San Diegans – This is How You Can Lower Your New SDG&E Bills

People across San Diego are stunned - but not at a loss of words. In fact, people have a lot to say. Usually expressing something along the lines of shock, horror, and anger at their bills which are rising sometimes up to 3.5x per household. On average, people are seeing their electricity rates rising 10% and their gas rates up 24.6%.  In fact, SDG&E costs are set to outpace inflation by over 70% by 2030.  In response to this, SDG&E has simply recommended using their web app to track your electricity usage and using less electricity during peak times, which are typically from 4 to 6 p.m.  SDG&E has raised rates due to the costs associated with wildfire mitigation and the sourcing of green renewable sources. However, SDG&E is also a private, for-profit company which means that they also have to provide a profit to stakeholders. Thus, San Diego has some of the highest electricity prices in America.  When you add increasing heat and wildfire stress to the grid, rates are only going up. There are mitigation techniques after all. You can upgrade your home with energy efficient upgrades in San Diego.  Let’s be honest - this alone isn’t going to cut it. If you want to learn great ways to lower your electricity bills - we’ve got you covered with a three step solution.    Go Solar to Reduce or Eliminate your Electric Bill   When you install solar panels on your roof or property - you’re taking a massive step to reduce or eliminate your electric bill. It’s almost like a life hack: using SDG&E for connecting to the grid BUT not being subject to their neverending rate increases. Keep this in mind: if you are unable to purchase solar panels with cash, there are many financing options or even leasing! Whichever route you take, you will pay less money per month. It’s better to pay a fixed payment that won’t rise every year.  Plus, as we mention in most materials, it’s always worth utilizing the Federal Tax Credit while you can. There’s a 26% Federal Solar Tax Credit that reduces by the end of the year. If you want to save money on taxes - now is the time to strike!   Get a Home Battery   Solar battery backup in San Diego is a brilliant idea. At Stellar Solar, we offer a multitude of options such as the Tesla PowerWall, LG Chem, and Enphase batteries.  All of these can offset Time-Of-Use charges, and protect you from the endless blackouts that seem to be a fact of life in San Diego. Whether you want to keep your home powered during grid outages, or want to power your amazing electric vehicle - installing solar battery backup in San Diego county is a great solution.  If you want more information, we made a fun animation video explaining how the solar battery process works.   Get an Electric Vehicle or Plug-in Hybrid   Electric vehicles are becoming more accessible than ever. There are EVs available at a range of price points and this is a great thing. Charging your car with a battery at home completely eliminates escalating gas prices. This is brilliant for both the environment and your pocketbook.  If you have a solar system, home battery, and an electric vehicle that runs on both - you have the potential to save hundreds of thousands of dollars over time. Oh, and you won’t need to worry about the constantly rising electricity and gasoline prices.  Sounds like a dream come true to most San Diegans. It’s also more financially achievable than ever, without a massive amount of cash down. You can get solar with no money down, save taxes with the Tax Credit, and get an electric car that is financed. Now that you’re set to save money on your taxes, you might have some extra change to purchase a home battery.  All of this is the solar trifecta and will almost certainly save you shocking amounts of money long-term. We can help you plan this process while installing your solar, home battery, and car charger. We’ve been there, done that with thousands of customers in San Diego and across the United States.  Concluding Thoughts If you want to never get a costly bill from SDG&E again - let’s talk. Stellar Solar has been around since way back in 1998.  We have established ourselves as the premiere solar installer in San Diego (and beyond), having installed solar on over 15,000 rooftops.   Oh, and in San Diego, we have been voted Best Solar Company in San Diego 9 out of the last 11 years. How? Voters across San Diego in the San Diego Union Tribune poll keep choosing us.  After over 20 years in business, we have mastered the residential solar installation process. We have installed solar on every roof type, on every home style, and on every property type when it comes to ground mounts.  The people of San Diego have spoken, time and time again, they choose Stellar Solar as the solar company of choice in San Diego. Just check: our reputation is reflected with over 200+ positive reviews on Yelp, Google, and Angie's List.  If you’re still not convinced - ask Bill Walton. He’s an NBA hall of famer, and solar evangelist who has worked with Stellar Solar for a long time now. In the video, he offers his top 10 reasons why he chose Stellar Solar instead of anybody else.  Otherwise, feel free to visit us on Facebook, YouTube, and any other platform to see our content or what other people are saying about us.  If we have you convinced - visit our homepage to request a quote and talk to our energy consultants. They’ll run you through the process to make everything simple, easy, and no-obligation. Everyone at Stellar has a high level of expertise and know their stuff.  If you’re ready to permanently eliminate your electricity bill and laugh in the face of SDG&E and the gas companies - now is your chance to take charge, save money, and go green with efficient, clean, and beautiful solar panels.  

