Gloomy weather in Sacramento raises energy bills for solar panel users
NOW BACK OVER TO YOU. ALL RIGHT, DIRK, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND THE GLOOMY WEATHER, OF COURSE, MEANS LESS SUNLIGHT FOR PEOPLE AND SOLAR PANELS. AND THAT’S LEADING TO HIGHER ENERGY BILLS FOR SOME CUSTOMERS. KCRA 3’S CECIL HANNIBAL JOINS US LIVE WITH MORE CECIL. YEAH. GUYS, I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I’M FORGETTING TO EVEN REMEMBER WHAT THE SUN LOOKS LIKE. IT’S BEEN GLOOMY FOR SO LONG HERE IN SACRAMENTO. AND SO YEAH, PEOPLE ARE GETTING BILLS THAT ARE HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY EXPECTED. THERE’S A NUMBER OF FACTORS HERE, OF COURSE. WHEN THE WEATHER CHANGES, THINGS GET COLDER. YOU TYPICALLY CRANK THE HEAT UP IN YOUR HOUSE, WHICH MAKES YOUR ENERGY BILL HIGHER. BUT SOME HOMEOWNERS SAY THE ONES WITH SOLAR PANELS ON TOP OF THEIR ROOFS SAY THEY’RE NOT GETTING ENOUGH SUNLIGHT, WHICH IS ALSO MAKING THEIR BILLS GO UP RIGHT NOW. SO WHETHER YOU HAVE PG&E OR SMUD, WE KNOW THAT WHEN THINGS GET COLDER, YOUR BILL TYPICALLY GETS HIGHER. BUT ONE HOMEOWNER WE TALKED TO TODAY SAYS THIS LACK OF SUNLIGHT IS REALLY MAKING HIM FEEL UNEASY. HE SAYS RIGHT NOW, THE LACK OF SUN HAS LED TO HIS SOLAR PANELS PRODUCING 50% LESS POWER ON THE FOGGIEST DAYS COMPARED TO WHAT HE TYPICALLY SEES. AND HE HASN’T SEEN HIS BILL JUST YET. AND HE SAYS HE’S NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. GOING TO BE PROBABLY A LITTLE SHOCKED. NOT GOING TO BE A HAPPY CAMPER. THIS IS UNUSUAL TO HAVE FOG THIS LONG FOR SURE. YEAH, WE’VE HAD WHEN WE HAVE SUNNY DAYS IN THE WINTERTIME, IT’S NICE BECAUSE WE KNOW WE’RE STILL PRODUCING POWER. I HOPE WE GET SOME SUNLIGHT HERE SOON BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT’S NOT ONLY DEPRESSING, BUT IT’S COSTING ME MONEY. YEAH. SO, YOU KNOW, WE’RE ALL VICTIMS OF MOTHER NATURE RIGHT NOW, BUT HOW CAN YOU SAVE MONEY IF YOU WANT TO? WELL, SMUD SAYS THERE’S A COUPLE OF THINGS YOU CAN DO. FOR STARTERS, WEATHER WISE, WEATHERIZE YOUR HOME, RIGHT. MAKE SURE YOU SEAL ANY CRACKS IN YOUR WINDOWS AND YOUR DOORS. SMUD SAYS WEATHER STRIPS ARE ACTUALLY A GREAT INVESTMENT TO TRY TO SAVE SOME DOLLARS. AS WE DEAL WITH THIS FOGGY WEATHER IN DOWNTOWN SACRAMENTO. CECIL HANNIBAL KCRA THREE NEWS. YEAH, WE’RE ALL READY TO SEE THE SUN. SO, CECIL, ARE THERE ANY OTHER WAYS TO SAVE ON ENERGY BILLS AROUND THE HOUSE? I KNOW I’VE TRIED A COUPLE OF WAYS, LIKE SETTING MY HEAT TO AUTO, BUT ANY OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN DO TO SAVE SOME CASH? YEAH, THIS IS A REALLY GOOD TIP. THEY SAY IF YOU CHANGE OUT YOUR AIR FILTER ON A REGULAR BASIS, RIGHT, YOU CAN SAVE 5 TO 10% ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY. SO THERE’S A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT YOU CAN SAVE MONEY. YOU GUYS KNOW EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS, RIGHT?
Gloomy weather in Sacramento raises energy bills for solar panel users
Updated: 9:50 PM PST Dec 10, 2025
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. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
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.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel