You installed solar panels on your home to lower your electricity bill. So why is your bill still high now that you have panels on your roof? If you were surprised by your last monthly statement, you’re not alone.
With a home solar system, your utility bill depends on many factors, including how your home energy consumption matches your home solar system production.
The amount of energy offset by your solar production depends on how much energy your home consumes. If you’re a Sunnova system customer, your installer designed your solar system based on your historical electricity usage and what percentage you wanted to offset. The actual energy offset by your home solar system will vary by weather, season, and consumption changes. You’ll get the most benefit from your home solar system if you continue to practice smart energy-saving behaviors.
Have your energy consumption patterns changed?
All too often, homeowners develop a false sense of energy security once a solar system is up and running. Maybe you turn the AC down a degree, install festive outdoor lighting, or run more half-loads of laundry, all justified by your shiny new panels.
If you received a high utility bill, chances are you’re consuming more energy than the amount used to design your solar system. This can occur during the day or at night. Once the sun goes down, your solar panels are no longer producing power. Unless you have a solar battery that stores excess energy, you’ll have to draw electricity from the grid.
Be mindful of seasonal changes that can impact your energy consumption, from heating a pool to entertaining more guests. Also consider:
- New appliances. Did you install any new appliances that may be consuming more energy than before? An appliance may also consume more energy because it isn't working correctly. Check when you last had your AC unit serviced.
- Summer guests. Are there more people at home? More people under your roof (such as children in the summer months) can cause your electricity consumption to rise.
- Utility rates. Did your utility rate change based on seasonality or time of use? Utility prices are often highest in summer and at evening peak hours.
External factors that may decrease solar production
Some regions experience heavy rains in the summer. If you’ve been dealing with multiple cloudy or rainy days in a row, or hazy summer days from wildfire smoke and debris, your solar production could take a hit.
Has your home solar system production changed?
Sometimes it’s the weather. Other times it’s nature creating obstacles in your own backyard. Check for dust or pollen on your panels, or trees and shrubs that have grown and are shading part of your system.
If you notice an abrupt decline in your solar generation but don’t see any obstructions and can’t pinpoint changes to your energy use, there may be an issue with your system. Check your production in the app. If you think there’s a problem, contact our team to schedule a service appointment.
The bigger picture
Think of your solar energy payoff as a mix of production, consumption, and utility rates. Going solar is a great way to hedge against rising utility costs.
If you’re thinking about upgrading your home, purchasing an electric vehicle, or making other lifestyle changes that will increase your consumption, learn how to resize your system or add a battery to meet your energy needs.