:33.510
I'm a single mother with two children.
02:51:33.510 --> 02:51:37.103
I work very, very hard to support my family.
02:51:38.010 --> 02:51:39.990
And I installed solar systems on my house,
02:51:39.990 --> 02:51:42.710
because I thought it was the right thing to do.
02:51:42.710 --> 02:51:44.400
It better for the environment.
02:51:44.400 --> 02:51:49.330
However, if the NEM 3.0 proposal pass,
02:51:49.330 --> 02:51:52.740
it'll be very hard for working women to afford solar,
02:51:52.740 --> 02:51:55.470
because on top of paying all the bills,
02:51:55.470 --> 02:51:57.140
I will be forced to pay
02:51:57.140 --> 02:51:59.393
the $8 per kilowatt solar tax each month.
02:52:00.390 --> 02:52:02.380
And adding solar tax,
02:52:02.380 --> 02:52:04.410
it is just not fair!
02:52:04.410 --> 02:52:06.830
It's punish people who are trying to do the right thing
02:52:06.830 --> 02:52:10.550
to save the environment, and it is not right.
02:52:10.550 --> 02:52:14.849
So I asked the PCUC to reject this proposal.
02:52:14.849 --> 02:52:15.682
Thank you.
02:52:16.641 --> 02:52:17.474
Thank you very much.
02:52:17.474 --> 02:52:19.133
Operator, the next caller, please.
02:52:22.290 --> 02:52:25.120
Our next caller is Olin Walsh.
02:52:25.120 --> 02:52:25.970
You may go ahead.
02:52:27.220 --> 02:52:29.140
Hi, my name is Colin Walsh,
02:52:29.140 --> 02:52:32.200
the COO with SolarReviews.com.
02:52:32.200 --> 02:52:35.280
Over a million California homeowners visit our website
02:52:35.280 --> 02:52:37.230
researching solar every year.
02:52:37.230 --> 02:52:38.710
So we're in kind of a unique position
02:52:38.710 --> 02:52:41.995
to see what ratepayers think about the NEM proposal.
02:52:41.995 --> 02:52:43.800
To that end, three weeks ago,
02:52:43.800 --> 02:52:46.480
we sent out a survey to all the California homeowners
02:52:46.480 --> 02:52:48.330
who requested quotes through our site
02:52:48.330 --> 02:52:50.040
over the past couple years,
02:52:50.040 --> 02:52:53.453
and we got 4,848 responses.
02:52:54.340 --> 02:52:57.080
68% of people that responded said,
02:52:57.080 --> 02:52:59.580
they would no longer consider installing solar
02:52:59.580 --> 02:53:00.437
if California implements
02:53:00.437 --> 02:53:03.640
the proposed avoided cost rate plan,
02:53:03.640 --> 02:53:07.954
and 95% of respondents would no longer consider solar
02:53:07.954 --> 02:53:11.841
if California adopted both the avoid the cost rate plan
02:53:11.841 --> 02:53:15.110
and implemented the monthly grid participation charge.
02:53:15.110 --> 02:53:17.580
So we'd like to urge the Commission
02:53:17.580 --> 02:53:20.740
to consider this real up to date data in your assumptions.
02:53:20.740 --> 02:53:24.140
If we have 90% of people considering solar
02:53:24.140 --> 02:53:25.910
no longer willing to move forward,
02:53:25.910 --> 02:53:28.540
they will not be paying the grid participation charge,
02:53:28.540 --> 02:53:30.370
and a lot of installers will be out of work.
02:53:30.370 --> 02:53:31.203
Thank you.
02:53:32.120 --> 02:53:32.953
Thank you.
02:53:32.953 --> 02:53:34.480
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:53:37.260 --> 02:53:39.600
Our next caller is Jeff Lounsberry.
02:53:39.600 --> 02:53:40.693
You may go ahead.
02:53:41.810 --> 02:53:42.980
Good afternoon, Commissioners.
02:53:42.980 --> 02:53:45.310
Thank you for the time to speak.
02:53:45.310 --> 02:53:46.147
My name is Jeff Lounsberry,
02:53:46.147 --> 02:53:50.040
and I've worked in the solar industry for 15 years,
02:53:50.040 --> 02:53:51.650
primarily working with farmers
02:53:51.650 --> 02:53:54.240
across the entire state of California.
02:53:54.240 --> 02:53:56.830
And I think that we all are aware
02:53:56.830 --> 02:53:59.170
that the challenges of climate
02:53:59.170 --> 02:54:03.060
for farmers in California are not hypothetical.
02:54:03.060 --> 02:54:05.190
Over the last decade,
02:54:05.190 --> 02:54:07.900
droughts have rendered
02:54:07.900 --> 02:54:11.800
a lot of their farmable land unusable.
02:54:11.800 --> 02:54:13.960
They cannot irrigate that land.
02:54:13.960 --> 02:54:18.447
There is a greater amount of drought crops
02:54:20.550 --> 02:54:23.500
that are going out of a circulation right now,
02:54:23.500 --> 02:54:25.580
and that land is fallow.
02:54:25.580 --> 02:54:28.700
So to farmers across the state,
02:54:28.700 --> 02:54:33.610
the ability to have a way to predict their energy cost,
02:54:33.610 --> 02:54:36.020
install solar, reduce some of the pressure
02:54:36.020 --> 02:54:38.530
on them financially is a big deal.
02:54:38.530 --> 02:54:41.740
It can mean the livelihood of that family farm.
02:54:41.740 --> 02:54:45.310
And I implore you to start over.
02:54:45.310 --> 02:54:48.280
Reject this current preliminary decision,
02:54:48.280 --> 02:54:51.160
and find a more equitable way forward.
02:54:51.160 --> 02:54:52.730
Thank you.
02:54:52.730 --> 02:54:53.563
Thank you.
02:54:53.563 --> 02:54:55.010
Operator, next caller, please.
02:54:56.918 --> 02:54:58.880
Our next caller is Kevin Grundy.
02:54:58.880 --> 02:54:59.730
You may go ahead.
02:55:05.540 --> 02:55:06.920
I've been a solar customer
02:55:06.920 --> 02:55:10.350
with San Diego Gas and Electric since 2002.
02:55:10.350 --> 02:55:12.210
There are four things we all need to do
02:55:12.210 --> 02:55:14.460
to stop this uncontrolled profit gouging
02:55:14.460 --> 02:55:17.650
by energy providers, like San Diego Gas and Electric.
02:55:17.650 --> 02:55:20.000
First, we should elect a different Governor,
02:55:20.000 --> 02:55:23.550
one that prioritizes increasing green energy production
02:55:23.550 --> 02:55:25.590
over corporate profiteering.
02:55:25.590 --> 02:55:28.960
Second, the Public Utility Commission, as it exists today,
02:55:28.960 --> 02:55:30.000
should be abolished,
02:55:30.000 --> 02:55:32.820
and replaced with a voter-approved panel of regular citizens
02:55:32.820 --> 02:55:34.360
whose pockets aren't being lined
02:55:34.360 --> 02:55:37.690
by the corporations they're supposed to be overseeing.
02:55:37.690 --> 02:55:40.950
Third, we need to encourage our cities, like San Diego,
02:55:40.950 --> 02:55:42.340
to opt out of their agreement
02:55:42.340 --> 02:55:44.450
with shareholder-owned utilities,
02:55:44.450 --> 02:55:47.100
and instead, replace them with publicly-owned utilities,
02:55:47.100 --> 02:55:48.710
like they have in Sacramento,
02:55:48.710 --> 02:55:52.330
which has some of the lowest utility rates in the state.
02:55:52.330 --> 02:55:55.690
Finally, customers like myself with off-grid systems
02:55:55.690 --> 02:55:57.230
that are just connected to the grid
02:55:57.230 --> 02:55:58.780
to back-feed our excess energy
02:55:58.780 --> 02:56:00.550
should go completely off-grid,
02:56:00.550 --> 02:56:02.670
and return our meters to their owners.
02:56:02.670 --> 02:56:04.440
California law does not prevent us
02:56:04.440 --> 02:56:06.430
from going completely off grid.
02:56:06.430 --> 02:56:07.510
So instead of making
(bell dinging)
02:56:07.510 --> 02:56:10.630
money from our three cent-
Thank you very much.
02:56:10.630 --> 02:56:12.463
Operator, the next caller, please.
02:56:16.030 --> 02:56:18.080
Our next caller is Harold Birdman.
02:56:18.080 --> 02:56:18.930
You may go ahead.
02:56:23.730 --> 02:56:24.820
Hello.
02:56:24.820 --> 02:56:27.290
I'm a renter, and I'm retired.
02:56:27.290 --> 02:56:29.340
I'm a renter in a large apartment building.
02:56:29.340 --> 02:56:31.870
I have no ulterior financial motive in saying
02:56:31.870 --> 02:56:34.410
this proposal is a complete outrage.
02:56:34.410 --> 02:56:37.430
The exact opposite of what California should be doing.
02:56:37.430 --> 02:56:40.320
We face potentially catastrophic climate change.
02:56:40.320 --> 02:56:42.810
We should be encouraging the use of rooftop solar,
02:56:42.810 --> 02:56:44.520
not discouraging it.
02:56:44.520 --> 02:56:48.010
The justifications for the proposal are completely bogus.
02:56:48.010 --> 02:56:49.780
Solar power users pay for the grid
02:56:49.780 --> 02:56:51.900
exactly like every other customer.
02:56:51.900 --> 02:56:53.690
Why should they pay more?
02:56:53.690 --> 02:56:56.780
Why is power from rooftop solar that fights climate change
02:56:56.780 --> 02:57:00.830
worth 80%, less than power from fossil fuels,
02:57:00.830 --> 02:57:03.090
which contribute to climate change?
02:57:03.090 --> 02:57:05.910
This proposal is a craven surrender
02:57:05.910 --> 02:57:07.990
to the power companies' greed,
02:57:07.990 --> 02:57:10.320
an exact opposite of what you,
02:57:10.320 --> 02:57:13.500
members of the CPUC, should be doing.
02:57:13.500 --> 02:57:14.333
Thank you.
02:57:15.360 --> 02:57:16.610
Thank you.
02:57:16.610 --> 02:57:18.310
Operator, our next caller, please.
02:57:20.333 --> 02:57:21.900
Our next caller is Scott Evans.
02:57:21.900 --> 02:57:22.750
You may go ahead.
02:57:24.640 --> 02:57:25.473
Good afternoon.
02:57:25.473 --> 02:57:26.380
My name is Scott Evans,
02:57:26.380 --> 02:57:29.260
and I am a resident of Inglewood, California,
02:57:29.260 --> 02:57:30.770
currently installing rooftop solar,
02:57:30.770 --> 02:57:32.380
purchased from a California small business,
02:57:32.380 --> 02:57:34.040
because I believe in strongly
02:57:34.040 --> 02:57:36.340
in reducing my personal impact on the environment,
02:57:36.340 --> 02:57:39.230
and reducing my reliance and burden on the electric grid.
02:57:39.230 --> 02:57:41.430
I've already reduced my home energy usage to a point.
02:57:41.430 --> 02:57:42.760
Your proposed solar tax
02:57:42.760 --> 02:57:44.560
will exceed my average electric bill,
02:57:44.560 --> 02:57:46.100
in effect, punishing me financially
02:57:46.100 --> 02:57:48.420
for doing the right thing for the environment, our air,
02:57:48.420 --> 02:57:50.760
and for over-burdened electric grid.
02:57:50.760 --> 02:57:53.520
My city averages 263 days a year of sun,
02:57:53.520 --> 02:57:55.050
ranking it with other California cities
02:57:55.050 --> 02:57:57.790
among the sunniest in the entire country.
02:57:57.790 --> 02:57:58.680
It is also located in the
02:57:58.680 --> 02:58:00.630
densest urban region of the country.
