Insight-Driven Energy Management
Maximize your energy investment with actionable insights, including valuable energy analytics, utility bill audits, and strategic use of renewable energy credits. CalCom Energy helps you make data-driven decisions to optimize operations and unlock additional revenue.
Our services include...
Energy Analytics & Performance Monitoring
- Real-Time Energy System Analytics
- System Performance Optimization & ROI Analysis
- Utility Bill Auditing & Cost Savings Reports
Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) & Market Integration
- REC Eligibility Assessment & Registration
- REC Sales & Revenue Generation
- WREGIS & Compliance Reporting
Demand Response & Incentive Programs
- Demand Response Program Enrollment & Management
- Utility Incentive & Rebate Optimization
- Energy Credit Administration & Compliance
Utility Bill Management & Auditing
- Automated Monthly Utility Bill Audits (vistawatt™)
- Meter-by-Meter Operational Insights
- Rate Schedule Optimization & Billing Error Corrections
“CalCom Energy is one of the only agriculture-based solar companies that has proven experience installing single-axis trackers. Their partnership with NEXTracker and their knowledge of single-axis tracking technology and net metering aggregation projects gave me the confidence to move forward with them.”
Pac-Ag
“They listened to what our challenges were. Their team of people came out and visited the dairy, looked around, and came up with solutions that I wouldn’t have come up with myself.”
Bar 20 Dairy
“We have multiple projects with CalCom. They understand our industry and their product knowledge is top-notch. …Anybody who I have communication with when we’re planning, when they’re constructing, or when we’re talking about different ideas are very knowledgeable about their product. They’re very knowledgeable about the solar industry. It’s nice to lean on them.”
Pac-Ag
“Working with the CalCom Operations & Maintenance department has been beneficial. Through remote diagnostics, we were able to eliminate the need for a lengthy warranty contract. The attentive customer service and remote capabilities allowed us to save money through the lifetime of the solar system.”
Lakeside Dairy
“CalCom Energy was a great pick for our solar project. Initially we received a $300,000+ interconnection invoice from PG&E. But thanks to CalCom, who advocated on our behalf with the CPUC, we were able to eliminate the SCADA recloser requirement and save our dairy over $150,000 in PG&E interconnection costs. This was a big win for Ag customers and Dairies looking to install solar. We are appreciative of the customer advocacy work CalCom does and would absolutely recommend CalCom to other dairymen.”
Zonneveld Dairy and Farms
“They are engaged in the arena. That’s what I liked about CalCom. They have Valley guys who understand ag and have ag connections in some way. It’s not just “We have some solar that will save you money.’ They look at what we do and how we operate and say, ‘This could help in this manner because of this.’ They understood that it’s a partnership. ‘How do we work through wet years?’ They understood our operations.”
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Optimize your energy strategy and unlock new revenue opportunities with CalCom Energy. Contact us today to put your data to work.
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Energy Solutions from CalCom
Analytics & Energy Credits Frequently Asked Questions
What are Renewable Energy Certificates?
If you generate electricity from a renewable source, such as solar or wind, you are creating two things: (1) the actual electricity, which is tracked by the utility, and (2) an environmental benefit: electricity produced without the use of fossil fuels. After this electricity flows onto the grid, it is impossible to differentiate which electrons were generated by fossil fuels and which were created from renewable sources, so renewably-generated power is tracked and accounted for using Renewable Energy Certificates (sometimes called credits), or RECs.
One REC represents one Megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated from a renewable source that is interconnected with the electric power grid.
How do you sell RECs?
Selling your RECs means selling your claim to the environmental benefit of renewable power generation to someone else. If you promote your business or product as “powered by renewables,” or you include your solar installation in descriptions of sustainability initiatives, then you are using the environmental benefits of your renewable generation and the RECs are not eligible for sale.
If you simply use your solar to offset your electric utility bill and make no claims on your website or in other marketing material about generating renewable power, you should be eligible to sell your RECs. However, you must also own your solar installation or have a contractual agreement in place with the system owner.
Who are the REC buyers?
Anyone interested in reducing their carbon footprint can purchase RECs. A business that is unable to generate onsite renewable power can purchase RECs to help meet their sustainability goals. Utilities buy RECs to meet their renewable power requirements. Transportation fuel suppliers buy RECs to augment their emissions reductions programs. By purchasing RECs, these entities can demonstrate they are using renewable power and support renewable power generators.
My system has been in operation for a while. How far back in time can my RECs be created?
At the time the renewable generator is registered with WREGIS, the reporting will go as far back in time as possible. Usually, we find WREGIS issues RECs for production up to four months prior to registration.
We have been registering our RECs, but not selling them. How far back in time will buyers be interested in our RECs?
Generally, we have seen buyers interested in RECs for the most recent two quarters. Some exceptions have been made if the seller will accept a lower price or if the seller is willing to sign up for an agreement over multiple quarters going forward.
What are the requirements to register RECs?
Basic requirements are: you are not currently using your RECs (i.e., not marketing your renewable generation), you own the system or have the contractual right to your RECs, and you have a revenue meter installed to provide system production data. The meter is usually attached to a data acquisition system, such as AlsoEnergy, Deck, or Locus. For most solar installations, a current subscription to a monitoring service, such as AlsoEnergy PowerTrack, is also required.
Is the REC market legitimate?
“RECs are the accepted legal instrument through which renewable energy generation and use claims are substantiated in the U.S. renewable energy market. RECs are supported by several different levels of government, regional electricity transmission authorities, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and trade associations, as well as in U.S. case law.” [from https://www.epa.gov/greenpower/renewable-energy-certificates-recs]
Is there a minimum system size?
Pricing favors larger system sizes. Due to costs, we have found that solar installations under 300kW may reduce the price paid per REC, usually by about $1 to $2. However, even even at reduced payment amounts, this is still a good marketplace to generate recurring revenue for smaller installs.
How stable is the REC market?
Although the pricing has varied, the REC market has been stable since inception. Currently, given multiple buyers’ willingness to sign long-term (4-year or 5-year) contracts for RECs at a single price point, we believe the price is stabilizing.
Additionally, the state of California has created a direct connection between RECs and incentives to reduce vehicle emissions, so the pressure for certain fuel providers to meet emissions targets and electric vehicle adoption will likely continue to keep this market viable, and pricing stabilized, for several years to come.