The California Solar and Storage Association (CALSSA) has filed a formal complaint with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and Southern California Edison (SCE), alleging the utilities have failed to comply with state-mandated timelines for rooftop solar interconnection applications.
CALSSA is seeking a $10 million fine against the two investor-owned utilities, saying delays in the review process have increased costs for rooftop solar customers who must secure approval before operating their systems. The association said utilities are required to review applications within specific timeframes but have regularly missed those deadlines.
State rules established in 2020 mandate utilities to complete interconnection and system approval steps on time for at least 95% of projects. According to CPUC filings, PG&E and SCE have reported compliance rates well below that threshold, with some process steps meeting timelines only 27% of the time. CALSSA said these delays have persisted without improvement since the requirements took effect.
The CPUC is expected to assign an administrative law judge to review the complaint in the coming months. The outcome could determine whether financial penalties are imposed on the utilities.
The complaint comes as California continues to debate rooftop solar policy. The state’s three largest utilities—PG&E, SCE, and San Diego Gas & Electric—have increased customer rates significantly over the past decade, while transmission and distribution costs have risen despite flat electricity demand. At the same time, rooftop solar economics have been affected by changes to net metering, which reduced average customer savings.
