Did you know Stellar’s GM is a big advocate on what we can do to not only help the environment, but what we can do to inspire the next generation to take interest in doing good for the environment? He was recently interviewed by Authority Magazine on “The 5 Things We Must Do to Inspire the Next Generation About Sustainability and the Environment.”
The $1 Billion Incentive Program California is Using to Tackle its Ancient Electric Grid
There’s no secret that California has a major crisis on its hands when it comes to its electrical grid, and with increased heat waves and wildfires year over year, the need to find a solution is paramount.
With rolling blackouts currently being used as just one solution to the behemoth of an issue to take pressure off of the grid when demand is at an all time high, such as during wildfire season, The California Public Utilities Commission approved a $1 Billion Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) to help combat the issue.
The SGIP program is an incentive program that encourages residents to install batteries into their homes. If you currently use PG&E, Southern California Edison or San Diego Gas and Electric, you might be one of the lucky ones to get rebates starting at $26,400 to simply install batteries into your home, making it almost free– and no, it’s not too good to be true.
“SGIP is actually nothing new to the state of California, it's been around for the past 5 years, but what is new about the program is the fact that people are using it now because of residents’ experience with constant blackouts,” said Mike Abadi, the General Manager of Stellar Energy. “The new program has been widely successful, especially in Northern California where funds have basically run out. It is an extremely important program for vulnerable people with health conditions or living in firezones to take note of– especially if they live in Southern California where funds are still available.”
The SGIP is for people either living in firezones or those who have experienced public safety power shutoffs, or PSPS events. Residents must fall under one of those two qualifiers. In addition to needing one of the two aforementioned qualifiers, having a medical condition that requires electricity or having a water well with an electric pump are the others.
“Think of people who use a CPAP machine, or need to refrigerate their medications so they don’t lose the medication’s effectiveness if the power goes out... or people who have a water well with an electric pump will also be people who are very dependent on electricity staying on,” Abadi said. “So many people we work with have no idea they easily qualify for thousands of dollars in rebates to simply have batteries installed into their homes.”
Batteries installed into homes, like the Tesla Powerwall, for example, is exactly what the SGIP is– rebates that end up costing almost nothing to California homeowners so that they feel incentivised to install batteries into their homes.
“These battery installations times millions of residents actually takes a lot of pressure off of the state’s electric grid, it’s a mutually beneficial program for both the state and the people who live in it,” Abadi said. “It’s a truly unique program we are bringing awareness to, and our customers are always so happy to find out they can get it.”
As the renewable energy industry continues to grow exponentially and spread into other U.S. states– the use of energy storage or batteries in addition to solar has taken installations to the next level. Due to declining costs for customers, and rebate programs offered to them, becoming more energy independent is now more accessible than ever.
Stellar Energy which has outposts in both Northern and Southern California are currently working to inform residents of what’s available to them. Interested to find out if you can get a rebate and join the movement? Contact us today!
Stellar Energy Featured on the Climate Adaption Channel!
Did you know that Stellar Energy's very own Mike Abadi was recently interviewed by host Doug Parson’s of the Climate Adaption Channel? Mike gave insight into California's Self-Generation Incentive Program.
Make sure to check out the clip on our Facebook page - simply search @StellarEnergyGPinc to watch the clip, and don’t forget to give us a LIKE!
Interested to find out if you qualify for a free-of-cost energy storage system? Call us today!
Have you heard the latest?! SinglePoint Inc.'s subsidiary Direct Solar of America & Stellar Energy GP have joined forces! Read the official press release below:
From PR Newswire:
SinglePoint Subsidiary Signs Stellar Energy GP, Inc. a Leading Energy Storage Systems and Solar Company with More Than 15 Years of Experience
PHOENIX, Oct. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SinglePoint Inc (OTC:SING) is pleased to announce the company's solar subsidiary Direct Solar of America has signed an agreement with Stellar Energy. The agreement provides Direct Solar of America the ability to sell projects throughout California including residential, and commercial solar as well as Energy Storage systems. This provides an instant growth opportunity as it provides a path to the nation's leading solar market California. Additionally, it provides Direct Solar of America the ability to offer multiple energy storage solutions as part of the company's service offerings.
Congruently, Direct Solar America and Stellar Energy have signed agreements to make Stellar Energy a sales partner for Direct Solar of America in Illinois. We feel this union will significantly increase production for both companies in a very hot and growing market.
