PG&E has notified customers throughout Northern California that they will be susceptible to planned outages during the coming fire season. This is causing uncertainty and anxiety among customers who do not know when they will lose their power. It also brings a whole host of other issues that people will need to plan for i.e. losing … [Read more...]
PG&E: Big Changes
The beginning of 2019 has been saturated with conversations about PG&E. From discussions surrounding the impact of PG&E’s bankruptcy and additional customer surcharges to the changes in how PG&E customers are charged. As a local solar provider, we have fielded many questions from customers looking for clarification. … [Read more...]
Legislative Intervention or a Giant Utility Bail-Out?
In Fall 2018, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a measure allowing California utilities, such as PG&E, to bill their customers to pay for future legal settlements stemming from the devastating 2017 California wildfires. This was signed while even larger flames continue to destroy the California landscape. Intervention or a … [Read more...]
Finding A Happy Middle Ground with PG&E
Recently, Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation that would allow local utilities to charge their customers to offset costs and expenses associated with the 2017, and now 2018, wildfires. Like many people, when we first read the reports, we were concerned. If PG&E could pass on these costs to their customers with rate increases, the already … [Read more...]
When Local Matters
The solar market is ultra-competitive. As someone in the market for a residential or commercial solar system, you are aware of how many companies there are. You also surely have seen difference in how people sell, put together a proposal, and proclaim their company is “The Best” company around. Luckily, there are a lot of great local solar … [Read more...]
Updates on Rule 21 and Smart Inverters
Rule 21 governs interconnections made to California's investor owned utilities and those regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission, such as PG&E, or SCE in Southern, California and SDG&E in San Diego. Rule 21 outlines the interconnection agreement homeowners and utilities sign before a new solar system is connected with the … [Read more...]
Preparing for PG&E Increases
Another Predicted Cost Increase to PG&E Customers One of the benefits that most solar companies will introduce to new or potential customers is the idea of “owning your own utility” – meaning, that as time passes and the finance option selected for the initial construction of installing the residential or commercial solar installation, any … [Read more...]