How Residential Solar Panels Work

Any source of power that is owned by the customer. For homeowners, the most popular source is solar panels.

Solar panels, the most common type of distributed energy resource, generate Direct Current (DC) power, while home appliances use Alternating Current (AC) power. An inverter converts DC power to usable AC power, and provides some limited protections for abnormal operating conditions.

Measures how much energy your equipment generates. This meter is sometimes called a “production meter” and it operates separately from your existing electric meter. This is usually provided by the solar panel installer.

Safely isolates your equipment from our grid. This must be accessible and lockable by our crews at all times.

Allows you to shut off power to different sections of your home (or all of your home if desired).

This is a smart meter we install at your home. It measures how much energy you use when your solar panels aren’t generating enough to support your needs. It also measures the surplus energy your solar panels send back to the electric grid when they produce more than you use.