Electricity prices are rising in markets across the US, and commercial customers are looking for ways to control their energy bills. At InterSolar San Diego 2026, CPS America Midwest Sales Rep Evan Upshur explains who is buying the Gonzo, what problems it solves, and why availability right now is a bigger selling point than most buyers realize.
Key Highlights:
The Gonzo is AC coupled; it only needs three-phase AC to operate, so customers do not need solar on site to use it
Use cases include energy arbitrage, frequency regulation, demand charge reduction, and filling gaps during low or no solar production
Two facilities using the same monthly kWh can have dramatically different bills if one draws power in a short spike; the Gonzo shaves those peaks and reduces demand charges
Power prices have risen 30% in some markets over the last 12 months, making demand charge management a top financial priority for industrial customers
The Gonzo is in stock in warehouses in Texas and California; customers who take allocation now are protected from tariff exposure on future orders
Long lead times on competing products leave buyers exposed to tariff changes between order and delivery; in-stock availability eliminates that risk
The product includes liquid cooling, HVAC controls, and EMS integration in one package
C&I storage value stacks are market-specific: PJM capacity charges, California demand charges, Illinois incentives, Northeast utility pricing structures all drive different use cases
Utilities are increasingly raising power costs during peak solar production hours, which increases the long-term value of battery storage over time
For EPCs and developers evaluating C&I storage options, in-stock availability is the detail that changes project timelines and financial assumptions.
Find Evan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-upshur-120672109/
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The Clean Power Hour is brought to you by CPS America, maker of North America’s number one 3-phase string inverter, with over 10GW shipped in the US. With a focus on commercial and utility-scale solar and energy storage, the company partners with customers to provide unparalleled performance and service. The CPS America product lineup includes 3-phase string inverters from 25kW to 350kW, exceptional data communication and controls, and energy storage solutions designed for seamless integration with CPS America systems. CPS America has offices in California, New Jersey, and Texas. Learn more at https://www.chintpowersystems.com/
