Valley Truck & Tractor Co. (VTTCo), a California-wide John Deere dealer, is installing solar at its Yuba City, CA headquarters in anticipation of reaping substantial energy savings. By consulting with PCI Solar, a national solar EPC, VTTCo discovered an innovative solar-friendly program available through their utility, Pacific Gas & Electric (PGE). By switching from its current A-10 rate plan to PGE’s A-6 rate tariff, VTTCo was able to adjust their electric rate plan to maximize the financial benefits of solar’s daytime production.
VTTCo and PCI Solar arrived at the solution after carefully examining VTTCo’s energy bills and identifying the times of day when the company was paying most for its electricity. Through this analsis, PCI Solar discovered that VTTCo was paying the most for its energy during the same times of day when solar produces power. The two companies agreed that VTTCo would achieve the most energy savings by switching to the A-6 rate tariff, which has the benefit of eliminating onerous demand charges. The process was simple and transparent, giving VTTCo assurance that energy savings would be as projected. By leveraging this program and federal tax incentives, VTTCo was able to achieve both a quick payback on its investment and a compelling long-term ROI.
VTTCo, founded in 1948, chose PCI Solar in part due to it being part of a large, national specialty building contractor, Performance Contracting, Inc (PCI). PCI’s physical presence in California and PCI Solar’s experience building projects for customers such as the City of Woodland, CA and other local governments across the state also was a key factor in VTTCo choosing PCI Solar as their provider.
PGE’s solar-friendly A-6 rate tariff expires on March 31, 2017. California customers interested in boosting their sustainabilty and achieving significant energy cost savings are invited to contact PCI Solar. Solar customers can finance their solar project through a no-money-down Power Purchase Agreement or lease, potentially providing positive cash flows as soon as Year 1, or purchase the project outright to obtain optimum ROI.
News item from PCI Solar