At HES Solar, our San Diego solar experts understand that you are likely to want to do a great deal of research before investing in solar technology for your home or business. Read on for answers to some of the most common questions we receive!
Yes, you will still have an energy bill when you add solar to your home. However, it won’t be anything like your current energy bill. Because you are still connected to the public utility grid, you will still utilize public energy when your solar panels can’t provide you with the energy you need (such as when the sun goes down each evening). The energy you use will be charged to you at retail rates.
However, there are two huge caveats to keep in mind. First, you won’t be using nearly as much retail power as you would without solar. During the day, your solar energy system should provide you more than enough power that you need zero public grid energy. Second, during these peak hours, your panels may produce more energy than you need, and you can send this energy back to the public grid for a credit, a practice known as “net metering.” This energy you send back to the grid also appears on your bill, reducing the amount of money you owe for the energy you do use.
Photovoltaic modules (PV): Photovoltaic modules are typically monocrystalline or polycrystalline, and use light to convert energy into direct current (DC) electricity.
Inverters: Inverters come in different sizes and models, and convert the direct current (DC) energy produced by the solar modules into alternating current (AC) that is used by household components.
The size of your system depends on many factors that will be determined during your free site evaluation by one of HES Solar’s highly trained solar consultants.
We will determine size based on:
Check out our savings calculator to find out what size system you will need and how much it can save you.
Your solar power system has virtually one moving part and that is found in the inverter, so the maintenance is very low. We recommend that you clean the modules once every three months to ensure maximum performance, but usually a light rain should suffice. No other routine maintenance is required. If you suspect an issue, feel free to let us know.
Yes! California Civil Code 2473, otherwise known as the Solar Rights Act, restricts HOAs and local governments from interfering with solar installations except for health and safety issues.
HES Solar will assist you in getting your solar system approved by your local HOA
Net Energy Metering 3.0 (NEM 3.0) is the incoming law created by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The new tariffs and fees will impact both residential and commercial solar systems built in California.
As this notice is posted in November of 2022, the Proposed Decision from the CPUC outlining the proposed NEM 3.0 terms is expected soon. This comes after a year’s delay. Once the new agreement is finalized and passed into law, there will exist a designation of the deadline under which new systems will continue to qualify for NEM 2.0 rates.
The new NEM 3.0 rates will be designed to lower the value of electricity during the daytime hours, when solar is producing, and increase the value of electricity during the evening hours, when solar homes and businesses purchase electricity. In short, NEM 3.0 will create a “sell low, buy high” proposition to new solar system owners.
To Californians looking to install a solar system on their home or commercial building, the NEM 2.0 rates will be preferred. As of this post, the solar industry does not know the details of how different the NEM 3.0 rates will be from the NEM 2.0 rates.
Please use the HES Solar website as a resource to learn more, and please take our offer to speak with an HES Solar Energy Consultant at no obligation.
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