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Grid-tied solar customers may receive utility credits when their system exports more electricity than the home is using at that moment. This video explains the basic idea and why every homeowner should learn how their utility displays imported power, exported power, and the net difference.
The value of exported solar electricity is not universal. Some utilities use one-to-one credits, while others apply different export rates, seasonal values, fees, or rollover rules.
Your utility bill and solar monitoring app answer different questions: the bill explains what the utility measured and credited, while the app may show total system production. Reviewing both makes it easier to understand performance and catch unexpected changes.
Programs, utility policies, equipment availability, and incentives can change. Confirm current terms for your address and consult qualified financial or tax professionals when appropriate.
Mitch: One question we seem to get all the time is, "How does solar affect my utility bill?" Well, the truth is some of that has changed over the last 10 years or so, and how credits for solar are applied to your account vary from one utility company to the next. However, there is one primary principle that applies universally. As a power generator contributing to the grid's power supply, you get credit for that.
In some cases, it's a straight one-to-one credit, and in others, it's based on a rating system. In the end though, it's a lot like earning extra credit in high school. Or so I hear. You have standard usage that you're billed for, aka the regular homework and assignments from the class.
And then additionally, you can earn bonus points that contribute to your grade, aka produce extra power that the utility company can use. Of course, it looks a little different from one utility company's bill to the next, but there should always be a line item on the bill statement outlining how much power you used versus how much you generated. and a total of the net difference. So, it's a really good idea to keep an eye on that.
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