The California Supreme Court unanimously ruled on Thursday that state regulators were given undue deference in deciding to roll back rooftop solar credits for homeowners, reversing an appeals court ruling that upheld the regulators' decision.

The high court rules an earlier case gave too much deference to the California Public Utilities Commission so a new hearing awaits.

The California Supreme Court sided with environmental groups in a Thursday ruling, saying that state lawyers were wrong in their claim that the Public Utilities Commission’s decision to slash rooftop solar incentives could not be challenged.

It ruled that a lower court gave too much deference to state utility regulators over an updated policy that shrank net-metering payments.

Justices told a lower court to revisit their decision to uphold cuts of 75 percent to payments for solar panel owners.

The state Supreme Court ordered a lower court Thursday to reconsider a California Public Utilities Commission decision that has increased rates for rooftop solar customers.