Resources on the Solar "Cost Shift" in California
Background
General resources
National Academy of Sciences, “The Role of Net Metering in the Evolving Electricity System,” 2023, http://nap.nationalacademies.org/26704
Documents & materials supporting the claim
CPUC, “Utility Costs and Affordability of the Grid of the Future,” 2021, https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/divisions/office-of-governmental-affairs-division/reports/2021/senate-bill-695-report-2021-and-en-banc-whitepaper_final_04302021.pdf
Energy & Environmental Economics, ” Benefits and Costs of Net Energy Metering in Washington,” Dec. 21, 2023, https://www.ethree.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/E3_Benefits-and-Costs-of-Net-Energy-Metering-in-Washington_2023-12-21.pdf
Severin Borenstein, “Guess What Didn’t Kill Rooftop Solar,” Jan. 27, 2025, https://energyathaas.wordpress.com/2025/01/27/guess-what-didnt-kill-rooftop-solar/
Severin Borenstein, et al., “Paying for Electricity in California: How Residential Rate Design Impacts Equity and Electrification,” Next 10, Sept. 22, 2022, https://www.next10.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/Next10-paying-for-electricity-final-comp.pdf
Severin Borenstein, et al., “Designing Electricity Rates for An Equitable Energy Transition,” Next 10, Feb. 23, 2021, https://www.next10.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/Next10-electricity-rates-v2.pdf
Shelley Lyser, “Response to Claims that Rooftop Solar Creates Net Benefits for Non-Solar Customers,” California Public Advocate’s Office, Nov. 25, 2024, https://www.publicadvocates.cpuc.ca.gov/press-room/commentary/241125-nem-cost-shift-rebuttal
CPUC Response to Executive Order N-5-24, Feb. 18, 2025, https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/-/media/cpuc-website/industries-and-topics/reports/cpuc-response-to-executive-order-n-5-24.pdf
Documents & materials debunking the claim
Richard McCann, “How California’s Rooftop Solar Customers Benefit Other Ratepayers Financially to the Tune of $1.5 Billion,” Economics Outside the Cube, Nov. 15, 2024, https://mcubedecon.com/2024/11/14/how-californias-rooftop-solar-customers-benefit-other-ratepayers-financially-to-the-tune-of-1-5-billion/
Richard McCann, “Rooftop Solar is Essential,” presentation to California Alliance for Community Energy, Jan. 22, 2025, https://sustainablesystemsfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Rooftop-Solar-Is-Essential-1.22.25-short-version-Alliance.pptx.pdf
Jeff St. John, “California’s rooftop solar policy is killing its rooftop solar industry, Canary Media, Dec. 1, 2023, https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/californias-rooftop-solar-policy-is-killing-its-rooftop-solar-industry
Jeff St. John, “California’s rooftop solar is a benefit, not a cost, to the state,” Canary Media, Nov. 15, 2024, https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/solar/californias-rooftop-solar-is-a-benefit-not-a-cost-to-the-state
Solar Rights Alliance blog, https://solarrights.org/blog/category/blog/.
Solar Rights Alliance, “Let’s get rooftop solar growing for everyone,” ppt. presentation, n.d., https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1_5bZiBMeqZI6SEIOXHrPUJAyY_ikgOssD6yDvQg9G1E/edit?usp=sharing
Richard McCann, Brad Heavner and Bernadette Del Chiaro, “Rooftop Solar Reduces Costs for All Ratepayers,” February 18, 2025, https://calssa.org/s/CALSSA_Rooftop-Solar-Reduces-Costs-for-All-Ratepayers.pdf