Palms Springs Area Electricity Prices On The Rise - Maybe It's Time To Actually Sit Down With A Solar Company

So I am reviewing my Facebook feed every morning as is typical, working thru the million solar ads that pop in, and in pops an article, not written by a solar company, on electricity rates in Palm Springs area going up in April. And if I read this right, it’s counter-intuitive to me. The opening paragraph says that in April Palm Springs area residents will see a 10% increase in the electric bill - right before it gets hot I might add - by choosing to stay with the new “Desert Community Energy” plan. This plan which you have to opt out, not in, adds “renewable and other carbon-free electricity” to the grid and consumers - both commercial and residential pay for it.

So I have to ask - why in the world if you want to contribute to reducing your carbon footprint would you pay someone 10% more to do it? Okay, so I am a solar company, I get it, I have my companies interest in mind, but really, there are so many other alternative options to “go green” and pay less for electricity with solar than pay more. You can get a Power Purchase Agreement where you don’t own the panels you just pay for the power they produce (at a much lower rate than your utility provider right now) and keep the extra they produce in your pocket. You can outright buy a system, which saves the most money for you in the long run, and own your power outright and get paid by your utility provider at the wholesale rate for any extra power you produce. Both of those options, own or essentially lease your own solar system, give you options where you pay far less not more for using renewable energy.

I’ll stop there…anyway, I don’t get it. Maybe I am reading the article wrong…link is below.

https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2020/02/09/desert-community-energy-begins-palm-springs-rollout-bills-may-rise/2859146001/