How Solar Works
By: Ashley Regan
NYS has made it increasingly attractive for home and business owners to go solar. Between the Federal and State Tax incentives as well as NYSERDA, incurred costs drop more than 65%. Every time an active solar system produces more energy than a house or business consumes, the owner receives credit from their utility company. So, on a day when the owner’s system produces more than their electrical consumption, the meter on their house or business spins backwards (net metering), and they gain “energy credits.” These credits roll-over from month to month and can add up to a decent buck by the end of the year.
The energy is produced when sunlight strikes the panels and excites photons within the panels to produce DC or direct current which is then converted with an inverter and/or optimizer to AC alternating current which is used within the home or business.
Loads in the home or business are offset first, such as appliances, electric heat, etc. and then the excess is sent back to the grid and said home/ business owner accrues those “energy credits.” These energy credits are good for one year and reset on your electric bill’s anniversary date or the date in which the utility was started. We will change that date to the most energy neutral month in order for you to obtain a larger pay back.
