FAQs

Solar power directly offsets utility purchases of electric power from coal and gas-fueled power plants. This lowers the atmospheric Carbon Dioxide, and Sulfur Dioxide (Green-house gases) and Nitrogen Dioxide – a potent smog-related gas. Installing one average (5kW) solar panel system is like planting 200 trees. We show you the impact you get to make to the environment with your free estimate. 

The best way to find out how much you are paying for electricity is by looking at your monthly utility bill. You can access this by going online and accessing your utility company’s online portal. There you will see there is a way to download your electrical usage and monthly bill for the previous year.  In many cases for California residents, your energy provider will be PG&E. You can also call PG&E at (877) 743-4112 or visit their website at pg&e.com.

At Positive Energy Services, every system we build is designed to fit the individual needs and desires of the customer. We will work hard to customize your system to be just right for you. Therefore, each system is different and the amount of money you can save depends on multiple factors such as current energy usage, current energy provider, geographical location, roof size, and roof type. Depending on your usage and roof size, you may be able to lower your energy usage to near zero with net metering. If you get an interconnection agreement before mid April you will be eligible for a NEM 2.0 agreement. This will completely get rid of your energy bill and you will start saving the second the system is turned on. However, you will still be required to pay approximately $10 per month for meter costs. Generally clients get a great ROI by switching to solar.

Simply stated, net metering is the difference between what your solar system produces and what you use over a year’s time. If you use more power in a year than your system generates in a year, you pay a “true-up” charge.  If you use less, then the utility provider may pay you a small nominal fee per kW hour underused. Currently PG&E is advocating for net energy metering (NEM) 3.0 which will impose a fee to go solar per kW. Hurry now to be grandfathered into NEM 2.0 (our current NEM).

In 2022 the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) proposal, known as NEM 3.0, would reduce payments granted to rooftop solar customers for the excess power they generate, which is known as net metering. The proposal would also add monthly hookup charges of $8 per kilowatt (kW) of installed solar. Currently the decision for NEM3.0 has been postponed indefinitely. Hurry now to be grandfathered into NEM 2.0 (our current NEM).