Stefan Mileschin

Buying their own solar power

Power blackouts and rising electricity costs have inspired "a small but growing number of Californians" to leave the power grid altogether for their own home-generated energy.

A "stunning drop" in the cost of solar panels and batteries, and a rather large abundance of sun, some homeowners who have built new, off-grid homes say they have even saved money because their systems were cheaper than securing a new utility connection.

Nobody is quite sure how many off-grid homes there are but local officials and real estate agents said there were dozens here in Nevada County, a picturesque part of the Sierra Nevada range between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. Some energy experts say that millions of people could eventually go off the grid as costs drop.

Some of those going off the grid argue that utilities are not moving fast enough to address climate change and are causing other problems. In Northern California, Pacific Gas & Electric's safety record has alienated many residents. The company's equipment caused the 2018 Camp Fire, which killed dozens and destroyed the town of Paradise, about 70 miles north of Nevada City.

https://fudzilla.com/news/54532-cali...city-companies