If you have solar panels, do you pay for electricity? While most people opt for solar panels to cut back on their electricity bills, this question still looms in their minds. The idea is that solar panels could produce enough electricity to sustain your household; hence they won’t require electricity to power their homes.
Solar panels lower electricity usage significantly, thus cutting back the energy bill. However, some households still use grid power even after installing solar panels. This post will explain when and why you will have to pay for electricity if you have solar panels.
If You Have Solar Panels, Do You Pay for Electricity?
In theory, homeowners can eliminate their electricity bills if their solar panels operate at full capacity or their homes utilize less power. However, while some people may find paying electricity bills with solar panels inconvenient, it’s still necessary at some point. Here are key reasons you may still need to pay for electricity even with solar panels.
1. Insufficient Battery Storage
Sometimes, solar panels generate more energy than a home needs on a sunny day. Solar battery storage can help you save the excess energy you can use at night.
However, acquiring a storage battery that can sustain a household for lengthy periods is expensive. As such, some households still need to have access to a power grid to supplement their solar panel installations. You can also store excess solar energy in solar batteries and/or send extra power back to the power grid with net metering.
2. Absence of a Net Metering Program
The net metering program allows you to get credit when your solar generates more energy than required. This credit is determined by the electricity rates, the power company, and the set net metering concurrence. Still, these credits can come in handy to set off electricity bills.
Lacking a net metering program means paying the full cost of your monthly electricity bills, especially during winter or cloudy days.
3. Utility Service Fees
Your household will still need to use electricity whenever your solar energy runs out because of depleting the solar battery or lack of enough solar energy to convert into solar power. Here’s where staying connected to the power grid comes in handy.
You will still need electricity to power your utilities like refrigerator, television, and HVAC systems. You will be charged for this connection.
It is also worth mentioning that while some fees, such as transmission, customer service, and distribution, are consistent across the board, some utility service fees vary depending on the power company you’re using. So, expect a utility bill at the end of the month.
How Do You Reduce Your Electricity Bill Using Solar Panels?
Fortunately, you can reduce your electricity bill using solar panels in the following ways:
1. Reducing Energy Usage in Your Home
Your energy usage is critical for homeowners looking to cut back on their electricity bills after installing solar panels. Reducing your home’s energy usage is an effective way of lowering your electricity bills, and you can do this by:
- Using energy-saving light bulbs and energy-effective appliances
- Turning off appliances when not in use
- Installing a programmable thermostat to conserve your HVAC system energy usage
2. Signing Up for Net Metering
Signing up for net metering will allow you to send back or sell excess power to your utility grid provider. Net metering preserves key elements that help make solar usage economical for California residents. The excess energy is sent to the utility grid, and you will receive per-kWh credits for your solar energy.
3. Installing Solar Batteries
Installing sufficient solar battery storage is essential for storing excess power from solar panels. You can then use the extra power to run your home appliances solar panels produce insufficient energy on cloudy days or at night.
Go Solar And Reduce Your Electricity Bills
If you have solar panels, do you pay for electricity? The answer is “yes.” While solar panels are a great way to reduce energy bills and save money in the long run, most residential solar systems do not produce enough energy to power a home entirely without taking some energy from the grid.
Connect with our energy coordinators for a free estimate on how much you can save using solar panels. Together, we will help you cut back on your electricity bills.
