Learn more about Net Metering, a mechanism used by utilities to pay you for excess solar generation.
How does a Solar System Generate Electricity?
Our planet receives more free, clean energy from the sun each day than we use all year. How do we help our customers harness this energy to reduce their bills and elevate their brands? Here’s how it works:
1
Solar panels are made from semiconductors, similar to the ones in your computers or smartphones. Sunlight stimulates electrons inside these semiconductors, which creates Direct Current (DC) electricity, the same type of electricity you get from a battery.
2
The DC Electricity travels to the “brain” of the solar system, called an inverter, which transforms it into Alternating Current (AC) Electricity, the type of electricity you get from electrical outlets.
3
The converted AC electricity travels through your building’s existing circuit breaker to power your devices - just like the electricity from your utility company.
4
When your system generates more energy than your building needs, excess solar energy is sent back into the utility’s power lines, and (in most regions) your utility pays you for this energy. When your system generates less energy than your building requires, you will still get the energy you need from your local utility.
Do I still pay the utility?
The Good News
The Really Good News
Your total electricity costs are going to go down! Since solar will not provide 100% of your electricity needs, you will still have a utility bill, but it will be significantly reduced. And we will not do any projects where the cost of solar exceeds the cost of electricity from your local utility, so your total energy spend will go down significantly. To explore your site-specific opportunities to save, start our free online process.