The California Supreme Court ruled in favor of environmental groups, rejecting state lawyers' claims that the Public Utilities Commission’s decision to reduce rooftop solar incentives was unchallengeable. The court found that the commission violated state law by cutting credits for excess power sent to the grid by up to 80% for installations after April 14, 2023. The justices determined that the prior appeals court had erred in deferring to the commission’s interpretation of the law, reinforcing the idea that the commission must adhere to the same legal standards as other agencies.
The California Supreme Court sided with environmental groups, stating that state lawyers were wrong to claim the Public Utilities Commission's decision on rooftop solar incentives could not be challenged.
The environmental groups argued that the utilities commission violated state law by cutting the value of credits for rooftop solar panel owners by as much as 80%, impacting installations after April 14, 2023.
The Supreme Court justices found that the appeals court erred in ruling that courts must defer to the commission's expertise, emphasizing that the commission's decisions are not above the law.
Bernadette Del Chiaro stated that the Supreme Court ruled in their favor, affirming that the CPUC is not above the law and citing a 1998 law regarding standards of review.
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