02:58:00.630 --> 02:58:02.060
Rooftop solar is an ideal means
02:58:02.060 --> 02:58:04.560
of achieving California's goals in reducing pollution,
02:58:04.560 --> 02:58:06.530
combating climate change, and wildfires,
02:58:06.530 --> 02:58:08.020
protecting our open spaces,
02:58:08.020 --> 02:58:10.200
and fortifying our under-maintained electric grid.
02:58:10.200 --> 02:58:12.500
It is unconscionable a California State regulator
02:58:12.500 --> 02:58:13.960
would propose drastically increasing
02:58:13.960 --> 02:58:16.590
the cost of rooftop solar in the face of these goals.
02:58:16.590 --> 02:58:18.130
The goal should be to make rooftop solar
02:58:18.130 --> 02:58:20.880
as accessible to as many Californians as possible.
02:58:20.880 --> 02:58:22.940
Your responsibility as a public regulator
02:58:22.940 --> 02:58:25.710
is to protect people, not utility profits.
02:58:25.710 --> 02:58:27.330
Thank you.
02:58:27.330 --> 02:58:28.230
Thank you.
02:58:28.230 --> 02:58:29.883
Operator, next caller, please.
02:58:32.550 --> 02:58:34.490
Our next caller is Steve Chang.
02:58:34.490 --> 02:58:35.340
You may go ahead.
02:58:36.480 --> 02:58:38.320
Thanks, President Jennings
02:58:38.320 --> 02:58:40.460
and Commission members for this discussion.
02:58:40.460 --> 02:58:42.500
I know you're put in a bind.
02:58:42.500 --> 02:58:47.500
But here, I'm affiliated also with SunPower,
02:58:48.450 --> 02:58:50.083
a top-rated company.
02:58:51.020 --> 02:58:55.263
Wanna echo the valid points of the previous callers,
02:58:57.015 --> 02:58:59.933
and just wanna say that,
02:59:02.810 --> 02:59:05.990
this is one of those, where you vote yes on NEM3,
02:59:05.990 --> 02:59:10.990
if you want more extreme fires
02:59:11.150 --> 02:59:14.053
and windstorms that we just had,
02:59:16.490 --> 02:59:18.760
then you would wanna vote yes.
02:59:18.760 --> 02:59:21.450
But here, I'm also powering my home
02:59:21.450 --> 02:59:26.010
and electric minivan with solar, the ultimate solution.
02:59:26.010 --> 02:59:29.013
Why we would wanna stymie that progress is,
02:59:29.013 --> 02:59:31.213
it's up to you to explain.
02:59:32.200 --> 02:59:34.530
And also, to add on,
02:59:34.530 --> 02:59:36.500
I had a bunch of valid points,
02:59:36.500 --> 02:59:38.080
but they've all been covered.
02:59:38.080 --> 02:59:40.660
It's kinda like the ozone layer.
02:59:40.660 --> 02:59:42.480
When we found there was a hole,
02:59:42.480 --> 02:59:45.158
we fixed that as a world.
02:59:45.158 --> 02:59:47.930
Okay?
(bell dinging)
02:59:47.930 --> 02:59:49.430
Thank you very much.
02:59:49.430 --> 02:59:51.130
Operator, the next caller, please.
02:59:53.190 --> 02:59:55.040
Our next caller is Sam Johnson.
02:59:55.040 --> 02:59:55.913
You may go ahead.
02:59:58.620 --> 03:00:01.060
Hi, thanks for taking the time
03:00:01.060 --> 03:00:03.320
to listen to all our comments.
03:00:03.320 --> 03:00:04.190
My name's Sam Johnson.
03:00:04.190 --> 03:00:06.440
I work with SunPower by Green Convergence.
03:00:06.440 --> 03:00:08.510
I'm a solar energy consultant.
03:00:08.510 --> 03:00:10.860
Been in the in industry for about eight years.
03:00:10.860 --> 03:00:13.990
And yeah, it's been a huge blessing for me and my family.
03:00:13.990 --> 03:00:16.147
I am the sole provider of my family.
03:00:16.147 --> 03:00:18.660
I have a beautiful wife and little girl,
03:00:18.660 --> 03:00:21.023
who's six-years-old, and she's homeschooled.
03:00:21.971 --> 03:00:25.050
And in this industry and this job just helped me
03:00:25.050 --> 03:00:26.730
provide in a really wonderful way
03:00:27.954 --> 03:00:29.848
to give the life to my wife and daughter
03:00:29.848 --> 03:00:32.210
that's what's right for us.
03:00:32.210 --> 03:00:33.760
And in addition to all the
03:00:33.760 --> 03:00:36.110
thousands upon thousands of other people
03:00:36.110 --> 03:00:38.520
in the exact same situation as me,
03:00:38.520 --> 03:00:41.150
this whole proposal, Net Metering 3,
03:00:41.150 --> 03:00:43.220
completely contradicts everything
03:00:43.220 --> 03:00:45.513
the state of California is incentivized.
03:00:46.660 --> 03:00:48.750
There's zero justification for it.
03:00:48.750 --> 03:00:50.870
I mean, I think it's extremely obvious
03:00:50.870 --> 03:00:55.426
that there's no good will or rational justification for it.
03:00:55.426 --> 03:00:59.340
It's obviously a massive greed and power grab,
03:00:59.340 --> 03:01:02.560
which only corruption and greed could possibly explain.
03:01:02.560 --> 03:01:05.310
So it doesn't even seem to make sense
03:01:05.310 --> 03:01:08.180
that we've come this far to have to have this conversation.
03:01:08.180 --> 03:01:11.361
But nonetheless, I think-
(bell dinging)
03:01:11.361 --> 03:01:12.194
Thank you.
03:01:12.194 --> 03:01:13.270
Thank you very much.
03:01:13.270 --> 03:01:14.770
Operator, next caller, please.
03:01:19.090 --> 03:01:21.520
Our next caller is Serena Sarah.
03:01:21.520 --> 03:01:22.653
You may go ahead.
03:01:24.060 --> 03:01:25.110
Thank you.
03:01:25.110 --> 03:01:27.300
Thank you, CPUC and amazing callers.
03:01:27.300 --> 03:01:28.850
Like many Bay Area imports,
03:01:28.850 --> 03:01:30.980
we'll ship our green dream out of California,
03:01:30.980 --> 03:01:34.360
if Governor Newsom and CPUC taxes all the user,
03:01:34.360 --> 03:01:36.270
and so impedes the rights of middle
03:01:36.270 --> 03:01:38.450
and lower income classes to breathe clean,
03:01:38.450 --> 03:01:40.930
and live healthy green.
03:01:40.930 --> 03:01:43.470
We are Newsom voters, progressive, ethnically diverse,
03:01:43.470 --> 03:01:45.660
high tax paying, US naturalized,
03:01:45.660 --> 03:01:49.550
award-winning energy saving expertise, immigrant family.
03:01:49.550 --> 03:01:52.600
My sister in the UK is a founding member of Rising Up.
03:01:52.600 --> 03:01:54.300
Later, became Extinction Rebellion.
03:01:54.300 --> 03:01:56.480
She's been present to many of these courses.
03:01:56.480 --> 03:01:58.420
We'll have to sell out on our investments,
03:01:58.420 --> 03:02:00.962
our much loved solar energy home in the Hills.
03:02:00.962 --> 03:02:02.720
We just got solar.
03:02:02.720 --> 03:02:06.330
We'll ship out our on our green dream, just as Newsom is,
03:02:06.330 --> 03:02:10.200
and move away from California,
03:02:10.200 --> 03:02:13.160
and taking our electrical vehicles with us.
03:02:13.160 --> 03:02:17.050
We call on Governor Newsom to honor his voting promise
03:02:17.050 --> 03:02:19.560
for keeping net metering as it was.
03:02:19.560 --> 03:02:23.400
No M3, which is just a PG&E profit only.
03:02:23.400 --> 03:02:25.010
And no solar tax.
03:02:25.010 --> 03:02:28.880
Or face the consequences of November the eighth, 2022.
03:02:28.880 --> 03:02:29.713
Thank you.
03:02:31.040 --> 03:02:31.873
Thank you.
03:02:31.873 --> 03:02:33.790
Operator, next caller, please.
03:02:35.040 --> 03:02:36.850
Our next caller is Daniel Ames.
03:02:36.850 --> 03:02:37.700
You may go ahead.
03:02:39.132 --> 03:02:40.460
Thank you.
03:02:40.460 --> 03:02:41.900
Several decades ago,
03:02:41.900 --> 03:02:43.530
former California Governor, Jerry Brown,
03:02:43.530 --> 03:02:46.603
continued the legislative push for renewable solar energy,
03:02:46.603 --> 03:02:49.010
a very worthy and worthwhile goal,
03:02:49.010 --> 03:02:52.800
but this, unfortunately, came at a hidden cost at the CPUC,
03:02:52.800 --> 03:02:56.210
not keeping technically competent, long-term,
03:02:56.210 --> 03:02:59.112
knowledgeable regulators on the CPUC staff prioritized
03:02:59.112 --> 03:03:02.290
to ensure our utilities kept the grid
03:03:02.290 --> 03:03:04.440
well maintained and safe.
03:03:04.440 --> 03:03:07.180
The recent loss of life, property, and ensuing lawsuits,
03:03:07.180 --> 03:03:08.900
25 billion in known settlements,
03:03:08.900 --> 03:03:11.940
has motivated these corporate controlled power companies
03:03:11.940 --> 03:03:14.430
to have the extraordinarily powerful CPUC
03:03:14.430 --> 03:03:17.770
shift the cost to ratepayers with on-grid solar.
03:03:17.770 --> 03:03:19.433
Unfortunately, California wildfires have done
03:03:19.433 --> 03:03:22.233
emitted more carbon than offset by solar energy,
03:03:22.233 --> 03:03:23.830
because these utilities
03:03:23.830 --> 03:03:27.250
and the CPUC did not do their job competently.
03:03:27.250 --> 03:03:30.030
The NEM 3.0 proposal will shift the cost
03:03:30.030 --> 03:03:31.480
to those who went solar.
03:03:31.480 --> 03:03:32.435
This is not fair.
03:03:32.435 --> 03:03:34.380
We need a better solution.
03:03:34.380 --> 03:03:35.270
We'll be watching.
03:03:35.270 --> 03:03:36.950
Please stay on the right side,
03:03:36.950 --> 03:03:38.730
or be on the right side of history.
03:03:38.730 --> 03:03:40.280
Don't make me consider disconnecting
03:03:40.280 --> 03:03:42.260
my 16-year-old solar system.
03:03:42.260 --> 03:03:43.703
Thank you, Daniel Ames.
03:03:44.840 --> 03:03:45.673
Thank you.
03:03:45.673 --> 03:03:47.163
Operator, next caller, please.
03:03:48.980 --> 03:03:51.380
Our next caller is Luis Portillo.
03:03:51.380 --> 03:03:52.230
You may go ahead.
03:03:57.570 --> 03:03:58.403
Good afternoon.
03:03:58.403 --> 03:03:59.236
My name's Luis Portillo.
03:03:59.236 --> 03:04:00.069
I'm the president
03:04:00.069 --> 03:04:02.530
and CEO of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership.
03:04:02.530 --> 03:04:05.060
I wanna express our appreciation to the Commission
03:04:05.060 --> 03:04:05.940
for the proposed station,
03:04:05.940 --> 03:04:09.090
which begins to address the cost shift that exists.
03:04:09.090 --> 03:04:10.540
But we are concerned that the proposed station
03:04:10.540 --> 03:04:12.710
doesn't remove the cost shift entirely.
03:04:12.710 --> 03:04:15.890
The current rooftop solar structure is inequitable,
03:04:15.890 --> 03:04:17.930
and places unnecessary burdens
03:04:17.930 --> 03:04:19.530
on those that can least support it.
03:04:19.530 --> 03:04:21.740
Without meaningful reforms of non-solar,
03:04:21.740 --> 03:04:23.680
small businesses and residents will continue to pay
03:04:23.680 --> 03:04:26.850
higher electricity bills to subsidize solar customers.
