The Energy Show

With the 30% residential solar tax credit gone, the effective cost of going solar has jumped dramatically and residential installations are already down roughly 20–25%. For installers that historically relied on cash sales, the drop can be even worse.

But before we start writing solar’s obituary, there are a few important plot twists.

Electricity rates are still climbing. Blackouts aren’t exactly going out of style. Battery prices continue to improve. And, most importantly, leases, PPAs and prepaid financing can still give homeowners access to the economics of the 30% commercial tax credit.

In other words, financing has gone from being something that helps sell solar to something that may determine whether solar gets sold at all. The tail is officially wagging the dog.

This week on The Energy Show, Barry Cinnamon welcomes back solar finance expert Dan Javen, who correctly predicted many of the financing challenges now hitting the residential market.

Episode Highlights:
• Why residential solar is down 20–25% in 2026
• How leases, PPAs and prepaid leases can preserve the 30% tax-credit advantage
• Which solar and battery companies may be best positioned to survive
• Why standalone battery installations and Virtual Power Plants could become one of the industry's biggest opportunities
•Why Dan believes the real solar-and-storage recovery may begin around 2028

Utilities, finance companies, and software aggregators have suddenly discovered something valuable:

Your battery.

Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) promise easy money by letting utilities tap into thousands of home batteries during periods of high demand. Sounds great... until you discover who actually makes the biggest profits.

In this week's Energy Show, Barry digs into the fine print behind today's VPP programs and explains why some are a fantastic deal and others are little more than a money grab.

If you've invested thousands in a home battery, don't let someone else cash the checks. Before you enroll your battery, watch this first.

Episode Highlights:
• Why utilities suddenly LOVE your battery
• Which VPPs actually pay homeowners and which barely do
• Why letting utilities run VPPs is like letting the fox guard the henhouse
• Hidden battery wear, cycling, taxes, and blackout risks nobody mentions
• California's DSGS vs ELRP programs—which pays more?
• Why AI data centers are making VPPs more valuable than ever
• How to know if your battery is working for you... or someone else

Everyone wants lower utility bills. Unfortunately, many homeowners start with expensive projects that deliver disappointing returns.

That's because most energy audits focus on generic recommendation not the upgrades that make the biggest difference for your home.

This week on The Energy Show, Barry shares the Low Hanging Fruit of home electrification, the affordable improvements that often pay for themselves in just a year or two.

Episode Highlights:
• Which DIY projects deliver the biggest savings
• Why utility energy audits often miss the mark
• How to eliminate "vampire loads"
• When attic insulation makes sense—and when replacing windows doesn't
• Why timing matters when running electric dryers and pool pumps
• How to prioritize solar, batteries, heat pumps, and EV charging after you've tackled the basics

Don't waste money chasing tiny improvements with huge price tags.
Start with the upgrades that actually deliver.

#HomeElectrification #EnergyAudit #DIYHomeImprovement #EnergyEfficiency #SolarPower #BatteryStorage #HeatPump #ElectricBills #LEDLighting #SmartThermostat #Weatherstripping #HVAC #Insulation #PoolPump #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #HomeEnergy #CaliforniaEnergy #BarryCinnamon #TheEnergyShow

If you're considering solar, adding battery storage, or simply preparing for the next outage, this episode could save you thousands of dollars and a lot of frustration.

Battery ads make everything look simple: backup power, lower bills, AI-powered energy management, and easy savings.

Reality? Not so much.

After installing thousands of battery systems over the last 25 years, Barry shares the candid advice most manufacturers and salespeople never mention.

Episode Highlights:
• Why complete battery systems matter more than mixing components
• The difference between kW and kWh (and why buying the wrong size can leave you in the dark)
• How load shedding and essential load panels can keep your home running during a blackout
• Why software and mobile apps now matter as much as the battery hardware
• Whether Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) are actually worth joining
• What years of real-world installer data says about battery reliability

Barry also explains why local installers often recommend only one or two battery brands—and why that's usually a very good sign. Bigger product catalogs don't necessarily mean better expertise.

Whether you're installing your first battery, upgrading an existing solar system, or trying to make sense of all the marketing hype, this episode will help you make a smarter decision before spending thousands of dollars.

Think your electric bill is high because of rooftop solar? That's exactly what AI told us... and AI IS WRONG.

This week on The Energy Show, Barry sits down with Tom Beach, Principal Consultant at Crossborder Energy and one of California's leading experts on utility rate design, to expose what's really driving record-high electricity prices.

Spoiler: It isn't your neighbor's solar panels.

Episode Highlights:
• Why AI repeats utility talking points instead of considering independent expert analyses
• Why PG&E says rates are "going down" while your electric bills keep “going up"
• The "heads I win, tails you lose” utility business model
• Why municipal utilities charge HALF as much as investor owned utilities
• The truth about fixed charges, departing load fees, and the so-called "solar cost shift"
• How the data center buildout will likely increase your electric bill under the current regulatory framework

So…if you've ever looked at your utility bill and thought "This makes absolutely no sense," this episode is for you.

#TheEnergyShow #PGE #ElectricBills #CaliforniaEnergy #SolarEnergy #RooftopSolar #EnergyShow #BarryCinnamon #UtilityRates #Electricity #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy #CPUC #HomeSolar #EnergyPolicy #DataCenters #EVCharging #HeatPumps #UtilityMonopoly #California #EnergyNews #BalconySolar