Monopoly Money- Who is ‘EBCE’ & Why Are They Billing Me?
Electric Current & Strange Currency When we travel abroad, the electrical sockets and money looks…foreign. We take note of this so our hairdryer doesn’t explode and we don’t pay $82 for a croissant. Actually, in Paris, that’s not far off. Nevertheless, we’re willing & able to make adjustments and work out conversions because traveling abroad is immense fun. When we return home, we have enough to worry about (like how to pay for that last trip abroad) without having to decipher a utility bill. Nevertheless, Acronym Overload- PG&E, EBCE, SMUD? All or None of the Above? Residents of San [...]
PG&E Logo a Predictor of Rate Hikes?
Stall vs Install- The rhetoric can escalate with the prices, or we can do something. We can do solar. Tell us what you think PG&E stands for. The letters, not the corporation. If you want info on the what that company stands for, click here.
Watts for Lunch? You Have Options
Across the street from where you work, there’s a McDonald's. Good-old recognized reliable McDonald's. It’s right there. So you go, despite the long lines, occasionally hostile teenage staff, and assault to your organs & energy. Even though you struggle to take a deep breath after the completion of a so-called value meal. They’ve always been there. C'mon, it’s McDonald's. Fast food to a quick demise. Then a deli opens next door with great cuisine, superb variety, lower prices, and no wait in line. The staff is friendly & proficient. Tastes better, costs less. You feel better, even look better, frequenting [...]
What is Net Metering? Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
The Characters: The Nems = Net Energy Metering, an arrangement whereby the utility company buys the extra electricity your solar system produces at retail, and sells it back to you at wholesale. The Hens = Solar panels The Eggs = Electricity Big Bill the PiGgEe farmer = Take a guess Once upon the new millennium there was a farmer couple named Jen and Jem Nems. The Nems had a dozen hens. They each produced an egg a day. The Nems enjoyed omelettes, soufflés, pies, cookies, and all the goodies they could eat, because they always had more than enough eggs. [...]
Don’t Leave Cash Lying Around
It’s a lesson we learn early in life. Bad habit. Problem is, we’re prone to bad habits. Did you refer a friend or family member to us? First of all, THANK YOU! We very much appreciate your endorsement, and we’re bound to show you. Example: Recently a customer contacted us via Yelp, and said he would like a quote for solar on his home. We met him, he signed a contract, and we installed a system soon after. The stuff of happily ever after. But then, a customer from our past came calling. Not with a complaint, but a claim. [...]
Nights are Getting Colder. Should I Get a Space Heater?
“They’re inexpensive and convenient!” Actually, NOT. Space heaters use an average of 1500 watts of energy. So? So if you run one space heater for a day at .23¢ per kilowatt-hour (PG&E’s going rate), you’ll spend $3 per day. Not bad? That’s $90 per month…from now on...that that little gizmo adds to your already hefty monthly bill. Most of us have rented a car on vacation, but they're not typically our main means of getting around. They’re situational, temporary, and only justifiable when the convenience outweighs the cost. Comparing a central heating system with space heaters is similar. The data [...]
Do Smoke & Ash Interfere with Solar Output?
California burned badly this year. An estimated 6700 fires scorched more than 1.5 million acres during 2018. That’s the size of Delaware! The homes, health, and welfare of hundreds of thousands of people were, and are, adversely affected. Somewhere down the list of priorities emerging from these disasters is the question: Does the gunk in the air impair solar production? The answer is: Somewhat. Solar thrives in bright sunshine…like Californians. Then again, solar systems, like residents of Half Moon Bay & Pebble Beach, also get along great with fog and clouds. While it’s true solar energy peaks on a [...]
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