Maricela Santacruz has dedicated her career as a financial-aid counselor to helping others achieve their lifelong dreams.
In 2023, serendipity struck when she discovered the San Diego Solar Equity Program, an initiative focused on funding solar installations for low- to moderate-income families in San Diego.
Maricela and her husband Luis, a military contractor, realized their dream of owning a home in 2015. They found the perfect place to raise their growing family in the neighborhood of Lomita. However, the financial demands of raising three girls, ages 11, 13 and 25, often conflicted with the need for home repairs and upgrades.
“We had to make the tough decision to skip important home improvements to ensure our daughters could participate in summer programs and other activities,” says Maricela.
The situation became even more challenging when their home suffered water damage from severe winter storms in 2023, adding to their financial burdens. As it turned out, this hardship was taken into account and led to an expedited application approval for participation in the Solar Equity Program.
The 10-year, $10 million initiative, funded by San Diego Gas & Electric®, was established in 2021 to help City of San Diego homeowners who had historically been unable to afford solar technology. The financial-assistance program is designed to enable income-qualified homeowners in San Diego to install rooftop solar panels, providing them with clean energy and significant savings on their energy bills. Now in its third year, the program has 89 rooftop solar systems installed or in progress at little or no cost to San Diego homeowners.
As a full-time financial-aid counselor, Maricela helps medical students navigate the complexities of financial aid.
“I help students make sure they have everything they need, from books to housing, which gives them the emotional security they need to tackle the rigorous demands of medical school,” she explains.
Her purpose-driven career not only supports these students but also inspires them to become lifelong helpers, just like the goals of the Solar Equity Program.
The Solar Equity Program gave Maricela the boost she needed to turn her family's finances around. She researched and applied for the program through sdsolarequity.org. After an initial income verification, Bee Connected Electric, a local solar installer, guided Maricela through the process. The program covered the cost of upgrading her 100-amp electrical panel to 200 amps and installing a five-kilowatt solar array on her roof. She estimates she’s now saving about $200 a month on her electric bill.
These monthly savings have allowed Maricela’s family to replace their worn-out floors and doors from 1971, paint the exterior of their home and landscape their yard.
“With lower energy bills, we can now regularly use our air conditioning which makes homework time much more comfortable for the girls,” she says.
Maricela Santacruz's story is a testament to the power of community programs and the impact they can have on families striving for a better future. Through the Solar Equity Program, Maricela has not only improved her family's quality of life but also set an example of resilience and resourcefulness for her daughters and the community.
