Here Comes the Sun

The older I get, the more I believe that in most instances, what we’ve often thought to be coincidences — or the referenced “blind porcine” variety — turned out to have been divinely appointed.

A few days ago, tools in hand, I was restoring a screw in the mortar at our front door. From it hangs a small sign for doorbell ringers who’d like to sell us something. The words “No Solicitors” cause some “peddlers” to pass on by. (Would that we could hang such a sign on the telephone to warn us that roofers “happen to be in the area” and inquiries if our home is for sale.)

As I prepared to re-attach the sign, I noticed a jovial guy ringing doorbells in our cul-de-sac; there was obviously friendly banter during brief doorway conversations. As he approached our abode, I aimlessly asked a four-worded question: “What are you selling?”

He saw the sign, asking, “Do you really want to know? If you’re serious, I’m selling solar power.”

Over the past decade, I’ve had telephone solicitations from companies wanting to “set us up” with solar power, save us money, protect the environment, and provide electricity when traditional delivery fails during overloads or damaged power lines. Usually, there was mention that systems would pay for themselves over two or three decades. At my age of 88, I always felt like the guy who was sentenced to 300 years in prison. Hearing the plaintiff confess that he didn’t know if he could live that long, the judge answered, “Just do the best you can.”

“Our program conversion is provided without charge, saves you money, and both delivers and stores electricity,” C. J. Pilling assured as I invited him inside. Despite my haunting too-good-to-be-true fears, he had the right answer to every question.

I called a knowledgeable friend who offered “go-for-it” advice. Sure enough, everything promised has been done on time or sooner, and our new “flat rate” monthly bill is down by 20%. We have all new electrical stuff, with solar panels on the sunny side of the roof. And, there’s more! The first three months of solar power are free.

Turns out that our panels are harnessing more power than we need; it goes back on the grid. With batteries now fully charged, we can withstand black-outs for days at a time. How smug we felt — one week after our new electrical delivery system was operative — when there was a four-hour power failure affecting a thousand homes in our part of the city. We remained “electrified.”

And, there’s more!

The company maintains warranties and pays insurance on the system. Customers need not own any equipment to get solar and battery benefits.

I’m not used to so many upsides, and my hard-to-convince brother — far better able to detect downsides without sliding into them — is going solar himself.

He lives in Dallas, also near electrical grids vital to the solar program. Sadly, grids are not available in all states, or in all parts of Texas

There’s space to mention only a few advantages of solar energy, and I’m discovering more each week.

Further, I know that it’s awkward contacting someone whose job it is to reach you. Contact me if you want more information. This is kinda like bragging about gasoline mileage on an e-car, which, by the way, could be charged nightly at zero cost in my garage. But, I’m not currently fixated on buying a car that plugs in.

My contact info is shown below; if you are interested, I’ll hook you up with C.J. He’s much more informed, and will advise if his solar power program is available in your neighborhood. And, it’ll save him from ringing your doorbell.

Dr. Newbury, a speaker in the Metroplex, may be reached at 817-447-3872; email: newbury@speakerdoc.com. Audio version at www.speakerdoc.com.