If your Fortuna home recently replaced its main heating system with a permanently installed electric heat pump, ask PG&E whether your account qualifies for an electric-space-heating baseline allowance before comparing solar-plus-battery proposals. Getting that detail right gives you a more accurate starting bill and helps you evaluate a suitable power purchase agreement (PPA).
For an account served by Redwood Coast Energy Authority, RCEA supplies generation while PG&E delivers electricity and handles billing. Check your actual statement to confirm your providers; RCEA explains the division in its community choice overview.
Check the heating classification, not just the appliance list
PG&E says installing electric space heating as your primary heat source may qualify you for additional baseline allowance on E-1 and E-TOU-C. Its electrification guidance specifically includes permanent heat-pump space heating and directs customers to call 1-800-743-5000 to request the allowance.
An electric vehicle, induction range or heat-pump water heater does not establish that your home's primary space heating changed. Describe the actual heating installation, including any retained gas furnace or other heating system, and let PG&E confirm the account classification. Do not assume an installer has updated it automatically.
Bring these details to the review:
- Your electric account number and current rate-plan name.
- The heating equipment model, installation date and whether it supplies the home's primary heat.
- Any other heating system still in use.
- A recent bill showing the existing baseline information.
Ask what documentation is needed, when an approved change takes effect and how to confirm it on a later statement. Do not build a proposal around an unconfirmed adjustment or retroactive credit.
Use your address and billing period
PG&E's baseline explanation ties the allowance to territory, primary heating source and season. Find your territory under Service Information on the bill rather than assigning one from a Fortuna mailing address alone.
For electricity, PG&E lists October 1 through May 31 as winter. The billing-cycle allowance depends on the applicable daily quantity and billing days. Baseline is a pricing allowance, not free electricity or a battery incentive. Confirm the actual quantity and rate treatment for your account instead of borrowing a neighbor's figure.
Give the solar designer a corrected starting point
Consider a hypothetical household that installed its primary heat pump in September and is reviewing solar in October. Last year's bills describe the previous heating arrangement. The proposal should identify the equipment change, use a reasonable estimate of the new electrical demand and show any confirmed baseline treatment separately.
Also name the proposed post-solar rate. PG&E says residential Solar Billing Plan customers use E-ELEC. Do not automatically carry an E-1 or E-TOU-C allowance into that forecast.
A suitable solar-plus-battery PPA can provide solar energy and supported backup without buying the system outright. A qualifying no-upfront offer still involves ongoing payments: review the price, escalator, term, provider ownership, battery scope, service and transfer terms, plus remaining utility charges. Availability requires property and provider approval; see the CPUC solar guide.
Billing eligibility does not prove the battery can run the heating system. Review Fortuna heat-pump auxiliary loads; supported circuits, stored energy and usable solar recharge limit backup duration, as PG&E's battery guidance explains.
Bring your bill and heating details to a West Coast Alternatives consultation so the comparison starts with the home you have today.