Why Go Solar!

Here is a logical question:

 

If you could start generating your own clean energy with no money out of pocket and stop renting from the utility company, paying them hundreds of dollar each and every month, would you?

 

If the answer is no, why?

 

I really never understood people's logic when it came to excuses such as, I don't have time or I have too much on my plate.  To me, those are excuses.  My answer is, so why would you want to continue being a renter and paying someone else for your energy? Honestly, it's a big waste of your money! 

 

Solar is an investment, an investment for your future that will save you thousands of dollars in the long run.  It will increase the value of your home 15-20% and people shop for homes that already have solar.

 

Calculate your bill for the next 25 years with a 3-6% increase each year.  That is how much money you are throwing down the drain.  Frankly, why be so wasteful and help the environment as well as yourself.  You have to pay to keep the lights on, so why not pay yourself? 

 

Purchase Solar Now and take a long needed trip with the 30% federal tax credit or buy down your loan if you're financing your PV solar system.

 

Solar is a NO Brainer!  All the paperwork, design, permitting are handled for you.  You could start generating your own clean energy very soon!

 

When is the best time to buy solar?  Now!  Why? Summer months have longer daylight hours which produces more energy!

 

Stop putting off going solar because you're too busy!  Let the experts handle it all for you!  Free quotes available- Just Call Now!

 

 

PG&E Net Energy Metering and Billing!

PG&E's Net Energy Metering (NEM) Program provides customers the ability to offset the cost of their electricity with energy their generating system exports to the grid. 

This video simply explains what to expect when your solar system starts producing clean energy and how you are billed.   

Choosing Another PGE Rate Plan when Considering Solar!

PICKING THE BEST RATE PLANS FROM PGE!

The rate plans from PGE are important to look at for those customers who are still considering solar and missed signing up for the E6 plan.  Notice that TOU-A peak times are 3-8pm and TOU-B peak times are 4-9pm. 

Under the TOU-B rate plan, if the sun sets at 8pm, you have lost 1 hour of production and storing credits into the PGE grid.  At least, rate plan TOU-A peak times of 3-8pm during the summer months gives you an opportunity to generate power during daylight hours which will put more credits into the grid.  Each summer month has the potential to overproduce, allowing you to build up and store energy into your account in PGE's grid so that you may use that energy during winter months when your system tends to under produce due to less daylight.

Another issue is placement of the panels on your roof.  E6 is no longer being offered which had a peak rate time of 1-7pm.  That gave you optimum production throughout the whole day and south facing panels was optimal for best energy production.

Those customers who are working with a 3-8pm peak time now have to think about panel placement.  Ask yourself where is the sun at 3pm?  West is the answer.  The perfect placement for this rate plan would be South/West to West.  South will still give your panels exposure as the sun sets and West will extract the maximum amount of power from your system from the hours between 3-8pm.

This is why I always recommend to my customers to install a solar system in the spring-summer months.  Your solar system has great exposure to the sun and your solar panels are extracting the maximum amount of power during daylight hours.

Time-of-Use Rate Plan 3-8 p.m. (ETOU-A) 

This rate plan is best if you don't use much energy and can be flexible about when you use it. If you can reduce your usage from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and keep your total monthly usage low, this rate plan may be best for you.
What you should know about this plan

• Prices are highest during peak periods, which are all non-holiday weekdays from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.*
• Prices could be up to 25% lower during off-peak periods, which include all other hours.
• Recommended for lower use customers who can be flexible with their energy use and shift some energy use away from peak hours to lower-priced times of day.
• This rate includes a baseline credit which provides residential customers with an incentive to conserve energy by keeping their usage low. Customers will receive a credit per kWh for all usage up to the amount of their baseline allowance for the billing period. Determine Your Baseline Allowance »

The charts below show how the rate works for the Time-of-Use Rate Plan 3-8 p.m. (ETOU-A):

 

 

PLEASE NOTE: Pricing is approximate and varies by season. View Current Pricing »
*On January 1, 2020, the peak period hours on the Time-of-Use 3-8 p.m. (E-TOU-A) rate plan will shift one hour later in the day, to a 4-9 p.m. peak period.

Time-of-Use Rate Plan 4-9 p.m. (ETOU-B) 

This rate plan is best if you tend to use a high amount of energy, but can be flexible about when you use it. If you can reduce your usage from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and have a high total monthly usage, this rate plan may be best for you.
What you should know about this plan

• Prices are highest during peak periods, which are all non-holiday weekdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Prices could be about 10 to 30% lower during off-peak periods (depending on the season), which include all other hours.
• Recommended for customers who use more energy but can be flexible and shift some energy use away from peak hours to lower-priced times of day.

The charts below show how the rate works for the Time-of-Use Rate Plan 4-9 p.m. (ETOU-B):

 

PLEASE NOTE: Pricing is approximate and varies by season.

Info courtesy of PGE: http://www.pge.com/en/myhome/saveenergymoney/plans/tou/index.page#toub