Solar power glut boosts California electric bills. Other states reap the benefits

[Zorro]

2. From the article

"The solar glut also means higher electricity bills for Californians, since they are effectively paying to generate the power but not using it.

California’s electric rates are roughly twice the nation’s average, with only Hawaii having higher rates. Rates at Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric increased by 51% over the last three years.

“Ratepayers aren’t getting the energy they’ve paid for,” said Ron Miller, an energy industry consultant in Denver. He calculates that the retail value of the solar energy thrown away in a year would be more than $1 billion."

California residents pay higher rates to allow utility companies to build alternative energy source systems, but the excess generated capacity isn't able to be used in-state -- so that excess capacity is sold at rates lower than the cost of generation, sometimes at a negative cost to energy brokers.