A photovoltaic (solar electric) system produces electricity using sunlight as fuel.Your building stays connected to the electric utility grid so that utility-generated electric power is still available to you. However, your building will be generating its own electricity, thus reducing or even eliminating the amount of electricity you draw/purchase from the grid.When your building needs more power than your solar system supplies, that electricity will come from the utility grid.

A “net-metering” agreement requires your utility company to import any excess electricity generated by your system and credit your account at the same rate they would have charged you to purchase electricity from them at that time of day.You are only billed for the net electricity that you use. With “net metering” you bank your solar-generated power. When you produce more than you use, you send the excess back to the grid at the full retail daytime rate, then “buy it back” later at a much lower rate.Your new electric utility bill will show a balance that can be paid or carried forward until the end of the year. At that time, if you’ve used more electricity than you’ve generated, the corresponding fee is due. Since the passage of AB 920, if you’ve generated more electricity than you’ve used you will be paid for the difference. This applies to those who own the solar system.We size your solar system so that you are unlikely to generate more electricity than you use. Our goal is to get you to “net zero.”