What's the typical payback period for a solar system?

In 2022, the average solar payback period in San Jose is about 5.42 years – this is the point in time at which your solar investment will start to...

Will I still have an electric bill with solar?

In most cases, you will still have an electric bill with solar. Even if your solar system offsets 100 percent of your electricity use, as long as y...

Will a solar loan be less than my electric bill?

In most cases, your monthly payment towards your solar loan will be less than your electric bill – this means that if you install a solar system wi...

What are fixed and variable electric rates?

If you live in an area with retail energy providers (REPs), you may choose to switch from your standard electricity utility to a REP. There are two...

How do demand charges work?

If you’re on a demand charge electric rate, your electric bill will be based on the maximum amount of power you use over a single time period (like...

What are time-of-use electric rates?

Time-of-use electric rates are an electricity plan designed to incentivize you to use less electricity when the cost of generation is high. Time-of...

How do solar batteries help avoid surging electric rates?

When your solar panels are producing more electricity than you’re consuming, you can use that excess energy to charge your solar battery. Now let’s...

I’m a renter. How can I lower my electric bill?

As a renter, it’s likely that you won’t be able to install solar on your property. However, signing up for a community solar project saves subscrib...

How will community solar appear on my electric bill?

If you subscribe to a community solar project, you’ll likely receive two separate monthly bills: one from your utility company and one from your co...