VX News is the editorial voice of the annual VerdeXchange Conference, featuring in-depth interviews with industry leaders and policymakers driving innovation in clean energy, water, transportation, and climate policy.
California Legislature passes balcony solar bill
VX News here excerpts a Canary Media report by Alison F. Takemura on the Legislature's passage of the Plug and Play Solar Act (SB 868, Wiener), which would let Californians install plug-in solar kits up to 1,200 watts without the utility interconnection process required of rooftop arrays. The bill awaits Newsom's action by September 30. Takemura notes two constraints: no product has yet met the UL 3700 certification the bill requires, and a sunset restores utility sign-off in 2030. Find the original, here.
Chair Pedro Nava on Utility Economics, Hidden Costs, and Protecting Californians from Rising Energy Burdens
Chair Nava of the Little Hoover Commission joins VX News to unpack the findings of the Little Hoover Commission’s review of California’s electricity rates—and now the emerging impacts of data centers and AI. Addressing how ratepayers are not simply paying for electricity itself, Chair Nava details how profit structures and related costs of maintaining, hardening, and expanding the grid continue to compound California’s affordability challenges.
LADWP’s New Ratepayer Advocate — Meet Tim O’Connor
Tim O’Connor, newly appointed Executive Director and Ratepayer Advocate for the Office of Public Accountability (OPA) at LADWP, outlines his vision with VX News for modernizing the role to meet today’s affordability, climate, and infrastructure challenges.
