1. In a stinging defeat for PG&E and the state’s other monopoly power providers, the California Public Utilities Commission is proposing to reject a plan that would have penalized homeowners who install rooftop solar, the LA Times$ reports. The CPUC instead sided with the solar industry and is recommending a compromise plan that would establish modest fees for home solar. PG&E and other utilities wanted to steeply increase fees for home solar adopters, arguing that those customers are not paying their fair share for the power grid. But the solar industry said PG&E’s plan would have devastated the growth of home solar in California.
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3. California Assemblymember Lorena Gonzales, D-San Diego, plans to introduce legislation that would allow Uber and Lyft drivers to unionize, the Chron$ reports. Earlier this week, Seattle became the first city in the nation to let Uber and Lyft drivers to unionize. Gonzales’ legislation would also apply to other contract workers in the gig economy.
5. And the Alameda County Board of Supervisors gave final approval to adopt Laura’s Law, which allows court-ordered treatment for severely mentally ill people, the Trib$ reports. Laura’s Law has been implemented in other counties in the state.