LA City Council Set to Approve DWP Rate Hike

They’re at it again.  LADWP is raising electricity rates 11.1% over the next two years, unless the LA City Council votes against the hikes, which they won’t.

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.    

Demand German Solar Prices

In the golden state, solar is booming with over one gigawatt of rooftop solar installed.  Still, many of us Californians are frustrated with solar – frustrated there is not more of it.

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

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

Powering much more our state with solar is absolutely doable.  That is, if the major energy players put the full weight of their agencies behind it. 

A slew of articles in recent weeks featured this graphic comparing equal sized solar systems in Germany and the U.S.

Why in Europe, where most goods cost twice as much as in the U.S., are solar systems half the price? 

The answer is Red Tape.  Mountains of it.

Paperwork, fees, delays, changes in policy…  These are the problems that mire American solar, making it twice as costly as German sun power.

Demand for solar will increase as prices drop (really).  Residents, alongside the solar industry, must demand the roadblocks holding back renewable energy be removed. 

Insist on German-priced solar in the U.S.  Support Vote Solar and Citizens Climate Lobby. 

Solar Forward

www.solarforward.com

What’s the “deal” with Unleash Solar?

Fed by abundant sunshine and a seemingly bottomless marketing budget, you may have noticed the Unleash Solar billboard garden that recently sprouted up across LA.

A cursory search led me an Aussi message board ripping into Unleash Solar, as well as this priceless video.  From the disappointment in the customer’s voice, you might think he was talking about Pluto’s removal as a planet rather than a shoddy inverter installation.

“You get what you pay for,” states one disgruntled message board poster.

Despite the highly publicized undoing of Solyndra and the like, the solar market is hot.  Venture capitalists eager to jump on board have yielded a number of companies like Unleash Solar, with more marketing expertise than understanding of solar technology and installation.

The model is simple: market big, install cheap by cutting corners, and cash in on the booming market.

At Solar Forward, we’ve proudly installed quality products with a skilled crew since 2005.  Because, after all, we’re a solar company.

Solar Pinball

Combine solar permitting bureaucracy and a no nonsense Solar Forward employee, and the result is a frustrated (and illustrating) work of art.  See creation above.

Gaining a permit may be the most cumbersome step involved in solar.  As city departments acclimate to the ever-increasing demand for renewable energy, contractors and clients sit.  And wait.  And wait.

In some cities (cough Van Nuys, cough Calabasas) obtaining a permit to install solar can feel like a cruel game of pinball, bouncing from one hurdle to the next.  The diagram above depicts a recent Building & Safety Department adventure.

Three hours, eleven lines, one permit.  I’d rather deal with the DMV.  

We all know “time is money”.  Are you familiar with this one, “wasted time is wasted money”?

This is not a meaningless gripe.  Attention must be given to these issues if we hope to see the solar industry and government work symbiotically.  When this happens, we will see more efficient, cost-effective, and greener cities.   

Why kick back gifts and cash for solar?

What could a solar company offer you to sweeten the deal?  How about throwing in an iPad or cash gift for signing a lease contract?

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.

Utilities Fade in the Sun

Back in 1880 a new company called AT&T grew out of the work of Alexander Graham Bell. For almost 100 years it maintained a monopoly over telephonic communication lines until the federal government used antitrust laws to break up AT&T. Technology matured and new telephone companies were born. Even before the breakup, competition was eroding AT&T’s market share. That was thirty years ago. Now there are hundreds of telephone companies providing services utilizing state of the art fiber optic, wireless and satellite technologies.

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.

Net Metering is fair for everyone!

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 panels 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!

New Solar Forward Van

Utilities melt in the Sun, just like...

Utilities melt in the Sun, just like, vampires.

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.

LADWP is lost in the sun

To LADWP,

RE; RES # 1065430

Muhl 13858 Weddington St

This job has been in the hands of LADWP since 2010. The job passed LADBS final in March 2011.

The paperwork has been lost by three departments at various stages and now it seems to be lost again. This seems to be an issue with jobs over 10 Kw.

We are willing to do anything possible to enable the completion of the ESR process but we can’t get anything done when there is a total lack of communication. We can not fax a 11x14 sheet and we have been advised in the past that 8 x 10’s are not acceptable. This paperwork was submitted and approved, for the second time in the spring. This would be the third review of the paperwork.

Andrew Hoesly has been attempting to resolve this for two weeks and has spent over 15 hours restarting an inspection request - after I was informed it was inspected five months ago.

The Muhl family deserves decent service and we are doing our best to provide it. I fail to see how a third submittal of the paperwork via fax, is going to resolve anything.

We need prompt email communication and confirmation that the requirements have been met. And we need cell phone numbers for inspectors that only return calls in the early morning - if they have time. This just drags things on for days, weeks or months.

The appearance is that there is no oversight and no concern for the time line that clients and contractors are forced to deal with.

I look forward to suggestions and a completion of this interconnection approval.

Sincerely,

Mark Smith

Sungevity: Alien Solar Invader

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.

Sungevity Scam

Google Sungevity and "Scam" comes up. Why, the solar industry is getting scammed by investment bankers masquerading as solar installers. Sungevity is well on the way to giving the solar industry a black eye. Anytime you double dip on tax breaks, install the cheapest products with no quality control and have a ponzi scheme as a business plan, something will go wrong sometime soon.

Solar, Bankers, Coal and a lease deal in LADWP land

Solar Forward supports starting the LADWP solar program as it is proposed in two weeks - we all want a sustainable solar business in Los Angeles.

LA residents are eager to go solar but are handcuffed by the rebate programs roller coaster ride.

Some greedy solar leasing companies want to take LADWP’s rebate money and move it to their bank account as fast as possible, as easily as possible. They are able get double dip on the tax breaks compared to the average consumer and the federal government ends up picking up the tab. Why do they want LADWP to pay for a cheaper solar system owned by an out of state banker?

The bottom line is the solar business will continue to be successful here in Los Angeles based on the solar program that LADWP has presented to the the people of Los Angeles.

We even recommended making the rebates 10% lower to stretch the funding even further and help avoid another shutdown.

Of course, everyone would like more money in the solar program but we know that the funding is limited at this time.

The real story is we can sell a leased solar system (with the new lower rebate levels) and still make it work! Sunpower has a great product! So the old school solar lease companies need to stop crying.

Please do not delay in restarting this solar program. It may not be perfect, but we feel that LADWP has made an honest attempt to improve and streamline the program and we can and will make it work.

Any hesitation today will delay the program by at least a month causing more local jobs and income to be lost - and the burning of more coal.

Solar Forward supports working with the proposed LADWP solar program - we have customers that are ready to go solar!

We need to start installing more solar systems in Los Angeles as soon as possible. The greedy bankers can work on a better financial product while we put people to work installing solar systems and stop burning coal.