Electric Bill Before and After Solar Panels

Putting solar panels on your roof can make a big difference in your electric bill. By making your own electricity, you can cut down on how much you need from the power company and save some cash. Let's break down how solar panels change your electric bill and what affects the savings you can get.

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How Solar Panels Impact Your Electric Bill

Solar panels turn sunlight into electricity, which can power your home and cut down on the electricity you need to buy.

When your panels make more electricity than you use, the extra power goes back to the grid, and you might get credits on your electric bill through programs like net energy metering.

Here's how solar panels can change your electric bill:

ScenarioImpact on Electric BillHigh Solar Production, Low ConsumptionBig bill reduction; possible creditsModerate Production, Moderate ConsumptionLower bill; maybe some creditsLow Production, High ConsumptionSmall reduction; few credits

Factors Influencing Electric Bill Savings with Solar Panels

Several things affect how much solar panels can cut your electric bill:

Knowing these factors helps homeowners guess how much they might save with solar panels and make smart choices. For more details, check out our articles on why are my NEM charges so high and why is my distribution charge so high.

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Electric Bill Comparison: Before and After Solar Panels

Wondering how much you can save with solar panels? Let's break it down by comparing your electric bills before and after going solar. This guide will help you see the financial perks of harnessing the sun's power.

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Before Solar Panels: The Old Electric Bill

Before you had solar panels, your electric bill was a reflection of all the electricity you pulled from the grid. This included usage charges, distribution fees, and other miscellaneous costs. To get a good sense of your energy habits, take a look at your electric bills over the past year. This way, you can account for seasonal changes.

MonthkWh UsedTotal Cost ($)January800120February750115March700110April650105May600100June750115July1000150August1100160September900135October800120November750115December850125

Looking at this table, you can see your average monthly usage and costs. This info is key for figuring out how much you could save with solar panels.

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After Solar Panels: The New Electric Bill

Once your solar panels are up and running, your electric bill should show a drop in grid electricity usage. Thanks to net energy metering (NEM), you can even earn credits for extra solar power you send back to the grid. This can really cut down your costs. For more details on NEM, check out our articles on net energy metering and NEM 2.0.

MonthkWh Used from GridkWh Sent to GridNet kWh UsedTotal Cost ($)January200300-10020February180250-7018March160240-8017April140220-8015May120200-8014June180260-8018July300400-10025August330450-12027September270350-8022October220300-8020November200280-8019December250320-7021

This table shows a big drop in the net kWh you pull from the grid, which means lower costs. Don't forget about the solar true-up period, where your utility company balances out your total energy production and consumption for the year.

By comparing your electric bills before and after solar panels, you can see the financial benefits clearly. For more tips on managing your electric bills and solar energy, check out our articles on why are my nem charges so high and southern california edison solar buyback.