Required Community Solar is Coming to California

Between all of the wildfire damages, blackouts, and ever-rising electricity prices, there is no shortage of reasons why Californians have come to believe that utility companies don’t have their best interests in mind. When it comes to policy, the state’s utilities have proven that they will invest their efforts in legislation that actually makes it harder for residents to access cleaner, more stable, and more affordable energy. 

This is why bill AB 2316 was developed. The bill requires utility companies serving over 100,000 customers to “enable ratepayers to participate directly in offsite electrical generation facilities that use eligible renewable energy resources”. Community solar projects fit this description to a tee. 

Newsom Greenlights Community Solar Requirement

On September 16th, 2022, Governor Newsom signed AB 2316 into law. Now, California’s largest utility companies must provide community renewable energy programs to their customers. These programs must also:

• ensure at least 51% of capacity serves low-income customers

• prohibit its costs from being paid by nonparticipating customers

• require that the construction of its community renewable energy facilities comply with specified prevailing wage requirements

• provide bill credits to subscribers

• prioritize the maximum use of state and federal incentives

• accelerate implementation to ensure that time- or quantity-limited federal incentives can be obtained for the benefit of subscribers

These are a long list of perks coming to California communities, and the bill’s emphasis on project acceleration means that we can expect a surge of projects on the horizon. 

Solar Lead Companies Can Help Contractors Access More Projects

While we wait for these community solar projects to come into development, California’s contractors can secure more work via solar lead generation companies. Top agencies can help contractors connect to residents that are serious about solar and ready to discuss the details of an installation. 

Grid Freedom is one of these solar agencies, delivering fully screened and prepared leads to contractors at fair rates. All leads come with their first appointment already scheduled, meaning contractors can jump right to planning a system with their new customers. No contracts or purchase minimums are required, keeping terms as favorable as possible for contractors.

Get More Opportunities via America’s Top Solar Lead Company: www.GridFreedom.com

NREL Explains What Drives Solar + Storage Adoption

On August 23rd, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) gave a webinar presentation hosted by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). The presentation focused on what key factors propel the value of solar plus storage for residential customers and the outlook on adoption in the coming years. 

Solar + Storage Adoption is Based on Variable Value

Conclusions were drawn based on NREL’s extensive research into solar storage in terms of market growth and customer benefits. In a 2020 study, NREL cited that storage deployment is “driven by a combination of capacity and energy value”. The more residential customers can get out of adding storage to their PV systems, the more they will adopt and optimize their storage capacity.

A more recent report found that values are significantly influenced by local utility rate structures. NREL assessed a community in Arizona in which all households were enrolled in an experimental distributed generation (DG) rate program. The DG rate structure was intended to reduce grid demand during peak periods. However, the demand surcharges that resulted canceled out almost all solar + storage customer savings. 

That being said, individual household savings varied across the board, depending on factors such as peak-time usage, total demand, home size, and the size of their PV system. Therefore, certain households stand to gain much more out of solar + storage installations than others. 

NREL also found that storage adoption is heavily dependent on PV pricing. Fortunately, the prices of both PV systems and storage augmentations have shown a continual decline. The cost of solar storage in particular has dipped by almost 10%. 

Forecasting sees tremendous opportunities in store for the residential solar + storage market, especially in new construction. NREL estimates that 0.96 million new homes will be built every year between 2017 and 2030.

Leveraging NREL’s Insights 

Given the factors above, it’s critical that solar contractors make customer education a priority. Those who are affected by demand-based rates should be informed of how this can impact their solar + storage savings. If the customer would benefit from switching their utility rate structure and is free to do so, this should be encouraged. 

Customers who are locked into a demand-based rate structure that invalidates most of the cost incentive may not be the best prospects to pursue. But new construction is fertile territory for new opportunities. Contractors can win these projects by demonstrating to builders that their contribution will avoid delays and will improve a home’s market appeal. Given the extreme prices seen in real estate at the moment, construction companies have a strong concern that building homes with excessively high values can price out otherwise willing buyers. 

Leads for Solar Contractors

Clearly, finding ample solar + storage customers still presents challenges. Contractors can enjoy more success by partnering with a lead generation agency capable of delivering a steady supply of legitimate residential buyers. 

Grid Freedom is a favored firm in this domain. With 100% exclusive leads that have been personally screened for purchase potential and scheduled for their first appointment, Grid Freedom meets the highest standards of quality. Contractors across America return to the agency as a dependable source of customers, even as the solar industry experiences volatility.

