As a full-time healthcare worker, nursing student, and mother of three, this Wasco homeowner has built her life around resilience and determination. Crystal has spent more than ten years working at Adventist Health Hospital in Bakersfield, and her recent acceptance into a local nursing program marks another step toward creating a brighter future for her family. When she first bought her home, she received a flyer about GRID Alternatives, but it wasn’t until solar salespeople began canvassing her neighborhood that she remembered the opportunity. Instead of rushing into a costly commitment, she did her homework and reached out to GRID to find out if she qualified for the no-cost solar program.
Crystal’s enrollment took time—nearly six months of paperwork and verification—but the payoff was immediate. During her first summer with solar, her electric bill never exceeded $100, and her True-Up bill came back at $0. With one of her children now starting college, those savings arrived at the perfect moment. “It helped us put more money toward groceries, gas, and other essentials,” she shared. The freedom to run the air conditioning during Wasco’s intense summer heat without worrying about the cost has brought her family real relief.
In the beginning, Crystal wasn’t sure the program was legitimate. “Everyone kept saying there had to be a catch,” she admitted. But once she reviewed the paperwork and learned that GRID covered the system through a third-party ownership model, her doubts disappeared. When the installation day arrived, she welcomed the crew with food and drinks, grateful for how professional they were and how clearly they explained the equipment and mobile app.
Now, Crystal encourages others in her community to give the program a try. “Even if you don’t know if you qualify, just try,” she says. For single-income families—especially those with kids home during extreme heat—the benefits can make a meaningful difference.
Crystal’s story is a powerful reminder of how opportunity and determination can transform a household. And it reflects what GRID Alternatives aims to do every day: help families not only get through tough times, but build stability, comfort, and hope for the future.