Prepping For Higher Electricity Costs

You Are Getting Ripped Off.

That’s right. If you’re a California homeowner, your utility is jacking up your electric bills to maximize their profits — and the government is approving these rate increases.

PG&E’s profits have gone up three years in a row. Their profits hit a record of $2.5 billion in 2024. All because of steadily increasing electric rates and continued over-investment in expensive utility infrastructure.

It’s a little-known fact that utilities like PG&E get a guaranteed 10-12% return on all of their assets — including power plants, poles, even their fancy office buildings. They then get to increase electric rates every year to ensure they hit these profit targets. 

I wish I ran a business where I could automatically raise my prices to guarantee 10-12% annual profits. And my customers were forced to buy my products because I have a monopoly with no competition. Nice work if you can get it.

But there is a way to fight back and take control of your energy costs: generate your own rooftop solar power and store it in your own battery. In this week’s Energy Show, we break down:

⚡️ Why your rates are rising 8-10% per year (and won’t stop anytime soon) 

⚡️ How utilities are gaming the system with political donations and shady regulations 

⚡️ What the Solar Rights Alliance wants you to know about this rigged game 

⚡️ How rooftop solar + batteries can make you nearly energy independent 

⚡️ Why PG&E hates when you install solar—and how to beat them at their own game 

⚡️ Why now is the time to install solar—before summer spikes and tax credits disappear

With the 30% solar tax credit ending on 12/31/25, now is the best time to install solar and storage.

Tune into this week’s Energy Show for the facts that utilities don’t want you to hear — as well as money saving options to keep a lid on your energy costs.

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Transcript Below:

Summary: How to Fire Your Utility and Save with Solar + Battery

In this episode of The Energy Show, we break down how California’s electric utilities—especially PG&E—are legally ripping you off. With annual rate hikes of about 10% and record-breaking profits ($2.3B in 2023, nearly $2.5B in 2024), utilities are gaming the system. Here’s how:

• Utilities Aren’t Normal Businesses: They get a guaranteed 10–12% return on all assets—power plants, poles, wires, buildings—so they’re incentivized to overbuild. The more they spend, the more they profit.

• You Pay, No Matter What: Even if you use less electricity, utilities still get their guaranteed profits by raising your rates even more.

• Government Inaction: California’s government isn’t reining them in because utilities and their unions (like IBEW) make massive political contributions, influencing legislation and regulation.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to play their game.

There are only two ways to escape skyrocketing rates:

1. Use significantly less electricity (not ideal if you want A/C in the summer).

2. Install rooftop solar with a battery—your personal power plant.

   
   

Barry explains how solar works on a typical home:

• During the day, your solar panels generate energy—some of which you use directly (self-consumption), and some of which gets sent back to the grid.

• Utilities only credit you a few cents for that excess energy, but they sell it to your neighbors at full retail price.

• At night—when you actually need power—they charge you peak rates as high as $0.66 per kWh.

Solution: Add a battery.Instead of selling your excess solar back to the grid, store it in a battery and use it during those expensive evening hours. That means:

• No buying high and selling low.

• Reduced electric bills.

• Backup power during blackouts.

Want to save even more? Electrify your home:

• Heat pumps are 3–4x more efficient than gas furnaces.

• New high-efficiency equipment replaces old, noisy air conditioners.

• Some EVs can even power your home (yes, off-grid living is possible).

But act fast:

• The 30% federal solar tax credit is set to expire at the end of 2025.

• Install now or risk paying 30% more for the same system in 2026.

🎧 Listen to the full episode at www.energyshow.biz💡 Pro tip: Join the Solar Rights Alliance for free resources and advocacy.

Don’t wait for $1,000 electric bills. It’s time to fire your utility and take control of your energy future.