03:04:26.850 --> 03:04:28.250
Rooftop solar is an important part
03:04:28.250 --> 03:04:30.080
of the state's clean energy portfolio,
03:04:30.080 --> 03:04:33.570
but it should not be achieved on the backs of low income
03:04:33.570 --> 03:04:35.260
and middle income Californians.
03:04:35.260 --> 03:04:38.070
We urge the Commission to approve the proposed decision.
03:04:38.070 --> 03:04:38.903
Thank you.
03:04:39.900 --> 03:04:41.460
Thank you.
03:04:41.460 --> 03:04:43.260
Operator, next caller, please.
03:04:45.960 --> 03:04:48.323
Our next caller is Nick Batacosian.
03:04:48.323 --> 03:04:49.423
You may go ahead.
03:04:50.900 --> 03:04:52.360
Hello, Commissioners.
03:04:52.360 --> 03:04:53.800
Thank you for taking our comments.
03:04:53.800 --> 03:04:55.290
My name is Nick Batacosian,
03:04:55.290 --> 03:04:56.420
and I'm an electrical engineer
03:04:56.420 --> 03:04:58.580
and contractor based in Los Angeles.
03:04:58.580 --> 03:05:01.080
I've been in the solar industry for 11 years,
03:05:01.080 --> 03:05:02.780
and I'm proud to be part of this industry
03:05:02.780 --> 03:05:05.093
that does so much good on a daily basis.
03:05:06.150 --> 03:05:07.760
Unfortunately, this proposal will be
03:05:07.760 --> 03:05:09.490
devastating to our industry,
03:05:09.490 --> 03:05:11.300
but it will be even worse for consumers,
03:05:11.300 --> 03:05:14.130
and I wanna take a moment to advocate on their behalf.
03:05:14.130 --> 03:05:15.240
Over the past decade,
03:05:15.240 --> 03:05:17.730
the dream of solar ownership has become reality for people
03:05:17.730 --> 03:05:20.280
of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
03:05:20.280 --> 03:05:21.300
This is now under attack.
03:05:21.300 --> 03:05:24.260
So I urge you to reject not only this proposal,
03:05:24.260 --> 03:05:26.440
but also the spirit behind this proposal,
03:05:26.440 --> 03:05:29.920
which is against competition, and against consumer choice.
03:05:29.920 --> 03:05:32.890
I urge you, as Senator Feinstein did in her letter,
03:05:32.890 --> 03:05:34.380
to be on the right side of history
03:05:34.380 --> 03:05:35.970
when we look back on this moment,
03:05:35.970 --> 03:05:38.020
and enact policies that will encourage
03:05:38.020 --> 03:05:39.470
the growth of rooftop solar.
03:05:39.470 --> 03:05:40.303
Thank you.
03:05:41.340 --> 03:05:42.310
Thank you.
03:05:42.310 --> 03:05:43.810
Operator, next caller, please.
03:05:45.980 --> 03:05:47.740
Our next caller is Leslie Gaynor.
03:05:47.740 --> 03:05:48.590
You may go ahead.
03:05:49.920 --> 03:05:51.030
Thank you.
03:05:51.030 --> 03:05:52.340
My name is Leslie Gaynor.
03:05:52.340 --> 03:05:55.190
I'm the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Clean Solar
03:05:55.190 --> 03:05:56.280
in San Jose.
03:05:56.280 --> 03:05:58.850
I've lived in California my entire life.
03:05:58.850 --> 03:06:01.757
I've been working in the solar space for over 10 years now,
03:06:01.757 --> 03:06:03.510
and I manage and coach our inside
03:06:03.510 --> 03:06:06.940
and outside sales teams who create the opportunity every day
03:06:06.940 --> 03:06:09.930
for our customers to make the world literally
03:06:09.930 --> 03:06:12.340
a better place than it was before.
03:06:12.340 --> 03:06:17.290
All of our over 50 employees at Clean Solar receive a W2,
03:06:17.290 --> 03:06:20.777
health benefits, and access to 401K.
03:06:20.777 --> 03:06:23.490
NEM in California has also helped the solar industry
03:06:23.490 --> 03:06:26.410
grow to meet our state's climate goals.
03:06:26.410 --> 03:06:28.470
The current NEM3 proposed decision
03:06:28.470 --> 03:06:30.080
would punish solar customers,
03:06:30.080 --> 03:06:32.290
and devastate our industry.
03:06:32.290 --> 03:06:35.130
As proposed, this is a disaster.
03:06:35.130 --> 03:06:37.350
I respectfully request that you reject
03:06:37.350 --> 03:06:40.470
the current NEM3 proposal decision as written.
03:06:40.470 --> 03:06:41.303
Thank you.
03:06:42.210 --> 03:06:43.043
Thank you.
03:06:43.043 --> 03:06:44.473
Operator, next caller, please.
03:06:46.400 --> 03:06:48.320
Our next caller is Kay Bonnie.
03:06:48.320 --> 03:06:49.170
You may go ahead.
03:07:01.957 --> 03:07:04.230
And it looks like Kay has disconnected.
03:07:04.230 --> 03:07:07.230
Our next caller is Joanie Eisen.
03:07:07.230 --> 03:07:08.600
You may go ahead.
03:07:08.600 --> 03:07:10.110
Good morning, Commissioners.
03:07:10.110 --> 03:07:12.240
Please fix this proposal.
03:07:12.240 --> 03:07:13.820
Surely you can find a solution
03:07:13.820 --> 03:07:15.120
that doesn't penalize people
03:07:15.120 --> 03:07:16.870
for doing what they thought, and still think,
03:07:16.870 --> 03:07:18.810
was the right thing?
03:07:18.810 --> 03:07:21.110
20 years ago, my husband and I had solar panels
03:07:21.110 --> 03:07:23.750
put on the roof of our house in San Francisco,
03:07:23.750 --> 03:07:25.310
a separate system for each floor,
03:07:25.310 --> 03:07:27.300
because each floor has a different address,
03:07:27.300 --> 03:07:29.480
and therefore, a different PG&E account.
03:07:29.480 --> 03:07:31.660
So we got solar panels for our tenant
03:07:31.660 --> 03:07:32.920
in the first floor flat
03:07:32.920 --> 03:07:35.370
for the same reason we got panels for us,
03:07:35.370 --> 03:07:37.600
to do something positive for the environment
03:07:37.600 --> 03:07:39.860
by producing clean energy from the sun,
03:07:39.860 --> 03:07:42.690
and to save everyone some money in the process.
03:07:42.690 --> 03:07:43.906
We are not rich,
03:07:43.906 --> 03:07:46.310
but imagine how our tenant will feel
03:07:46.310 --> 03:07:47.810
if you enact this proposal,
03:07:47.810 --> 03:07:52.310
and suddenly add a large monthly fee to his electric bill.
03:07:52.310 --> 03:07:53.830
The tenant would get punished
03:07:53.830 --> 03:07:56.580
because his landlord provided him with solar panels,
03:07:56.580 --> 03:07:59.240
because we thought it was the right thing to do.
03:07:59.240 --> 03:08:01.330
Does that sound fair to you?
03:08:01.330 --> 03:08:02.530
Thank you for listening.
03:08:03.630 --> 03:08:04.463
Thank you.
03:08:04.463 --> 03:08:06.033
Operator, next caller, please.
03:08:08.330 --> 03:08:10.360
Our next caller is Taylor Turnbull.
03:08:10.360 --> 03:08:11.210
You may go ahead.
03:08:15.280 --> 03:08:17.280
Hello, can you hear me?
03:08:17.280 --> 03:08:18.640
Yes, we can.
03:08:18.640 --> 03:08:19.790
Hi, my name's Taylor Turnbull.
03:08:19.790 --> 03:08:22.950
I work for Sunrun, and live in Encinitas.
03:08:22.950 --> 03:08:23.783
Seven years ago,
03:08:23.783 --> 03:08:26.830
I moved from Utah to California with my wife, Missy,
03:08:26.830 --> 03:08:28.720
and our five young children.
03:08:28.720 --> 03:08:30.930
We moved here for the opportunity to work
03:08:30.930 --> 03:08:32.950
in the best solar state,
03:08:32.950 --> 03:08:35.380
because Rocky Mountain Power had implemented
03:08:35.380 --> 03:08:39.380
a similar tariff to what the CPUC is now proposing,
03:08:39.380 --> 03:08:43.090
and it ended solar in the state of Utah.
03:08:43.090 --> 03:08:46.930
I manage an organization of over 1500 people
03:08:46.930 --> 03:08:49.010
here in Southern California,
03:08:49.010 --> 03:08:52.890
many of whom have also relocated from out of state
03:08:52.890 --> 03:08:55.870
for the opportunity to work in this industry.
03:08:55.870 --> 03:08:57.870
I speak for all of us when I say,
03:08:57.870 --> 03:09:02.640
the proposed NEM 3.0 decision would kill our jobs,
03:09:02.640 --> 03:09:05.940
and force many of us to move to other states
03:09:05.940 --> 03:09:07.790
for different opportunities.
03:09:07.790 --> 03:09:11.470
It's the CPUC's responsibility to represent the public.
03:09:11.470 --> 03:09:14.840
The public is speaking, and you must reject this.
03:09:14.840 --> 03:09:15.673
Thank you.
03:09:16.580 --> 03:09:17.413
Thank you.
03:09:17.413 --> 03:09:19.053
Operator, next caller, please.
03:09:22.173 --> 03:09:23.830
Our next caller is Jim Adams.
03:09:23.830 --> 03:09:24.680
You may go ahead.
03:09:27.200 --> 03:09:28.690
Yes, my name is Jim Adams,
03:09:28.690 --> 03:09:30.880
and I live in Bakersfield.
03:09:30.880 --> 03:09:33.200
I am strongly opposed to the recent proposal
03:09:33.200 --> 03:09:36.400
for Net Energy Metering 3.0.
03:09:36.400 --> 03:09:38.030
The proposal is punitive
03:09:38.030 --> 03:09:41.630
for all existing residential solar systems,
03:09:41.630 --> 03:09:44.300
and for all future are new systems.
03:09:44.300 --> 03:09:46.457
Particular troubling is the reduction
03:09:46.457 --> 03:09:50.740
of the grandfathering provision from 20 to 15 years,
03:09:50.740 --> 03:09:54.280
and a solar tax based on a system size.
03:09:54.280 --> 03:09:57.480
I urge the PUC to come up with a new proposal
03:09:57.480 --> 03:10:00.960
that will increase electrical generation from solar
03:10:00.960 --> 03:10:03.590
that is fair to all stakeholders.
03:10:03.590 --> 03:10:06.390
We must work together to provide California
03:10:06.390 --> 03:10:08.430
with clean, affordable power.
03:10:08.430 --> 03:10:09.263
Thank you.
03:10:10.510 --> 03:10:11.460
Thank you.
03:10:11.460 --> 03:10:13.160
Operator, our next caller, please.
03:10:15.187 --> 03:10:19.780
Our next caller is Marshall Weisman.
03:10:19.780 --> 03:10:20.630
You may go ahead.
03:10:23.690 --> 03:10:25.410
Yeah, 10 years ago,
03:10:25.410 --> 03:10:28.020
I was staring at an outrageous electric bill,
03:10:28.020 --> 03:10:30.810
and I was concerned about my climate change
03:10:30.810 --> 03:10:33.090
and reducing my carbon footprint.
03:10:33.090 --> 03:10:34.910
The best way I could solve that problem
03:10:34.910 --> 03:10:37.913
was by putting rooftop solar on my roof.
03:10:38.900 --> 03:10:41.860
In Virginia, the cost for electricity right now
03:10:41.860 --> 03:10:44.010
is 12 cents a kilowatt.
03:10:44.010 --> 03:10:45.860
I'm currently paying in San Diego,
03:10:45.860 --> 03:10:48.760
36 to 49 cents a kilowatt,
03:10:48.760 --> 03:10:51.450
four times what it costs in other states.