The post San Diegans – This is How You Can Lower Your New SDG&E Bills appeared first on Stellar Solar.

from Stellar Solar https://ift.tt/87oaZwf

Southern California Edison Customers – This is How to Lower Your Electric Bills

After a total of three rate increases in 2021, many Southern California Edison (SCE) customers are getting fed up. Most residential SCE customers are set to pay around 9% higher rates. This is mostly because of the usual reasons, higher priced electricity due to infrastructure maintenance, increased temperatures, wildfires, blackouts, and so on.  Only days ago, 2,460 SCE customers in Laguna Beach lost their power, and many more were evacuated. It’s incidences like this which are becoming the new normal and are accounting for the unprecedented rising electricity rates.  Purportedly, the rising costs are supposed to account for upgrades such as: Energy storage Distribution and transmission upgrades Replacement of electric poles Reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires Another category designated by SCE as “grid modernization” There are also additional costs that SCE needs to account for: costs that they aren’t keen on advertising. Specifically, SCE is an investor-owned utility (IOU), which means that they need to turn a profit for shareholders. This leaves many SCE customers questioning whether they are indeed paying for grid updates, or are paying more for shareholder ROI.  How to Lower Your Bills Naturally, as a solar energy provider - the first thing we recommend is solar power for Southern California Edison customers. Whether you’re in Laguna Beach, to Riverside, to Coachella Valley - solar is a great decision. But there actually are many amazing financial reasons behind this! Let’s delve into the biggest ones: -Solar Installation: Most California homeowners in the SCE territory have more than enough potential to produce power for their energy needs and then some! Whether you are purchasing with cash or with financing - you’re almost certainly going to reduce your electricity bills.  -Net Metering: This can build up credit to offset your electric bill. It’s a nice way to take advantage of the energy that your solar panels generate. Keep in mind that if your system now, you’ll lock in these benefits for 20 years. -Home Battery: If you’ve got solar panels, a home battery, and net metering - you’re in energy consumer paradise. Why? Your battery can store any extra energy that your solar system produces during the day, so your home can consume energy at night. Ideally, this means that you won’t need to pay SCE to draw electricity at peak times. Plus, it’s great to have a backup battery that will also keep your house going during blackouts. -Federal Tax Credit: There is a 26% Federal Tax Credit that is there for the taking. It decreases at the end of 2022 and also is available for those who purchase with financing and cash. As an example, if you purchase a $25,000 solar system you’re looking at a $6,500 discount on your taxes.  -Electric Vehicles: Okay, while we can appreciate that EVs can be out of reach for many people due to price and other factors. But - if you are purchasing a vehicle with cash or finance - EVs can be a great choice when you combine them with a battery and solar system. Who knows - maybe you can use your savings with the Federal Tax Credit to help purchase an EV. Then, you can live your life powered by the sun.  How to Take Action Here is what you need to do. If you never want to have another Southern California Edison bill again - work with us. Genuinely - Stellar Solar is one of the best options for anything solar or renewable energy. We have been in business since 1998. If you were born in 1998, that means you’d be a 24 year old man or woman by now! We’ve been honing our solar game that entire time since then. During this time we’ve built quite the reputation. Down in San Diego we’ve been voted “Best Solar Company” for 9 out of the last 11 years. How? Voters in the San Diego Union Tribune’s yearly poll keep choosing us. Why? Probably because we’ve built a strong track record.  But don’t rely on merely one source - our reputation is demonstrated by over 300+ positive reviews on websites such as Yelp, Google, and Angie's List. In fact, we invite you to check out the reviews on our local competitors.  Across the board, we maintain a higher rating. You can even check us out on Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms to check out our stuff and see what people think of us.   Residential Solar in SCE Territory We have mastered the residential solar installation process. We have installed solar on Southern California Edison homes of every size (and type) of roof.  Further, homeowners with land can also have ground mount systems installed.  We excel at designing and installing ground mounts. In fact, we have installed hundreds of exquisite ground mounts on estates, rural properties, hillsides, vineyards, and farms. At Stellar Solar, we have developed proprietary ground mount structures that are superior to anything else on the market.  Our arrays are world-class, and are over-built with sturdy 12-gauge square tubing and stainless joints. In fact, this means that our arrays can withstand almost any type of weather while never budging. If you want a job done right - contact our team. Electric Vehicle Charger Installation Don’t forget that SCE customers can combine solar with electric vehicles to claim their energy independence. All you need is a solar installation (which you can obtain with no money down), an electric vehicle, and a charger.  We can help.  Our fully licensed electricians come with a C-10 license and have installed car chargers and solar panels for 20+ years. We can install your solar and car charger separately - or together. It’s a pleasure for us to educate you on the numbers while giving you a thorough tutorial on how everything works and how to optimize everything.  Own Your Energy Future Are you ready to eliminate your electricity bill?  It’s now easier to do so than ever. Even with no money down upfront. If you want to destroy your electricity bill (while even eliminating your gas bill) - then solar, home batteries, EV chargers, and electric vehicles are the way forward. Go green and save money in the short (and long) term.  It’s a no brainer. Contact us to go solar and learn more.