Find Residential Solar Leads at www.GridFreedom.com  

Solar Lead Generation Companies Help Florida Contractors Survive the Storm Season

For most solar contractors in the United States, summer is a time of peak activity. Pleasant, dry weather makes it an ideal time to install rooftop systems without interruption. However, in Florida, summer tends to bring a slowdown. 

The subtropical climate creates rather volatile conditions, and all of the resulting storms make it a challenge to maintain a consistent installation schedule. Homeowners are also less willing to consider solar during this period since it often strikes them as a bad idea to install right when their rooftop is about to receive battering. 

Harsh Weather Still in Store for 2022

The chaos of the storm season can cause a lot of trouble for contractors who need to keep sales rolling in. And at this point, it’s only going to ramp up. 

NOAA has predicted that 2022 will have an especially active storm season and that most of this activity is going to come now that we’ve passed the middle of August. Forecasts estimate a total of 14-22 storms before the arrival of November 30th. Of that, NOAA expects that 2022 has 3-6 major hurricanes in store for the Atlantic. So while the majority of the country will be enjoying a placid end to summer, Florida is bracing for a pummeling. 

Solar Lead Partnerships Make Up for Lost Sales

Savvy contractors who want to combat the season’s depressive effect on their sales numbers are reaching out for help. They’re partnering with solar lead generation companies that are able to provide a steady influx of solid sale opportunities.

This resource is not just useful for maximizing the number of installations made through the storm season - it’s also highly effective at making up for the slump after the season has passed. 

Late fall and winter will bring many of Florida’s solar prospects back into the market, and the right lead agency can help contractors zone in on the ones that will pay off. Delivering a more streamlined sale experience to contractors can help them regain their financial footing far more quickly than if they depended on organic generation methods.

Grid Freedom is a Top Source for Florida Solar Leads

Many of Florida’s contractors have already chosen Grid Freedom as their go-to source for residential solar leads. The agency has become one of the preferred companies in the industry, thanks to its delivery of high-ROI leads that have been put through the most rigorous screening process available. 

All Grid Freedom leads are generated in-house and provided to only one contractor, eliminating any concerns about lead-sharing with competitors. The agency employs inbound generation methods, focusing on attracting residents who show an active interest in solar and serious intent to move forward with installation. 

These qualities make Grid Freedom leads the most suitable for contractors who need fast-tracked, dependable sales. Florida’s installers can learn more by visiting the website and signing up for a free membership.

Get Sale-Ready Leads at www.GridFreedom.com 

Now is the Time to Push Hard on Summer Leads

We’re well into summer now, and while some contractors have more business than they can handle, others need a bigger influx of customers before the season ends.

For contractors in the latter camp, it’s critical that they focus hard on generating residential solar leads now so that they’re financially set by fall’s arrival. Below, we go over why this mid-summer period is a critical point for seasonal sales, and offer a proven solution for finding new customers ASAP.

Schedules Still Have Room to Plan Big Projects

With more than a month left of true summer, homeowners still have some free time on their hands. Those with children don’t have to worry about school resuming until around the end of August, and pressures are still relatively low in many workplaces.

 

As soon as the transition to fall begins, however, their schedules are going to get a lot busier. That’s why many homeowners that are approached at the end of summer choose to postpone their installations until the next year.

 

Leads that are sourced right now still have enough time to go through the consultation and planning process without too many obstacles. They’ll be able to thoughtfully consider a solar proposal without any rush - something that can easily dissuade even the most interested customers.

Lead Times Can Still Accommodate the Best Weather

After a lead greenlights their installation, there’s still the matter of ordering the panels and scheduling the installation. These factors can add several weeks to the timeline for fulfilling a customer’s contract.

 

Deals made in late summer, therefore, run the risk of installation taking place during the arrival of autumn’s storm season. This can lead to project delays, which will further extend the time it takes for contractors to close an account. On the other hand, leads that are converted to confirmed buyers right now will give contractors plenty of time to complete the installation before the weather becomes a big concern.

Get Help Sourcing Residential Solar Leads ASAP

If you’re a contractor that needs to find many customers before summer wanes, you’ll need the help of a partner that can provide pre-screened, ready-to-meet leads. Grid Freedom is known as one of the top agencies capable of providing contractors with confirmed customer appointments immediately.

