Solar is a summertime treat. Solar homeowners are saying goodbye to electric bills and hello to ice cream. These are the months that remind you why going solar was the right move or, for those of you still on the fence, plant that goal in your mind. But is all perfect and peachy for solar in the summertime? It must be…right?

Let’s see…

Advantages

Summertime is sunlight, sunlight, sunlight. The obvious advantage, especially if you have a south-facing solar array, is big, fat, long days of sunny skies and peak power. Furthermore, if you live in a net metering state or have a solar-friendly utility company, these are the months you are stocking up on net excess generation (NEG - or the excess power generated by your system and sent back to the grid), prepping those winter utility bills for that lovable goose egg and quickening your system’s rate of payback. However, this same advantage can be a bit of an annoying disadvantage if you live in the wrong state (see below, although such states are running thin).

Disadvantages

Solar power has few disadvantages, especially in the summertime. Actually, much depends on where you live – your state’s solar incentives and net metering laws. In summer you tend to be outdoors and away from the house more often. If your system is grid connected, you may be producing electricity and virtually giving it back to the utility company for them to sell to non-solar customers at retail prices. Not that money should be your primary impetus for going solar, but it is a huge investment and this sad fact is a prime example of how powerful net metering is in terms of solar incentives.

To learn how a solar energy system will fit your summertime and get real quotes from real, qualified solar contractors, contact us.