How much is your electric bill after going solar?

Going solar doesn't mean you'll never hear from your utility company again. Most residential solar systems in the U.S. are grid-tied, meaning your home stays connected to the electricity grid and you continue to receive a monthly bill. What changes is what that bill says—and for most solar homeowners, it says a lot less than it used to.

Here's what actually determines your electric bill after going solar, and what you can realistically expect to owe.

How much electricity your system produces

The most direct driver of your post-solar bill is whether your system generates enough electricity to cover your consumption. If your panels produce more electricity than you use in a given month, you may see a credit rather than a charge. If you use more than your panels produce—perhaps at night, during winter months, cloudy stretches, or periods of higher-than-usual usage—you'll pay for the difference at your utility's standard rate.

Most solar systems are sized for an annual offset rather than a month-by-month offset. That means your summer electric bills may be near zero (or even negative) while your winter bills could be higher, but over the course of a full year, your system should cover most or all of your usage. To see how a system sized for your home would perform, use the EnergySage Solar Calculator.

Your utility's net metering policy

Net metering is the policy that determines how—and how much—your utility compensates you for excess solar electricity you send to the grid. Under a full net metering arrangement, you receive a credit equal to the retail rate of electricity for every kilowatt-hour you export. Those credits can offset future bills when your panels aren't producing enough to cover your needs, like at night or during inclement weather.

Not every state requires utilities to offer net metering, and the compensation structures vary significantly for those that do. Some states, like Massachusetts, credit solar customers at the full retail rate. Others credit at a lower wholesale or avoided-cost rate, meaning the credits you earn are worth less than the electricity you'd otherwise buy. In California, for example, new solar customers are on the Solar Billing Plan rather than traditional net metering, and export credits are calculated differently depending on the time of day electricity is sent to the grid.

Before signing a solar contract, find out which net metering policy applies in your area and what credit rate you'll receive. Both directly impact your monthly bills and overall return on investment.

Fixed utility charges solar can't eliminate

Even with a solar energy system that covers 100% of your electricity consumption, you'll likely still receive a bill from your utility. Most utilities charge fixed monthly fees for being connected to the grid, covering infrastructure, billing, and customer service costs that aren't offset by net metering credits.

These charges vary by utility and may appear as delivery fees, customer service charges, or non-bypassable charges. In California, for example, PG&E introduced a new Base Services Charge in March 2026 that applies to all customers regardless of how much solar they generate. Ask your utility which fixed charges will remain on your bill after going solar. A good solar installer can also walk you through example post-solar bills.

Time-of-use rates and when you use electricity

If you're on a time-of-use (TOU) rate plan—increasingly common as utilities move away from flat-rate pricing—what you pay for electricity varies by time of day. This affects your post-solar bill in two ways: the electricity you pull from the grid during peak hours (typically 4–9 pm) costs more, and the credits you earn for exporting solar electricity during off-peak hours (when most panels produce their best output, midday) may be worth less.

If you're on a TOU plan or expect to be on one after going solar, talk to your installer about system orientation and whether pairing solar with a home battery makes sense for your situation. A battery lets you store midday solar production so you can use it during peak hours instead of pulling from the grid at the most expensive time of day.

Is solar worth it without strong net metering?

If you live somewhere without a strong solar buyback program, a home battery can fill the gap. Instead of sending excess solar electricity to the grid at a low compensation rate, you store it and use it at night, during peak hours, or when the grid goes down. Adding battery storage increases the upfront cost of installation, but it protects your savings by keeping you off the grid during the hours when electricity is most expensive. Plus, it allows you to continue to use your solar panels during power outages.

Yes, and here's why: Even if your solar system only covers 80% of your electricity use, you're still eliminating 80% of your variable electricity costs and locking in those savings for the life of your panels (typically 25–30 years). With electricity rates rising faster than inflation, the electricity your solar panel system produces becomes more valuable every year, while your neighbors' bills keep climbing.

The financial case for going solar has also shifted since the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) expired on December 31, 2025. New solar customers no longer receive the 30% tax credit on their system cost, which changes the upfront math—but not the long-term economics. State and local incentives remain available in many areas. See what's available where you live on the EnergySage solar incentives database.

Most EnergySage customers save between $41,000 and $155,000 on electricity over 25 years, with the average coming in at around $60,500. How much you save depends primarily on your local electricity rate, your system size, and your net metering policy.

Here's a rough breakdown of what you might expect to spend on electricity over time—and what solar could save you—based on your current monthly bill. These figures assume a 2.8% annual electricity rate increase, consistent with the 10-year historical average, and 100% bill offset.

Assumes 2.8% annual electricity rate increase based on the 10-year historical average, per EnergySage data. Actual savings depend on system size, net metering policy, and local electricity rates. Check electricity costs in your state for a more accurate estimate.

The best way to understand your post-solar bill is to get real quotes based on your actual usage and location. Compare solar quotes from vetted local installers on the EnergySage Marketplace. Most homeowners receive multiple quotes within days and save an average of 20% by comparing before they commit. You can also schedule a free call with an unbiased Energy Advisor who can walk through the numbers with you.