The post Southern California Edison Customers – This is How to Lower Your Electric Bills appeared first on Stellar Solar.

from Stellar Solar https://ift.tt/ojHpvsl

SDG&E Rate Hike 2022: Simplified

It’s a new year and SDG&E has raised rates. Electricity rates are up an average of 7.8%, and gas rates are up 24.6%. Many customers across San Diego County are shocked to see their electric bills jump over 10% compared to the end of 2021. SDG&E officials stated that the average electric rate for residential customers rose 7.8%, from 32 cents per kilowatt-hour to 34.5 cents. SDG&E rate increases are also partially due to wildfire mitigation and an increased effort to source energy from green renewable sources. SDG&E also put out requests for temporary rate adjustment increases due to electricity prices being higher than expected in past summers. Regardless of the reasons - San Diego has some of the highest electricity prices in the United States. Plus, prices are forecasted to increase each year. It’s not getting better. Plus, SDG&E is currently experiencing longer than normal call wait times. They’re even directing customers to a monotonous Self Service option to avoid speaking with people.  And here’s the kicker - SDG&E is a private, for-profit company. Thus, SDG&E needs to cover expenses while providing dividends to their shareholders. As liabilities rise with increased fire risk and heat risk in San Diego, SDG&E passes costs to customers to stay profitable. This contrasts to most California municipal utilities who are non-profit government entities. It doesn’t help that our region is consistently facing record heat over the course of July through October. California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) President Marybel Batjer previously noted that: “Rates rising far faster than inflation are straining the budgets of vulnerable customers.” There is a Way Forward: Use Solar to Avoid Rate Increases Electricity and gas rate increases are a fact of life in San Diego County. There is only one way to take control of your financial future when it comes to the utilities: solar power in San Diego.  If you install a San Diego solar energy system on your roof or property, you can be the master of your electric destiny. You can utilize SDG&E for grid connection while no longer relying on their expensive rates. Plus, if you get a home battery and even an electric car - you can run your entire life on the sun.  Remember, even if you can’t make a cash purchase on a solar installation, there are infinite financing options. All of these end up with you paying less money per month. It’s a better deal to pay a fixed price payment that’s lower than your current electricity bill. Plus, you won’t be subjected to endless rate increases year-on-year. Plus: Utilize the Federal Tax Credit 2022 is a great year to go solar because homeowners in San Diego can take advantage of the 26% Federal Solar Tax Credit. This is an income tax credit that amounts to 26% of the cost of your solar project. It’s valid for any type of solar purchase as long as it isn’t a lease.  For example, iif your system costs $20,000, you would receive an income Tax Credit of $5,200. This is a nice tool to lower your tax obligation. But remember a couple of things: there’s no cap to this tax credit and you can even roll it into next year if you don’t use up the whole credit.  BUT remember: you will only be eligible for the full 26% in 2022. It’s only 22% through 2023. This is something to keep in mind if you’re considering putting off solar this year.  San Diego is Solar Country As hinted earlier, there are serious compound benefits of going solar. And these aren’t merely just about lowering or eliminating your electricity bill! If you add an electric vehicle and battery into the mix: suddenly the game can change entirely.  If you have an EV Charger installed your electric vehicles can run off electricity that’s generated from your solar panels. Extra electricity to power your car(s)!  It’s a great deal! One solar installation can eliminate your electric bill, power your electric car, and reduce your tax bill. Imagine living in San Diego and never paying for gasoline or electricity again. Many of our customers have done exactly this: powering their homes and cars with sunshine.  SDG&E and their many rate structures can be complicated. It’s also tricky to know where to start when it comes to solar, batteries, and understanding electrical time-of-use concepts. That’s why we recommend working with a local company (like us!) who have a track-record you can count on.  There’s never been a better time to secure your energy future. As we can see from the SDG&E forecasts, we’re in for rising electricity rates. They won’t get cheaper. Going solar is simply the only way to fight back and take control of your bills. It’s a great move for anyone who wants to make a shrewd financial move while switching to a clean renewable energy source.  Feel free to drop us a line: it's a no-obligation process and we simply want to educate people on the many benefits of going solar. It’s fast and easy to set up a virtual solar consultation with a Stellar Solar Energy Consultant.  We’re happy to help. All you need is to fill in your details on our contact page and our people can walk you through the amazing potential of getting solar in San Diego.

The post SDG&E Rate Hike 2022: Simplified appeared first on Stellar Solar.

