Solar Advocates Applaud PG&E Commitment to Expand Net Metering Program

Gov. Schwarzenegger Secures Critical Win for Continued Solar Market, Job Growth
in California

SAN FRANCISCO--(Business Wire)--
This week Governor Schwarzenegger secured a commitment from PG&E to increase the
amount of solar net metering allowed in its territory from 2.5 percent to 3.5
percent of peak demand. Advocates at Vote Solar and the Solar Alliance applaud
the move which will allow continued rooftop solar market growth and job creation
in California.

"Net metering is the policy backbone of a strong rooftop solar market in
California. This commitment provides a critical near-term solution for the
looming net metering program cap. We particularly thank the Governor for his
personal involvement in assuring sustained solar market growth as part of
California`s aggressive climate goals. In that spirit of collaboration, we look
forward to working with the Governor, Assemblymember Skinner and the utilities
in the coming legislative cycle to develop a joint plan for net metering that
supports a robust, long-term solar market," said Sara Birmingham, Solar Alliance
lead for California.

"With guidance from Governor Schwarzenegger, PG&E has made the decision to go
above and beyond current law to support the right of its customers to receive
the full economic benefits of going solar. We applaud both parties` impressive
leadership on the issue," said Adam Browning, executive director of Vote Solar.
"With this short-term fix in place, we would welcome opportunity to consider
eliminating all net metering caps in the 2010 legislative session, a move that
would allow maximum private investment in solar to reduce the state`s peak power
demand and harmful carbon emissions."

Net metering is a simple billing arrangement that allows solar customers to get
fair retail credit for the excess electricity their systems generate during
daytime hours. Today more than 50,000 California homes and businesses take
advantage of the state`s net metering program.

Existing law requires California`s major electric utilities to make net metering
available to customers until the total program capacity exceeds 2.5 percent of
the utility`s peak demand. Data from the state`s solar rebate program indicates
that there may be enough applications to hit the 2.5 percent program cap in PG&E
territory as early as the first half of 2010. Under leadership from
Assemblymember Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the state legislature attempted to
raise the cap to 5 percent through a bill, AB 560, which ran in the 2009
session. Despite widespread support among policymakers and stakeholders, the
legislative session ended without passing AB 560 into law. This commitment from
PG&E solves an immediate need to allow continued net metering access in the
utility`s territory until state law can be changed.

About Vote Solar:

Vote Solar is a grassroots non-profit organization working to combat climate
change and foster economic development by bringing solar energy into the
mainstream. Since 2002 Vote Solar has engaged in state, federal and local
advocacy campaigns to remove regulatory barriers and implement policies needed
to bring solar to scale. www.votesolar.org

About Solar Alliance:

The Solar Alliance is a state-focused association of solar equipment
manufacturers, integrators and financiers specifically working with state
administrators, legislators and utilities to establish cost-effective solar
policies and programs. www.solaralliance.org

Vote Solar
Rosalind Jackson, 415-817-5061
rosalind@votesolar.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009