By Don Moreland
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | Notice anything about your electricity bill lately? Has it gone up in recent months?
Moreland
That’s because electricity rates are going up and more rate hikes are on the way. In fact, in 2022 Georgia ranked as the fourth most expensive state for electricity, and with Plant Vogtle coming online, rates are expected to increase over 40 percent by 2025.
We are also using more electricity than ever before. According to the Energy Information Administration, in 2022, retail electricity sales to the residential sector were about 3.5 percent higher than in 2021. We know this to be true because we are using more electronic devices in our everyday lives, switching to electric appliances, adopting electric vehicles, and using more electricity at home to keep us cool in the hot summer months.
While rates are going up and we are using more electricity, it’s no surprise that more Gwinnetians are looking for alternatives to how they generate and consume electricity.
Solar energy has become one such alternative. Because the cost of solar has come down so far in the past decade, for the first time since the light bulb was invented over 140 years ago, we are now able to generate our own electricity, on our own property, using our own resources (the sun), and do so for less than what it costs from the utility.
But how do you know how to choose a good solar panel or a good contractor? What is a good price, what are the warranties, and how do I know this is actually going to work and save me money?
Solarize Gwinnett is a community-based group purchasing campaign that makes going solar easier and more affordable than ever before. Through a competitive bid process campaign organizers have already vetted the contractor, equipment, and pricing so you don’t have to. The result is a high-quality solar energy system at the lowest possible price.
The program led by a coalition of local community organizations is designed to help homeowners, businesses and nonprofits in Gwinnett become more resilient and reduce their energy expenses. Saving on the cost of renewable-energy systems by obtaining volume discounts on materials and installation services is the intent of the countywide initiative.
Home and business owners have a limited time to access the special prices made available through the campaign. Valuable federal tax credits are also available and can provide significant additional savings in 2023. To make it simple for Gwinnett County residents to quickly learn more about the benefits of solar energy as well as the group purchasing concept, there are online resources available here.
Rather than “renting” our electricity and paying a never-ending bill, month after month, for the rest of our lives, Gwinnettians are now able to invest in solar energy, get a return on our investment, save thousands of dollars, and become more energy independent at the same time.
Further, solar works as a hedge against rate hikes because the source of the electricity generated, the sun, is free and solar requires very little maintenance over its 25-year warranted life span.
Solarize Gwinnett makes exploring solar as an option easy and more affordable. Homeowners and business owners in Gwinnett County are invited to sign up for a free evaluation at SolarizeGwinnett.com.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Follow Us