Picture this. It’s another sweltering summer day in California. You’re staring at your thermostat, trying to justify lowering the temperature so you can be more comfortable. Then the thought hits you, I wouldn’t have to worry about my electric bill if I switched to solar power. But is that true? How exactly does your utility bill change after switching to solar power?
How Does Solar Power Affect My Electric Bill?
If you are considering switching to solar power, your ever-rising power bill is probably a major motivation. Utility costs fluctuate and rates seem higher than ever, especially in California. Solar power is often described as the antidote to all your costly utility bills … is it true?
In short, yes. It’s estimated that going solar will save the average California homeowner around $40,000 in utility costs over the life of their system.
Will I Even Have a Utility Bill?
Yes, and that’s a good thing, believe it or not.
Your monthly utility bill is good for more than making you wince. When you go solar, your system will still be tied into the grid. The utility company, in a process called net-metering, will keep track of how much solar power your system produces and how much energy your home consumes. The extra power your solar panels produce will go into the grid, to be used to help provide electricity for other homes and businesses. On your monthly statement, you’ll see credits for all the excess energy your system produced.
Of course, sometimes, you’ll dip into those credits when your energy needs call for more power than your system produced that month. Your statement will show all those credits and charges. Then, at the end of your yearly cycle, you’ll get a statement reconciling your total usage, credits, and charges. Our goal when we design your solar energy system is that they all balance out perfectly … that’s net-zero!
Are you ready to break away from expensive power bills? Contact us and set up a free, no-obligation consultation!
