Energy Solutions

Join HelioPower’s Scott Gordon this Saturday, October 22 in a live webcast at 1pm.  Learn about smart meters and solar, and how to “just add solar” to ensure your family’s privacy and contain the rising cost of electricity.

Smart meters are being installed on millions of homes in California.  By installing solar you can ensure your family’s privacy and avoid the rising cost of electricity as more accurately tracked by smart meters.

HelioPower's Scott Gordon at Solar Meetup

HelioPower is hosting a series of Neighborhood Meetups to talk about smart meters and energy choices—including affordable solar solutions.

It’s a chance to get all your questions answered about smart meters, saving energy & saving money. A lite lunch is even being served.

There's also a live webcast being offered as an even greener alternative–to save gas and time…making it even more convenient for interested homeowners.

It's a simple process to just log in and listen to the energy solutions being discussed along with the Q&A from the attending crowd. In addition, those logged in to the Live Webcast will have the opportunity to have their individual, specific questions answered about solar, smart meters and other energy solutions.

To register for the Live Webcast, visit http://www.heliopower.com/SmartMetersandSolar or register directly here on Event Brite: http://escondidowebcastsm2.eventbrite.com/

HelioPower's Scott Gordon will address the new proposed surcharges to solar users announced this week by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) at solar meetings in Laguna Niguel this Saturday.

NC Times announced today that "Homeowners with solar power may have to dig a little deeper to pay off their green investment if regulators approve San Diego Gas & Electric Co.'s request to change the way electricity is billed.

Under its proposal, SDG&E would unbundle the charges for electricity and for transporting electricity."

"They are trying to mitigate, in their mind, the so-called cost subsidy issue," said Leeweigh Tan, a regulatory analyst for the Division of Ratepayer Advocates, an independent arm of the commission. "Sometimes utilities get enthusiastic about addressing a certain issue and they blow it out of proportion. We want to make sure the data supports their claim."

Indeed, all of the advocates reached for this article wondered how SDG&E generated those figures for the subsidy. The complete filing is likely to address that question.

"SDG&E ignores all the benefits of solar and only looks at the costs," said Michael Shames, executive director of the Utility Consumers' Action Network, an advocacy nonprofit.

Because the new charge would extend the return on investment for solar, it would make explaining solar to potential installation customers more difficult. It would probably depress what has been a growing market, said Scott Gordon, an SDG&E residential solar customer and vice president for sales for Murrieta solar installer HelioPower.

"That is frightening," Gordon said.

Smart meters are here…whether we want them or not. The installation of millions of smart meters by utilities worldwide, including San Diego Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas & Electric here in California, have also brought concerns, questions, fears and curiosity.

There are concerns about “Big Brother” watching, paying more for our energy because the smart meters record every 15 minutes of energy usage and even fears that the mechanisms give off dangerous emissions.

In an effort to answer questions about smart meters, HelioPower, a solar company in California, is hosting a series of neighborhood meetings from North County San Diego to Marin County in the Bay Area.

In addition to answering everyone’s questions and quelling residents’ fears, the meetings are helping turn what some perceive as “lemons into lemonade” by empowering homeowners with reliable information about their energy options. These options include showing homeowners how they can save energy, and therefore money on their energy bills, by investing in solar solutions and implementing energy saving programs at home.
The discussion includes an explanation of acquiring solar energy systems for initial cash out of pocket in addition to details on how to cash in on available rebates.

The first smart meters and solar neighborhood meeting was held Saturday, September 24th in Murrieta, CA and was a

Smart meter event in Murrieta, CA featuring Scott Gordon of HelioPower

rousing success. Interested  homeowners took advantage of their opportunity to get answers to their questions about smart meters and their specific energy saving options as presented by Scott Gordon of HelioPower.

“I feel much better about smart meters now that I’ve heard the entire story. Plus, I found out a lot about solar that I didn’t realize. The whole solar for no money down is very appealing–especially in this economy,” stated attendee Desiree Hansen who came to Murrieta from her home in Escondido.

“It was certainly worth my time,” Mrs. Hansen concluded.

More information about upcoming smart meter meetings and webcasts can be found at http://www.heliopower.com/SmartMetersandSolar

HelioPower's Steve LoRusso and the company's solar installation at the Ronald McDonald House Charities in San Diego are featured in this Canadian Solar USA produced video.

From a home in Southern California, to the Ronald McDonald Charities House in San Diego, to a hulling facility in the San Joaquin Valley, watch how 3 individuals weigh the options and chose solar. Gain insights into how solar has impacted their families, their businesses, and their wallets.

