SAN DIEGO, June 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) reached a significant milestone in renewable energy, the program limit for the original rooftop solar subsidy, Net Energy Metering. With this new milestone, state law requires SDG&E to transition future rooftop solar customers into a new program, which offers many of the same benefits as the current subsidy.

"Transitioning new private solar customers to the next phase of the Net Energy Metering program is another sign that our region is a leader in the clean energy movement," said Caroline Winn, chief energy delivery officer, SDG&E. "Advancing clean energy solutions like solar and electric vehicle adoption is one way we're working hard to provide our customers with more sustainable energy choices."

Future customers who install solar will see only minor changes:

• A fee for interconnecting solar panels to the power grid, excluding low income housing programs. This is expected to cover the cost for ensuring solar panels are safely connected to the electric panel, as well as the process of accepting new private solar generation.
• Customers in the new program will also contribute to support state-mandated low-income and energy efficiency programs and other non-bypassable charges.
• In 2017, new solar customers will pay Time of Use Rates, paying for energy based on the time of day the energy is used.

Customers who are in the process of installing solar were notified of the coming transition earlier this month. Applications for the new program will be accepted online within 24 hours. Customers who installed private solar prior to the limit being reached are grandfathered under the rules of "Net Energy Metering 1.0" for 20 years from the date they installed solar.

In addition to serving more than 90,000 private solar rooftops, SDG&E recently ranked as the top utility in America for renewable energy sales. The nation's top designation, released in a new report by Ceres, shows that only a handful of utility companies are responsible for much of the national surge in solar and wind power and energy efficiency programs. SDG&E provides more than 33 percent of its energy from renewable sources and is on track to delivering more than 40 percent of its energy from clean, renewable sources by 2018.

SDG&E is an innovative San Diego-based energy company that provides safe, reliable, clean energy to better the lives of the people it serves in San Diego and southern Orange counties. More than 4,300 employees work to provide the most reliable and clean energy in the West. The company has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for leadership in addressing climate change, was the first to meet California's goal of delivering 33 percent of energy from renewable sources, has fueled the adoption of electric vehicles and energy efficiency through unique customer programs, and supports more than 600 non-profit partners. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit sdge.com/newsroom or connect with SDG&E on Twitter (@SDGE), Instagram (@SDGE) and Facebook.

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SOURCE San Diego Gas & Electric