Today, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Vote Solar filed testimony with the California Public Utilities Commission on Southern California Edisons grid modernization proposal and issued the following statements. CPUC is weighing SCEs grid plan which is part of its general rate case proposal filed last fall.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Vote Solar filed testimony with the California Public Utilities Commission on Southern California Edisons grid modernization proposal and issued the following statements. CPUC is weighing SCEs grid plan which is part of its general rate case proposal filed last fall. The Commission is scheduled to hold public hearings on the rate case next week. The solar industry and advocates released the following statements:

Sean Gallagher, SEIAs Vice President of State Affairs:

Southern California Edison proposes billions of dollars of grid modernization investments that are premature, excessive, and fail to provide sufficient benefits to its customers. SCE is underestimating the positive and exaggerating the negative impact of distributed energy. Edisons proposal is extremely costly and would not take full advantage of distributed energy resources to limit costs to ratepayers, the worst of both worlds for Californians in its territory. We encourage the CPUC to weigh these facts. Its important for the Commission to get this right, because grid modernization investments will continue to be a significant part of future utility rate cases in California.

Jim Baak, Vote Solars Program Director, Grid Integration:

For many years Southern California has been a hub of innovation in bringing solar energy into the electric system. However, Southern California Edisons (SCE) latest plan to modernize their electric distribution grid falls well short of what is needed to support the emerging low-carbon electric system that Californias governor, legislature, and voters have been advancing. Vote Solar and SEIA are filing joint testimony today, asking the Commission to reject nearly $2.7 billion in unnecessary grid upgrades proposed by SCE. SCEs approach of over-investing in utility owned grid assets and undervaluing cleaner distributed resources will harm the burgeoning DER market and could lead to a significant amount of stranded investments, spelling higher costs for all consumers. We urge the Commission to thoughtfully review SCEs proposed grid modernization investment plan and consider a more rational approach that supports Californias clean energy goals.


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About SEIA®:

Celebrating its 43rd anniversary in 2017, the Solar Energy Industries Association® is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry, which now employs more than 260,000 Americans. Through advocacy and education, SEIA® is building a strong solar industry to power America. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to build jobs and diversity, champion the use of cost-competitive solar in America, remove market barriers and educate the public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org.

About Vote Solar:
Vote Solar is a non-profit organization working to combat climate change and foster economic development by bringing solar energy into the mainstream nationwide. www.votesolar.org