PG&E has increased rates for all customers to support their poles and wires (T&D). This affects Pioneer and non-Pioneer customers equally â everyoneâs rates will go up the exact same dollar amount.
Donât be misled. We guarantee that Pioneerâs savings over PG&E have not changed. Calculate your savings in El Dorado and Placer County.
Businesses make the decision to add solar panels to their facilities for a variety of reasons. A customer-owned solar system will generate electricity behind the meter and reduce the amount of energy supplied by your local utility. There are many benefits to going solar, for you and your business.
If a business elects to combine a photovoltaic array with onsite battery storage units, the system may help reduce your kilowatt (kW) demand charges and further reduce dependence on energy provided through the grid. This requires storing energy in the batteries and using the stored energy during peak pricing periods. Customers can charge batteries during off peak time periods and then consume the energy during peak or super peak time periods.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) issued a decision on Dec. 15, 2022, that modernizes the Net Energy Metering (NEM) solar tariff to promote grid reliability, incentivizes solar and battery storage, and controls electricity costs for all Californians. The decision has no impact on existing rooftop solar customers and maintains their current compensation rates. Existing solar customers will continue to remain on their current Net Energy Metering (NEM) tariff for 20 years after their system is connected to the electric grid.
According to a CPUC analysis, the following findings were reported. If you install rooftop solar after the new tariff goes into effect on April 15, 2023, you should be able to fully pay off your system in nine years or less based on your ongoing electricity bill savings. Under the new tariff, the average residential solar customer will save approximately $100 a month on electricity bills. Solar customers will also benefit from an electricity rate that will make it more affordable to add additional electrical appliances (such as heat pump water heaters) and take advantage of at-home electric vehicle charging.
There is also $630 million in State funding of upfront incentives available for low-income customers installing solar plus battery storage. These upfront incentives will further decrease the payback for customers installing a solar system with battery storage.
Learn more about NEM 3.0 from the California Public Utilities Commission – Energy Division
Installing solar can appear to the be the best solution for many companies. However, before any decisions are made it is imperative that all of the pros and cons are identified and understood. Here are some to consider.
| Pros of Solar Energy | Cons of Solar Energy |
|---|---|
|
Helps to reduce total energy bill
|
Higher upfront costs
|
|
Environmentally-friendly |
The required square footage can be quite large |
|
Fairly low maintenance
|
Not a consistent energy source |
|
May increase property value |
Not a good solution if a business is not going to stay in location for a number of years |
|
Solar combined with batteries are an even more impactful solution |
Requires a clear line of sight to the sun |
While solar systems are relatively low-maintenance, itâs still important to be on the lookout for any problems that may arise or external factors such as weathering or wildlife that could cause damage to your panels. You can clean and troubleshoot yourself if youâre prepared, but we recommend hiring a professional solar O&M company to effectively service your system.
To sign up for updates or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your contact information.
To sign up for updates or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your contact information.
Pioneer issued checks to solar customers with a cumulative net surplus of energy (known as Net Surplus Generators) during May for the March/April billing period if their credit balance (calculated at the Net Surplus Compensation Rate) for the past 12 months exceeded $25.00. Credit balances of less than $25.00 were rolled forward and applied to the next bill.
A few of our clients have contacted us to confirm the check’s authenticity. Rest assured, it is indeed real! If you receive a Blue or Orange check from Bill.com with a reference to Pioneer, it is safe to deposit.Â
We take pride in helping our solar customers save; Pioneer pays $.005 (1/2 cent) per kWh more than PG&E for any over-production sold back to the grid (Net Surplus Compensation Rate or NSC).Â
