After internal LADWP approval, endorsement from the LADWP Rate Payer Advocacy Group, and now tentative backing from the LA City Council before a second vote next week, the increase appears destined to hit our pocketbooks.

What might be the reason behind the rise? To bloat the salaries of utility employees?  No.  Well, at least not directly.  More on that later…

A LADWP issued press release from September 12, 2012 states:

“The Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners moved forward today with a proposed 2-year electric rate change to pay to pay for investments needed to comply with legal mandates that are driving a complete transformation of LADWP’s power supply, to invest in replacing rapidly aging infrastructure to maintain reliability and expand customer opportunities through additional investment in money-saving energy efficiency programs which also comply with state requirements.”

Solar Forward crew installs SunPower Panels on a tile roof

Whether we continue charging our lives off finite fossil fuels, or invest in pricier renewable energy (which thankfully we are shifting towards), the fact is our energy expenses will and must rise.  Here in California, electricity rates are rising at an average of 6% each year.

And there’s more.  According to a LA Times article, “Independent ratepayer advocate Fred Pickel told the council that the DWP’s financial plan called for possible increases of 7.8% in 2014, 7.6% in 2015 and 6% in 2016.”

Yes, it’s a drag.  No, we can’t change it.*

Still, LADWP’s publicity battle would have been easier had it not just been revealed that their staff are paid approximately 26% – 46% more than workers at other utilities.  While levelheaded Angelinos may accept higher energy costs during an economic downturn, it’s a bit hard to swallow in light of these generous salaries.

*Here’s the secret: you can avoid utility inflation.  Go solar.  Produce your own energy by purchasing a solar system, with an average ROI of 7-9 years.  After that, your electricity is free.  Or, lease a solar system for no money upfront, paying only a low monthly payment for the next 20 years.  Zero-percent interest.  No catch.  Contact Solar Forward for a free estimate, www.solarforward.com.

We shouldn’t stop at frustration.  We should be outraged.

Greedy utility companies, and complacent politicians are depriving Californians of clean and affordable energy.

Solar Forward

www.solarforward.com

The Solar market out there is competitive.  And with competition comes sneaky marketing.

Incentives like a free iPad or cash-back to seal the deal with some companies are commonplace.  Unfortunately, kick back incentives are illegal.  (If you’re the legal type, you can check out the facts: §7157(b).)

Why do these companies opt for shady promotions over traditional marketing campaigns?  Most are selling a financial lease product that makes money for investment bankers who have no concern for you or your home.

When solar marketers can’t distinguish their products from competitors with quality, they turn to kick backs.  Inferior Chinese panels that are being dumped on the market are cheap to buy, but have no track record.   Many of these installers cut corners during installation.  Who do you want making holes in your roof?

Quality is important in this industry.  Your system will be with you for 20+ years – that’s more than time than your kids expect to live under your roof.

Our recommendation – be an informed buyer.  Know the brand of panels that are going on your roof, know who is installing them, and what the method of installation is before anything is signed.  Read consumer review sites like Yelp, and ask lots of questions.

There is a reason we are an Elite SunPower Dealer – quality work, the most powerful solar panels and impeccable customer support.

Welcome to the solar age. The sun shines all over the world and has the potential to create unregulated, independent energy everywhere. Currently electric utilities are in control of the lines of distribution, the cost of electricity and the ability for others to interconnect with “their” electric grid.

Modern electric utilities are no different than AT&T was fifty years ago. The solar industry is a growing threat to the monopoly of centralized utility generated electrical power.

It is just a mater of time before the public demands that policies shift and there is a true free market for electricity.

Solar energy will eventually force the electric utility industry to become a team player. The environment and the consumer will benefit with cleaner air and lower costs.

The evolution of decentralize energy is happening before our eyes. Electric utilities will become another monopoly dissolved by the evolution of technology and public policy.

Shop Local… for Energy

You have heard the term “buy local”, but we’re not talking about vegetables this time.Like locally grown carrots, solar energy produced by your neighbor is far more efficient when you cut out the economic and environmental costs of transportation.

More than 10% of the electricity generated at a centralized power plant is lost by the time it reaches your home.This means you are being billed for 10% more energy than you are actually consuming.Solar energy fed into the local grid not only addresses the issue of wasted energy due to transport, but also provides residents with an incentive to go solar when they receive payment for this market good through a program called Net Energy Metering (NEM).

Sounds like a win-win.Here’s the problem – utility companies don’t want to pay the fair market value of energy to those creating it on top of their roofs.Currently, producers of dirty energy receive greater compensation than those individuals creating solar power at home.The price paid for electricity should be consistent, regardless of how or by whom it was generated.When a home equipped with solar pa

nels yields more energy than it consumes, these kilowatts are pushed back into the grid and distributed locally.However, the extra 10% saved thanks to decentralized distribution is not factored into NEM pricing.Meanwhile, utilities make out like bandits off the free solar energy returned to the grid by those who have invested personal dollars in sun power.

NEM benefits everyone – customers, utility companies, and the environment.We should all be championing the efficient production of electricity by fairly rewarding those who create it locally.What can be done?An independent review determining the hidden value of local power generation is an important first step.Let your state representatives know free market energy rate start at home!

Imagine a new TV show: Those who walk during the day gathering energy from the sun and those who are willing to live forever with policies that keep solar energy in the dark.

A Vampire, by definition, “subsists by feeding on the life essence…of living creatures.”

Most utilities are draining the life essence out of the earth and the people that live here. It is an undisputed fact the process of extracting and burning coal infects the planet with toxins killing human beings.

So, really, it is not much of a leap to think of the three hundred year old coal/utility industry as a vampire. They have very old traditions and the older they get, the stronger they get. But, no vampire is immune to the sun.

Look out vampires, in this reality TV show, the day walkers are bringing you into the sun one solar panel at a time.

Sungevity is an alien solar space ship invading our town.

Sungevity is spending an estimated $250,000 in advertising in Los Angeles this month. They are like aliens flying their space ship over Los Angeles and sucking the solar rebate money out of LADWP before they fly away and raid another city.

There is only enough money for an estimated 700 residential solar installations in Los Angeles before the solar program runs out of money and shuts down till July of 2012. Already there are over 300 solar applications filed with LADWP. That leaves enough money for 500 lucky homeowners.

We estimate the money will run out by November. So for the next eight months – no new solar sales or installations will take place in Los Angeles. Since all rebate reservations need to be permitted within 60 days or they will expire, it will be a gold rush to get all the paperwork done. Sungevity has no staff to speak of in Los Angeles. They out source all the work including the installations. Who are they going to hire? New unqualified workers that will then be out of work in two months!

This is not a sustainable solar business plan for Los Angeles. This is a money grab at the expense of local businesses. When Sungevity leaves town – who provides the customer service on the cheap solar panels they install?

Solar Forward has 30 years of experience and we install quality Sunpower products – the most powerful solar panel in the world. We are a local business with solid relationships with LADWP, LADBS and 100% customer satisfaction. Our goal is a sustainable business with employees we don’t have to lay off.

Investment bankers masquerading as solar contractors need to have their cloaked spaceships shot down and treated like the alien invaders that they are.

The solar business has become the wildwest. Support your local solar installer. We live here and we will still be here after the alien space ship crashes.