#utility

Articles tagged with utility

Featured image for Why Some Utilities Make TOU Rates Work While Others Fail
Utility Comparisons

Why Some Utilities Make TOU Rates Work While Others Fail

As time-of-use rates evolve in 2025, a clear divide emerges between utilities that deliver value through transparent TOU designs and those that alienate customers with complexity. Leaders like PG&E, SRP, and Austin Energy foster engagement and solar integration, while SCE, FPL, and Dominion face backlash. Success depends on aligning pricing with grid realities, clear communication, and tools that build trust for efficient, renewable-powered energy systems.

5 min read
pricingutility ratesTOU rates
Featured image for Time-of-Use Billing Cuts Solar Returns by 40%
Utility Comparisons

Time-of-Use Billing Cuts Solar Returns by 40%

Time-of-use electricity rates are transforming solar economics by reducing savings up to 40 percent as utilities adopt time-based pricing. Peak demand charges clash with solar's midday output, squeezing returns for homeowners and businesses. Essential tactics, including battery storage, west-facing panels, and smart load shifting, help restore value in this shifting landscape.

4 min read
solarutilityrates
Featured image for States Slashing Solar Credits in 2025
Utility Comparisons

States Slashing Solar Credits in 2025

Net metering policies face significant changes as states reduce solar export credits and utilities introduce value-of-solar models. California's reforms have accelerated solar-plus-storage trends across the nation. These evolving regulations signal a transformation in the rooftop solar sector, influencing equity, revenue models, and the distributed energy grid.

5 min read
solarutility2025
Featured image for California Utilities Lead Peak Rates Above 45¢/kWh
Utility Comparisons

California Utilities Lead Peak Rates Above 45¢/kWh

Time-of-use electricity pricing transforms energy consumption patterns across the United States. California's high peak rates, Arizona's significant differentials, and Texas's market fluctuations highlight how utilities address demand through pricing. This evolution boosts adoption of solar-plus-storage solutions, enhances energy management practices, and opens pathways for consumers and businesses to mitigate escalating peak costs.

7 min read
comparisonpricingutility
Featured image for Top 5 Utilities Slashing Solar Credits with TOU Rates
Utility Comparisons

Top 5 Utilities Slashing Solar Credits with TOU Rates

Major U.S. utilities are altering solar economics via time-of-use (TOU) rates, which diminish midday export credits and elevate evening prices. Spanning California to Florida, these changes prolong payback times, drive demand for expensive batteries, and fuel discussions on equity, grid health, and rooftop solar growth.

6 min read
solarutilityrates
Featured image for TOU Rates Forcing Solar Owners to Pay Peak Prices
Utility Comparisons

TOU Rates Forcing Solar Owners to Pay Peak Prices

Utilities are implementing time-of-use (TOU) rates that elevate bills for solar homeowners, even as they produce renewable energy. Peak pricing strikes when solar output drops, diminishing expected savings. Advocates demand equitable compensation, and solutions like battery storage and intelligent energy controls offer ways to sustain solar benefits and returns on investment.

5 min read
solarutilityrates
Featured image for Utility Fees Reach $50 Monthly Before Any Power Use
Utility Comparisons

Utility Fees Reach $50 Monthly Before Any Power Use

Fixed utility fees approaching $50 per month, charged before any electricity use, fuel discussions among utilities, regulators, and solar supporters. Proponents emphasize grid upkeep requirements, whereas opponents highlight diminished motivations for conservation and solar installations. These developments may reshape cost-sharing among consumers, utilities, and policymakers in an evolving energy sector.

4 min read
utilityratesmonthly
Featured image for Wrong Solar Plan Drains $1,200 Under TOU Rates
Utility Comparisons

Wrong Solar Plan Drains $1,200 Under TOU Rates

An ill-suited time-of-use (TOU) rate plan undermines solar advantages, costing up to $1,200 annually for homeowners. Production, consumption, and pricing misalignments erode benefits. Master TOU basics, refine habits, or select better plans to recover value. Wise choices deliver true savings and energy self-reliance.

4 min read
utilitytime-of-userates
Featured image for Fixed Utility Fees Cut Solar Savings Nearly in Half
Utility Comparisons

Fixed Utility Fees Cut Solar Savings Nearly in Half

Fixed utility charges have jumped 40% in multiple states, challenging the financial appeal of rooftop solar installations. Payback timelines now stretch longer, prompting cancellations among installers and debates among regulators. Clean energy supporters highlight risks to adoption rates, but targeted innovations, equitable pricing models, and strategic adaptations offer paths to preserve solar's advantages.

4 min read
solarutilityrate
Featured image for Best Utility TOU Rates for Solar Battery Systems
Utility Comparisons

Best Utility TOU Rates for Solar Battery Systems

Time-of-use rates are revolutionizing solar economics by rewarding owners who time consumption and storage to match grid needs. Leading utilities like PG&E with storage incentives, APS through usage shifts, and Austin Energy via innovative municipal designs are setting new standards. These programs pave the way for a more efficient, data-informed era of solar integration.

5 min read
pricingsolarutility
Featured image for Where TOU Rates Turn Solar Into Bigger Savings
Utility Comparisons

Where TOU Rates Turn Solar Into Bigger Savings

Time-of-use (TOU) rates reshape solar energy economics nationwide. States including California, Arizona, and Texas pioneer policies that reward precise energy timing. Combining solar panels with battery storage or automated load management elevates returns. Grasping local rate schedules and incentives empowers homeowners to extract peak value from every kilowatt-hour of generation.

4 min read
savingssolarutility
Featured image for Why Fixed-Rate Plans Penalize Solar Homeowners
Utility Comparisons

Why Fixed-Rate Plans Penalize Solar Homeowners

Fixed-rate electricity plans offer apparent stability, yet they frequently disadvantage solar homeowners by devaluing energy credits and imposing hidden fees. This structural inequity diminishes the financial benefits of solar generation. Gaining insight into rate interactions empowers owners to preserve their investments effectively.

4 min read
net meteringutilityplans
Featured image for States Slash Solar Buyback Rates in 2025
Industry News & Policy

States Slash Solar Buyback Rates in 2025

States phase out retail-rate net metering, reducing credits for excess solar power. Homeowners encounter extended payback periods, while installers promote storage and self-use solutions. Utilities seek cost equity, and advocates call for fair reforms in this grid-focused solar shift.

4 min read
solarutilityrates