California Won’t See a NEM 3.0 Update Until After the Election - Expecting a Drop in Solar Energy Leads

California’s solar industry has been anxiously waiting as the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) makes progress on NEM 3.0, an update to the state’s net metering policies. The planned changes have caused significant controversy due to the fact that they would slash compensation rates to a fraction of what solar customers receive under the current NEM 2.0 policy. 

CPUC made revisions to NEM 3.0 after receiving intense criticism from the community. Their latest draft came in May, and an update was planned for release by the end of August. This deadline came and went without any new developments, instead getting pushed again to the end of September. That deadline was then missed as well, leaving many wondering: What’s causing the hold-up?

NEM 3.0 Update Postponed to Avoid Voter Backlash

California’s energy crisis and rising costs are top of mind for voters now. The state’s regulators have grown nervous that releasing a new NEM 3.0 draft will cause heavy sway at the voting booths, angering citizens into voting against those they blame for an unfavorable change to the policy. 

Therefore, it has been decided that the update will not be released until after the election. 

This announcement has stirred up even more criticism, however, with many feeling that a hold is an act that prevents voters from having a fair and transparent understanding of where exactly candidates stand on solar. There are also fears that this move confirms the NEM 3.0 update will still majorly disadvantage solar customers. 

Expecting a Drop in Solar Energy Leads 

The uncertainty surrounding the state’s NEM policy has made many prospective solar customers wary of installing. Without a fair net metering rebate, they question whether or not it even makes financial sense to invest in an installation. 

Contractors may now be looking at even more difficulties in persuading solar leads to buy. The outlook for NEM is not strong, and it’s likely that the new policy is going to be a deterrent for homeowners worried about savings. 

Partnering up with a solar marketing company is advised for contractors who want to prepare for the decline in interest that may be coming. Top agency Grid Freedom has become the go-to source for solar leads that have already qualified as serious, purchase-ready prospects. Their screening process ensures that contractors can focus their efforts on customers who already have high certainty about going solar. 

Connect with CA’s Most Serious Residential Solar Leads at www.GridFreedom.com 

Which Solar Lead Company Can Get You Through the Slowest Winter Yet?

Summer has drawn to a close. Normally, this would mean that the average solar contractor would have full coffers, thanks to a busy season full of installations. But this is the year of COVID-19.

Many contractors have struggled to make it this far, as the economic collapse caused by massive job losses dried up the usually-plentiful pool of summer customers. So now that the routine slow season is beginning, most contractors are expecting it to be one of the worst.

Tough Times are Ahead for the Solar Industry

Cooler weather and school reopenings are coinciding with a rise in coronavirus infections. Experts are predicting that the cold season will bring about a second wave of cases that is significantly larger than when the virus first took hold.

This, coupled with the fact that the Trump administration has just cancelled any plans for a new relief package, is setting the stage for even more economic instability.

It’s bad news for solar contractors. They will be seeing their customer base shrink further as homeowners deal with increased health risk and financial hardship.

Contractors Need a Reliable Income of Leads to Survive the Slowest of Slow Seasons

Finding homeowners who can afford to go solar this season is going to be more difficult than ever. It will require more work and resources put into advertising and screening. But if you’re already struggling, you don’t have the ability to spread yourself thinner. You’ll need outside help from a partner who can secure you the highest possible number of solid, profitable leads.

So, who to pick?

The best choice for a solar lead company depends on their practices. With a smart process that weeds out all weak leads, the right agency can dependably deliver serious customers to solar contractors.

Grid Freedom has Been a Top Source of Leads Throughout the Pandemic

Grid Freedom has earned its reputation thanks to results-driven practices. Our leads are always:

●     Generated via inbound marketing

●     Pre-screened by personal phone call

●     Pre-scheduled for consultation appointments

●     Sold exclusively

This ensures that our contractors are only connected with homeowners who are ready and capable of buying a solar system. It’s the certainty contractors need to get through one of the toughest times in the industry’s history.

Get Your Fall and Winter Sales at www.Gridfreedom.com

The Ethics of Running A Solar Lead Company

With solar ever-growing in popularity, helping contractors connect with customers can be a thriving business opportunity. However, in order for a solar lead company to become a name that contractors can-trust, it must adhere to a strict code of ethics. 

Contractors who are looking for a trustworthy source for leads should always check that the company follows the guidelines below.

The Goal Must Always be to Earn the Most Money - for the Contractors

An ethical business is one that strives to help its customers do better. But there are plenty of solar lead companies that take advantage of solar contractors, using their need for sales to push unfavorable terms. They will often try to force contractors to pay membership fees or buy leads in bulk. With this setup, they can earn even when contractors aren’t getting anything in return, and they can throw in bad leads that weren’t worth paying for at all.

Profit-prioritizing terms puts contractors in a position where they lose money, and lose trust in the lead company. Even though they can generate more earnings early on, they won’t build long-lasting customer relationships.

Some Leads Shouldn’t be Sold

As already touched upon above, a good solar lead company recognizes that not every lead is fit for sale. In fact, the best agencies know that most leads aren’t. They understand that contractors are coming to them for value. When a contractor doesn’t get the value they expected, that isn’t an acceptable result.

Contractors can quickly feel like it’s not worth buying leads when so many don’t work out. This is why selling anything but the best leads available is not a good business strategy for agencies.

Exclusivity is a Must

Speaking of lead quality, exclusivity is an integral feature of ethically-sold leads. An agency may try to get the most money out of a single lead by selling it to several contractors. Then, those contractors have to compete to ultimately win the customer.

