School’s Out—and Everything’s On: What Summer Break Does to Your Energy Bill
Nothing says summer like palm trees, popsicles, and big smiles. ☀️🍭 School’s out—and so is the AC. Ready to power your summer with solar?
Summer’s here. The kids are home. And suddenly your house is using more power than a small island nation.
With school out, your home becomes a full-time snack shack, entertainment center, and indoor waterpark (depending on how leaky your kids are with their squirt guns). The fridge never closes, the lights never go off, and the AC runs like it’s trying to cool the entire zip code.
Welcome to the high season for home energy use.
Why Summer Break Sends Your Bill Up
It’s not just your imagination—summer months often come with a spike in utility bills, especially for families. Here’s why:
More time indoors means more lights, more screens, more device charging.
Increased cooling demand as temperatures climb and bodies pile up in the house.
Constant appliance use from the washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwave… and don’t forget the second round of popsicles before 10 a.m.
Even your water heater is wondering what it did to deserve this.
How Solar Softens the Blow
Luckily, summer is also prime time for solar production. Your panels are working their hardest right when you need them most—during those long, sunny days when your home feels like it’s powered by pure chaos and YouTube.
If you already have solar, you’re probably offsetting much of that increased use. If you don’t? This is the moment to start asking: Why not?
Energy-Saving Tips for Surviving Summer at Home
You don’t have to choose between letting your kids enjoy summer and keeping your utility bill under control. A few smart tweaks can help:
Cool smarter, not harder. Set your thermostat a few degrees higher and use fans to circulate air.
Shift heavy appliance use (laundry, dishes) to midday when solar output is highest.
Teach the “one light per room” rule. Or get smart bulbs that do it for them.
Give the fridge a break. A cooler with snacks might sound silly, but it keeps the constant door slams at bay.
And remember, if you’re working from home too, you’re not alone. Many households are now juggling Zoom meetings and Minecraft marathons under the same roof. Solar doesn’t solve the chaos, but it does help power it.
Oh—and About That Summer Deal…
If you’ve been solar-curious, now’s your moment. Viva Energy is offering 6 months of free solar payments when you install a qualifying Axia system with an EnFin PPA or lease before August 31, 2025.
Here’s what that means in real life:
You start saving immediately, even before your first payment.
Your summer energy spike gets offset by sunshine (and a promo).
You get to feel a little smug every time someone else complains about their electric bill.
Fine Print, Made Simple:
California homeowners only. Residential systems up to 30kW. Must sign up with a Viva Energy rep by August 31. Funds issued after system activation. Available exclusively through QCells’ Axia program via EnFin. Some restrictions apply.
Want in? Contact us to learn more.