SOLAR POWER'S FUTURE BRIGHTER HIGH ENERGY COSTS FUEL BOOM FOR INSTALLERS.

Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer

GLENDALE - Until the energy crisis hit this year, solar equipment installers relied heavily on maintenance work to survive because the elimination of government incentive programs for solar energy users in 1985 had decimated their business.

But today, with dramatic increases in the price of electricity and natural gas and the return of government incentives, the fortunes of solar contractors and manufacturers are on the rise again.

Los Angeles area contractors and manufacturers say they are seeing whopping increases in business and, in some cases, are so overwhelmed with work they have had to turn jobs away.

``My sales are up 40 percent. They would be up more if I could do more,'' said James Bjorseth of Granada Hills, who specializes in solar water- and pool-heating. ``I am turning down jobs.

``There is no way I can do them all. People call from Torrance and South Bay. Last year I would have gone down there. This year - no way,'' he said.

Graham Owen, a Burbank contractor who specializes in solar electricity and heating, said he's getting 50 or more calls a day.

``I can't manage the phone calls. It has become very difficult,'' he said, noting the number of phone calls reaches more than 100 on days of rolling blackouts.

Professional Solar Products, a Camarillo-based manufacturer, is selling solar equipment as fast it can make the units.

``We have not had inventory since January. Usually, we come into the year with 200 to 300 units,'' said Stan Ullman, the company owner. ``It's kind of exciting, but tiring.''

As a result of a rebate program launched in February by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, solar installations have become affordable to many Los Angeles residents.

Despite being shielded from the energy crisis by its own power plants, Los Angeles is still aggressively pushing for solar energy, say DWP officials, because it reduces the load on its electric grid and pollution resulting from traditional power generation.

Under the rebate program, homeowners who install solar-electric panels that convert sunlight into electricity receive a $5-per-watt rebate.

For example, a homeowner who installs 2 kilowatts worth of solar panels, typically at a cost of $15,000, receives a rebate of $10,000. In addition, when the solar energy the equipment generates exceeds his needs, his meter runs backward, reducing his utility bill.

Sherman Oaks resident Nick Ray, who installed a 1-kilowatt solar-electric system at the end of February, saved $40 on his March utility bill.

Aside from economic benefits, for Ray, there are also moral benefits in going solar.

``It's the right thing to do. The fact that any energy I produce does not have to be produced by a nuclear power plant or any other type of plant, I feel good about it, and I think it's a good long-term investment decision and environmental decision,'' he said.

According to Angelina Galiteva, the DWP's executive director of strategic planning, some 120 homes have taken advantage of the rebates and many more have made reservations for rebates totaling $2.25 million, out of an $8 million budget for rebates this year.

Galiteva said the DWP's goal is to have solar panels on the rooftops of 100,000 homes by 2010.

Glendale and Burbank, which have their own power plants and do not have solar incentives, are planning to launch similar programs.

Fred Fletcher, assistant general manager of Burbank Water and Power, said his city plans to offer incentives not just for solar electricity, but also for solar water-heating and possibly solar air-conditioning, as early as July 1.

``People look at solar differently (now). It's not necessarily a luxury item. It can be viewed as a necessity,'' said Janet Meyer, marketing manager of Burbank Water and Power.

Glendale officials said the city is focusing on solar-electric rebates and they have already established electrical standards for such installations.

Although he has experienced no blackouts, Glendale resident Zoran Basich is exploring solar energy options.

``If you look at the bigger picture, we all make up the whole community. If we aren't using the power, other people might be able to use it,'' he said.

LaWanda Geary of Sun Valley, a DWP customer, had a solar-electric system installed the first week of May for her own peace of mind.

``Even though I am in DWP territory and don't face blackouts at this point, I still think I need to do something for myself,'' she said. ``I can't wait for the government.''

These days one of Geary's daily highlights is taking peeks at her meter.

``At least once a day, I go out to the side of my house and see what happens on my meter,'' she said. ``I know some of the time, my electric meter is running backwards. Some of the time it is standing still.''

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Photo:

LaWanda Geary recently had solar panels installed on the rooftop of her Sun Valley house. Thanks to solar power generation, Geary's electric meter sometimes runs backward, reducing her bill.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer