太阳能是一项长期投资. An experienced solar installer should be able to estimate what return on investment you can expect based on the size of your installation, 日晒和其他因素. 如果你想马上省下电费, 还有其他低成本和无成本的选择. 点击这里了解更多.

如果你不确定你是否准备好安装自己的太阳能, 但你仍然对支持可再生能源感兴趣, 你可能有资格参加我们的另一个 可再生能源计划, 比如绿色能源或太阳能选择, 哪些不需要任何设备的安装或维护才能参加.

如果您的财产是严重阴影, solar panels will take longer to pay off than in areas with unrestricted sun exposure. Solar panels perform best when facing south (east and west or a combination is OK, 也)，并且在10a之间没有阴影.m. 和3 p.m. 一年到头. There are online 资源 that can help determine how much sun your property gets on average.

您的太阳能装置将由多种因素决定, 包括你的预算, 屋顶空间和能源使用. Installations are typically sized in kilowatts (kW), the power capacity of the system. An experienced installer should include in your bid the total project cost, the cost per kW and the expected annual energy output of the system based on analysis of your site. 平均, 普吉特海湾地区1千瓦的太阳能发电可以产生大约1,每年100千瓦时. Net metering lets you use the energy you generate to offset the cost of energy used from the grid at other times. Net metering does NOT provide any financial benefit to sizing a solar system to generate more energy than you use on an annual basis.

首先考虑其他能效升级. The lower your electric use, the smaller your investment in solar equipment needs to be to offset it. If you’re adding an electric vehicle or other large electrical appliance to your home in the near future, 考虑到太阳能电池阵列的尺寸. 如果你需要更换你的电板，以适应太阳能, a qualified solar installer will review options and likely include it in their bid. If your roof isn’t fairly new, you might consider replacing it before installing solar. 安装完成后, 太阳能电池板的使用寿命应该超过20年, 因此，任何需要的屋顶工作都应该在安装之前进行.

首先选择一个有经验的安装人员. 通过PSE 推荐的能源专业人员 (代表), you can find a reliable and qualified solar installer who can help determine if your home or business is ideal for solar. The solar installers in our REP network have high customer satisfaction rates and communicate in a timely manner. 当考虑太阳能时, don’t feel pressured to sign anything before you fully understand the details and cost; be wary of aggressive sales and marketing tactics promising “free” or “no-cost” solar. We strongly recommend getting at least three bids on your solar project and checking references.

是的, the Federal Investment Tax Credit may apply to your solar installation. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 increased the Investment Tax Credit from 26 percent to 30 percent for both business and residential projects. This includes systems installed in 2022 and will be available through the end of 2032. 在这里找到更多信息.

Many solar installers can help you access financing through a local credit union or other financial institution and explain how that impacts the cost, 从您的安装中获得的收益和估计的投资回报.

通过净计量, PSE keeps track of the energy you use and the amount of excess power your system generates. The renewable energy sent back to the grid is credited against your usage. You only pay for the net amount of energy that PSE provides, plus your basic monthly charge. 如果你在一个给定的账单期内生产的能源多于使用的能源, PSE银行额外的净计量信用. Your banked credit will automatically offset energy charges in future bill periods. 根据州法律，银行净计量信用额度在每年的3月31日到期. This is why we do not recommend sizing your solar array to produce more electricity than you expect to use annually.

PSE Rate Schedule 150 for Net Metering is available to Customers that apply for interconnection of a new or modified solar system until December 31, 2025, 或者当新的净计量费率表可用时, 以较晚的为准. Customers with a solar system that was approved for interconnection under the terms of 净计量费率表150 会被允许留在这个项目中，除非系统发生变化.

是的! While we don’t know yet what future solar rates will be, PSE is committed to the following:

• Schedule 150 Net Metering will remain available until a new rate schedule is in place for customer-connected solar.
• 未来的太阳能用户将能够使用他们产生的电力
• PSE will provide notice before closing Schedule 150 to new applicants and time for applicants to complete their solar installation.
• PSE正在参与国家主导的确定最公平的项目的努力, 最公平的方法为未来的客户太阳能率设计.

电池增加备用电源. It is important to know that solar panels on their own cannot produce energy for your home during a grid outage. Solar Energy Systems disconnect automatically from the utility grid in the event of an outage to protect the safety of individuals and restoration crews. 然而, batteries installed along with solar can be charged from the grid or your solar panels and then can isolate from the grid during a power outage to provide power to some or all of the home's energy loads. The amount of time the batteries can power a home depends on the battery's size and the power used by the house.

电池确实增加了系统的成本, so it is essential to consider how much value the backup power has to you. PSE is exploring ways to reduce the cost for customers to install a battery through either financial incentives or dynamic rate designs in exchange for customers allowing PSE to utilize a portion of the battery's stored capacity during peak events.