The Solar Market Just Changed — Here’s Why People Are Paying Attention

For the last 15–20 years, homeowners in PG&E territory have basically had three choices when it comes to power.

Option 1: do nothing and stay with PG&E.

Option 2: Energy Switch Programs. These are the companies that knock on your door offering “cheaper power,” but you still pay PG&E for delivery and transmission. In a lot of cases, people end up paying the same—or more—once everything is added up.

Option 3: Private Solar. This is what most people think of—panels on your roof through a solar company. It can save a lot (typically 40–60%), but it comes with a loan or large upfront cost, a second bill, and long-term responsibility. And the reality is, a large percentage of solar contractors don’t make it long-term.

That’s been the entire landscape.

Until now. Now there exists a 4th option. It's called GridGen.

What GridGen Is — And Why It’s Catching Fire

GridGen is a new, utility-based solar option rolled out through Pioneer Community Energy. *Only available in Placer, El Dorado, and Nevada counties.

Instead of going through a private installer and taking on a loan, you’re going solar through the utility structure itself.

That changes a lot.

There’s no loan. No credit check. No upfront cost. No second solar bill. Everything stays on your PG&E bill, just at a lower rate.

Savings are typically in the 25–40% range in year one. Not as high as private solar—but still a real reduction without the complexity.

The big difference is risk.

With private solar, you’re relying on a company to be around for decades. With GridGen, the structure is tied to the utility. It’s CPUC-regulated, consumer-protected, and built to be stable long-term.

That’s why it’s gaining traction fast.

It’s simple. It’s predictable. And for a lot of homeowners, that matters more than squeezing out every last dollar of savings.

Who This Is For (And Why It’s Filling Up Fast)

GridGen isn’t for everyone.

If your goal is maximum savings and you’re comfortable with a loan, private solar will usually win.

But if you want something straightforward—no debt, no second bill, no long-term maintenance headaches—this is where GridGen fits.

It’s built for people who:

Want to lower their PG&E bill
Don’t want financing or upfront costs
Prefer stability over maximum upside
Want everything handled through the utility
That simplicity is exactly why it’s getting so popular.

*Also: Want Battery Backup for power outages with no loan/upfront cost.

There’s one catch: it’s capacity-based.

This isn’t something they mass-market. When enrollment fills up, it closes.

Enrollment is now at capacity for April.

Stay tuned to see if Pioneer opens the next round. You can check status or get on the waitlist here:
https://SolarSavingsEnrollment.com

Or call: 530-929-9194