If you’ve got solar panels on your roof in Ukiah, your next utility bill might look a little different. The City Council just gave the green light to a new rule that changes how much credit residents get for the extra energy they pump back into the grid. Essentially, the city is moving away from paying solar users as if they were a power plant, covering the cost of the energy plus the overhead for lines, staff, and poles. Now, the city will only pay what it actually saves by not having to generate that power itself. The Council says that, since solar users still rely on the city’s infrastructure, paying the full retail rate was actually shifting those maintenance costs onto neighbors who don’t have solar. They’re calling it a move for “long-term financial stability” to keep the utility running smoothly for everyone. This new policy will be implemented on July 1.