03:10:51.450 --> 03:10:52.970
The Commission needs to stop
03:10:52.970 --> 03:10:55.510
the out of control utility money grab,
03:10:55.510 --> 03:10:57.750
drop the tiered rate structure,
03:10:57.750 --> 03:11:00.080
and encourage solar roof panels.
03:11:00.080 --> 03:11:01.870
No one should pay a penalty
03:11:01.870 --> 03:11:04.173
for putting solar panels on their roof.
03:11:05.170 --> 03:11:06.680
Thank you.
03:11:06.680 --> 03:11:07.640
Thank you.
03:11:07.640 --> 03:11:09.323
Operator, next caller, please.
03:11:11.570 --> 03:11:15.322
Our next caller is Robert Levering.
03:11:15.322 --> 03:11:16.323
You may go ahead.
03:11:17.550 --> 03:11:20.010
Yes, my name is Robert Levering.
03:11:20.010 --> 03:11:22.960
I live in Ben Lomond, which is in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
03:11:24.030 --> 03:11:26.420
We're very conscious of climate change here,
03:11:26.420 --> 03:11:30.053
as we were evacuated two years ago because of the wildfire.
03:11:31.020 --> 03:11:32.920
We put solar panels on our house
03:11:32.920 --> 03:11:35.573
to do our part to fight global warming.
03:11:36.470 --> 03:11:38.310
I'm calling because I'm very upset
03:11:38.310 --> 03:11:42.830
that the PUC is even considering levying a solar tax.
03:11:42.830 --> 03:11:44.780
I can't believe that Governor Newsome
03:11:44.780 --> 03:11:47.000
would go along with PG&E,
03:11:47.000 --> 03:11:49.760
rather than with those of us who've made sacrifices
03:11:49.760 --> 03:11:51.970
to do something for the environment.
03:11:51.970 --> 03:11:54.330
Please, PUC members and Governor Newsom,
03:11:54.330 --> 03:11:57.290
make it easier, rather than harder,
03:11:57.290 --> 03:11:58.813
for people to go solar.
03:12:02.060 --> 03:12:02.893
Thank you.
03:12:02.893 --> 03:12:04.690
Operator, next caller, please.
03:12:06.440 --> 03:12:08.840
Our next caller is Ben Montclair.
03:12:08.840 --> 03:12:09.690
You may go ahead.
03:12:12.140 --> 03:12:14.350
Hello, my name is Ben Montclair.
03:12:14.350 --> 03:12:17.323
I'm giving you a call from Richmond, California.
03:12:18.180 --> 03:12:20.403
I've been in the solar industry 14 years.
03:12:21.290 --> 03:12:26.290
Today, 100% of the speakers have come out against this PD.
03:12:27.100 --> 03:12:28.745
We've heard from people
03:12:28.745 --> 03:12:31.010
who are fighting for their livelihoods,
03:12:31.010 --> 03:12:33.820
and those of tens of thousands of families
03:12:35.200 --> 03:12:38.343
who rely on solar policy to put food on the table.
03:12:40.020 --> 03:12:43.320
I joined these hundreds of direct stakeholders
03:12:43.320 --> 03:12:46.980
in calling for you to reject this proposed decision.
03:12:46.980 --> 03:12:48.380
Good net metering policy
03:12:48.380 --> 03:12:50.920
would create fairness for individuals
03:12:50.920 --> 03:12:53.740
and companies who wish to invest in solar
03:12:53.740 --> 03:12:57.690
at their properties, and would protect the integrity
03:12:57.690 --> 03:12:59.490
of an increasingly distributed grid.
03:12:59.490 --> 03:13:03.780
The Hub-and-Spoke energy infrastructure model
03:13:03.780 --> 03:13:07.063
is vulnerable by design, and we see that every fire season.
03:13:09.220 --> 03:13:13.570
A distributed system is a pathway to a greater,
03:13:13.570 --> 03:13:15.323
to greater energy security.
03:13:17.530 --> 03:13:20.100
This PD would break the market,
03:13:20.100 --> 03:13:21.330
and would undermine California's
03:13:21.330 --> 03:13:22.597
global leadership in equity
Thank you very much.
03:13:22.597 --> 03:13:24.140
and environment.
Thank you for your comment.
03:13:24.140 --> 03:13:25.083
Thank you for the
03:13:25.083 --> 03:13:26.189
opportunity to speak.
Operator,
03:13:26.189 --> 03:13:27.183
the next caller, please.
03:13:29.820 --> 03:13:32.590
Our next caller is Sam Gopinathan.
03:13:32.590 --> 03:13:33.440
You may go ahead.
03:13:35.180 --> 03:13:36.013
Thank you.
03:13:36.013 --> 03:13:37.400
Can you hear me?
03:13:37.400 --> 03:13:39.502
Yes, we can.
03:13:39.502 --> 03:13:40.713
Thank you.
03:13:40.713 --> 03:13:43.973
I was looking at the mission statement for CPUC.
03:13:44.925 --> 03:13:48.110
It says, "CPUC serves public interest
03:13:48.110 --> 03:13:50.287
by protecting consumers".
03:13:51.268 --> 03:13:55.300
NEM 3.0 is not protecting the consumers.
03:13:55.300 --> 03:13:57.523
It is protecting the utility companies.
03:13:59.240 --> 03:14:02.540
And ensuring the probation of safe,
03:14:02.540 --> 03:14:05.200
reliability utility services,
03:14:05.200 --> 03:14:07.663
and infrastructure at a reasonable rate.
03:14:09.320 --> 03:14:13.160
This proposal increases rate for the consumers.
03:14:13.160 --> 03:14:14.900
So it's not reasonable.
03:14:14.900 --> 03:14:18.680
With a commitment to environmental enhancement
03:14:18.680 --> 03:14:20.980
and healthy California economy,
03:14:22.158 --> 03:14:26.733
NEM 3.0 will result in a lot of job losses.
03:14:27.700 --> 03:14:28.980
I'm a homeowner.
03:14:28.980 --> 03:14:32.420
I'm not representing the solar industry.
03:14:32.420 --> 03:14:35.350
I'm a homeowner who put the initiative
03:14:35.350 --> 03:14:38.910
of putting solar on my rooftop
03:14:38.910 --> 03:14:42.439
as the right thing to do to protect the environment
03:14:42.439 --> 03:14:44.450
(bell dinging)
for clean energy-
03:14:44.450 --> 03:14:46.520
Thank You.
Thank you very much.
03:14:46.520 --> 03:14:48.263
Operator, next caller, please.
03:14:52.485 --> 03:14:55.320
And our next caller is Danett Abbott-Wicker.
03:14:55.320 --> 03:14:56.170
You may go ahead.
03:14:57.320 --> 03:14:58.656
Hi, thank you so much.
03:14:58.656 --> 03:15:00.140
Can you hear me?
03:15:00.140 --> 03:15:00.973
Yes, we can.
03:15:00.973 --> 03:15:01.860
Please proceed.
03:15:02.919 --> 03:15:04.170
Danett Abbott-Wicker.
03:15:04.170 --> 03:15:06.840
I'm in the City of Orange.
03:15:06.840 --> 03:15:09.150
I oppose the proposed decision,
03:15:09.150 --> 03:15:10.980
and the only way to fix it
03:15:10.980 --> 03:15:13.890
is no solar tax of any kind,
03:15:13.890 --> 03:15:16.227
ensure that solar becomes more affordable for working
03:15:16.227 --> 03:15:19.240
and middle class households, not less,
03:15:19.240 --> 03:15:22.423
honor the existing 20 year protection for solar users.
03:15:23.670 --> 03:15:26.660
Consumers should be able to control their energy bills.
03:15:26.660 --> 03:15:29.790
We're getting socked with endless rate hikes.
03:15:29.790 --> 03:15:32.990
Consumers should be able to control their energy bills,
03:15:32.990 --> 03:15:34.370
and not be penalized for it,
03:15:34.370 --> 03:15:37.300
especially if we are expected to switch
03:15:37.300 --> 03:15:40.140
to electric cars and appliances.
03:15:40.140 --> 03:15:41.780
Thank you.
03:15:41.780 --> 03:15:42.710
Thank you.
03:15:42.710 --> 03:15:44.393
Operator, next caller, please.
03:15:47.360 --> 03:15:49.230
Our next caller is Kimberly Calvert.
03:15:49.230 --> 03:15:50.080
You may go ahead.
03:15:51.780 --> 03:15:54.170
Hi, thank you for taking my call.
03:15:54.170 --> 03:15:55.957
I'm a proud resident of California,
03:15:55.957 --> 03:15:57.640
and my heart is breaking
03:15:57.640 --> 03:15:59.980
listening to all of these hardworking people
03:15:59.980 --> 03:16:01.620
who would be losing their livelihoods
03:16:01.620 --> 03:16:03.910
with the passing of NEM3.
03:16:03.910 --> 03:16:05.330
I don't understand how this proposal
03:16:05.330 --> 03:16:07.180
is even up for consideration.
03:16:07.180 --> 03:16:09.527
It will clearly be handcuffing consumers
03:16:09.527 --> 03:16:13.240
so that monopolistic utility companies can make more money
03:16:13.240 --> 03:16:14.713
from the burning of fossil fuels.
03:16:14.713 --> 03:16:17.460
The only way we will ever get close
03:16:17.460 --> 03:16:19.580
to reversing our global carbon footprint
03:16:19.580 --> 03:16:23.520
is by encouraging citizens to put solar on their rooftops.
03:16:23.520 --> 03:16:25.710
If you take that away through this proposal,
03:16:25.710 --> 03:16:28.270
we'll be taking a huge step backward.
03:16:28.270 --> 03:16:30.540
California has always been a leader
03:16:30.540 --> 03:16:31.960
on all things environment.
03:16:31.960 --> 03:16:33.360
If we pass NEM3,
03:16:33.360 --> 03:16:35.410
we will be sending a message to the rest of the world
03:16:35.410 --> 03:16:37.910
that it's okay not to make green energy a priority,
03:16:37.910 --> 03:16:41.000
and to continue using fossil fuels for energy.
03:16:41.000 --> 03:16:42.380
It most certainly will create
03:16:42.380 --> 03:16:44.750
a massive domino effect around the globe.
03:16:44.750 --> 03:16:46.630
Do you want that on your conscience?
03:16:46.630 --> 03:16:48.480
Every single action we take,
03:16:48.480 --> 03:16:50.270
every single proposal we pass,
03:16:50.270 --> 03:16:51.650
needs to be moving in a direction
03:16:51.650 --> 03:16:54.850
towards more renewable energy, not less.
03:16:54.850 --> 03:16:56.350
I am begging you as a parent,
03:16:56.350 --> 03:16:57.950
and as a citizen of our planet,
03:16:57.950 --> 03:16:59.370
not to pass NEM3.
03:16:59.370 --> 03:17:00.960
Thank you.
03:17:00.960 --> 03:17:01.920
Thank you.
03:17:01.920 --> 03:17:03.620
Operator, our next caller, please.
03:17:05.570 --> 03:17:07.750
Our next caller is Judith Small.
03:17:07.750 --> 03:17:08.883
You may go ahead.
03:17:09.893 --> 03:17:11.170
This is Judith Small.
03:17:11.170 --> 03:17:12.003
I live in Berkeley,
03:17:12.003 --> 03:17:15.000
and I have four little granddaughters close by.
03:17:15.000 --> 03:17:16.510
Pretty soon, my oldest granddaughter
03:17:16.510 --> 03:17:19.040
will start understanding about climate change.
03:17:19.040 --> 03:17:20.610
She's going to ask questions like,
03:17:20.610 --> 03:17:24.070
what are we going to do to stop this, Granny J?
