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Solar Rebates and Energy Efficiency Program in Alberta

· · Leave a Comment Consumer Info, Electricity, Interesting, Solar Power

Take advantage of the Government of Alberta Solar Rebates and Energy Efficiency Programs!
I encourage you to check out the Energy Efficiency Alberta website as it has been recently updated with an easy interface providing lots of information about all the energy savings programs currently being offered to Albertans.

It also a good place to inform yourselves about what the Energy Efficiency Agency does and to learn some tips on being efficient with your energy usage.

 

The Residential and Commercial Solar Program will offer rebates to homeowners, businesses and non-profits that install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.  The details have not been finalized yet but we can expect to see this program launching as early as Summer 2017.  We should expect to see it provide rebates of up to 30% for residential and up to 25% for commercial/non-profit PV installations.

This solar incentive program is creating a lot of consumer buzz about the Alberta Solar industry these days that coincides well with the Renewable Electricity Program(REP) .  With the Alberta Government and the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) launching the REP, Alberta will see up to 400 MW of new solar pv generating capacity installed onto the electricity grid, presenting viable opportunities for some utility scale solar production in Alberta.

These two initiatives will definitely contribute towards the government’s goal of Alberta’s electricity grid being supplied by up to 30% renewable energy by 2030.

If you have more interest in solar pv systems, the Solar Energy Society of Alberta is a great resource but also stay tuned to info from Park Power on how you can start taking charge of your electricity usage with solar power.  Below you will find information about the other incentive programs available to Albertans.

If you have not already, consumers can still sign up for the Residential No-Charge Energy Savings Program.  This program offers direct, no-charge installation of energy efficient products across the province, in rural and urban houses, apartments and condos. Whether you own or rent your home, an Energy Efficiency Alberta installer will visit your home and conduct a walk through to identify potential opportunities for energy-efficient upgrades at no charge. Most homes can be upgraded in one to three hours.

Another way that Energy Efficiency Alberta is trying to get consumers to be more energy efficient is through the Instant Savings Program.  On their webpage, they even provide a Store Locator to allow you find the participating retailers near you.

Albertans who plan on purchasing a new refrigerator, clothes washer, or smart thermostat, are able to upload receipts of purchases made on or after April 28, 2017 to apply for rebates on their purchases.

For those Albertans that are thinking about some larger improvements to their homes, the Home Improvements Program is offering rebates on the purchase of new insulation, windows, and tankless hot water heaters.

Energy Efficiency Alberta is also offering programs for commercial, non-profit, and institutional consumers.  The Business, Non-Profit and Institutional Energy Savings Program offers incentives to encourage organizations to replace outdated and inefficient equipment faster than they may normally, to help reduce emissions.

 

There you have it, plenty of incentives for Albertans to become more energy efficient and reduce their carbon footprint. After which they can Sign Up with Park Power to get lower rates on their electricity and natural gas usage.

 

 

 

 

What is happening to Alberta’s Electricity Market?

· · Leave a Comment Consumer Info, Electricity, Interesting, Solar Power

Starting January 1, 2017 Alberta’s electricity landscape will begin to undergo some major changes and you may be wondering about these changes and how they will affect you as a consumer.  The impact may not be as daunting or a negative as you might think.

There are 3 key principles that will be guiding this electricity transition; Consumer Protection, a Market Redesign, and the Phase Out of Coal Emissions.

Consumer protection will come in the form of a ban on door to door sales of energy products and a price cap on the default Regulated Rate Option (RRO) that will come into effect June 2017.  The ban on door to door sales applies to businesses selling furnaces, natural gas and electricity contracts, water heaters, windows, air conditioners, and energy audits.   The price cap will be in place for 4 years as a method to protect RRO consumers from the volatility of the energy only wholesale electricity market.  Consumers who choose a non RRO Competitive Retailer for their electricity already have the opportunity for price protection in the form of Fixed Rates.

The market redesign towards a Capacity Market will happen under the direction of the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) and will encompass 2 wholesale electricity markets. A market in which generators compete to sell energy and a market in which generators compete for payments to provide capacity on demand.  A Capacity Market will provide stability in prices and create a more investment friendly environment than the current energy only market.  New investment will be required as coal-fired electricity generation is phased out and new generation is required to replace its capacity on our grid. Price stability in the wholesale electricity market will have stabilizing effects on the prices for retail consumers.

The phase out of coal fired electricity will have direct impact on the companies that own current coal fired generating assets as well as the communities in which they operate.  Currently Coal Phase Out Agreements have been reached with Capital Power, TransAlta, and ATCO wherein the Alberta Government commits to $97million annually until 2030 and these companies commit to zero emissions from coal-fired power by Dec. 31, 2030, continue to invest in Alberta’s electricity sector and maintain a significant presence (head office and minimum number of employees), provide funds to support communities, respect commitments to employees.  The funding for these transition payments will be coming from the Progressive Conservative installed Emissions Reduction Alberta (previously branded Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation) meaning the transition payments will not be coming from consumers electricity bills.

