Overview
- The First District Court of Appeal rejected a challenge from the Environmental Working Group, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Protect Our Communities Foundation to the CPUC’s Net Billing Tariff.
- On remand from the California Supreme Court, the panel found the commission met AB 327 requirements and reasonably addressed the alleged cost shift between solar and non‑solar customers.
- NEM 3.0, adopted in 2022 and implemented in April 2023, replaces retail‑rate net metering with hourly export credits that reports show are about 70% to 80% lower than prior programs.
- Industry data since the change point to a steep contraction in residential PV, including sales declines of roughly 60% to 80% and more than 17,000 job losses, as battery attachment rates climb.
- Solar advocates condemned the ruling as pro‑utility and said they are evaluating a further appeal, while investor‑owned utilities argue the framework protects non‑solar ratepayers.