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How photovoltaic (PV) systems work?
Photovoltaic (PV) cells collect light and convert it into electricity. This solar-generated electricity is in the form of a direct current (DC) that must be converted by an inverter into an alternating current (AC) before it can be used in your home or business.
Several solar cells form a solar module. Several solar modules form a solar panel. An electrical unit made up of solar panels is called an array. There can be more than one array to an installation depending on the electric needs of the building.
PV can generate electricity for your home or business, but you also need to be connected to our electric grid so you have electricity at night and on cloudy days. PV systems up to two megawatts will utilize net metering.
What is net metering?
Net metering measures excess energy produced by your PV system that flows back onto our grid. Net meters move forward when electricity flows from our grid into your home and backward when power flows from your PV system onto our grid. We provide you with one meter that can register both functions.
What are the benefits of net metering?
By connecting your PV system to our electric grid, you can automatically use electricity from both your PV system and our grid, so you have electricity at night and on cloudy days when your PV system will not be generating electricity. We provide net meters for PV systems at your home or business for up to two megawatts.
For example, if your system generates 300 kilowatt-hours of electricity in a month and you use only 250 kilowatt-hours, those extra hours will be credited to you the following month. At the end of the year, if you have a balance of electricity produced by your PV system and not used in your home, net of any additional energy you used when your system was not generating electricity (such as at night or on cloudy days), we write you a check! The credit will be determined by multiplying the net kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity fed into the grid times the current fuel charge.
Explore the links below for additional information on how PV systems work.
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