Switching to solar energy is an exciting step towards reducing your electricity bills and embracing a more sustainable lifestyle. However, one of the most common questions for new solar users is: how soon will I start seeing a difference in my electricity costs? In this article, we’ll explore the factors that influence when you can expect to notice changes in your bills after installing solar panels. From installation timelines and system efficiency to energy consumption patterns, we’ll help you understand what to anticipate as you transition to solar power and how to maximize your savings from day one.
Your Electric Bill After Going Solar
The first thing you’ll probably notice after going solar is the drastic decrease in your monthly electric bill. One of the primary reasons people choose to go to solar is the significant savings on one’s electric bill.
Your electric bill after going solar is dependent on a few factors, including:
- your solar panel system’s energy production,
- local utility rates, and
- household energy consumption.
By setting up an effective solar panel system and optimizing your energy consumption, you will build a balance that will allow you to produce sufficient solar energy to meet all your needs.
The Size of Your Solar Panel System
The size of your solar panel system has a direct impact on your monthly electric bill.
The majority of residential solar panel systems are of 5 to 10 kilowatts (kW) anywhere. Among other factors, the size of your solar panel system influences the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) produced. A 5 kW system will produce around 8,000 kWh a year to give you an idea, and a 7 kW system could produce about 10,000 kWh annually.
Other factors such as hours of sunlight, the angle and direction of your panels, and even how clean your panels are, can affect this number, and as a result, may be higher in one state, and lower in another.
Because of the environmental conditions, Arizona and California are among the best states to install solar, which results in a high rate of energy production. Specifically, California has a variety of local and state incentives that also help mitigate costs for your solar panel system.
Your Household Energy Consumption
Next, the amount of energy you consume in your household also plays a role in what’s going to look like your electricity bill after going solar. In the United States, the national average for a household’s electricity consumption is 897 kWh.
When you live by yourself, and can, therefore, reduce your consumption, eating much less than that is very practical. Ultimately, you can use multiple calculators online to figure out your monthly energy use.
It is important to understand this number before installing your solar panel system so that you can meet your energy production goals. Many people want to cover only a portion of their energy use with the wind, but there are also a lot of people who want to cover it all.
Each option has advantages and disadvantages, but if you try to reduce your electric bill as much as you can then install a large enough system to meet 100 percent of your needs.
Local Utility Rates
Finally, electricity costs depend largely on the local utility charges. In February 2018 the national average for electricity costs was 12.62 cents per kWh. For the next couple of years, this is expected to increase by around 3 percent each year, and there is no reason to think the reverse will happen further down the road.
By multiplying the average energy consumption, we get an average monthly electric bill of $113.20 with the average cost per kWh. Most utilities have a fixed delivery charge of about $10 which is different from the energy-use charges. If your solar panel system is large enough to generate enough energy for all your needs, you can cut that ~$120 bill to about $10.
To Sum it All Up
Since going solar your electric bill depends on several factors, which can vary depending on the venue. The size of your system and the amount of energy you consume in your household are the biggest factors in how much each month you are charged.
At the end of the day, the electric bill is focused on your expectations for energy production and consumption. However, minimizing the cost of your electric bill to its minimum payment, which can range from $5 to $20 anywhere, is very likely.
Considering Going Solar? Solar Harmonics is Here to Help
Most of our clients are looking for a company they can trust to help them go solar. Based on our decade in business, online reviews, and Diamond Certification, Solar Harmonics is the best choice to trust to complete your solar project on time, on budget, and with the expected results. It is our mission to design the best value solar panel system that produces reliably over the next 30 – 40 years and saves the most money for our clients. If the financial goals of our clients intersect with the global and environmental goals of our founder, it is a win for everyone except the utility companies. Contact us today for your free quote!
