Energy pricing and availability is a major issue in California. The cost of utility bills is burdening many of the state’s residents: customers pay as much as 80% more than the national average, forcing over 13% of households to spend more than 15% of their income on energy alone. And despite paying top dollar for utility services, residents routinely experience blackouts that can leave them powerless for hours or even days at a time.
One would think
that these conditions would create a sense of urgency for policy makers to
improve energy accessibility by legislating in favor of solar. But the state’s
major utility companies are actively working against the interests of CA
residents by lobbying against pro-solar programs and policies.
Pushing
Bills for Profit-Grabs
Utility giants have been rallying for new legislation that would diminish the benefits of rooftop solar. This past June, voting took place on the AB 1139 bill, which was sponsored by the Coalition of Utility Employees. It would have mandated extra fees for the owners of solar systems, as well as reduced the net-metering credits offered in exchange for the additional power solar customers send back to the energy grid.
Justification for these changes took the form of claims that California’s solar owners aren’t paying their “fair share” because their monthly energy costs are so much lower than the average utility customer’s. But in a state that struggles to produce enough energy with its own infrastructure, the extra electricity saved and generated by solar customers holds exceptional value. Solar advocates characterize the argument as one that places unfair blame on solar in response to the threat of the growing market.
The AB 1139 bill
was luckily met with intense opposition and crushed. Yet while it has been
defeated, Californians can expect future attacks of the same kind.
A
Nationwide Network Fighting Solar Expansion
Environment America
Research & Policy Center recently issued a report detailing how utility companies
nationwide are leveraging an entire network of anti-solar lobbying groups and
programs.
It specifically
identifies organizations that represent the interests of many big-name energy
companies - organizations which are responsible for funneling donations to
political campaigns and parties. Some of the policymakers that are introducing
or voting for anti-solar bills are actually members of these groups as well.
Busy
Contractors Keep Solar Growing in California
Installation contractors are the boots on the ground when it comes to expanding solar’s reach through the state. Your work brings new households into the solar network with every installation performed.
Unfortunately, getting the installations to happen can often be a challenge. Successfully converting homeowners into solar customers takes great marketing, informing, and confidence-boosting. Managing this can be difficult when homeowners are overwhelmed by attention from multiple contractors at a time. It’s why securing exclusive solar leads has become such a critical point in locking down sales opportunities with a high likelihood of panning out.
You can easily
access 100% competition-free leads by working with specialized agencies like
Grid Freedom. Its in-house generation process and one-buyer-per-lead policy
allows it to deliver contractors leads that are completely isolated. This makes
the process of pitching and converting far easier, resulting in greater numbers
of leads who become satisfied solar owners.