We generate our leads in-house and set them up for their first consultation with you. Our process fast-tracks the sales process while also allowing you to focus your efforts on the most promising customers. Sign up today to get access to the leads you need right now.

Find Ready Customers at www.GridFreedom.com

Drought & Wildfire Season Will Spark Solar Panel Lead Generation

Entering summer, our worsening climate has become a major worry. Reports warning of looming troubles are filling news headlines from the international to local level. People are responding to these concerns in various ways, one of which includes the pursuit of residential solar installations. In this post, we examine how the two big problems of the season are pushing more homeowners toward solar. 

Extreme Drought is Pushing People Toward Green Living

Drought has become a worldwide problem. In America, approximately half of the lower 48 states (almost 89 million citizens) are experiencing drought conditions. Most of the counties in the West have received official “Drought Disaster” designations from the USDA. 

Such extremity has prompted calls for local residents to take water-saving measures, making changes to habits such as bathing frequency, toilet flushing, lawn watering, and dishwashing. Having state and city officials plead for these lifestyle changes has brought the issue to the forefront of people’s minds. More and more citizens are recognizing the serious consequences of climate change and resource scarcity. 

This is motivating many to transition to greener practices, including the adoption of eco-friendly technologies. Homeowners who are aiming to reduce their own resource consumption are seeking out not just water-saving installations, but also other sustainable features like solar panels. 

Wildfire Season is Bringing Grim Blackout Forecasts

The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) recently announced that utility customers can expect more blackouts throughout the 2022 fire season. 

Worsening weather conditions and dryness created by the drought are set to increase the risk of fire sparked by utility infrastructure. In California, it’s expected that the number of preventative power shutoffs (PSPS events) will peak in mid-September. Extreme heat is also expected to overwhelm electricity demands, causing widespread grid failure. 

People living in wildfire-prone regions have come to expect this volatility, and their tolerance is wearing thin. Without air conditioning or refrigeration on the hottest days, residents have to endure conditions that can cause heatstroke, and even result in significant losses as food and medication spoils. Being unable to charge devices also poses a risk for citizens who rely on electronics for notice of evacuations and road closures.  

Many of the affected customers already experience power instability through the winter months. From last Christmas to January 5th, more than 350,000 residents in California’s Sierra region were without power due to a winter storm. Many of these citizens were forced to go without heating, lighting, and even warm meals during this period. While PG&E partnered with local agencies to provide warming centers and food supplies to the affected areas, many of these resources were out of reach for customers who lived in more rural zones or lacked access to transportation. 

Year-round incidents like these have diminished confidence among residents that their utility providers can be counted on. Basic necessities can be gone at a moment’s notice, causing disruption at best, and serious danger at worst. 

Citizens who have been suffering through these conditions are seeking solutions that give them continuous, dependable energy, even when the grid is down. Now at the start of summer, a number of these homeowners want to get solar installed before the risk of blackouts is highest.

Climate Pressures are Driving Solar Lead Generation

With these concerns increasing demand for solar, it’s possible to find many solar customers right now. The key is zoning in on those who are serious and fully ready to make a purchase this season.

Grid Freedom helps contractors like you directly connect with customers who want to buy solar now. We’ve already put in all of the work to attract and screen every lead, ensuring that you only meet with those who’ve been verified as keen and eligible buyers. Each lead comes on a 100% exclusive basis, with their first consultation already scheduled. 

Find Leads Ready for Installations at www.GridFreedom.com 

Get Instant Business Buying Residential Solar Leads

When your business has hit a slow period, there’s not much time before cash flow can become a problem. You need to secure new leads fast, but using the standard marketing methods may not get you, customers, in the short time needed. 

For this reason, many solar contractors in your shoes go straight to buying residential solar leads. Instead of risking a lengthy period during which marketing yields no solid prospects, they ensure that they get concrete opportunities before finances are at risk. 

In this post, we review why buying solar leads creates a fast track to sales, giving you instant business the moment they’re acquired. 

Skip the Lead Generation Process

The first way that buying leads shaves time off the sales journey is by allowing you to skip the solar lead generation process entirely. Absolutely no marketing work is required from your team since the lead has already been produced by a third-party agency. That effort is absorbed by their staff completely, freeing up your people to focus on actually making sales. 

Qualified Leads Eliminate Need for Screening

When you make sure to buy high-quality leads, you cut the risk of leads fizzling out. Agencies that meet the highest standards of lead integrity put them through an intensive screening process before they ever reach your hands. 