from Stellar Solar https://ift.tt/iyVRg9IJZ

How Solar Battery Resilience is Changing the World

Resilience: we know in general that this word pertains to the capacity to quickly recover. Many use toughness as a synonym. In the solar battery world, resilience can refer to two things.  First, resilience can refer to the way that batteries in a region can relieve stress on a power grid. Second, it can refer to the way that batteries can continue to power individual homes during outages. Resilience is why battery owners’ lights can stay on when the rest of the block is dark.  The main reason that homeowners install energy storage systems is resiliency: batteries provide emergency backup power during a power grid failure. Grid outages happen, and many predict that they will become more commonplace in California moving forward. Energy storage simultaneously allows your home to stay ‘on’ while your neighbors have no power. Solar panels alone do not provide resilience. That’s because one of their best features won’t work during an outage. We all love that we can sell excess power back to the grid, but sending power out to the grid during an outage could mean that work crews encounter dangerous active power lines. That’s why your solar system doesn’t work in a power outage. And that is where batteries come in. All of the power that would have gone out to the grid is stored and ready for you to use. And when the power comes back on, you can still store power and send extra electricity to the grid. In an ideal world, as more people get solar systems and energy storage - the electric grid will be more distributed and have less chance of failure.  Achieving Zero Net Energy Have you heard of that ‘Zero Net Energy’ concept that people are starting to talk about? Basically, it refers to when a person uses a solar system, a solar battery, and an electric vehicle to run their entire life on the sun. Their solar system generates enough energy to cover all energy usage at home, and their home battery stores excess electricity that can be used to power their electric car.  This means that they no longer have electricity or gasoline bills. One of our customers, Peder Norby, tracks his savings and has retained hundreds of thousands of dollars since he went solar with us in 2008.  His solar system in Carlsbad generates enough energy to cover his electricity needs at home while also powering his electric vehicles. This means his family doesn’t need to worry about rising electricity prices each year with SDG&E, or the fluctuating gasoline prices either. Notably, the Norby family’s solar system paid for itself in less than five years. Over half of their $750 monthly savings resulted from not buying gasoline. Instead of gas guzzlers, the family drives 2 electric BMW i3s. Peder noted that the environmental aspect of their decision was also a big factor: “Equally as important to us is that we have also slashed our carbon emissions from over 20 tons per person per year, to fewer than 2 tons per person per year according to the EPA emissions calculator”.  Battery Systems are Improving in a Big Way Some of the most popular battery systems being sold today provide more energy storage for a lower price than ever before. That is correct: the technology is improving while also becoming more affordable. That means that even though emergency battery backup is still the primary reason for battery purchases, there is a growing number of forward-thinking manufacturers and customers moving toward all-electric homes including electric vehicle charging.  