How the Jenkins took their power back

Hosting a block party usually involves grilling, lawn games, and in Wayne and Cherie Jenkins’s case, showing off their new solar panels and reduced electric bills.

The Jenkins family took a bold step as the first in their neighborhood to go solar. After years of being held back by their HOA, they wasted no time once they finally got the green light. Fed up with ever-increasing electricity bills, they craved more energy independence, and solar power was their ticket to just that.

“Since we moved here, our utility has increased rates twice,” Wayne shared. “But because we have solar [now], we’re protected from that for the most part.”

But their solar journey was filled with a few obstacles on a tight deadline.

As a retired engineer and self-proclaimed “spreadsheet guy,” Wayne Jenkins wasn’t interested in flashy sales pitches. He wanted the facts. EnergySage helped him bypass the noise and get straight to the heart of the matter. “We just ignored the quotes we weren’t interested in,” Wayne recalled. “I never had to deal with those companies or hear their sales pitches. I just dealt with the three companies I chose.”

The EnergySage Marketplace provided the Jenkins with comprehensive resources and access to unbiased experts, empowering them to confidently explore their options. The platform made it easy for them to evaluate offers from various installers and select the best fit for their needs.

After entering basic property details into EnergySage, Wayne and Cherie connected with their personal Energy Advisor, Nicole Turley. “She was very upfront and helpful, explaining what everything meant,” Wayne said. “She made the process simple.”

Unlike typical solar salespeople, EnergySage Energy Advisors work solely for the customer. Available for free, these experts answer questions, clarify rebates and incentives, and provide tailored guidance. Whether through a series of calls or a quick email exchange, Energy Advisors adjust to each customer’s preferences. For the Jenkins, a single video call with Nicole was all they needed to feel confident moving forward.

“Wayne and I walked through different figures based on each quote,” Nicole explained. “By the end of the call, we were confident that Renu was the best quote for him.”

Wayne and Cherie weren’t just avoiding solar sales tactics out of preference — they were on a deadline. As retirees, the Jenkins wanted to maximize the federal solar tax credit, which required having an operational system by the end of 2023. Already late in the third quarter of the year, the Jenkins made it clear to all prospective installers: They wouldn’t entertain anyone who couldn’t have the system up and running before Christmas.

Some companies hesitated, but Renu Energy Solutions stepped up and guaranteed they could meet the deadline. 

And they delivered.

Not only did Renu fulfill their promise, but they were also well ahead of schedule. The Jenkins’s 6.9-kilowatt system went live on November 4, 2023 — nearly two months before the deadline.

• Size of system: 6.9 kW

• Solar panels: Qcells 405 W

• Inverter: Enphase IQ8 microinverters

“I would tell any of my neighbors to use EnergySage. It made the process so easy for me.” 

The Jenkins’s solar panels produce more than enough electricity to cover their household needs, resulting in average monthly savings of $204. Even during the sweltering South Carolina summer, when their AC ran full blast, their electric bill was almost nonexistent. In July, they paid just $3 in energy costs and a mere $10 in August.

Most of their bill now comes from utility service fees.

Wayne’s experience has made him the neighborhood expert. Whether it’s showing curious neighbors his system or sharing his latest energy bill, his experience carries weight. In fact, all it took for his next-door neighbor to sign with the same installer as the Jenkins was Wayne’s seal of approval.

"It really paid off [for my neighbors] during the recent storm," Wayne explained. "They have a battery back on their system so they weren't without power because they could use the batteries until bedtime and they recharged during the day."

With South Carolinians facing rising energy costs, there’s a good chance solar panels will continue to pop up in the Jenkins's neighborhood. For the Jenkins, who have already made the switch, their energy costs have been practically eliminated. Now, they’re looking forward to years of continued savings — and a smaller carbon footprint to boot.