03:17:24.070 --> 03:17:24.903
I wanna tell her,
03:17:24.903 --> 03:17:27.840
that the panels on my roof are part of the solution,
03:17:27.840 --> 03:17:31.020
that more and more Californians can now have solar panels,
03:17:31.020 --> 03:17:32.890
that the sun belongs to everyone,
03:17:32.890 --> 03:17:36.030
and that everyone can afford to help cool our Earth.
03:17:36.030 --> 03:17:38.880
But if this proposal stands, I can't say that.
03:17:38.880 --> 03:17:41.780
That's why it's essential to reject this proposed tax,
03:17:41.780 --> 03:17:44.670
to keep solar affordable for all Californians,
03:17:44.670 --> 03:17:46.660
their children, and their grandchildren.
03:17:46.660 --> 03:17:47.493
Thank you.
03:17:48.390 --> 03:17:49.380
Thank you.
03:17:49.380 --> 03:17:50.933
Operator, next caller, please.
03:17:52.790 --> 03:17:54.540
Our next caller is Deborah Harrington.
03:17:54.540 --> 03:17:55.390
You may go ahead.
03:17:57.800 --> 03:17:59.010
Thank you.
03:17:59.010 --> 03:18:02.410
I would like to express my opposition
03:18:02.410 --> 03:18:04.440
to the proposal before you,
03:18:04.440 --> 03:18:07.723
that will financially affect all homeowners in California.
03:18:09.510 --> 03:18:10.930
All these homeowners have taken
03:18:10.930 --> 03:18:12.610
the financial responsibilities
03:18:12.610 --> 03:18:15.120
to install solar to their homes
03:18:15.120 --> 03:18:18.261
to provide a direct benefit to the electrical companies,
03:18:18.261 --> 03:18:21.180
and reducing the impact on the grid.
03:18:21.180 --> 03:18:22.460
Without these homeowners,
03:18:22.460 --> 03:18:26.440
the state would be in a constant state of rolling blackouts.
03:18:26.440 --> 03:18:29.570
We are the ones you should be supporting,
03:18:29.570 --> 03:18:32.610
and not financially punishing.
03:18:32.610 --> 03:18:37.610
The electrical companies want our generated electricity.
03:18:38.260 --> 03:18:39.093
At the same time,
03:18:39.093 --> 03:18:42.110
they want to charge us providing that energy.
03:18:42.110 --> 03:18:46.350
I see myself as an energy provider to SDG&E,
03:18:46.350 --> 03:18:49.750
and where would an energy provider agree to be charged
03:18:49.750 --> 03:18:51.540
for providing a service?
03:18:51.540 --> 03:18:54.230
This is nothing more than backstabbing homeowners.
03:18:54.230 --> 03:18:55.990
Unacceptable!
03:18:55.990 --> 03:18:57.780
Where is the initiative in the future
03:18:57.780 --> 03:19:00.120
for homeowners to participate?
03:19:00.120 --> 03:19:02.540
You need homeowners and should be doing
03:19:02.540 --> 03:19:06.220
whatever it takes to-
(bell dinging)
03:19:06.220 --> 03:19:07.053
Thank you.
03:19:07.053 --> 03:19:07.886
Thank you very much.
03:19:07.886 --> 03:19:09.131
Operator, next caller, please.
03:19:09.131 --> 03:19:14.020
Our next caller is Christopher Young.
03:19:14.020 --> 03:19:14.870
You may go ahead.
03:19:18.340 --> 03:19:19.173
Good afternoon.
03:19:19.173 --> 03:19:20.730
My name is Christopher Young.
03:19:20.730 --> 03:19:24.070
I'm calling from Ojai, California, Ventura County,
03:19:24.070 --> 03:19:26.150
and I am the chair of the
03:19:26.150 --> 03:19:28.463
Climate Reality Project of Ventura County.
03:19:29.303 --> 03:19:32.730
I'm the primary organizer of Fridays for Future of Ojai.
03:19:32.730 --> 03:19:35.420
I'm a member of the Ventura Climate Coalition.
03:19:35.420 --> 03:19:37.920
I very much appreciate you listening to all of us.
03:19:39.050 --> 03:19:41.310
And what inspiring, rational,
03:19:41.310 --> 03:19:46.020
and informed comments from callers thus far.
03:19:46.020 --> 03:19:48.880
I certainly oppose the current decision.
03:19:48.880 --> 03:19:52.890
I support no solar tax of any kind,
03:19:52.890 --> 03:19:55.040
ensuring solar becomes affordable,
03:19:55.040 --> 03:19:56.910
more affordable, not less.
03:19:56.910 --> 03:19:57.743
And of course,
03:19:57.743 --> 03:20:01.690
honoring the 20 year existing protection for solar users.
03:20:01.690 --> 03:20:04.240
While your deliberation obviously
03:20:05.340 --> 03:20:06.870
centers on California policy,
03:20:06.870 --> 03:20:09.420
I trust that you see it as more than that,
03:20:09.420 --> 03:20:11.970
given that your decision will influence
03:20:11.970 --> 03:20:15.250
our collective ability to address climate change,
03:20:15.250 --> 03:20:17.243
and to protect life on Earth.
03:20:18.330 --> 03:20:21.200
It's obvious that rooftop solar supports grid resilience,
03:20:21.200 --> 03:20:22.600
reduces our carbon footprint,
03:20:22.600 --> 03:20:24.670
and mitigates some of the damage
03:20:24.670 --> 03:20:27.670
caused by private utility monopolies.
03:20:27.670 --> 03:20:28.503
(bell dinging)
At this time-
03:20:28.503 --> 03:20:30.460
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
03:20:30.460 --> 03:20:31.293
Thank you.
03:20:31.293 --> 03:20:32.463
Operator, next caller.
03:20:34.940 --> 03:20:37.440
Our next caller is Kirk Bueller.
03:20:37.440 --> 03:20:38.290
You may go ahead.
03:20:40.460 --> 03:20:42.980
Hi, my name's Kirk Mueller with Action Energy
03:20:42.980 --> 03:20:44.763
here in Santa Barbara, California.
03:20:45.880 --> 03:20:48.220
I'm just gonna echo the sentiment of everyone.
03:20:48.220 --> 03:20:51.780
It's quite evident that the current NEM3 proposal
03:20:51.780 --> 03:20:52.990
is absolute garbage.
03:20:52.990 --> 03:20:55.690
I'm surprised it got to this point where we're at now.
03:20:56.950 --> 03:20:59.050
With NEM3 going through as proposed,
03:20:59.050 --> 03:21:00.660
many people will lose their jobs.
03:21:00.660 --> 03:21:03.380
Many homeowners will be left with a solar system
03:21:03.380 --> 03:21:05.410
that's not doing what it's promised to do.
03:21:05.410 --> 03:21:09.230
And I trust that the CPUC will act
03:21:09.230 --> 03:21:12.810
in the best interests of California,
03:21:12.810 --> 03:21:14.740
and work together with solar
03:21:14.740 --> 03:21:19.740
and the utility companies to revise NEM3.
03:21:20.050 --> 03:21:21.550
Thank you.
03:21:21.550 --> 03:21:22.390
Thank you.
03:21:22.390 --> 03:21:24.090
Operator, our next caller, please.
03:21:27.900 --> 03:21:30.580
Our next caller is Nate Knott.
03:21:30.580 --> 03:21:32.100
You may go ahead.
03:21:32.100 --> 03:21:34.880
Yes, thank you for this opportunity to speak.
03:21:34.880 --> 03:21:37.620
Nate Knott in Stockton, California,
03:21:37.620 --> 03:21:41.610
also representing the CEEE organization.
03:21:41.610 --> 03:21:45.270
I urgently ask you to reject this proposal
03:21:45.270 --> 03:21:47.100
for several reasons.
03:21:47.100 --> 03:21:51.100
Increasing NEM charges will reduce
03:21:51.100 --> 03:21:53.140
or almost eliminate installation.
03:21:53.140 --> 03:21:56.320
My installation of my panels was done by local people,
03:21:56.320 --> 03:21:58.260
who were people of color,
03:21:58.260 --> 03:22:00.570
and it was great employment for them.
03:22:00.570 --> 03:22:02.790
It was done with made in USA material,
03:22:02.790 --> 03:22:04.180
something I haven't heard today.
03:22:04.180 --> 03:22:06.640
If we have more expensive or less solar,
03:22:06.640 --> 03:22:07.860
we're gonna wind up having
03:22:07.860 --> 03:22:10.690
made in China panels and materials,
03:22:10.690 --> 03:22:12.540
because they might be cheaper.
03:22:12.540 --> 03:22:14.330
Whereas, we keep the current incentives,
03:22:14.330 --> 03:22:17.313
we can stay with American-made products and American labor.
03:22:18.660 --> 03:22:20.070
If you put more power
03:22:20.070 --> 03:22:22.690
on the PG&E strain by reducing solar,
03:22:22.690 --> 03:22:25.030
then PG&E's going to come back later
03:22:25.030 --> 03:22:26.330
and ask for rate increases,
03:22:26.330 --> 03:22:29.060
because there'll be more strain on the grid.
03:22:29.060 --> 03:22:31.560
Raising the rates does not level the playing field
03:22:31.560 --> 03:22:33.370
for all economic people.
03:22:33.370 --> 03:22:34.973
It just makes it unaffordable.
03:22:36.010 --> 03:22:37.550
A better-
(bell dinging)
03:22:37.550 --> 03:22:39.015
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
03:22:39.015 --> 03:22:41.690
Operator, next caller, please.
03:22:44.440 --> 03:22:46.853
Our next caller is Steven Hadglade.
03:22:48.160 --> 03:22:49.010
You may go ahead.
03:22:50.435 --> 03:22:52.180
Hi, my name is Steve Hadglade,
03:22:52.180 --> 03:22:54.820
and I live in El Dorado Hills.
03:22:54.820 --> 03:22:57.840
I'm a retiree, a prospective grandparent,
03:22:57.840 --> 03:23:01.360
and I'm very much worried about climate change.
03:23:01.360 --> 03:23:03.680
That's why I'm calling to urge the Commission
03:23:03.680 --> 03:23:08.680
to reject the proposed $57 a month fee on rooftop solar.
03:23:10.160 --> 03:23:13.730
It amounts to a tax on clean energy.
03:23:13.730 --> 03:23:15.570
If you look at it analytically,
03:23:15.570 --> 03:23:17.470
a monthly rooftop solar fee
03:23:17.470 --> 03:23:21.740
operates like a carbon tax, except backwards.
03:23:21.740 --> 03:23:25.330
A carbon tax combats climate change.
03:23:25.330 --> 03:23:26.163
How?
03:23:26.163 --> 03:23:28.580
By raising the cost of fossil fuels,
03:23:28.580 --> 03:23:30.660
and increasing incentives to adopt
03:23:30.660 --> 03:23:33.290
clean energy alternatives,
03:23:33.290 --> 03:23:36.510
but a rooftop solar tax does the opposite.
03:23:36.510 --> 03:23:39.690
It discourages investment in clean energy,
03:23:39.690 --> 03:23:44.170
and makes fossil fuels more attractive in comparison.
03:23:44.170 --> 03:23:45.660
To protect our environment,
03:23:45.660 --> 03:23:47.620
I urge the Commission to reject
03:23:47.620 --> 03:23:51.034
the proposed tax on rooftop solar.
03:23:51.034 --> 03:23:52.503
Thank you.
03:23:52.503 --> 03:23:53.460
Thank you.
03:23:53.460 --> 03:23:55.143
Operator, next caller, please.
03:23:57.400 --> 03:23:59.610
Our next caller is Crystal Wysong.
03:23:59.610 --> 03:24:00.460
You may go ahead.
03:24:03.990 --> 03:24:06.830
Hi, my name is Crystal Wysong.
03:24:06.830 --> 03:24:08.370
My husband and I are homeowners
03:24:08.370 --> 03:24:10.650
in the desert community of Joshua Tree,
03:24:10.650 --> 03:24:12.210
located in the Morongo Basin,
03:24:12.210 --> 03:24:16.270
which is in the Southern California Mojave Desert.
