Homeowners and renters in California may soon be able to access solar or other renewable energy from community based self-generation programs as an alternative to the power grids offered by the state’s three major public utilities. That’s the goal of SB 843, a bill currently being debated in the California Assembly.

The state’s major public utilities – San Diego Gas & Electric, Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison – would face new competition from small independent renewable energy producers at the local level if the Bill is passed.

Renewable energy producers would be permitted to generate no more than 20 megawatts each, but in doing so would not be regulated as public utilities merely because they are engaged in developing, producing, delivering, participating in, or selling interests in, a community renewable energy facility.