"We have been very pleased with the overall workings of completing this agreement. We truly see Direct Solar of America as a leading originator in the industry with a model that has the potential to change how business is done within the solar industry. We are excited to see where the opportunity grows and being able to provide Direct Solar of America the assistance needed to be successful at the largest scale."
-Mike Abadi, General Manager, Stellar Energy GP Inc.
"Stellar Energy being the leading company it is provides us access and the opportunity to scale and enter many markets most importantly the California market. The additional access to services will help Direct Solar of America grow to the next level. We are excited to begin deal flow with Stellar. Both companies are productive and bring significant value add to each other. This collaboration can fundamentally improve the dynamic of the company's growth ability."
-Pablo Diaz, CEO, Direct Solar of America
About Stellar Energy
Stellar Energy is one of the nation's foremost energy storage and solar energy integrators, with complete system design, engineering, procurement, and construction management capabilities. Stellar Energy navigates the technical, logistical, and regulatory complexities of developing energy storage and solar projects for a wide variety of market segments, including residential homeowners, government and municipal projects, schools and universities, commercial and industrial businesses, and utilities and independent power producers. We are California's leading experts in the state's SGIP program, delivering our customers the best possible value and savings in their storage needs. Stellar Energy is headquartered in Petaluma, CA.
About SinglePoint, Inc.
SinglePoint Inc. (OTC: SING) is a fully reporting company with core holdings in Solar Energy Services. Acquired in May 2019, Direct Solar America, a majority owned subsidiary, now operates its leading national solar sales brokerage model in 38 states. In the past year Direct Solar America has virtualized its sales platform and has added to its corporate offerings to include Direct Solar Capital (Financial) and Direct Solar Commercial with a focus on financing, designing or developing small to mid-size commercial opportunities and projects.
Check out the press release on PR Newswire here: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/singlepoint-subsidiary-signs-stellar-energy-gp-inc-a-leading-energy-storage-systems-and-solar-company-with-more-than-15-years-of-experience-301153030.html
Recent study finds SMUD is overpaying its rooftop solar customers, solar advocates disagree
Could it be true? Is SMUD overpaying its rooftop solar customers in Sacramento? According to energy consulting firm, Energy + Environmental Economics (E3), the answer is yes– while solar advocates say no. The energy firm was commissioned by SMUD to conduct a study on the true value of solar in the Sacramento area.
Results in the study found that the current value of solar is 3-7 cents per kWh, in comparison to the current 12 cents per kWh rate. SMUD says the goal of its not-for-profit electric company is to ultimately create a new net energy metering (NEM) rate for rooftop solar customers that not only allows them to continue delivering clean power at low rates, but at a rate that also fairly compensates solar customers for the benefits from their rooftop systems. SMUD says the process will remain public if any official rate changes are made, but the decision will ultimately be approved by the SMUD Board of Directors.
The current 12 cents per kWh rate, according to the study, currently creates a cost shift to non-solar customers, and also disproportionately impacts low-income customers. This means that non-solar customers pay on average about $45 a year extra for not having solar.
To SMUD, the study is an important first step in “getting solar right,” but skeptics say the study is flawed. Solar advocates believe that the study was initiated to discredit the value of customer-sited solar to the utility, community, and environment. It also has some questioning, who’s next? If SMUD follows through with cutting the NEM rate, could PG&E, Southern California Edison and other utility companies follow suit?
Arlen Orchard, SMUD’s CEO and GM started a campaign to collect public support in making cuts to NEM, even though directors on the SMUD Board, who also oversee the utility, remain opposed to Orchard, and are vocal supporters of solar.
So what can you do? Are you an advocate of solar? Tomorrow, September 16, the board will hold a meeting to hear from the public on what it believes as a whole SMUD should do.
Interested to have your voice heard? Email publiccomment@smud.org to sign up for the meeting now!
2.2 Million Acres Burned in California this Year as Worst Fire Months of the Season Sets In
We’re just a week and a day into the month of September– one of the worst fire months of fire season, in addition to October. As the most destructive fire months set in, sadly, our state has had already 2.2 million acres burned, making our outlook here in California pretty grim.
Power outages are now in full swing in various parts of California as local state utility companies grapple to keep up with demand, putting massive pressure on our utility grid. Utility companies are asking customers to limit their usage, but it’s not easy during heatwaves for many to limit air-conditioning usage, for example. According to a CalFire report, the 2.2 million acres burned are from 25 different wildfires that were ignited by mostly lightening strikes. For reference, In 2018, 1.89 million acres burned, and in 2019, 118,000 acres burned in our state. This year is breaking records, and the fire season isn’t even over.