Now perhaps some perspective.  Yes these market changes combined with the Carbon Levy will increase Albertan consumers’ electricity costs.  Remember though that electricity in Alberta in 2016 traded at the lowest prices in 15 years and overall Canadians pay some of the lowest prices in the developed world for electricity.  Plus there is also the new agency, Energy Efficiency Alberta that will provide programs and services to help Albertans protect their pocketbook and lower their carbon footprint.

If you are a Floating Rate consumer you have been saving money all year and if you are a Fixed Rate consumer now is a great time to lock in a new rate.

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There are some positives to be seen as a consumer in the Alberta Electricity Market right now.

Win This Rayne Misfortune Longboard

· · Leave a Comment Community Building, Consumer Info, Electricity, Interesting, Solar Power

Subscribe to Park Power’s Newsletter before May 1st, 2016 to be entered to win this awesome Rayne Misfortune Longboard.

Rayne Longboard

 

 

 

 

 

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Green Alberta Energy is available from Park Power

· · Leave a Comment Consumer Info, Electricity, Solar Power, Uncategorized

GREEN ALBERTA ENERGY

 

The cost of greening the electricity grid in Alberta just got less expensive.   Park Power and Green Alberta Energy are now putting consumers in control to GREEN any portion of their energy consumption because every little bit helps.  The price per kWh for our new produce offering is 1.66 cents.  How does this compare?    For an average Alberta household consumer (650 kWh per month usage), you would pay 3.2 cents with Bullfrog and 1.66 cents with Green Alberta Energy:  48% less.  Regardless which plan a customer is on – 1.66 cents per kWh is lower than all the other options available to Albertans.

Green Energy Comparison

 

One last point worth noting.  Consumers do not need to be tricked into greening 100% of their consumption, because the grid already is partially green.  At the time of pulling together this information for you; look at the supply and demand stats in Alberta.  MC: Market Capacity,  TNG: Total Net Generation – Electricity currently being shipped onto the grid.  There is 16,249 MW of capacity in the province of which Coal and Gas represent 83% of the supply.  Renewables and Cogen accounts for 17% of the installed generation in the province.   If you look the TNG numbers (this gives you the intensity of what is on the grid):renewables are not running at full capacity but still represent 12% green which is being delivered to consumers.

 

generation

Recommendation:  Green 75 to 80% (the coal and natural gas portion) of your consumption and save some money.  The bottom line:  If a Bullfrog customer purchased a package, they would be invoiced $21.25 per month.   If an average consumer purchased only 75% green from Green Alberta Energy in partnership with Park Power they would pay only $8.09 (based on 650 kWh per monthly consumption.  A savings of 61%. Plus you will be supporting an Alberta based approach supporting renewable energy in Alberta not an Ontario based approach supporting renewable energy elsewhere in Canada.

 

Consumers don’t have to overpay by buying packages or baskets of green: Now they are in control of how much they want to green (they select the percentage) and they are only charged based on exactly what they consume.  Plus they can take advantage of our lowest Fixed Rate Offering

Customers are billed as part of their monthly utility invoice.  Simple and Affordable.  No contracts – No exit fees – No administration fees.  The service is totally integrated and the savings are passed onto the consumer.

 

Check out Park Power’s Green Alberta Energy Page   This is an affordable solution for Alberta’s carbon problem.

With Park Power you can

Ø  Save on Electricity

Ø  Save on Natural Gas

Ø  Invest in Green.

Solar Power Is Ready For You

· · Leave a Comment Consumer Info, Electricity, Interesting, Solar Power

Solar Power is ready for us here in the Capital Region. We receive more sunshine year round than most other cities in Canada. We even get more sunshine than cities in Florida.

Green Energy Futures is a great local group reporting on renewable energy solutions that you should check out. Lately they have been reporting on Net Zero home construction and how using solar energy can be can affordable and achievable.

Nowadays, for buildings on the grid, you don’t need batteries. Grid tied Solar PV systems in Alberta can apply for Micro-Generation status. This means when your building is producing more energy than it is using (like during the day in the summer) you get paid for that energy. With Park Power, our Micro-Gen customers receive a credit on their bill for their production. Another positive is that when you are producing your own power your delivery charges are reduced because less electricity is being delivered.

As someone who has had Solar PV panels on my home for 3 years now and enjoyed how it has reduced my power bills and reduced my carbon footprint, I urge you all to start thinking more seriously about it. You can learn more from the Solar Energy Society of Alberta

Keep on the sunny side.