Persistent foggy weather in Sacramento is leading to higher energy bills for some residents as solar panels produce less power and people increase heating in their homes.
One West Sacramento resident, Arlan Nickel, said the lack of sunlight has caused his solar panels to produce 50% less power on the foggiest days compared to usual.
“This is unusual to have fog this long, for sure,” Nickel said. “When we have sunny days in the wintertime, it’s nice because we know we’re still producing power.”
Nickel has not yet received his energy bill but anticipates a significant increase.
“Going to probably be a little shocked, not going to be a happy camper,” he said. “Hope we get some sunlight here soon because you know it’s not only depressing but it’s costing me money.”
To help mitigate rising energy costs, SMUD suggests weatherizing homes by ensuring windows and doors are properly sealed and investing in weather strips. A spokesperson also mentioned that regularly switching out air filters can improve energy efficiency by 5 to 10%, offering potential savings on future bills. See more energy-saving tips here.
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