PG&E has increased rates for all customers to support their poles and wires (T&D). This affects Pioneer and non-Pioneer customers equally – everyone’s rates will go up the exact same dollar amount.
Don’t be misled. We guarantee that Pioneer’s savings over PG&E have not changed. Calculate your savings in El Dorado and Placer County.
While going solar is a great way to reduce your use of fossil fuels and become energy independent, there’s a lot to consider before installing solar panels on your roof and maintaining a residential solar array. While the below list of topics may not include all of the solar-related concerns you might encounter, it’s a lengthy list designed to help you get started on the road to energy independence, reduced fossil fuel reliance and minimizing your carbon footprint.
Pioneer hosts an online webinar for residents. Click here to see upcoming webinars or click here to watch a recorded solar webinar with insights and tips on how to get the most out of your solar system, read the bill and track information about how well your system is working.
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
Energy efficiency upgrades to your home. You can start saving energy and money today with just a few energy efficiency upgrades. According to the Department of Energy, energy-efficient homes can save anywhere from 5 to 30 percent on energy use.
The first thing everyone should do is to perform a self-energy audit of your home. This will help you create a list of energy saving opportunities around your house.
For more information please visit Pioneer’s page on residential energy saving tips.
A critical step in the solar installation process is to determine if your roof is able to support a photovoltaic system.
Some things to know before you move forward with the project:
There are many financing/payment options available for getting solar installed on your home. Make sure you understand the short-term and long-term impacts of each option. There is no one right option and the decision should be based on you, your family and your financial situation. Before signing any contracts please make sure to understand the ability to cancel the agreement and fully understand the monthly costs to you.
Scroll right within table to continue reading
| Purchase | Lease | Power Purchase Agreement |
|---|---|---|
|
Requires capital to finance |
Often requires down payment
|
Typically no down payment |
|
Property owner responsible for operations/maintenance |
System owner is responsible for operations/maintenance |
System owner is responsible for operations/maintenance |
|
Property owner claims rebates/incentives |
System owner (3rd party) monetizes rebates/incentives |
System owner (3rd party) monetizes rebates/incentives |
|
Generally most advantageous to private (taxable) entities |
Lease payment is fixed rate not tied to the power generated – typical 15-year term |
Purchase the power generated at a fixed rate – typical 15-year term |
Should you consider installing batteries at the same time you are having solar installed on your roof. Most solar vendors also sell and install batteries as an added feature.
Batteries allow a customer to charge during optimal solar times and then use that energy during the more expensive times of the day. This feature magnifies the potential financial savings for a customer, especially for those on Time-of-Use (TOU) rates.
For more information about residential solar energy, including energy production, Net Energy Metering and Time-of-Use rates, contact your Pioneer Community Energy team by email at info@pioneercommunityenergy.org and by phone at (916) 758-8969
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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.
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).