Smart Meters can either work for you—or against you. Tens of millions of smart meters are being installed globally. In California alone 13 million homeowners will have a smart meter by the end of 2012. It will monitor your energy use, tying you into a smart grid world.

If you have a monthly electric bill of $100 or more you need to know about smart meters, and how to make sure they don't hurt you. Specifically, how they can negatively impact your bank account, your lifestyle and your privacy.

You have the opportunity to make the "smart meter" reality help you.

With solar, you can make the smart meter work for you—instead of against you. The smart meter can provide you with energy information. By adding solar, you can turn this information to your benefit. You can save energy and money. You can ensure your family's privacy and security.

Come to the Smart Meters and Solar neighborhood meetup in your town to get all your questions answered, check out your energy options and see how much money you can truly save.

Video features Scott Gordon of HelioPower. More information at www.HelioPower.com/SmartMetersandSolar

SunRun Uncovers California's Highest Electric Bills – Over $2400 of Financial Pain

An Oroville family growing food for veterans' shelters will receive free solar power for 20 years from SunRun after presenting the largest electric bill in California. The family submitted a June electric bill for over $2400 to SunRun's Battle of the Bill's contest.

Family members David Sato and his father and sister were delighted to learn they can take charge of their electricity costs and save money while switching to clean solar power from dirty power sources like coal. SunRun partner HelioPower will perform the Sato's installation.

"When we moved to California we bought 13 acres so we could have a more self-dependent and local lifestyle," said homeowner David Sato. "We have big gardens, we're building an orchard so we can grow our own produce, and we want to support our needs with renewable energy as much as possible. We're hoping to grow enough to be able to donate a large portion of the food to the local veterans' shelter."

Despite the Sato's best efforts to make their home as energy efficient as possible – for example, energy-efficient light bulbs, double-pane windows, new insulation – they struggle to keep electricity costs down. The Sato's noted that increasing rates and volatility with the local electric company are constant financial challenges.

"We're so excited to have SunRun," said Sato. "Even if we didn't win the contest we'd switch to SunRun because you can go solar without paying thousands of dollars out-of-pocket. The fact that this company lets you lock in low rates for clean energy is a huge draw. The first thing we want to do with our savings is invest in more solar!"

"We offered this contest to help educate more homeowners that solar can be a low-cost, smart investment, and that it's a great way to take control of your energy costs," said SunRun President and Co-founder Lynn Jurich. "We're looking forward to helping another home make the switch affordably."

"We were overwhelmed by the number of entries we received, and by the fact that so many people didn't realize solar is an option for them," added Jurich. "Even families with bills as low as $100 can save money with clean solar energy."

SunRun is the nation's leading home solar company and owns, installs, and maintains home solar panels so families don't have to pay $30,000 or more for them. Homeowners lock in low solar electricity rates for 20 years, protected from unpredictable utility rate increases. The company installs more than $1 million in solar every day. Details on Battle of the Bills can be found at: http://www.sunrunhome.com/landing-pages/highest-bill-ca.

Source:  SunRun

The clean energy improvements at Las Serenas are a microcosm of the good that can happen when local, state and federal groups work together, Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., said today at Las Serenas, a San Diego based affordable housing development by Community HousingWorks (CHW) that went solar this summer.

Boxer’s San Diego stop continued a string of visits to highlight “green” energy and job development in the state. On Monday she participated in

Senator Boxer receives book created by the children at Las Serenas to describe the solar power system installed at their community. The solar installation was done by HelioPower. Photo by Susan Riggs Tinsky.

the solar dedication at the Santa Clarita Transit Maintenance Facility. Last week she was in the San Joaquin Valley talking about job creation and green energy at the University of California at Merced.

CHW CEO Susan Reynolds welcomed the senator reminding visitors Boxer has played a leadership role developing green jobs and environmental protection as the first woman to Chair the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Environment and Public Works.

In November 2009, Community HousingWorks was awarded the first CA Multifamily Affordable Solar Housing (MASH) Track 2 grant to install solar energy at Las Serenas. The MASH funds supported the installation of a 67.5 kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic facility with 100% of its production going to residents.

CHW worked with HelioPower, a California based solar integration firm, to engineer and construct the Las Serenas project. The solar facility will offset approximately 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per unit annually, and save each family over $100 of their anticipated yearly electricity expenses. One resident, Lillian Wellman said, “when my first bill went from $60 a month to $36, it made a huge difference for my family.”

Sen. Barbara Boxer with Las Serenas children. Photo by Lauren Montague.

