Solar Basics and
Benefits of Solar Energy

Save on Utility Bills Right Away
Avoid Future Utility Price Increases
Reduce Greenhouse Gasses
Increase Property Values
Power Home Electrification
Many people decide to go solar when they get ready to buy their first electric vehicle (EV). Once you have solar on your roof, you can leverage new technologies like Heat Pump Water Heaters, Induction Cooking, and Heat Pump Space Heaters/Coolers in addition to EVs. Through adopting these new electrification technologies, you’ll further reduce your emissions of greenhouse gasses such as gasoline and natural gas. You’ll also take advantage of additional cost savings.
How Does Grid-Tied Solar Work?
In most cases in California, net metering is coupled with time-of-use billing, in which the smart meter notes the time of day electricity is being used, or produced, along with the quantity. A time-of-use rate schedule values electricity at a higher rate during the times of day when demand is highest and most expensive to generate (due to the use of peaking power plants). This is particularly true in summer when the use of air conditioning places the most strain on the grid. Solar systems that are generating excess during peak hours will yield credits at a higher rate than the cost of electricity consumed at night during off-peak hours. This is changing as more solar is added to the grid, and PG&E moves the peak rates to later in the afternoon and evening. You can check out PG&E’s Time of Use rate schedule here.
Solar System Components

Financial Incentives to Go Solar

Power Outages
