Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) has recently added the voluntary Critical Peak Pricing (CPP) program that gives lower energy rates on non-CPP event days (non peak days) in exchange for higher rates on CPP event days. (high use Summer days)

You agree to pay higher peak rates of 60 cents a kilowatt-hour on no more than 15 days a year in exchange for a 3 cent discount on all other energy use times.

This is designed for businesses using more than 200 kW per month who can pull back energy use during peak days. The program has resulted in lower bills for some big customers like datacenters.

Interested in Solar Power but don’t have tens of thousands of dollars? In 2008 the average residential Solar System cost and expensive $5.40 per watt of capacity, while commercial ones cost $4.20.  These figures translates to 25 to 46 cents per kilowatt hour of residential power or 17 to 29 cents for concentrating commercial solar plant.  Compare the above numbers to roughly 7 to 10 cents for coal and natural gas.

In the San Francisco Bay Area many PG&E customers have a tiered energy pricing that starts at 10 cents, but jumps to 26 cents, 35 cents and 49 cents. An average US home in in PG&E’s territory is paying upto 26-49 cents/KWHr for more than 50% of their electricity usage.  This makes solar much more affordable.

Solar City has an interesting program where you finance a solar system and pay a monthly lease. The SolarLease payment and lower electric bill will be less than your current electric bill. They own the panels and you rent them by paying the cost of the power. They advertise a medium sized 4kW system with $0  down, no security deposit, and $110 a month with 3.9% annual interest rate for 15 years on approved credit.  When the lease ends you can extend it, remove the panels, or upgrade.

Savings with Solar Panel Leasing (Credit: Solar City)

You can save $10,050 over the next 15 years, because you have locked in low price for solar electricity while utility rates continue to increase.

Sun Run partners with local companies to provide solar systems and financing.  They have a Solar Power Purchase Agreement or solar PPA where you pay a fixed, set rate for all the solar electricity produced by the solar panels. Sun Run also has a solar lease you pay a monthly payment to rent the solar panels on your roof. There may also be a small installation fee upfront with either plan, usually under $1000.

The amount of your monthly solar lease payment is the same each month, regardless of how much solar electricity your system produces. This is the main difference between a solar lease and a solar power purchase agreement.

Leasing your system does not qualify you for Federal or State solar rebates, the company installing them gets the rebates.

Other providers should have similar offers in other areas.

There are several items that affected my Solar Panel installation that they may not cover, make sure you review our past solar panel articles.

PGE has an Energy Partners Program that provides income-qualified customers free energy education, weatherization measures and energy-efficient appliances to reduce gas and electric usage.

They provide:

• Attic insulation
• Caulking
• CFLs
• Door weather-stripping
• Energy-saver showerhead
• Minor home repair
• Water heater blanket

Free Education and Assessment, Installation and Delivery, and Free Inspections.

You can contact them at 1-800-933-9555

Pacific Gas and Electric has some free classes on various Energy conservation topics including Solar Power Basics for Residential Customers, HVAC, Water & Energy, and Lighting. It is always nice to get vendor neutral information.  Some classes are available online to any user.

Let’s face it, not everyone has tens of thousands of dollars to pay for a solar system and even with no money down leases, you still need to be informed.  Looking for new ways to save energy is only a class away.

Classes take place at:

Pacific Energy Center
851 Howard Street
San Francisco

and

Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s Energy Training Center
1129 Enterprise St.
Stockton, CA 95204

New rebates have been added for 2010.

Our local utility Pacific Gas and Electric has a bunch of cash rebates and ways to go green for energy efficient appliances, appliance recycling, insulation, Central Natural Gas Furnace, Whole House Fan, Duct Sealing, cool roofs, water heaters, pool pumps, Home lighting, and more. You can even submit rebate requests online and then send in proof of purchase.

Check your local utility’s web site for similar deals before you buy a new item.  Most rebates run through December 31.

We recently bought a new dishwasher that had a $50 PGE rebate that was not advertised by the vendor. PGE fulfilled the rebate in only 2 weeks. Green homes and cash back.

You can also call PGE and ask for a Smart Home Rebate Booklet

Be sure to also take advantage of the 30% Federal Energy Tax Credit which expires 12/31/2010.