Have questions about solar? We have Answers.

The sun creates solar radiation, which solar panels convert into direct current (DC) electricity. The electrical/utility grid, along with your home, runs off of alternating current (AC) electricity. DC electricity from solar panels is converted to AC electricity through an inverter system that is accepted by all utilities. The AC electricity is distributed directly to your electrical panel and the power created is distributed through your house. If you don’t use all the electricity created, it runs through your utility meter and spins it backward (similarly to a deposit in a checking account) and you receive credit for it via “net metering.”

If you have any tax liability (have to pay any taxes), you are eligible for a dollar for dollar federal solar tax credit. This credit pays for one-third or 30 percent of the cost of a solar system. Most solar electric system components last/produce electricity for 30-40 years and solar panel manufacturers offer a 25-year warranty on their product. Further, if you select a reputable solar installation company like DC Solar Electric, we’ll stand behind the system and our craftsmanship for 25 years as well. The average payoff for a solar electric system is five to seven years.

The cost of solar electricity is low and fixed. It insulates you from utility and inflation increases. Solar electricity produces an average of 10 to 15 percent return on cash invested.

Solar electric systems increase the value of a home and (in most places) do not increase your property taxes like other home improvements often do. Multiple studies (one by the University of California, Berkeley) have reported that a home with a solar electric system sells for an average of $5.50 per installed watt more than a home without one. So, an average-sized system (5kW) can help your home sell for an additional $27,500.

The cost of your solar investment varies depending on the size of the system, your location, and available incentives. To find out the benefits of solar and how a DC Solar Electric system can change your electric bill, schedule your free solar consultation with us today.

Some solar systems produce more electricity than a consumer uses each month, bringing the net electricity costs to $0. However, there is a minimal connection fee (typically $100/yr) to remain connected to the electrical grid.

Currently, most of America is under a system called Net Metering. This system allows your net electricity cost to be reduced to zero and may produce a credit from your utility provider.

While snow decreases production if it is on your panels, if they are designed and installed properly, snow should not damage your system. Given the angle of the panels and their tendency to produce some heat, snow typically falls off panels faster than it would fall off your roof, quickly returning your system to its full potential.

With no moving parts and a 30+ year life expectancy, DC Solar Electric solar panels require very little maintenance. In fact, they are designed to stay relatively clean as long as they are exposed to rain or a quick rinse with a garden hose every few months.