SB 1374: A Win for Multi-Meter Properties in California

SB 1374: A Win for Multi-Meter Properties in California

**October 2024, California** - In a state known for sunshine and a relentless push toward renewable energy, SB 1374 emerges as a lifeline for California�s multi-meter properties�schools, apartment complexes, and other shared properties with a vested interest in clean, sustainable power. Introduced by Senator Josh Becker, this bill corrects what many see as a bureaucratic oversight. For too long, multi-meter properties in California have been unable to fully benefit from their own solar energy production, forced to sell their excess power to utilities at wholesale prices, only to buy it back at retail rates. It�s a roundabout setup that left cash-strapped institutions in the lurch and curbed the adoption of on-site solar for large, communal properties.

SB 1374 aims to fix this. Passed in August and now heading for the Governor�s desk, the bill mandates fair treatment for properties with multiple meters, allowing them to self-consume the energy they generate. �It�s more than just a legislative win,� says Nancy Chaires Espinoza, Executive Director of the School Energy Coalition, �it�s about removing barriers for California schools that are ready to be part of the clean energy solution.� For institutions like Oakland Unified School District, where energy costs have ballooned by $1.5 million over the past year, SB 1374 brings much-needed financial relief, allowing them to redirect savings to critical programs for students.

For a state as ambitious as California, SB 1374 is a long-overdue correction to policy that inadvertently penalized communal properties with solar installations. According to Senator Josh Becker, �multiple-metered customers should get the same treatment as everyone else.� This legislation corrects a pricing imbalance that has kept essential California institutions on the sidelines of renewable adoption, empowering them to operate efficiently and sustainably in an energy landscape where costs and resource consumption remain critical concerns.

The stakes go beyond school districts and affordable housing projects. California has over 10,000 school campuses alone, with nearly 730 million square feet of building space. For these buildings�where climate-resilient infrastructure could determine the future of safe learning environments�solar energy represents more than an environmental choice. It�s a pathway to resilience in the face of California�s intensifying climate pressures, especially as the state faces longer fire seasons and grid instability. Environmental advocacy groups, local governments, and energy-conscious organizations are rallying around SB 1374, viewing it as a much-needed step in the fight against climate change. As noted by Utility Dive, California's multi-meter properties now have the chance to contribute meaningfully to the state's renewable energy targets without navigating punitive regulations that stifled growth.

Ultimately, SB 1374 isn�t just about one bill; it�s about a shift in how we think about communal power generation. As these new rules come into play, multi-meter properties across the state will finally be able to harness, consume, and benefit from the energy they generate on-site. And for California, that means a more diverse, resilient grid that can stand up to the state�s dynamic energy needs. This legislation is a reminder that while renewable energy policy is complex, there�s no substitute for equity and fair access to the resources we all need. The future of California�s energy landscape just got a little bit brighter.