California is biggest solar market in US
California rethinks rooftop solar rules
The state’s Public Utilities Commission proposes controversial changes to net-metering programme that would cut payments to homeowners in US’ largest solar market
Californian regulators could vote as soon as late January to radically change the state’s net-metering programme for rooftop solar in a move critics say could hamper growth in a market that is home to 1.3mn residential solar systems. The net-metering programme, which allows owners of solar panels to sell their excess power back to utilities, was instituted in 1995. Regulator the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has proposed reducing payments made to homeowners for selling power back to the grid. It would also impose higher fixed fees averaging some $40 per month to cover costs such as grid maintenance, expansion and wildfire remediation. The proposal is expected to double the ti
Also in this section
9 July 2025
Latin American country plans a cap-and-trade system and supports the scale-up of CCS as it prepares to host COP30
3 July 2025
European Commission introduces new flexibilities for member states to ease compliance with headline goal
1 July 2025
Supportive government policy, deforestation threat and economic opportunity drive forward the region’s monetisation of forest carbon
27 June 2025
TotalEnergies’ delayed FID for its Venus project will likely set back first oil, but Windhoek has other irons in the fire
