Home solar power system

Before you install your home solar power system, you must make an important decision: stay on the grid, or go off the grid? You may be surprised at the benefits of keeping your home solar power system grid-tied. There are two main reasons to consider an grid-tied home solar power system:

· Batteries – when your system is on the grid, you do not have to worry about storing your excess power in batteries. Batteries can take up a lot of space, require more equipment, must be replaced relatively often, and contain hazardous heavy metals. If you like batteries because you like the idea of having battery backup during a power outage, just get a generator, instead.

· Net metering – the majority of states offer net metering. What is it? Net metering is a method of metering the energy both consumed and produced by a home or business with a solar power system. Excess energy produced by a home solar power system effectively turns the electricity meter backwards.

o Power bank – most home solar power system create excess power in the summer and a deficit in the winter. With net metering, that summer excess can be used in the winter – the electricity is banked until the customer needs it (it is best if the electricity is net metered annually as opposed to monthly, for the best rewards).
o Purchase – any excess electricity (not used in the billing period) can be purchased by the power company at wholesale price. Instead of paying your local power company, they can pay you! Without net metering, this is the way it is always done (not just at the end of the billing period) – the power company purchases the extra power at less than retail, and the customer is unable to use during periods of deficit. In times of deficit, the customer would instead have to purchase (at retail price) power from the power company.

There are, of course, still some reasons why you may choose to have an off-the-grid home solar power system:

· Remote location – if you are hooking up a home solar power system to a cabin or a home in any sort of remote location, there may not be a grid to be a part of!
· Blackouts – when the rest of your neighborhood is affected by a blackout, your off-the-grid home solar power system can keep your house lit and warm.
· Independence – perhaps you simply like the idea of being self-sufficient.

The choice, though, is entirely up to you. Should you have a solar power system that is on the grid, or one that is off the grid? Before making your decision, be sure to check out whether or not your state offers net metering, and whether or not they bill you annually or monthly. The former is a better option.

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