When you install rooftop solar panels, the government allows you to connect to the electricity grid in two main ways: net metering or net billing. In net metering, your electricity bill is calculated based on the difference between how much power you use from the grid and how much extra solar powerRead more
When you install rooftop solar panels, the government allows you to connect to the electricity grid in two main ways: net metering or net billing.
In net metering, your electricity bill is calculated based on the difference between how much power you use from the grid and how much extra solar power you send back to it. So if you produce more power than you use, your bill goes down or can even become zero.
In net billing, the extra solar power you send to the grid is sold at a fixed rate, which is usually lower than the rate you pay for electricity. You still pay for all the electricity you use from the grid, and you get a separate credit for the power you export.
Because of this, net metering usually saves you more money than net billing—especially if you’re a homeowner.
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Several things can lower the amount of electricity your solar system produces. Dust, dirt, and bird droppings on panels (called soiling) can block sunlight, while cloudy or rainy weather naturally reduces how much sun your system gets. Even in perfect conditions, you won’t always get the maximum posRead more
Several things can lower the amount of electricity your solar system produces. Dust, dirt, and bird droppings on panels (called soiling) can block sunlight, while cloudy or rainy weather naturally reduces how much sun your system gets.
Even in perfect conditions, you won’t always get the maximum possible output. This is because your inverter, solar panels, and other equipment don’t work at 100% efficiency all the time. Over the years, solar panels also lose a little bit of their power—usually less than 1% per year. So, while your system may be designed for a certain output, real-world factors always bring that number down a bit.
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