California State Senator Megan Dahle on Tuesday voted against Assembly Bill 942 (AB 942) in the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee after hearing and receiving significant feedback from her constituents.
“This bill was proposed as a remedy for a cost shift – where rooftop solar customers who got in the system early pay much lower rates, arguably pushing other California ratepayers’ costs up,” Dahle said. She emphasized the need to closely examine cost drivers imposed by the state government that have led to California’s electric rates being nearly double the national average.
“But I could not support breaking contracts that homeowners entered into in good faith,” said Dahle. “The Legislature cannot play bait-and-switch games with ordinary Californians, making promises about electricity rates and then reneging on the deal when we don’t like the outcome.”
Amendments that were made in the committee meeting removed the provisions that would have phased out early Net Energy Metering agreements.
Despite the bill’s main effect now being to end payments for utility carbon credits for customers with bills less than $300 a year, Senator Dahle still chose to oppose the bill.
The senator expressed gratitude for the many Californians who voiced their opposition to what she described as an unjust proposal.