03:24:16.270 --> 03:24:18.070
We have solar panels.
03:24:18.070 --> 03:24:19.520
We are still on the grid.
03:24:19.520 --> 03:24:21.107
Our main reason for installing solar
03:24:21.107 --> 03:24:24.870
was to protect the desert, the planet, and mankind itself,
03:24:24.870 --> 03:24:26.440
not to pay for the poor judgment
03:24:26.440 --> 03:24:31.410
and bad decisions of our state utility, utilities, sorry.
03:24:31.410 --> 03:24:33.320
I would like to echo what the
03:24:33.320 --> 03:24:35.320
Morongo Basin Conservation Association
03:24:35.320 --> 03:24:39.230
and the Mojave Desert Land Trust have already stated.
03:24:39.230 --> 03:24:42.680
Please reject this proposal that hurts individuals,
03:24:42.680 --> 03:24:45.330
small businesses, our precious environment,
03:24:45.330 --> 03:24:47.600
and because it is the right thing to do.
03:24:47.600 --> 03:24:48.970
Thank you.
03:24:48.970 --> 03:24:49.820
Thank you.
03:24:49.820 --> 03:24:51.520
Operator, our next caller, please.
03:24:53.260 --> 03:24:56.350
Our next caller is Joel Schaben.
03:24:56.350 --> 03:24:57.303
You may go ahead.
03:24:58.524 --> 03:25:02.850
Yes, I oppose the proposed CPUC action
03:25:02.850 --> 03:25:06.820
that allows California utilities to impose a solar tax,
03:25:06.820 --> 03:25:09.920
called the Grid Participation Charge,
03:25:09.920 --> 03:25:11.853
on those with rooftop solar.
03:25:14.230 --> 03:25:17.270
It threatens California's climate change goals,
03:25:17.270 --> 03:25:19.000
and everyone's efforts to reduce
03:25:20.574 --> 03:25:22.060
global greenhouse gas emissions.
03:25:22.060 --> 03:25:23.827
I have solar on my roof,
03:25:23.827 --> 03:25:27.060
and I paid thousands of dollars for that installation.
03:25:27.060 --> 03:25:30.210
In effect, a power generator
03:25:30.210 --> 03:25:33.270
providing electrical energy to PG&E.
03:25:33.270 --> 03:25:34.713
In addition, I help meet,
03:25:35.590 --> 03:25:38.760
PG&E meet its resource allocation
03:25:38.760 --> 03:25:41.980
for renewable energy required by the state.
03:25:41.980 --> 03:25:46.610
And now they want people like me to pay monthly
03:25:46.610 --> 03:25:50.270
for providing this electricity to PG&E's grid.
03:25:50.270 --> 03:25:52.890
This is beyond unfair and unreasonable.
03:25:52.890 --> 03:25:53.963
It's a travesty.
03:25:55.450 --> 03:25:59.057
It will destroy the solar installation industry,
03:25:59.057 --> 03:26:03.941
and the jobs of as many as 60 to 70,000
03:26:03.941 --> 03:26:06.387
Californians employed-
(bell dinging)
03:26:06.387 --> 03:26:08.230
Thank you very much.
03:26:08.230 --> 03:26:10.103
Operator, next caller, please.
03:26:11.630 --> 03:26:13.780
Our next caller is Kathleen Singer.
03:26:13.780 --> 03:26:14.630
You may go ahead.
03:26:16.600 --> 03:26:18.940
Hello, my name is Kathleen Singer.
03:26:18.940 --> 03:26:21.760
I'm calling here from Lancaster, California.
03:26:21.760 --> 03:26:23.810
I'm with Advanced Conservation Systems,
03:26:23.810 --> 03:26:25.610
DBA, Solar Powered Independence.
03:26:25.610 --> 03:26:28.630
I've been working in the solar industry for seven years,
03:26:28.630 --> 03:26:31.100
which is basically my entire adult life.
03:26:31.100 --> 03:26:32.750
I'm very passionate about solar.
03:26:32.750 --> 03:26:35.490
I think that it does great things for our community,
03:26:35.490 --> 03:26:39.360
the whole Antelope Valley, and all of California.
03:26:39.360 --> 03:26:44.360
My primary job is to help customers with interconnections.
03:26:44.520 --> 03:26:47.060
That's one of the major job functions of mine.
03:26:47.060 --> 03:26:48.143
I've been with customers, you know,
03:26:48.143 --> 03:26:50.740
with the transition from NEM 1.0 to 2.0.
03:26:51.680 --> 03:26:54.220
And I just don't think that with NEM 3.0
03:26:54.220 --> 03:26:56.300
we'd be able to go on.
03:26:56.300 --> 03:26:58.980
We've been here for 39 years,
03:26:58.980 --> 03:27:00.890
and this is very important to me.
03:27:00.890 --> 03:27:02.460
Thank you.
03:27:02.460 --> 03:27:03.370
Thank you.
03:27:03.370 --> 03:27:05.070
Operator, our next caller, please.
03:27:06.880 --> 03:27:09.000
Our next caller is Rob Holley.
03:27:09.000 --> 03:27:09.850
You may go ahead.
03:27:10.710 --> 03:27:12.750
Hi, this is Rob Holley from San Jose.
03:27:12.750 --> 03:27:14.530
I'm a member of the Solar Rights Alliance,
03:27:14.530 --> 03:27:16.320
and I was in Sacramento to deliver
03:27:16.320 --> 03:27:19.560
the 125,000 signatures to the Governor,
03:27:19.560 --> 03:27:21.890
and stood with the solar workers in San Francisco
03:27:21.890 --> 03:27:23.980
that NEM3 will rob of a job.
03:27:23.980 --> 03:27:25.650
I echo the other speakers.
03:27:25.650 --> 03:27:28.068
Stop all solar taxes!
03:27:28.068 --> 03:27:30.307
Support an NEM that works for working
03:27:30.307 --> 03:27:32.070
and middle class families.
03:27:32.070 --> 03:27:35.170
Don't change the rules on existing installations.
03:27:35.170 --> 03:27:38.300
Put solar on rooftops, instead of our open space.
03:27:38.300 --> 03:27:40.500
We need solar and batteries to keep our lights on,
03:27:40.500 --> 03:27:44.030
since we can no longer rely on the utilities to do so.
03:27:44.030 --> 03:27:46.850
Finally, ditch the cost shift nonsense.
03:27:46.850 --> 03:27:48.520
Your draft conveniently omits
03:27:48.520 --> 03:27:51.800
the detailed Vibrant study that refutes this myth.
03:27:51.800 --> 03:27:52.633
Thank you.
03:27:53.930 --> 03:27:54.920
Thank you.
03:27:54.920 --> 03:27:56.853
Operator, the next caller, please.
03:27:58.330 --> 03:28:00.820
Our next caller is Heidi Harmon.
03:28:00.820 --> 03:28:01.670
You may go ahead.
03:28:04.690 --> 03:28:05.523
Thank you so much.
03:28:05.523 --> 03:28:08.320
I'm directing my comments to Governor Newsom.
03:28:08.320 --> 03:28:10.740
As the recent former mayor of San Luis Obispo,
03:28:10.740 --> 03:28:12.800
I was honored to host you many times,
03:28:12.800 --> 03:28:15.320
and I've been proud to campaign on your behalf.
03:28:15.320 --> 03:28:17.380
I went to bat for you during the recall,
03:28:17.380 --> 03:28:19.500
which, as I'm sure you can imagine,
03:28:19.500 --> 03:28:21.100
was at the daily personal cost
03:28:21.100 --> 03:28:22.975
to my mental health on social media.
03:28:22.975 --> 03:28:25.470
And I did all of these things because I believe in you,
03:28:25.470 --> 03:28:26.770
and I believe in your courage
03:28:26.770 --> 03:28:28.660
and commitment to the next generation.
03:28:28.660 --> 03:28:30.420
And I'm speaking to you now
03:28:30.420 --> 03:28:32.600
to ask that you do everything that you can
03:28:32.600 --> 03:28:34.070
to keep rooftop solar alive
03:28:34.070 --> 03:28:36.280
at this critical time in history.
03:28:36.280 --> 03:28:38.130
I'm now the Senior Public Affairs Director
03:28:38.130 --> 03:28:39.380
at Let's Green California,
03:28:39.380 --> 03:28:41.210
and I spend a lot of my time thinking about
03:28:41.210 --> 03:28:42.263
how California can reach its
03:28:42.263 --> 03:28:45.830
2030 GHD emission reduction goals.
03:28:45.830 --> 03:28:47.960
And at our current rate of emissions reductions,
03:28:47.960 --> 03:28:50.820
we won't reach our goals until 2063.
03:28:50.820 --> 03:28:52.940
And we certainly won't come anywhere close
03:28:52.940 --> 03:28:55.080
if rooftop solar energy generation
03:28:55.080 --> 03:28:57.880
becomes out of reach for California's families.
03:28:57.880 --> 03:28:59.970
As a former mayor, climate activist,
03:28:59.970 --> 03:29:03.150
rooftop solar owner, and most importantly, a mother,
03:29:03.150 --> 03:29:06.300
I am asking you to support rooftop solar for all,
03:29:06.300 --> 03:29:07.570
and not to tax it.
03:29:07.570 --> 03:29:08.403
Thank you.
03:29:09.380 --> 03:29:10.220
Thank you.
03:29:10.220 --> 03:29:11.920
Operator, our next caller, please.
03:29:13.996 --> 03:29:15.860
And our next caller is Markus Messiah.
03:29:15.860 --> 03:29:16.710
You may go ahead.
03:29:24.680 --> 03:29:25.770
Sorry about that.
03:29:25.770 --> 03:29:27.240
My name is Markus Messiah.
03:29:27.240 --> 03:29:30.880
I'm with a nonprofit called The Good Guys.
03:29:30.880 --> 03:29:32.120
And to be honest with you,
03:29:32.120 --> 03:29:34.820
I feel like we're having the wrong conversation right now.
03:29:34.820 --> 03:29:37.750
I feel like NEM 3.0 should be introducing
03:29:37.750 --> 03:29:41.640
a soft phase out of current utility companies,
03:29:41.640 --> 03:29:43.180
and a slow adoption of solar
03:29:43.180 --> 03:29:46.240
as a permanent method of power production.
03:29:46.240 --> 03:29:48.490
'Cause let's just play this out for a second.
03:29:49.453 --> 03:29:52.200
Let's say, NEM 3.0 gets pushed through,
03:29:52.200 --> 03:29:53.520
unemployment will go up,
03:29:53.520 --> 03:29:55.790
electric use will stress out the grid,
03:29:55.790 --> 03:29:58.030
causing more blackouts, causing more fires,
03:29:58.030 --> 03:29:59.660
and drive the population to move away,
03:29:59.660 --> 03:30:01.363
and take their business with them.
03:30:02.450 --> 03:30:03.950
But if you love the air you breathe
03:30:03.950 --> 03:30:05.100
and the Earth you walk on,
03:30:05.100 --> 03:30:10.100
you'll see through the NEM 3.0 ploy, and save California.
03:30:11.070 --> 03:30:12.200
For just a second,
03:30:12.200 --> 03:30:14.260
imagine California with less brush fires
03:30:16.038 --> 03:30:17.335
and less ruling blackouts.
03:30:17.335 --> 03:30:18.168
(scoffs) Sounds like heaven, I'm sure.
03:30:18.168 --> 03:30:20.340
Or, you know, we can keep setting our land on fire,
03:30:20.340 --> 03:30:22.590
gouging our citizens for more profit,
03:30:22.590 --> 03:30:24.090
and leave nothing for our kids,
03:30:24.090 --> 03:30:26.563
but at least the utilities will get rich.
03:30:27.420 --> 03:30:30.660
Regardless of what they whisper in your ear, CPUC,
03:30:30.660 --> 03:30:33.090
if you approve the current NEM 3.0,
03:30:33.090 --> 03:30:34.660
it will be the tipping point
(bell dinging)
03:30:34.660 --> 03:30:36.710
that brings America to its knees.