That means that you not only get the security of pursuing solar leads already verified as dependable, but you can check off screening from your list of pre-sale duties. 

Pre-Set Appointments = No Nurturing Required

Depending on which agency you choose to source from, even the final step of lead preparation can be taken care of for you. The best agencies only deliver leads who have already been scheduled for their first consultation appointment with you, the purchasing contractor. 

Your team won’t have to convince a customer to agree to a meeting, and there won’t be any need for coordinating what date works for them. All of that is already settled, leaving only the matter of making your pitch and closing the sale. 

Grid Freedom Connects You with Ready Customers

Purchasing your leads from Grid Freedom gives you a direct path to the moment of sale with serious, pre-screened homeowners. Our process eliminates all but the most eligible and enthusiastic customers, passing them on to you only after they’ve been secured for their first consultation. 

You can skip all of the preliminary work required in traditional lead production, saving you valuable time when you need to land sales quickly. Our agency has become the go-to source for leads that provide instant value and ROI. 

Get Your Immediate Customer Appointments at www.GridFreedom.com   

This Year's Key Motivators for Solar Leads

Now that we’re gearing up for the solar high season, it’s important to know what’s motivating customers in 2022. The recent circumstances of the economy and local climates have been shaping the mindset of those interested in solar, and it’s been showing in the market’s trends. 

If you want to close more sales this spring and summer, you’ll want to make sure you tailor your marketing toward the top priorities of today’s homeowners. We review these key drives below. 

Coping with the Ever-Rising Cost of Living

It’s painfully obvious that this year has seen a sharp increase in the cost of living throughout the United States. The inflation rate hit a staggering 7.9% in February, the highest it’s been in 40 years. Nationwide rent prices have increased about 20-25% from the previous year, while home prices are estimated to spike over 16% before this year’s end. Even utilities have gone up, with natural gas rising by 24%, and electricity by 9%. 

These price hikes are putting a serious burden on the American household. Families are seeing more and more of their budget going toward the basic necessities, leaving little room for savings, let alone spending that improves their quality of life. 

Residents who are feeling this pinch are looking for ways to cut down their living expenses. These customers are naturally drawn to solar because they stand to save a significant amount on their monthly energy bills. Having an installation could help them achieve some budgetary breathing room. 

Electric Vehicle Adoption

The extreme jump in gas prices is also pushing Americans to find some form of relief. Those that want to cut their dependence on oil are looking to convert to electric vehicles. However, this option is only really viable if they have the ability to affordably charge their EV at home. While some may have access to charging stations nearby, those that don’t live in highly developed areas will need to depend on on-at-home charging. 

EVs require a significant amount of electricity to charge, which can be too much of a burden for homeowners who are already struggling to cover their high utility bills. Solar is becoming an especially attractive option for this growing group since it can easily cover their charging needs. 

Grid Independence in the Face of Extreme Weather

The past few years have seen a number of power disasters result from extreme weather events. Not wanting to endure the instability of grid power again, homeowners who live in vulnerable climates are overwhelmingly seeking out solar. 

Recent research collected by Solar Reviews has found that the latest weather disasters sparked major interest in solar. California’s harrowing wildfire season saw a 358% increase in solar quote requests, while the 2021 Texas blizzard saw a rise of 850%. When the Pacific Northwest endured its deadly heatwave, there was a 919% jump. 

In all of these scenarios, thousands of homeowners were affected by ongoing power outages that left their families exposed. Texas residents found their experience especially violating self-sufficiency since the state’s lack of market regulations resulted in many being forced to pay exorbitant rates based on demand. 

These homeowners want the security of self-sufficiency. They no longer trust utilities to keep the lights on or to be fair about how they do it.

Improve Your Chances with Exclusive Solar Leads

Addressing these key motives among homeowners will give you an advantage as you strive for more sales. But if you want to give yourself an extra boost, try focusing on exclusive solar leads.

Already pre-screened and booked for their first appointment with you, exclusive leads from Grid Freedom cut out all worry over the competition. You can count on these customers not being shared with any other contractors, giving you a smooth path toward landing a sale. 

Our agency specializes in delivering leads of the highest quality, with optimal profits and closing timelines. We go the extra mile to thoroughly vet our leads and ensure they offer promising opportunities. 

Get One on One with Customers at www.GridFreedom.com