“Historic is a term we seemingly often use here in the state of California, but these numbers bear fruit to that assertion, that this is historic,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a news briefing today. “This is the largest fire season we’ve had in terms of total acreage.”
The wildfires make matters worse for our state, as people typically want to crank up their air conditioning to escape from the extreme heat and smoke outside, putting additional pressure on the grid. Perhaps the best way Californians can do their part is to add solar and storage to their homes. Thanks to California’s SGIP rebates, customers who live in high fire zones, amongst other qualifiers can get storage for little to no cost.
California state's grid operator’s flex alert is in full effect - will your home experience a forced power shutoff?
It’s no surprise to many California residents that their power will likely be shut off today and in the near future. Many PG&E customers received a notification this Labor Day weekend that their power may be turned off due to wildfires and the current heat wave. But which counties are possibly going to be affected?
PG&E reported that customers in portions of Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Humboldt, Kern, Lake, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Sonoma, Tehama, Tuolumne and Yuba may have their power shut off on Labor Day. The utility company sent out notifications to mainly its medical baseline customers, so those who depend on electricity for critical life-sustaining equipment have a heads up.
According to PG&E, “the extreme weather is also increasing demand on the statewide electric grid. Separate from any PSPS event, the state’s grid operator has issued a Flex Alert, a voluntary call for energy conservation to help balance power supply with demand.” The alert is running from 3 to 9 p.m the entire holiday weekend, ending on Labor Day.
PG&E says its in-house meteorologists and its Wildfire Safety Operation Center and Emergency Operation Center will continue to monitor the weather conditions, and says additional customer notifications will continue to be shared as needed, depending on the weather.
Also new for 2020 is PG&E’s improved weather watch and PSPS event notifications. Due to customer feedback, PG&E has found that its customers want a heads up immediately once the utility company knows if it may shut off power, so people can plan.
According to PG&E, “state officials classify more than half of PG&E’s 70,000-square-mile service area in Northern and Central California as having a high fire threat, given dry grasses and the high volume of dead and dying trees. The state’s high-risk areas have tripled in size in seven years. No single factor drives a PSPS, as each situation is unique. PG&E carefully reviews a combination of many criteria when determining if power should be turned off for safety.”
So what can you do to protect yourself from future PSPS events?
First, it’s important to understand your options. As a California resident, facing power shut offs is becoming the norm. The best way we can all do our part is to take pressure off the grid. Installing energy storage (or batteries) like Tesla, Enpahse or Genrac into your home is one way to protect yourself from the outages. Many people believe that you need solar as well to install batteries, but it’s most definitely not the case. While there are benefits to installing both solar and storage, outfitting your home with storage alone is a good way to get started, especially with the state’s current SGIP rebate offerings in place. Stellar Energy offers its customers batteries from the top solar and storage companies in the market. Make sure to call us today to understand the many ways you can protect yourself from future outages.
Relentless Heat Threatens California's Grid, Setting Off Rolling Blackouts
California is currently experiencing its worst heat wave in years– breaking previous temperature records across the state. In Death Valley on Sunday, the area reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit, Santa Rosa reached 103 degrees, while Santa Cruz shot to 107 degrees. Other cities across the state shattered previous temperature records, straining the state’s power grid, ultimately forcing power shut offs.
The strain on California’s grid is due to the high demand for resident’s need for air conditioning to escape the extreme temperatures. The California Independent System Operator or CAISO is the operator for a majority of the state’s power grid, and oversees the biggest electricity providers like PG&E, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison. On Sunday, CAISO issued a statewide Flex Alert, asking for voluntary electricity conservation to residents through Wednesday, August 19th, to help with the strain on the grid– the organization also informed consumers that they should plan for more potential outages.
Luckily for California residents, batteries or storage help residential customers to keep their lights on during forced power shut offs by taking the strain off the grid, and allowing for the resident to be reliant on the storage installed in their homes when needed. The state’s Self-Generation Incentive Program or SGIP program is currently in full swing to attract homeowners to install their own batteries by providing large rebates (making some transactions almost free-of-cost) in efforts to help residents become more energy independent, and also help take strain off the grid, especially during heat waves or high fire season when demand for more energy use and the possibility of power shut offs are at an all time high.