How Will Solar Change My Utility Bill?
When your system first turns on, your utility bill won't disappear overnight — and depending on when your system was activated, it may not look dramatically different right away. Here's what to expect.
Your Bill Will Still Exist
Solar reduces how much electricity you draw from the grid, but it doesn't replace your utility account.
You'll still receive a monthly bill from your utility that covers:
- Any electricity your solar system didn't produce (nights, cloudy days, high-usage periods)
- Fixed charges like your customer charge and delivery fees
- These cannot be offset by solar regardless of how much you produce
Monthly Solar Production Is Uneven — And That's Normal
One of the most common sources of confusion for new solar customers is expecting their annual savings to show up evenly every month. It doesn't work that way.
Solar production follows the sun, which means your system generates significantly more power in the summer than in the winter.
Example: A system that covers 90% of your annual electricity needs might cover:
- 120% in July (summer surplus)
- 50% in December (winter shortfall)
💡 Your annual offset percentage — the number used to size your system — is exactly that: annual. It's calculated across a full year of production and usage. Any single month will look different.
If Your System Was Activated in Fall or Winter
This is especially important if your system was activated between October and February.
Your first several months of bills will likely show a higher utility balance than you'll see in the long run, because your system is running during its lowest-production months.
This is completely normal.
Once you reach spring and summer:
- Your production will climb
- Your utility draw will drop
- You'll begin accumulating credits that offset your higher-usage winter months
Give it a full year before drawing conclusions about your system's performance.
Net Metering Credits Carry Forward
When your system produces more than you use in a given month, the excess is credited to your account and rolls forward to reduce future bills.
How it works:
- Summer surplus helps offset winter shortfalls
- Credits accumulate during high-production months
- Credits are applied during low-production months
For a full explanation of how net metering works and how credits are applied on your bill, see our article: [[net-metering|Understanding Net Metering and Your Utility Bill]]
What Should I Expect on My Bill?
During High-Production Months (May–August)
- Lower electricity charges
- May see $0 or credit balance
- Fixed charges still apply
- Building credits for winter
During Low-Production Months (November–February)
- Higher electricity charges
- Using accumulated credits
- Fixed charges still apply
- May still owe money if usage exceeds credits
Should-Be Months (March–April, September–October)
- Production closer to usage
- Moderate bills
- Good indicator of annual performance
If Something Seems Wrong
Your Bill Looks Higher Than Expected
First, check:
- How long has your system been active? (Give it a full year)
- What season are you in? (Fall/winter activation = higher bills initially)
- Is your monitoring app showing production? (System may be offline)
If your system has been active for a full year and bills still seem high:
- Check your monitoring app for production data
- Compare actual production to estimated production
- See: [[production-low|My Production Seems Low — What's Going On?]]
Your Bill Shows No Solar Credits
Possible causes:
- System not yet activated (awaiting PTO)
- System offline or not producing
- Net metering not properly set up with utility
Contact Customer Success: 800-203-4158
Quick Reference: Understanding Your Bill
| Line Item | What It Is | Can Solar Offset? |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity Usage | Power drawn from grid | ✅ Yes |
| Delivery Charges | Cost to transport power | ❌ No (usually) |
| Customer Charge | Fixed monthly fee | ❌ No |
| Taxes & Fees | Various regulatory fees | ❌ Partial |
| Solar Credits | Net metering credits | ✅ Applied as negative |
Related Articles
- [[net-metering|Understanding Net Metering and Your Utility Bill]]
- [[production-low|My Production Seems Low — What's Going On?]]
- [[monitoring-by-manufacturer|Monitoring Your Solar System by Manufacturer]]
- [[seasonal-savings|Understanding Seasonal Solar Savings]]
Questions?
Contact Customer Success:
- Phone: 800-203-4158
- Email: Via the Venture Home app
- Webchat: Available on our website during business hours