Again, this situation results in contractors throwing money at many leads that just don’t turn into sales. It’s discouraging, to say the least.

What Solar Lead Company Follows These Rules of Ethics?

Contractors want to feel confident that the agency they buy from is giving them the best possible terms and opportunities. This is why so many rely on Grid Freedom as their main source of solar leads.

Grid Freedom thoroughly vets every lead with personal phone calls, then hand-picks those that are ready to make a purchase. These leads are then offered exclusively and individually, giving contractors the most favorable terms in the industry. Best yet, all Grid Freedom memberships are completely free. Contractors never pay more than the value of the leads they receive.

Find Honest Solar Lead Sales at www.Gridfreedom.com

Can Commercial Solar's Popularity Boost the Residential Market?

America is working toward getting greener energy for all of its sectors. The national renewable energy standard (RES) for 2020 is 20%, and a bill currently being considered by the Senate will push for a 50% RES by 2035. Many individual states have also launched their own equally (or more) ambitious RES goals.

But when it comes to the commercial sector, the lofty targets don’t stop there. The U.S. Building Technologies Office (a subset of the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy) is aiming for a 20% energy reduction in commercial buildings by 2020, and even more by 2030. It’s a part of their Commercial Buildings Integration Program.

A Boom in Commercial Solar

Commercial businesses are trying to update their facilities quickly in order to prepare for the requirements being imposed by federal and state governments. This has spurred many to install solar systems on site, creating a clean and compliant energy source. The fact that prices for commercial solar systems dropped in 2018 has only made them more popular.

All of this is evidenced by the frequency of new commercial solar projects. Just this summer, 19 commercial projects were announced in Colorado, a 7MW endeavor was planned for the Northeast, and Michigan opened up its farmlands to commercial installations.

Commercial’s demand for more responsible power sourcing is certainly creating a boom in the solar market. But could it also have an effect on the residential sector?

The Opportunity for Influence

Solar’s expansion in the commercial domain has the potential to make waves in the residential sphere too. Most of the impact stands to come from mere exposure.

Today’s homeowners are more eco-conscious than ever. And as consumers, they place an increasingly high priority on doing business with brands that care about the environment.

A recent survey by Nielsen reports that 81% of global respondents strongly feel “that companies should help improve the environment”. Further, 85% of Millennial say that it is “extremely” or “very” important to them that companies implement programs that will have environmental benefits.

So when commercial businesses adopt solar, they aren’t just complying with regulations, they’re also seizing an opportunity to signal to consumers that they share their green values. Companies who do this can win over customers by showing that they are the type of brand people can feel good about patronizing.

When this quality is marketed to the public, the importance of green energy is again placed at the forefront of people’s minds. Consumers who hear about their favorite store’s new solar installation will be reminded of environmental issues, putting them in a mindset where they’re more likely to consider doing their part by getting solar for their own homes.

Partner with a Solar Marketing Company to Find More Opportunities

As commercial solar surges, so too will demand in the residential market. You can maximize your intake of these promising residential leads by working with a reputable solar marketing company, like Grid Freedom. Our process selects only the best leads available, setting you up with homeowners who are confirmed to be serious about going solar.

Get Your Solar Leads at Gridfreedom.com

How Solar Contractors can Appeal to Conservative Homeowners

Many may believe that solar and other renewable energy sources are things that interest only those who vote liberal. After all, support for pro-solar policies has traditionally come from the progressive side of the political spectrum, and conservatives aren’t typically vocal about sustainability issues. However, there is actually a great deal of interest in solar among conservative homeowners.

Solar contractors who want to tap into this customer base just need to know how to appeal to their concerns. Conservative homeowners differ from liberals in what their priorities are with solar, and as such, will respond more positively to a sales pitch that addresses them.

What Not to Do: Play Up Environmental Benefits

Historically, conservatives have been more supportive of traditional energy sources, like coal and oil. And studies show that they tend to disagree with liberals on many matters relating to the environment and the importance of sustainability. However, Republicans actually don’t have strong associations between environmental effects and solar energy.

This was revealed when a number of Republican homeowners were recently surveyed about solar:

“For instance, Ted, a conservative interviewed in the study, said he thinks very highly of people who have solar panels on their home and assumes they are smart, frugal and self-sufficient. When asked if he thinks these people may be concerned about the environment, Ted responded, ‘I think if people thought to put solar panels on their roof, they would not think that was helping the environment at all. They would think that was helping them financially, because they're not paying a power bill.’”

So if contractors want to court conservative solar customers, it’s best to leave environmental benefits out of the pitch. They not only hold little persuasive power, they also don’t seem to even be strongly linked with solar in the minds of conservatives.

What to Do Instead: Emphasize Investment Value and Cost Savings

The study mentioned above uncovered what does appeal to Republicans about solar: financial wisdom. These fiscally-minded homeowners are attracted to solar for its ability to cut down on household energy costs and improve their home’s value.

Therefore, when speaking with conservatives, contractors should get straight to the economic benefits. Calculate savings estimates per month and year. Project the time it would take for the system to generate a return on their investment. Inform the customer of how much their property value could increase with an installation, and how much it could speed up the sales process once the house is put on the market. When presented with these numbers, conservatives will be easily persuaded of solar’s worth.

Connect with Conservative Customers via Lead Generation Services for Solar Installers

Reach more conservative homeowners by widening your customer base. When you partner with Grid Freedom, you’ll be able to source high quality leads that have been handpicked for their sales potential. Affordable rates 100% exclusivity, and terms that are all in your best interest.

Get Matched with Homeowners Who are ready to go Solar at Gridfreedom.com