Are Summer Blackouts On the Horizon for Texas?
Consider The Source
Texans use exponentially more electricity in the summer than the winter, so wondering if blackouts are expected after a major grid failure in this past winter is a fair question.
ERCOT says no, but they also failed to winterize their equipment when they were warned about the exact scenario that came to fruition this past winter.
ERCOT was warned a decade ago.
ERCOT is known for over estimating and under delivering.
Grid Demand
Another thing to consider is the number of people moving to Texas. More people means more demand on the grid. Add in tourism from people traveling now that covid restrictions are lifted and you have a recipe for disaster.
So how can people prepare for this or help avoid it?
The answer is simple. Solar. If people invest in solar and utilize energy companies’ Net Metering policies they can help take the load off the grid.
How Does it Work
During the day your solar panels are producing more energy than you are using.
You send that energy back into the grid, lessening the load during peak usage hours.
Your energy company credits you for the energy you send and you use those credits when your solar panels aren’t producing energy.
Solar Savings
Most people have immediate savings when they invest in a solar system, but a solar investment will save everyone money in the long run.
Solar panels save consumers tens of thousands of dollars over the life of their panels. Some people are able to eliminate their electric bills altogether with their solar investment. Once their system is paid off they will no longer have electric costs.
Funding Your Solar Project
Funding a solar project has become simpler, most people can get financed with as low as a 600 FICO score, with finance charges as low as .99%, and terms between 10 and 25 years.
You can even utilize the Solar Tax Credit and write off 26% of the total system installation cost. Some local governments also have incentives. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency is a great resource you can use to lookup local incentives you can take advantage of to make solar even more affordable.
Hirst Solar Consulting can build you a custom solar design and give you a free solar consultation.
Don’t get left in the dark.
Take control of your energy today!
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