When customers ask us about installing a new solar power system, they’re often thrilled at the idea of completely zeroing out their yearly energy bill. After all, how great would it be to not have to worry about paying anything but your utility company’s monthly maintenance fees? But deciding how much roof real estate to […]
Solar power’s popularity has continued to increase for the last several years, despite costly tariffs and other efforts to bolster traditional fossil fuel industries. There’s a key reason for this. With old forms of power, you consume a finite resource every time you need electricity. Every time you flip on the light switch, you burn […]
On January 14th, 2019, Pacific Gas & Electric announced that it would file Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This action does not mean that the company will stop supplying electricity or be dissolved. Instead, filing for bankruptcy allows them to restructure their debts and shed some of their financial obligations. This is an extremely significant decision, reflecting […]
When we put together an energy savings estimate for a client, we have to anticipate what electricity will cost in the future in order to give an accurate estimate. Historically, electricity rates have increased, and that’s unlikely to change. If your average monthly bill this year is $200, next year it’ll increase by a few […]
One of the most common questions we hear from customers is, “Who makes the best solar panels?” The manufacturers they typically ask about, such as Panasonic and LG, are often the same ones who made their television or washing machine. However, the manufacturer we recommend most often is one that most of our customers don’t […]
At the beginning of 2018, the United States government enacted a tariff on imported solar panels. Essentially, most companies that imported more than 2.5 gigawatts’ worth of crystalline silicon solar cells and solar modules would have to pay a 30% tax on the equipment. While the cost of solar power has continued to get cheaper, […]
Solar power is a great way for homeowners to save money by generating their own electricity and reducing their reliance on increasingly costly energy generated by local utilities. But there’s a big problem with solar energy: If you don’t use electricity as it’s generated by your solar power system, that energy is lost. Technically, that […]
Currently, about 75% of the energy generated in California comes from three private utility companies: Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), which serves much of Northern and Central California (including many of our customers) Southern California Edison in Los Angeles San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) in L.A. and Orange County While the above companies are […]
From the moment affordable residential solar power systems gave homeowners the ability to generate their own power, and not have to rely entirely on local utilities, there has been tension between solar cell manufacturers, energy utilities, and homeowners. Energy producers push for higher electricity prices and lower NEM rates, alleging that solar power system owners […]
When you have a solar power system installed on your home, not only does the amount of money you spend on electricity change significantly, but how you pay for electricity changes as well. After your system is switched on, you will continue to receive monthly statements from your utility company. These will indicate how much […]
