by Davd Baker, San Francisco Chronicle | May 25, 2012

The solar industry scored Thursday when California regulators more than doubled the number of homeowners and businesses that will get credit for surplus electricity produced by solar.

The California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved changes to "net metering," allowing solar system owners to cut their utility bills by receiving credit for excess electricity produced.

"What's important to us is we have the certainty," says REC Solar Director of Government Affairs Ben Higgins, "when we go to a homeowner, that net metering will be there when the system gets built."