All About Residential Solar Electricity

Solar panels mounted on your roof convert energy from the sun into power that your home can use via an inverter, which converts DC power to AC power. Residential solar electricity works in conjunction with your existing utility. When your solar panels produce all the energy you need, you use nothing from your utility company. If your solar panels produce less energy on certain days, you will automatically use energy from your utility company to make up the difference. There are times when your solar panels will produce more energy than you need and the excess energy is shifted to your utility company, usually offering you a credit for it. Sort of like you sold that excess energy to your utility. Sometimes there are also battery options to allow you to store excess energy for cloudy days or at night.

Most homes can use solar electric panels. They are made to work with all types of roofing materials and nearly anywhere in the US where there is sunlight. As long as there is sunlight that shines on your roof, you can use solar panels. Roofs that are heavily shaded will not produce very well, just as cloudy days can reduce the amount of energy produced. Even partially shaded solar panels will produce less energy. They really need full, direct sunlight to optimally produce good energy for your home.

When your home is using solar energy, you will experience net metering. Basically the state requires the utility to credit you the retail price for power you give to them. So, if you bring in more solar power than you are using, it essentially makes your meter run backwards. At times when you do not produce enough solar power for your home, you will automatically begin using energy from the utility. This usually happens at night or on very cloudy days.