Longhorn Photo voltaic CEO Louis Petrik needs to see photo voltaic panels on high of each residence in Texas with the objective of decreasing electrical energy prices for owners and defending the atmosphere for future generations.
“Going photo voltaic is a win-win, saving cash and serving to to avoid wasting the atmosphere on the identical time,” he stated.
Earlier than Longhorn Photo voltaic began in 2009, Petrik operated one of many largest vacation
decorates firms in Texas and doesn’t think about himself an environmentalist. He walked into a house present and noticed somebody giving a presentation on photo voltaic power that piqued his curiosity. Petrik realized that he already had workers who had been comfy with rooftops and the required tools to put in photo voltaic panels. A 12 months and a half in the past, after taking a category at Austin Neighborhood School, Longhorn Photo voltaic started putting in photo voltaic panels on properties.
“I need to depart the planet a greater place for my kids and my grandchildren,” Petrik stated.
Along with the environmental advantages, there are a lot of monetary incentives linked to the usage of photo voltaic power. The 30% Federal Funding Tax Credit score that was simply prolonged for 10 years by the brand new Inflation Discount Act of 2022 is an instance.
“Many Larger Austin residents have seen charges added to their payments or their power contracts double—and even triple—when it is time to renew,” Petrik stated. “Photo voltaic power charges stay regular at round $0.10-$0.11 [per kilowatt-hour] in comparison with some electrical energy charges above $0.17 [per kilowatt-hour] It is a distinction of $700-$900 a 12 months for a 2,500-square-foot residence.
Petrik says that more often than not through the day, your photo voltaic system produces extra electrical energy than you utilize. Extra electrical energy flows again into the facility grid permitting you to generate credit score along with your utility firm, he stated.
However regardless of all of the monetary incentives, many shoppers stay hesitant because of misconceptions surrounding photo voltaic power.
“Lots of people assume it is too costly,” Petrik stated. “Again after I began, it was very costly. Solely high-income owners may afford it. I might encourage everybody to look once more as a result of it is getting cheaper. It might probably You possibly can finance a photo voltaic system at this time, and the funds are lower than what you pay the utility firm.”
Petrik stated that the worth of electrical energy has elevated within the final 12 months and has exceeded the price of solar energy in your house.
One other battle with getting buy-in is the truth that most Texans discover out about photo voltaic from somebody knocking on their door, Petrik stated. It is not the easiest way to purchase photo voltaic, so Longhorn Photo voltaic does issues in a different way, he stated.
“You may have people who find themselves untrained and do not know what they’re speaking about utilizing high-pressure gross sales techniques to get you to signal on the dotted line, so you do not really feel too photo voltaic,” he stated. . “Lots of people are being taken benefit of in these conditions.”
Longhorn Photo voltaic requires its account managers to finish intensive coaching earlier than they’re allowed to speak to potential clients, which units it aside from different firms.
“We would like our clients to have peace of thoughts that what we’re telling them is true,” Petrik stated. “All of our account managers are licensed photo voltaic consultants. We require them to have NABCEP certification earlier than we’ll allow them to speak to a buyer. This often requires at the least three months of coaching in not may even sit for the check.”
Petrik stated Longhorn Photo voltaic’s account managers additionally spend time explaining how a photo voltaic system works. They do not use excessive stress gross sales techniques. As an alternative, they undergo an informative presentation to the client after which sit again and let the client decide in his personal timeframe.
“We’re not going to attempt to drive it,” he stated.
When a buyer decides to modify to photo voltaic power, the Longhorn Photo voltaic set up course of is simple.
“We often set up our programs inside a day or two for a home-owner’s minimal trouble,” Petrik stated.
Petrik stated he typically asks individuals, “If the utility firm got here and supplied you a chance to repair your electrical energy prices by a certain quantity for the following 25 years and never must go up the costs are nonetheless, will you do it?”
He stated everybody would say sure, which is, in essence, what his firm is doing with photo voltaic power, he stated.
“Do not forget the batteries to again up your photo voltaic system,” says Petrik. “You do not need to be not noted within the chilly within the winter or burned within the warmth within the Summer time when the grid goes down.”
To study extra about Longhorn Photo voltaic, go to longhornsolar.com.
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