Whether you just want to keep your lights on, or you want to step ahead with whole-house backup, battery buyers today can choose from some amazing options. From Tesla to LG, or Encharge to Q Cell, your battery shopping experience can include some amazing options:  How about a battery app on your phone that lets you see your home’s energy use in real time? Yes - you can see your home’s power usage fluctuate in real time as you turn appliances off and on. Or how about a more compact battery with an enormous 16kWh storage capacity? This battery can also deliver a continuous power rating of 7kW and an impressive peak power rating of 11kW. Interested in ultra-safe lithium ion technology? We can tell you about a lithium ion battery that comes with 100% depth of discharge as well as app-based load control. There’s even energy storage systems available with scalable storage capacity from 4.5 kWh to 18.9 kWh in a modular design that lets you connect up to three batteries in a series using only one inverter.  While people may think that solar batteries cost as much as a car, we have storage solutions for the low teens that will get you through a stormy night while your computer and lights stay on, your phone charges, and you really can open the fridge. And if you want whole home backup and electric vehicle charging for a multi-level home, we can design a system specific to your needs. Stellar Solar has been installing solar panels and home battery systems for over 20 years, and we have a track record of developing world-class residential and commercial solar systems across southern California. If you live in San Diego County, Riverside County, Orange County, or beyond - it’s a great time to consider purchasing a solar system, electric vehicle, or home battery. There are a surprising amount of incentives and rebates on a state and federal level.  For example, there is currently a 26% Federal Tax Incentive for solar systems purchased by the end of 2022. These incentives won’t last forever: consider this as a short-term and long-term investment: saving now with incentives and saving in the future on electricity and gasoline costs.  Stellar Solar installs both electric car chargers and solar panels: we offer a plethora of options including Tesla PowerWall, LG Chem, and Enphase batteries.  Contact us to get a quote on electric car chargers, solar systems, and solar batteries. Now is an excellent time to take advantage of the financial savings of going solar. Plus, it’s nice to know that you are taking an environmentally sustainable approach that helps lessen stress on the grid during difficult times.  Solar battery resilience is changing the world for homeowners who can now own their energy independence and future. Technology is improving by leaps and bounds while quickly becoming more affordable. As we’ve seen with customers like Peder Norby, ‘going green’ is likely best financial decision he ever made.  

The post How Solar Battery Resilience is Changing the World appeared first on Stellar Solar.

from Stellar Solar https://ift.tt/q0KUcg2WL