Homeowners in Capitola, California share a strong sense of responsibility for the environment.

Energy conservation plays a vital role in that commitment. It’s one of many reasons why more and more Capitola residents are installing home solar systems.

If your home is powered by a rooftop solar array, you enjoy lower electric bills, cleaner energy, and less reliance on the grid.

However, when the panels generate more energy than you need, they don’t store the excess for later use. That’s where a solar battery backup comes into play.

Our team of solar experts in Capitola have put together this blog outlining everything you need to know about solar battery storage.

Let’s dive in.

In California, utility customers know a thing or two about PG&E rate increases.

The utility giant has increased its rates regularly. In fact, there were rate increases in 2018, 2019, and 2021.

It should come as no surprise, then, that PG&E customers could face another round of price hikes this year.

In April, PG&E sought state approval to increase its rates to float expenses related to its facilities, operations, and estimated capital costs.

While this is unwelcome news, you don’t have to face it alone.

In this blog, we’ll discuss everything we know about the new PG&E rate increase and what you can expect in the coming year.

Let’s dive in.

The cost of electricity in California continues to rise. Outages occur more frequently than ever in San Jose and the San Francisco Bay Area.

As confidence in the grid goes down, interest in residential solar power increases.

At Sandbar Solar & Electric, we regularly install solar panels on San Jose homes, so we’re familiar with the steps required to go solar.

We put together this guide to help guide you through the process.

Let’s get started

Tracking home electricity bills over the course of a year is usually predictable.

The cost per kilowatt-hour continues to creep up, and it hits the home budget especially hard during the summer months. When the weather finally cools off, you look forward to lower electric bills.

That pattern is changing, though, and it’s not good news for homeowners.

The factors driving this historic shift are centered around our current reliance on natural gas for electricity production.

The results are an expected surge in winter heating bills and even higher costs per kWh when temperatures warm up.

Here at Sandbar Solar & Electric, we’re committed to helping you control your energy costs. Our solar panel installations allow thousands of residents along the Central Coast to dial down their reliance on the grid and lower their electric bills.

We’re always happy to share our expertise, so we’ve developed this list of smart ways to reduce electricity consumption at home.

Let’s dive in.

If you’re considering installing solar panels, you might be wondering about the costs.

And if you’re worried about being able to afford solar panels, don’t worry – there are ways to reduce your out-of-pocket investment.

Thanks to a few prominent Cupertino solar panel rebates, you can save money on the installation of your Cupertino home solar system.

In this blog, we’ll discuss a few of the most popular solar panel incentives you can take advantage of today.

Let’s dive in.

Scott Laskey Presents Proven Microgrid Solutions for California Grid Problems

Here in Salinas, energy conservation plays an important role in municipal operations.

The city’s investments are expected to lower energy costs for taxpayers by more than $22 million over the next 25 years.

Many Salinas businesses are also cashing in on projected savings by switching to solar. One local high school made solar news with solar panel installations that continue to reduce campus energy consumption.

If this has you thinking about a home solar energy system in Salinas, let us share some information on where you can start.

With so many solar providers in Salinas and the surrounding area, there are some important things you’ll want to look for.

You’re ready to go solar, bring down energy costs and enjoy grid independence. You see neighboring homes in Morgan Hill with rooftop solar systems, and you’re excited about making the switch. Like most property owners, you have questions about installing solar panels on your Morgan Hill home. Our guide covers each project stage, from evaluating your existing system to lighting up your home with clean, renewable energy.

It’s one of the best places to call home in Santa Clara County.

Los Gatos balances its position as a hub for high-tech industry with a comfortable, relaxed lifestyle. The local economy, driven by innovations in multiple fields, serves residents with a variety of earth-friendly options.

Solar energy initiatives here have been ongoing for years.

In 2016, the community joined surrounding municipalities to form the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Agency. Many public facilities have switched to solar power.

Residential solar energy systems in Los Gatos play an important role in building a sustainable foundation for energy independence. Every home here that converts the sun’s energy into electricity helps ensure a greener future.

You don’t have to look far to see how well solar technology fits the community. You’ll find solar installations on existing houses and new residential construction. This is a place that cares about the environment. We know you do too.

On December 15, 2022, the CPUC voted unanimously to pass NEM 3.0. The changes went into effect on April 14, 2023.

In this post, we’ll provide an overview of net metering 3.0 in California and what you can do now to maximize your solar savings now that NEM 3.0 is in effect.

Let’s dive in.

Dear Sandbar customers and local solar stakeholders,

Our local solar industry in California and the 3CE region is being aggressively challenged by the Investor Owned Utilities (IOU’s – PG&E, SCE, SDG&E) and our very own Central Coast Community Energy (3CE).

We need your help in raising awareness and working to save Net Energy Metering (NEM) and preserve the local solar industry.

If you live in California, you know that PG&E has experienced a tumultuous couple of years. The utility provider has continuously raised its rates, faced lawsuits over its role in several deadly wildfires, and ultimately paid a $13.5 billion settlement to survivors and families, just to name a few of the highlights.

Unfortunately, things don’t look like they’ll be much smoother in 2021.

Recently, Pacific Gas & Electric announced that it would raise rates again in the coming year. According to the utility, the rate increase will help upgrade equipment, implement new safety measures, and help avoid deadly fires in the future.

If you’re a PG&E customer, you’re probably wondering what the rate increase means for you. In this post, we’ll discuss what the future looks like for those in the PG&E service area, and what the alternatives may be.

Solar energy is more in-demand than ever. In the last ten years, the solar industry has grown at an average rate of 49%. Federal policies, like the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), have served to decrease costs for consumers and increase demand.

As a result, there are currently more than 85 gigawatts of solar capacity installed throughout the country – enough to power more than 16 million homes.

If you’re considering installing solar power, you probably have many questions about the process.

Typically, homeowners will meet with a solar consultant (or “solar salesperson”) to evaluate the costs and benefits of going solar. An experienced solar consultant will discuss your future energy needs, evaluate your electric usage, briefly survey your roof and your home’s electrical connection to the grid, and assess a number of other factors to determine how many solar panels you’ll need to produce a specific amount of energy.

We’ll cover “How to Shop for Solar” in a separate blog post, but people often ask, “What happens after we sign up for solar – during the solar panel installation process? What can we expect from your installation team? And how long will it take?”

We’ve compiled all the answers to your questions in this complete guide.

When the power goes out in your area, what are your options? Unless you have backup power at your home, it’s likely you’ll be sitting in the dark.

Fortunately, dozens of backup power options are available to choose from – including propane, diesel, natural gas-powered generators, and solar battery systems.

When you find the right solution for your home, you get the peace of mind that comes with knowing your household will keep running, even if the grid goes down.

Here at Sandbar Solar & Electric, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners turn to solar and battery backup on the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Coast in California, so we know a thing or two about the value of a good backup system.

In this post, we’ll discuss the differences between solar battery backup systems and generators and help you understand which is right for you.

Let’s dive in!

When you choose to go solar, your relationship with PG&E will change. One of the biggest changes is that you’ll start getting an annual statement called a true-up bill. This bill summarizes your annual electricity charges and credits for each month and distills them into a single invoice.

For many property owners, the true-up bill is confusing to understand. In this article, we’ll outline what the true-up bill is, why it can be so high, and what you can do to decrease or eliminate yours.