A California appeals court this week sided with state utility regulators in a case seen as crucial to the spread of solar panels on the rooftops of California homes. Three appeals court judges ruled that the California Public Utilities Commission was justified in reducing the rate that customers are paid by their utility companies for extra electricity they produce. The case reached an appeals court, which applied a legal standard that granted commissioners significant deference. They can’t earn that return on customers’ rooftop solar. Ratepayers routinely admonish state utility regulators for their high bills at public meetings.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 11, 2026 20:32 UTC