Glendale Council faces backlash over rising energy costs linked to aggressive solar adoption policies

The Special City Council meeting held on December 10, 2024, in Glendale, California, focused on the rising costs associated with customer solar energy and its impact on utility rates. Council members expressed concerns about the fairness of the current system, where solar customers are perceived to benefit at the expense of non-solar customers.

During the meeting, officials discussed how the utility's revenue is affected by solar customers who do not contribute to fixed costs. A council member highlighted that in 2026, the utility expects to receive only 34 cents per customer, indicating a loss of revenue from solar users. This situation has led to frustrations among non-participating customers, who are left to cover the costs that solar customers do not pay.

The discussion also touched on the complexities of net energy metering, where solar customers generate excess energy during the summer and draw from the grid in winter. This system allows solar users to benefit from energy produced by other power plants, raising questions about the equity of the arrangement.

Council members acknowledged the public's confusion and anger regarding utility rates, emphasizing that the utility's revenues must align with its costs, as mandated by state law. They noted that while Glendale's electricity rates were once competitive, recent policy decisions and aggressive renewable energy goals have contributed to increased costs.

The council is considering a pause on transitioning to new net energy metering policies to better assess the implications for both solar and non-solar customers. Officials recognized that Glendale is at the forefront of solar adoption, which, while beneficial for sustainability, comes with higher initial costs.

The meeting underscored the ongoing challenges the city faces in balancing the interests of solar and non-solar customers while striving to meet state energy requirements and sustainability goals. Further discussions and policy evaluations are expected as the council seeks to address these pressing issues.