FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do solar panels actually work?

Solar panels are made of highly excitable, conductive materials. When the sun’s rays hit the solar panels, the reaction creates direct current (DC) electricity. Since most homes and businesses use alternating current (AC) electricity, your solar-generated DC energy will pass through an inverter to become AC electricity. Then it flows through your property’s wiring and behaves just like the power you’ve been using your whole life.
Will my solar panels generate electricity during cloudy, rainy, or snowy days? What about at night?"

Bottom line, yes. Solar panels do not need sunshine as much as they need direct unobstructed access to the sun’s UV rays. Your solar panels will still generate power during rainy, cloudy or snowy days, just not as much as they would on a clear sunny day. The only time your panels will not be generating electricity is at night when the sun is not out or if they are 100% covered in snow.
Net-Metering

Net metering is cooperative electricity consumption and production between a renewable energy source and the utility. Simply put, it allows a home to be a little powerplant! Energy produced by the solar panels will power the home first. Excess electricity is returned to the grid. At the end of a billing period, the utility compares how much energy was produced by the solar to how much energy was used by your home. If electricity produced by the solar is greater than the electricity used by the home the utility provides a credit to your account. The utility buys your excess energy! If the home uses more electricity than is produced by the solar (in the winter for example), you are billed for the electricity usage. Credit that has been built up will be used to cover the bill.
How soon will I notice a difference in my electricity bill?

Your solar array starts producing power as soon as the solar production meter is installed by your utility, which takes 2-10 business days. You will notice the biggest difference in your bill during the first full billing period in which you have solar.
What is the current tax credit for going solar?

The 26% tax credit applies as long as the home solar system is installed by December 31, 2022. Starting in 2023, the value of the tax credit will step down to 22%. The residential solar tax credit ends for system installed on or after January 1, 2024.