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Common Homeowner Questions
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Will I receive a tax credit/refund?
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Your energy use varies throughout the year based on things like changing weather and seasons. For example, during the winter months when there are fewer hours of daylight or on cloudy days, your solar panels may not produce enough to cover your daily use. Also, if it’s unusually warm or cold, that also increases your energy needs. So, the weather can be a reason you have a utility bill that’s higher than you expected.
You may also increase your typical energy use without realizing it. This could be from something like adding an EV, working from home more or not being conservative with your energy use because you have solar panels. This change could mean you need to use more energy from your utility provider. Keep in mind, the same energy efficiency steps you may have taken before going solar are still needed today. This includes ensuring you have energy efficient lights and appliances, turning off lights and electronics when you’re not using them and raising your A/C or lowering your heater by a few degrees.
Most utilities have a customer charge, or required minimum bill, as well as related applicable taxes that you need to pay even if you don’t use electricity from your utility. You should talk to your utility about this charge, but this generally covers some of the costs of maintaining power lines or other services that you may need if you can’t fully power your home with solar.
For those without a battery:
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Your energy use and possible savings can vary throughout the year based on things like changing weather and seasons. For example, during the winter months when there are fewer hours of daylight or on cloudy days, your solar panels may not produce enough to cover your daily use. Also, if it’s unusually warm or cold, that can also increase your energy needs, potentially increasing your overall energy needs and reducing what you expected to save.
You may also increase your typical energy use without realizing it, which can reduce your savings from solar. This could be from something like adding an EV, working from home more or not being conservative with your energy use because you have solar panels. This change could mean you need to use more costly energy from your utility provider. Keep in mind, the same energy efficiency steps you may have taken before going solar are still needed today. This includes ensuring you have energy efficient lights and appliances, turning off lights and electronics when you’re not using them and raising your A/C or lowering your heater by a few degrees.
For those without a battery:
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