The size of your system should be based upon your electricity usage patterns, not the size of your roof. How can I calculate the size of the solar electricity system I would need?

Of course, shading can impact all of those decisions. The best orientation is usually south, then west, then east. While a solar electric system will produce power at a wide variety of slopes and orientations, it is important to try to maximize your output in relation to the size of the system. A perfect slope for your roof would be 25% to 30%. East and west facing roofs also are viable, but their output is decreased by 12%-15% or more over the course of a year. The typical home will need to have a southern-facing roof with little or no shade.

How can I tell if my house will be a good fit for solar? What happens at the end of my contract if I'm in a lease or PPA?Ĭontact your solar provider to discuss the terms and conditions of your lease or PPA. If you don't use all the electricity that you are producing at that moment, you can sell the excess electricity generated back to SMUD. When the sun comes back out, the system resumes producing energy. During these dormant times, you will get power from the electricity grid. What happens at night when the sun is down? Do I still get electricity?Īt night, or on very stormy days, a conventional solar electric system goes dormant. While it is possible to design a system to produce all your power and enable your home to be 'off the grid,' we do not recommend that you install a system that large. Having solar on your roof does not mean you are 'off the grid'. Little maintenance is required with a solar electric system other than washing the panels a few times a year to help keep the system operating at its best.ĭoes having solar on my roof mean I am 'off the grid' and not connected to electricity from SMUD?

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