Apple Valley Solar Company Helps Local Homeowners Avoid Electrical Utility Rate Increases
Apple Valley, United States - August 17, 2021 /PressCable/ —
Residents in Apple Valley probably get electricity from Southern California Edison (SCE). And they are probably fed up with the high cost of electricity for their homes. There are utility rate increases every year, and there will be more coming in 2022.
Southern California Edison recently held a public forum to request rate increases for the immediate future, starting with a large increase in 2021 and continuing to increase over the next few years. Let’s take a look at the history of these increases and what is included in their current request, to see what Apple Valley homeowners can expect to increase in 2022 and the future.
Every utility has to increase rates periodically to cover increasing grid maintenance and service costs. The local energy grid goes through wear and tear, and therefore, rates have to increase to cover the increasing costs of paying employees, buying new equipment, etc. to keep it working properly.
In SCE’s recently released notice, they state that the reason for the rate increase is to “set rates that customers pay to fund SCE’s day-to-day operations, including maintenance for its equipment and electricity grid upgrades.” The increases are there to cover the anticipated costs in the coming four years, from 2021 to 2024.
Utilities like SCE have been getting more attention over the past few years as a result of recent fires that resulted in many deaths. Some of these “California Wildfires” were found to be caused by neglect on Pacific Gas & Electric’s part, due mostly to outdated and shotty electrical equipment. That begs the question, where is the money going?
The three big utilities, PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E are “investor-owned utilities”, which means they are publicly traded companies. But this also means they are expected to provide a substantial profit and return on investment to shareholders, not their customers. So while they do have to have money to keep the equipment maintained, they also have to be profitable to appease their shareholders. This is why, when it comes down to it, Apple Valley homeowners should free themselves from the utility so they will no longer be slaves to rate increases and profit margins.
Southern California Edison is proceeding with Phase 1 of a rate increase in 2021 and increases over the next consecutive three years. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a 20% rate increase for authorized residential electricity rates in all SCE territory in 2021, including Apple Valley, CA.
According to SCE’s application, the increases add approximately $14 in 2021, $4 in 2022, and $6 in 2023 to the average bill.
This 20% increase is a significant jump from previous years for SCE. After only 18% in increases over the last 10 years, a 20% increase in one year is astounding. For those customers with higher than average bills, this could result in significant bill increases that could be difficult to pay, especially if the family income has been affected by the pandemic.
Homeowners in Apple Valley might be worried about all these impending rate increases. If their usage is higher than average, they will be faced with huge increases in electricity bills. Especially in the summer, when the desert weather is at its worst, these rates will strain any tight budgets. Many residents are wondering how they can get relief from this impending financial strain? They can make their homes as efficient as possible, but they will still be susceptible to rate increases that are completely out of their control. If they want to take control, there is only one option: Go Solar.
By installing solar panels and using that same desert sun that was causing those huge bills, homeowners can create enough electricity to power the entire home. It works is through a billing mechanism known as “net metering” where homeowners can sell the extra solar energy their panels create during the day back to the utility for “credits”. These credits are used at night when the sun is not out. Through this system of producing credits and using them at night, most homeowners who install solar panels can eliminate any utility bills.
So by eliminating electric bills, homeowners that go solar can shield themselves from huge bills today, and the increases coming from SCE in 2022 and beyond. Any increases moving forward become savings by generating their own power instead of relying on power from the utility.
When Apple Valley residents install solar panels from Option One, they won’t have to worry about rate increases anymore, and as rates increase, the solar return on investment will increase. Option One Solar systems come with a 25-year warranty that covers everything from top-to-bottom, so homeowners can be free from utility companies and the local government making decisions for them.
Contact Info:
Name: Scott Thomas
Email: Send Email
Organization: Option One Solar
Address: 13581 John Glenn Rd, Ste. A, Apple Valley, CA 92308, United States
Phone: +1-855-502-6363
Website: https://optiononesolar.com/
Source: PressCable
Release ID: 89041408