About 40 people attended the recognition event including Paul Kealey, Acting Chief Operating Officer of NeighborWorks America; Irene Stillings, Executive Director for the California Center of Sustainable Design; David Alvarez, San Diego Council member; Karen Bucey, CHW board member and San Diego city planner; Susan Riggs Tinksy, Executive Director for the San Diego Housing Federation and Glenna Wiseman, VP Marketing, HelioPower, along with CHW board members, community residents and supporters.

Source: HelioPower, Inc.

HelioPower Launches “Solar Overload” Video to See How Many Appliances it Takes to Spin a Residential Power Meter Forward with a Typically Sized Solar Power System

As summer blazes on and residential electric bills increase, HelioPower, an integrated energy solutions company with over 2000 solar and clean energy systems engineered and installed since 2001, today launched “Solar Overload” a first-of-its-kind video demonstrating how many appliances it takes to overload a typical residential solar installation.

“Solar Overload, How Many Appliances Does It Take to Spin the Meter Forward?” features a 4 kilowatt (kW) residential solar power system in Laguna Niguel, CA.  The system was installed in 2006 on the home of Scott Gordon, now the vice president of residential sales for HelioPower.  Scott and team member, Bret Pursuit, demonstrate how  many appliances it takes in Scott’s 2200 square foot home to incur a utility charge, or “spin the meter” forward.

“As a leading solar installation firm in California, HelioPower is committed to educating consumers on the benefits of solar,” said Scott Gordon, Vice President, Residential Sales, HelioPower, Inc. “In ‘Solar Overload’ I’m able to show just how many appliances it takes to activate a utility cost from my residential solar power system.  Over the five years I’ve had the solar panel system my family has saved $10,000 in utility bills.  We are able to demonstrate how that happens when you see the many appliances it takes to spin the meter forward.”

Filming took place at approximately 2pm on a sunny day last month.  Scott turned on two refrigerators, two DVRs, one laptop and 21” monitor, one cell phone charger, 56 light bulbs, one attic fan and five ceiling fans set on high.  The solar power system still generated enough power to keep the meter running backwards. Find out what happens when he turns on a microwave, electric clothes dryer, energy efficient washing machine and a pool pump!

Have questions about the new meter installed on your home?  Do you wonder how it works?  Will it record energy use differently than the “old” version?   Will the new smart meter change your energy bill?

HelioPower's Scott Gordon answers all your questions in this new video, "How to Read Your New Smart Meter."

“While most homeowners are familiar with the installation of smart meters on their homes, many are seeking more information about the smart meters’ impact on their electric bills,” said Scott Gordon, Vice President, Residential Sales for HelioPower.  “We will cover the the things homeowners need to know about smart meters including how to read the meter and how the new digital meters record energy use."

Have questions about the new meter installed on your home?  Do you wonder how it works?  Will it record energy use differently than the “old” version?   Will the new smart meter change your energy bill?

These questions and more will be answered in a free seminar series that kicks off this week in California.  Called “Smart Meters & Solar – 10 things homeowners should know about their new smart meter,” the series is presented by HelioPower, a leading California solar installation firm.

Millions of homes have or will receive smart meters in California. Mandated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), all investor owned utilities including Southern California Edison (SCE), Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) are installing smart meters.

The “Smart Meters and Solar” series is designed to help homeowners understand their new smart meter, how it records energy use and affects

PG&E Smart Meter

their electric bill, and how the new digital equipment works with solar energy production.  Sponsored by Canadian Solar, one of the world’s largest solar companies, the seminars will be most beneficial for homeowners whose electric companies are SCE, PG&E or SDG&E.

Smart meters are the residential point of information collection for the smart grid. They connect your home to the smart grid in much the same way a cable or DSL modem connects you to the internet.

“While most homeowners are familiar with the installation of smart meters on their homes, many are seeking more information about the smart meters’ impact on their electric bills,” said Scott Gordon, Vice President, Residential Sales for HelioPower.  “We will cover the 10 things homeowners need to know about smart meters including how to read the meter and how the new digital meters record energy use.  We will also look at how and when solar is appropriate in this new ‘smart grid’ world.”

As part of the education effort, HelioPower has created a resource section about smart meters. Homeowners can find this information here on the HelioPower website page, 10 Things About Smart Meters & Solar.

The free informational seminars will begin at 6:30 pm.  The first 20 attendees at each event will receive a free solar LED key chain.

More information for community events and directions to reserve space is available by calling Billie Rafferty at 1.951.398.9811 or by going to Smart Meters and Solar online here.