03:30:36.710 --> 03:30:38.630
Thank you very much.
03:30:38.630 --> 03:30:40.363
Operator, next caller, please.
03:30:43.130 --> 03:30:45.530
Our next caller is Theresa Benosa.
03:30:45.530 --> 03:30:46.380
You may go ahead.
03:30:52.043 --> 03:30:53.293
Hi!
03:30:54.780 --> 03:30:56.530
Good afternoon, Commissioners.
03:30:56.530 --> 03:30:58.260
I'm here to comment on the most recent
03:30:58.260 --> 03:30:59.890
biting the hand that warned you.
03:30:59.890 --> 03:31:02.700
I come from a humble, lower middle class beginning.
03:31:02.700 --> 03:31:03.970
I never felt poor,
03:31:03.970 --> 03:31:06.210
but my parents worked hard, as did I.
03:31:06.210 --> 03:31:09.390
I don't drink, party, smoke, do drugs, or gamble.
03:31:09.390 --> 03:31:12.050
I don't have tattoos or multiple piercings.
03:31:12.050 --> 03:31:15.780
I'm conservative in how I use my money and my utilities.
03:31:15.780 --> 03:31:16.870
Why?
03:31:16.870 --> 03:31:19.108
I saved and purchased solar,
03:31:19.108 --> 03:31:20.320
so that as I age into a fixed income,
03:31:20.320 --> 03:31:23.000
I could have electricity I would need to be comfortable
03:31:23.000 --> 03:31:24.240
in my retired years.
03:31:24.240 --> 03:31:27.840
Right now, I'm using solar to dry my clothes,
03:31:27.840 --> 03:31:30.790
and I'm living in a house that's set at 61 degrees.
03:31:30.790 --> 03:31:33.330
I was paying for electricity 10 years ago,
03:31:33.330 --> 03:31:36.700
and now you're asking me to pay more in taxes,
03:31:36.700 --> 03:31:39.550
and then what I was paying for electricity
03:31:39.550 --> 03:31:40.973
back when I got solar.
03:31:41.810 --> 03:31:44.160
Energy demands keep increasing in our lives,
03:31:44.160 --> 03:31:45.760
and I thought I prepared well.
03:31:45.760 --> 03:31:48.710
I've grown very tired of paying for other people
03:31:48.710 --> 03:31:50.500
and their poor decisions.
03:31:50.500 --> 03:31:53.630
If I had a choice to be off-grid, I would.
03:31:53.630 --> 03:31:58.181
I have no choice on who, what, if, or where.
03:31:58.181 --> 03:32:01.180
It's not-
(bell dinging)
03:32:01.180 --> 03:32:02.310
Thank you very much.
03:32:02.310 --> 03:32:04.010
Operator, our next caller, please.
03:32:05.350 --> 03:32:07.230
Our next caller is Jan Dietrich.
03:32:07.230 --> 03:32:08.576
You may go ahead.
03:32:08.576 --> 03:32:10.490
(male speaks indistinctly)
03:32:10.490 --> 03:32:14.300
So if the supervisor in that home district.
03:32:14.300 --> 03:32:16.340
Again, Jan Dietrich, your line is open.
03:32:16.340 --> 03:32:18.053
You may go ahead.
03:32:18.053 --> 03:32:20.739
Or was that supervisor parked, or no?
03:32:20.739 --> 03:32:21.635
(interposing voices)
03:32:21.635 --> 03:32:25.190
Oh, right.
Okay, yeah!
03:32:25.190 --> 03:32:27.080
Ms. Dietrich?
Or his friend.
03:32:27.080 --> 03:32:28.285
All right.
You may begin speaking.
03:32:28.285 --> 03:32:29.118
(electronic beeping)
03:32:29.118 --> 03:32:30.030
Sorry.
(male speaks indistinctly)
03:32:30.030 --> 03:32:32.430
Excuse me, Ms. Dietrich, your line is open.
03:32:32.430 --> 03:32:34.615
A complete jerk.
03:32:34.615 --> 03:32:36.870
(male speaks indistinctly)
03:32:36.870 --> 03:32:38.320
Should we go to the next caller?
03:32:38.320 --> 03:32:40.070
Yes, please, Operator.
03:32:41.040 --> 03:32:44.120
Our next caller is Naomi Cohen.
03:32:44.120 --> 03:32:45.682
You may go ahead.
03:32:45.682 --> 03:32:46.950
Yes, my name is Naomi Cohen,
03:32:46.950 --> 03:32:48.800
an attorney in LA County.
03:32:48.800 --> 03:32:51.230
California is burning to the ground.
03:32:51.230 --> 03:32:53.830
People are losing their homes, their livelihoods,
03:32:53.830 --> 03:32:56.030
their pets, and their lives!
03:32:56.030 --> 03:33:00.150
PGE's power grid is responsible for many of the fires
03:33:00.150 --> 03:33:02.110
and the loss of life!
03:33:02.110 --> 03:33:04.570
And it contributes much to the climate change
03:33:04.570 --> 03:33:06.370
that fuels these fires.
03:33:06.370 --> 03:33:10.170
Solar energy needs to be made less expensive
03:33:10.170 --> 03:33:11.300
and more accessible,
03:33:11.300 --> 03:33:15.200
so more people can help California not burn.
03:33:15.200 --> 03:33:18.400
The committee's proposal is outrageous!
03:33:18.400 --> 03:33:20.690
Because each of these proposed changes
03:33:20.690 --> 03:33:24.090
makes it less likely that people will install solar,
03:33:24.090 --> 03:33:28.710
and more likely that California will have more fires.
03:33:28.710 --> 03:33:31.470
And the proposals are deliberately designed
03:33:31.470 --> 03:33:32.880
to be outrageous,
03:33:32.880 --> 03:33:35.100
so that when the committee compromises,
03:33:35.100 --> 03:33:38.410
it can claim it is being reasonable,
03:33:38.410 --> 03:33:39.850
but any compromise,
03:33:39.850 --> 03:33:42.050
anything that makes it harder,
03:33:42.050 --> 03:33:44.104
more expensive to install solar, will be egregious,
03:33:44.104 --> 03:33:48.550
because it will condemn California to burn,
03:33:48.550 --> 03:33:50.110
and it will cost
(bell dinging)
03:33:50.110 --> 03:33:52.370
more Californians their lives!
03:33:52.370 --> 03:33:53.203
Thank you.
03:33:53.203 --> 03:33:54.036
Thank you.
03:33:54.036 --> 03:33:55.210
Thank you very much.
03:33:55.210 --> 03:33:58.120
Operator, next caller, please.
Thank you.
03:33:59.540 --> 03:34:02.270
Our next caller is from Benjamin Wisoff.
03:34:02.270 --> 03:34:03.120
You may go ahead.
03:34:08.260 --> 03:34:09.160
Hi, good morning,
03:34:09.160 --> 03:34:12.020
or good afternoon, President and Commissioners.
03:34:12.020 --> 03:34:12.973
Benjamin Wisoff here,
03:34:12.973 --> 03:34:15.280
a concerned citizen of Fremont, California
03:34:15.280 --> 03:34:17.460
on the disastrous NEM3 proposal.
03:34:17.460 --> 03:34:20.250
The foundation of the current PD is rotten,
03:34:20.250 --> 03:34:22.600
built on lies and specious logic,
03:34:22.600 --> 03:34:24.340
an outrageous and thinly veiled attempt
03:34:24.340 --> 03:34:27.770
by utility monopolies to scapegoat rooftop solar,
03:34:27.770 --> 03:34:28.760
rather than addressing
03:34:28.760 --> 03:34:31.540
their own negligence and shortcomings.
03:34:31.540 --> 03:34:35.490
The current NEM3 PD would murder retrofit rooftop solar
03:34:35.490 --> 03:34:38.340
through extreme disincentivization.
03:34:38.340 --> 03:34:40.100
And what about our housing crisis?
03:34:40.100 --> 03:34:43.270
California's Title 24 mandates solar install
03:34:43.270 --> 03:34:45.520
on all new home construction.
03:34:45.520 --> 03:34:46.910
Big win for clean energy.
03:34:46.910 --> 03:34:49.410
But this PD would penalize builders
03:34:49.410 --> 03:34:51.280
and homeowners by making
03:34:51.280 --> 03:34:53.610
new home ownership more unaffordable,
03:34:53.610 --> 03:34:57.070
imposing solar fines on all new home utility bills.
03:34:57.070 --> 03:34:58.500
Commissioners, it's your duty
03:34:58.500 --> 03:35:00.670
and obligation to protect the public.
03:35:00.670 --> 03:35:03.550
Throughout this corrupt dumpster fire of a proposal,
03:35:03.550 --> 03:35:05.170
rewrite NEM3 in the spirit
03:35:05.170 --> 03:35:08.420
and intent of our climate goal commitments
03:35:09.270 --> 03:35:11.960
to current and future generations.
03:35:11.960 --> 03:35:14.413
Thank you for your time and service.
03:35:15.330 --> 03:35:16.200
Thank you.
03:35:16.200 --> 03:35:17.963
Operator, next caller, please.
03:35:20.750 --> 03:35:22.680
Our next caller is Norene Griffin.
03:35:22.680 --> 03:35:23.530
You may go ahead.
03:35:25.510 --> 03:35:26.670
Thank you.
03:35:26.670 --> 03:35:27.810
My name's Norene Griffin.
03:35:27.810 --> 03:35:29.240
I live in Alameda.
03:35:29.240 --> 03:35:32.593
I do not have rooftop solar or work in the solar industry.
03:35:33.770 --> 03:35:35.240
I'm here today to ask you to reject
03:35:35.240 --> 03:35:36.830
the proposed NEM3 decision.
03:35:36.830 --> 03:35:38.790
It will make rooftop solar less affordable
03:35:38.790 --> 03:35:41.663
and accessible for low and middle income Californians,
03:35:42.620 --> 03:35:45.220
which is the exact opposite of what needs to happen.
03:35:46.650 --> 03:35:48.910
Creating barriers to access for rooftop solar
03:35:48.910 --> 03:35:50.330
will make it harder for California
03:35:50.330 --> 03:35:52.150
to reduce reliance on fossil fuels
03:35:52.150 --> 03:35:53.663
and reach state climate goals.
03:35:54.920 --> 03:35:56.920
The state needs to triple its solar production
03:35:56.920 --> 03:35:58.020
to get off fossil fuels,
03:35:58.020 --> 03:35:59.280
and that can't be achieved
03:35:59.280 --> 03:36:01.790
with utility scale renewables alone.
03:36:01.790 --> 03:36:03.170
The impacts of climate change,
03:36:03.170 --> 03:36:06.380
which are increasingly increasing
03:36:06.380 --> 03:36:08.320
noticeably in severity every year,
03:36:08.320 --> 03:36:11.760
disproportionately affect lower income Californians,
03:36:11.760 --> 03:36:13.960
younger Californians, like my teenage son,
03:36:13.960 --> 03:36:15.560
and all future generations.
03:36:15.560 --> 03:36:17.980
That is the real equity issue here.
03:36:17.980 --> 03:36:19.280
An equitable outcome will be
03:36:19.280 --> 03:36:21.600
aligned with California's climate goals,
03:36:21.600 --> 03:36:24.657
will increase, not decrease, access to rooftop solar
03:36:24.657 --> 03:36:27.530
and its benefits for all Californians,
03:36:27.530 --> 03:36:29.020
and will honor the state's commitments
03:36:29.020 --> 03:36:32.107
to current solar customers and solar businesses.
03:36:32.107 --> 03:36:35.413
Thank you.
(bell dinging)
03:36:35.413 --> 03:36:36.760
Thank you.
03:36:36.760 --> 03:36:39.130
Please note that we will be taking a break
03:36:39.130 --> 03:36:41.690
at 2:00 PM for 15 minutes.
