Book Consult

Meet Mike – Your Central California Solar & Energy Expert

18+ Years Helping Homeowners with Sales, Service, and Smart Energy Management

About Mike

Hi, I’m Mike, founder of Impact Home Energy Consulting. For over 18 years, I’ve been immersed in the residential solar industry across California, including leadership roles at Sunrun. I’ve helped hundreds of homeowners navigate complex decisions, from sales and installations to investigating post-install concerns and coming up with creative service solutions.

Seeing ongoing challenges—underperforming systems, opaque repair quotes, rising utility bills, and NEM 3.0 changes—I launched this practice to prioritize you. My focus is straightforward: Provide honest guidance on three core areas—sales & installation, service & repair, and home energy management—so you get reliable, cost-effective results without pressure or surprises.

Based in Central CA, I’m passionate about sustainable energy that empowers families like yours. When not helping homeowners optimize their systems, I’m enjoying the region’s natural beauty with my family, which inspires my work.

Our Vision

To revolutionize the CA solar market by lowering barriers for millions over the coming decades. Through transparent guidance, efficient deployments, and innovative tools like AI-optimized systems, we envision homes that are energy-independent, cost-effective, and actively contributing to a sustainable grid.

Our Mission

Impact Home Energy empowers Central CA homeowners to adopt solar, storage, and smart home management affordably and transparently. We simplify processes, cut unnecessary costs, and connect you to reliable solutions for peak performance, savings, and grid resilience—driving lasting impact across communities.

Serving Central California homeowners in San Luis Obispo County and surrounding areas.

Ready for practical solar & energy support?

Free 15 min consult calendar booking tool

Frequently Asked Questions

What's NEM 3.0's impact on my savings?

NEM 3.0 (Net Billing Tariff) drastically reduced credits for excess solar energy sent back to the grid—often by ~75%, from around $0.30/kWh under NEM 2.0 to $0.05–$0.08/kWh in many cases. This makes exporting less profitable, shifting the focus to self-consumption (using your solar power directly at home). Without changes, payback periods can stretch to 9–13 years for solar-only systems.

The good news: Pairing solar with battery storage lets you store daytime energy for evening use (when rates peak at $0.40–$0.70+/kWh), shortening payback to 7–10 years and boosting long-term ROI. In PG&E territory, this is especially valuable amid rising rates. I help homeowners optimize setups for maximum self-use and savings—book a free 15-min review to see what fits your home.

A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) has you buy the solar power produced at a set rate per kWh, with no upfront cost—but most include an escalator clause that increases your rate annually (typically 2–3%).

Red flags to watch for:

  • Escalators above 3% (they can outpace utility rate hikes, erasing savings over 20–25 years).
  • Hidden or unclear escalation details in the contract.
  • Starting PPA rate higher than your current utility rate without strong justification.
  • No buyout option or high end-of-term fees. Always compare total 25-year costs (including escalators) against utility bills and owned solar options. In my free 15-min review, I walk through your quotes to spot these issues and highlight better deals.

Yes, adding battery storage (e.g., Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ) to an existing solar setup is common and often worthwhile under NEM 3.0—but costs and compatibility matter.

Typical retrofit costs: $10,000–$18,000 installed for a 10–13 kWh battery (after incentives like the federal ITC if applicable via certain structures, or CA’s SGIP rebates up to $1,000+/kWh for eligible projects). Factors that keep costs down: AC-coupled systems (no inverter replacement), compatible existing inverters, and avoiding major electrical upgrades.

It boosts savings by enabling self-consumption during peak evening hours. Not every system qualifies easily—some need upgrades. In a free 15-min review, I assess your current setup and recommend cost-effective paths without overpaying.

Under NEM 3.0 in PG&E areas, prioritize self-consumption over exporting:

  • Add battery storage to store midday solar for evening peaks (biggest ROI boost—often 3–5 years faster payback).
  • Shift loads (EV charging, appliances, pool pumps) to daytime solar hours or off-peak via smart controls.
  • Right-size your system to match usage (avoid overproduction with low export value).
  • Consider time-of-use (TOU) rate plans that reward storage discharge during high-cost periods.
  • Explore PPA/Lease if upfront cost is a barrier (third-party owns system, passes savings). Solar still delivers strong savings vs. rising PG&E rates, especially with batteries. Book my free 15-min review—I’ll review your bills/usage and outline personalized strategies for your home.

It’s a quick, no-pressure call (phone or video) where I:

  • Listen to your situation (current bills, solar interest, any quotes, existing system).
  • Explain NEM 3.0/PG&E impacts and 2026 options (PPA/Lease vs. purchase, storage value).
  • Answer your top questions and spot potential red flags.
  • Suggest next steps tailored to you—no obligation. Many use it to clarify confusion post-NEM changes or before talking to installers. Just book via the Calendly link on the site—takes under 15 minutes, and you’ll leave with clearer direction on maximizing savings.