Andrew Zitin is an Elkins Park native, a 2005 graduate of Cheltenham High School, and a current resident of Wyncote. He’s also a Senior Sales Representative at Omniya Solar, a Glassboro, NJ-based company that provides sustainable energy and roofing services for residential and commercial clients.
Zitin has been in the industry for about a decade and believes the economics behind solar-based alternatives to traditional energy sources are only going to improve. In May, PECO announced its request of an annual overall electric rate increase of approximately $464 million for electric distribution services. The energy company additionally proposed a one-time credit of $64 million, resulting in a net electric rate increase of $399 million (25.1%) in 2025.
As PECO’s request currently stands, delivery fees on homeowners’ bills are going to increase by 9.7% and supply charges are going up at least 3% starting in January. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission will likely trim those figures down as it has in years prior.
“The cost of PECO has gone up about 35-40% over the last few years,” he said. “What makes it so different from other forms of inflation is that PECO relies on an infrastructure that’s about 100 years old. There’s a perpetual maintenance to keep the grid going. That’s why we see dramatic increases in costs.”
The grid which supplies greater Glenside is connected to New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and New York, and relies heavily on fossil fuels, Zitin says.
“Natural gas and coal are the main component of electric energy in Pennsylvania,” Zitin said. “On August 1, Exelon [PECO’s parent company] announced that prices were up double-digits. I’m trying to help people take control of their electric bill.”
Through Omniya Solar, Zitin says he’s helped a growing number of families in the area.
“I’ve probably converted over 1,000 people in greater Glenside, Montgomery County, Bucks and Philadelphia counties. My company has the ability to do solar projects all over the U.S.,” he said.
According to Zitin, Omniya Solar uses a software program which analyzes the degree to which a home’s roof receives sunlight. The program also breaks down weather patterns and the overall quality of the roof.
“Not every home is ideal for solar,” he said. “We’re a roofing company as well and we’ll figure out what the system can do for the household. We look at their electric consumption via their electric bill. We want to produce as much electricity as possible.
“There’s a misconception that there’s not enough sunlight in the northeast. Halfway through February through mid-October there’s plenty of sunlight to do the job,” he said.
Cheltenham is solar-friendly compared to other townships in a one-hour radius, Zitin says.
“There’s no upfront cost. In most cases, the government will help pay for the system. You can also get kickbacks from the state of Pennsylvania,” he said. “The amount of savings is based on multiple variables, but it’s there.”
To contact Andrew Zitin, you can call 267-986-8849 or email him at azitin@omniyasolar.com.
For more on Omniya Solar, you can check out their website and Facebook page.
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Photos: Andrew Zitin