03:36:41.690 --> 03:36:45.170
So we'll take a few more calls until 2:00 PM.
03:36:45.170 --> 03:36:47.103
Operator, the next caller, please.
03:36:48.810 --> 03:36:50.880
Our next caller is Gordon Leppig.
03:36:50.880 --> 03:36:51.883
You may go ahead.
03:36:53.350 --> 03:36:54.183
Good afternoon.
03:36:54.183 --> 03:36:56.900
I'm the conservation chair for the North Coast chapter
03:36:56.900 --> 03:36:59.113
of the California Native Plant Society.
03:36:59.970 --> 03:37:02.420
Our chapter is opposed to the revision
03:37:02.420 --> 03:37:05.313
to net energy metering rules.
03:37:06.300 --> 03:37:07.950
The reason for our opposition,
03:37:07.950 --> 03:37:10.490
is that climate change is a grave environmental
03:37:10.490 --> 03:37:12.880
and humanitarian crisis.
03:37:12.880 --> 03:37:16.620
Thus, we need all the greenhouse gas emission-reducing,
03:37:16.620 --> 03:37:18.973
renewable energy as possible.
03:37:20.030 --> 03:37:23.300
But rooftop solar has considerable less,
03:37:23.300 --> 03:37:25.680
considerably less environmental impacts
03:37:25.680 --> 03:37:28.970
as solar and wind production in wildlands,
03:37:28.970 --> 03:37:32.993
such as desert, forest, and grassland prairie habitats.
03:37:34.250 --> 03:37:36.880
Yet, this rule, rule change,
03:37:36.880 --> 03:37:38.600
will substantially disincentivize
03:37:39.470 --> 03:37:42.880
future rooftop solar installation,
03:37:42.880 --> 03:37:46.700
and result in more wildland energy production,
03:37:46.700 --> 03:37:49.820
thus our opposition to the rule change.
03:37:49.820 --> 03:37:50.903
Thank you very much.
03:37:52.060 --> 03:37:52.893
Thank you.
03:37:52.893 --> 03:37:54.373
Operator, next caller, please.
03:37:56.780 --> 03:37:58.680
Our next caller is Bill Hilton.
03:37:58.680 --> 03:37:59.530
You may go ahead.
03:38:02.260 --> 03:38:03.370
Good afternoon.
03:38:03.370 --> 03:38:06.848
I'm Bill Hilton in Sunnyvale,
03:38:06.848 --> 03:38:09.100
and I thank you for this opportunity
03:38:09.100 --> 03:38:13.170
to speak as an individual concerned about climate justice,
03:38:13.170 --> 03:38:16.090
and as a rooftop solar owner.
03:38:16.090 --> 03:38:21.090
I oppose the proposal that is publicly available for review.
03:38:22.040 --> 03:38:24.940
The proposal will stifle new rooftop solar,
03:38:24.940 --> 03:38:28.460
and make achievement of the state's clean energy goals
03:38:28.460 --> 03:38:32.050
far more difficult, even unlikely.
03:38:32.050 --> 03:38:34.520
One estimate is a 20% drop
03:38:34.520 --> 03:38:37.910
in new rooftop solar installations next year.
03:38:37.910 --> 03:38:41.860
My estimate, based on added costs I'll incur,
03:38:41.860 --> 03:38:44.220
is a more drastic reduction.
03:38:44.220 --> 03:38:46.960
More importantly, for you and me,
03:38:46.960 --> 03:38:49.330
and our children and grandchildren,
03:38:49.330 --> 03:38:52.660
is that slower progress on combating climate change
03:38:52.660 --> 03:38:54.870
will make living in the future
03:38:54.870 --> 03:38:58.520
much more difficult, even dangerous.
03:38:58.520 --> 03:39:00.240
For what benefits?
03:39:00.240 --> 03:39:02.603
To bolster PG&E's bottom line?
03:39:03.750 --> 03:39:06.610
Or some claim, it will make electric rates fairer
03:39:06.610 --> 03:39:08.160
for low income people,
03:39:08.160 --> 03:39:10.982
about $10 a month on average.
03:39:10.982 --> 03:39:13.400
Surely-
(bell dinging)
03:39:13.400 --> 03:39:14.840
Thank you very much.
03:39:14.840 --> 03:39:15.673
Operator,
Thank you.
03:39:15.673 --> 03:39:17.193
the next caller, please.
03:39:19.480 --> 03:39:21.780
Our next caller is Paul Newman.
03:39:21.780 --> 03:39:22.683
You may go ahead.
03:39:24.230 --> 03:39:25.063
Thank you.
03:39:25.063 --> 03:39:27.150
I'm the residence of Santa Monica,
03:39:27.150 --> 03:39:30.210
and I'm against this bill as well.
03:39:30.210 --> 03:39:32.730
In 2019, I put my solar panels up
03:39:32.730 --> 03:39:36.900
with the intent of reducing my electric bill,
03:39:36.900 --> 03:39:40.290
because we've had many heat waves, and it continues,
03:39:40.290 --> 03:39:42.680
and our summers seem to be longer,
03:39:42.680 --> 03:39:44.180
and the use of air conditioning
03:39:44.180 --> 03:39:45.940
is more important to my health.
03:39:45.940 --> 03:39:47.510
I'm a heart patient.
03:39:47.510 --> 03:39:51.470
So, you know, bringing in a tax on this
03:39:51.470 --> 03:39:53.490
is just despicable!
03:39:53.490 --> 03:39:57.523
And so I urge you, no, on NM3.
03:39:58.398 --> 03:39:59.781
Thank you.
03:39:59.781 --> 03:40:00.690
Thank you.
03:40:00.690 --> 03:40:02.463
Operator, next caller, please.
03:40:05.220 --> 03:40:07.070
Our next caller is Ann Harvey.
03:40:07.070 --> 03:40:07.920
You may go ahead.
03:40:08.870 --> 03:40:10.240
Hi, I'm in Ann Harvey,
03:40:10.240 --> 03:40:12.360
a retired family doctor in Oakland,
03:40:12.360 --> 03:40:15.070
and a member of Climate Health Now.
03:40:15.070 --> 03:40:16.870
To address the climate crisis
03:40:16.870 --> 03:40:20.710
and our state's unacceptable levels of deadly air pollution,
03:40:20.710 --> 03:40:24.940
we must quickly electrify our buildings and transportation,
03:40:24.940 --> 03:40:28.360
and rapidly expand renewables and storage.
03:40:28.360 --> 03:40:31.220
Extensive reliance on long distance transmission
03:40:31.220 --> 03:40:35.480
makes electricity more expensive and less reliable.
03:40:35.480 --> 03:40:37.870
Power outages, just like air pollution,
03:40:37.870 --> 03:40:39.910
particularly harm the poor,
03:40:39.910 --> 03:40:42.490
including people with chronic medical conditions,
03:40:42.490 --> 03:40:44.210
and those who can't afford to replace
03:40:44.210 --> 03:40:46.650
refrigerated foods that spoil.
03:40:46.650 --> 03:40:48.000
Imagine the broad impact
03:40:48.000 --> 03:40:50.640
once almost all our vehicles are electric.
03:40:50.640 --> 03:40:55.460
We absolutely need not only more solar, but local solar.
03:40:55.460 --> 03:40:57.510
The CPUC should do its part
03:40:57.510 --> 03:40:59.930
by making rooftop solar more affordable,
03:40:59.930 --> 03:41:02.260
especially for low income people.
03:41:02.260 --> 03:41:05.250
The proposed decision clearly does the opposite.
03:41:05.250 --> 03:41:07.840
I trust you will scrap it, and start over.
03:41:07.840 --> 03:41:08.673
Thank you.
03:41:10.020 --> 03:41:10.853
Thank you.
03:41:10.853 --> 03:41:12.493
Operator, next caller, please.
03:41:15.320 --> 03:41:16.690
Our next caller is Carol,
03:41:16.690 --> 03:41:18.830
I'm sorry, Carl Farrington.
03:41:18.830 --> 03:41:19.680
You may go ahead.
03:41:21.550 --> 03:41:22.383
Hello.
03:41:22.383 --> 03:41:26.200
Thank you, Commissioners, for taking our comments.
03:41:26.200 --> 03:41:27.160
As public servants
03:41:27.160 --> 03:41:29.710
and as stewards of California's energy infrastructure,
03:41:29.710 --> 03:41:34.130
I urge you to reject the NEM3 proposal of solar tax.
03:41:34.130 --> 03:41:34.963
For 30 years,
03:41:34.963 --> 03:41:37.730
the broad outline of the climate crisis have been clear.
03:41:37.730 --> 03:41:38.750
Throughout that time,
03:41:38.750 --> 03:41:41.480
our response has been political inaction,
03:41:41.480 --> 03:41:44.630
justified by corporate disinformation.
03:41:44.630 --> 03:41:47.580
Delays made the clean energy transition more difficult,
03:41:47.580 --> 03:41:49.193
but no less necessary.
03:41:50.150 --> 03:41:51.540
California's recent political
03:41:51.540 --> 03:41:54.180
commitment to carbon reduction
03:41:54.180 --> 03:41:57.400
has been a necessary positive step away from this history,
03:41:57.400 --> 03:41:59.580
and undermining that commitment
03:41:59.580 --> 03:42:02.820
for the purpose of propping up utility profits
03:42:02.820 --> 03:42:03.883
would be criminal.
03:42:04.920 --> 03:42:06.850
Utilities are looking for political cover
03:42:06.850 --> 03:42:09.390
by painting this as an equity issue.
03:42:09.390 --> 03:42:11.240
Equity is a concern that we should address
03:42:11.240 --> 03:42:13.050
by subsidizing energy efficiency
03:42:13.050 --> 03:42:16.760
and clean energy upgrades for low income consumers,
03:42:16.760 --> 03:42:19.200
not by preserving a business-as-usual model
03:42:19.200 --> 03:42:20.860
that's destroying our climate.
03:42:20.860 --> 03:42:21.693
Thank you.
03:42:23.060 --> 03:42:24.090
Thank you.
03:42:24.090 --> 03:42:26.620
And with that, we're at two o'clock,
03:42:26.620 --> 03:42:29.533
and we will be breaking for 15 minutes.
03:42:33.700 --> 03:42:35.640
This conference has resumed.
03:42:35.640 --> 03:42:37.440
President Reynolds, you may proceed.
03:42:38.760 --> 03:42:39.593
Thank you.
03:42:39.593 --> 03:42:42.223
We need to first establish a quorum.
03:42:43.385 --> 03:42:45.223
Will the clerk please call the role?
03:42:46.200 --> 03:42:47.700
Commissioner Houck?
Here.
03:42:49.347 --> 03:42:52.097
Commissioner Shiroma?
Present.
03:42:53.090 --> 03:42:56.530
Commissioner Rechtschaffen?
I'm here.
03:42:56.530 --> 03:42:58.933
President Reynolds?
Here.
03:43:02.630 --> 03:43:03.663
We have a quorum.
03:43:04.930 --> 03:43:06.440
We are now resuming the
03:43:06.440 --> 03:43:09.120
public comment portion of our meeting.
03:43:09.120 --> 03:43:12.600
Before we turn back to public comments,
03:43:12.600 --> 03:43:16.460
I wanted to let everyone who is waiting in the que know,
03:43:16.460 --> 03:43:19.630
that as we get later into the afternoon,
03:43:19.630 --> 03:43:21.840
if you are unable to remain on the line,
03:43:21.840 --> 03:43:25.210
you may submit your comment by email
03:43:25.210 --> 03:43:27.750
to the CPUC public advisor.
03:43:27.750 --> 03:43:31.883
I'm going to give you the email address now,
03:43:31.883 --> 03:43:33.574
so that you have it.
03:43:33.574 --> 03:43:38.574
The email address is Public.Advisor,
03:43:38.870 --> 03:43:42.910
A-D-V-I-S-O-R, @CPUC.CA.gov.
03:43:47.480 --> 03:43:50.303
Again, you may provide your comment by email.