Solar Open House, Sat., 3/24

See PV at work...

Mark your calendar for next Saturday, March 24 for a Solar Open House at the Shubat residence in the Carmel Mountain area of north San Diego. The Shubat family has been reaping the rewards of solar since last spring. In fact, their system was over-sized in anticipation of their purchase of an electric vehicle later this year. This installation was featured in Solar Today magazine last summer:  http://goo.gl/WrvsE

Here's a chance to ask any questions about grid-tie systems, incentives, purchasing, leasing or borrowing. Stop by and have a piece of pizza. It'll be fun and informative. 

WHEN:    Saturday, March 24
TIME:      10am to 2pm
WHERE: 5367 Harvest Run Drive
                  San Diego, CA 92130

DIRECTIONS:

From I-5

1)  Take the exit toward CA-56 E/Local Bypass. 0.6 mi
2)  Merge onto I-5 Local Byp. 0.7 mi
3)  Take the Carmel Mountain Rd exit, EXIT 32. 0.2 mi
4)  Turn right onto Carmel Mountain Rd. 0.4 mi
5)  Turn right to stay on Carmel Mountain Rd. 1.4 mi
(Carmel Mountain Rd is 0.1 miles past Vista Sorrento Pky. If you are on Carmel Creek Rd and reach Lago di Grata Cir you've gone about 0.1 miles too far.)
6)  Turn right onto Harvest Run Dr. 0.3 mi
(Harvest Run Dr is 0.2 miles past Furlong Pl. If you reach Amberglades Ln you've gone about 0.3 miles too far.)
7)  5367 HARVEST RUN DR is on the right.

From I-15

1)  Merge onto Ted Williams Pky/CA-56 W.  6.5 mi
(If you are on Carmel Mountain Rd and reach Caminito Bolsa you've gone about 0.1 miles too far.)
2)  Take the Carmel Country Road exit, EXIT 2.  0.3 mi
3)  Turn left onto Carmel Country Rd. 1.7 mi
4)  Turn right onto Carmel Mountain Rd.  0.3 mi
(Carmel Mountain Rd is 0.1 miles past Stone Haven Way. If you are on Carmel Mountain Rd and reach Laurel Chase Dr you've gone about 0.1 miles too far.)
5)  Turn left onto Amberglades Ln.    0.2 mi
(Amberglades Ln is 0.1 miles past Plumcrest Ln. If you reach Cherry Hill Dr you've gone about 0.2 miles too far.)
6)  Turn right onto Harvest Run Dr.  0.04 mi
7)  5367 HARVEST RUN DR is on the left.
(If you reach Whispering Hills Ln you've gone a little too far.)

We'll see you next Saturday!

                                                                          

Electricity Rates to Increase 13% Nationwide

Preparing for the Smart Grid, renewable technologies

Electricity rate increases nationwide will range from 3 to 33% with the average at 12.64%. The statistics appear in the AEE 2012 Electricity Outlook prepared by Southern California Edison (http://goo.gl/uGmHD).

SCE reported the final decision on its 7.55% across-the-board rate increase request is due in March and would take effect in May. With approval, the increase will amount to $6.285 billion in added income. In the same report rates for PG&E were expected to rise 6.4%.

The report went on to detailed why SCE needs the funds. They included infrastructure replacement; operations and maintenance expense for capital-related projects, regulatory mandates, wildfire insureance and employee benefits; and Smart Grid enhancements. These include replacing poles, wires and transformers; increasing grid security; adding smart grid components need to integrate more renewable energy; getting the SCE region ready for plug-in electric vehicles; and maintaining a skilled work force.

Residential tiers at SCE would change as follows: Baseline (T1) from 12.5 to 13.1 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) or 5%; Tier 2 from 14.8 to 15.5 (5%); Tier 3 from 22.9 to 29.1 (27%); Tier 4 from 26.4 to 32.6 (23%) and Tier 5 from 29.9 to 36.1 (21%). CARE (discounted) customers will see a 14% increase in Tiers 3-5.

Steep as they are, these increases could be a lot worse. SCE serves some 13 million residential and commercial customers so the burden is spread around. SCE is not only the largest utility in California but it comprises 80% of the gross revenues of its parent, Edison International in New Jersey.

With most states adopting renewable energy standards, ratepayers will see increases related both to the increasing costs of fossil fuels but also in upgrading infrastructure for the Smart Grid and renewable energy technologies. As always, the best way to mitigate the rising costs or power to home and work is solar power. A PV system provides both clean energy for 30 years or more but hedges against future rate hikes during its lifecycle.