We all know that more green energy is better for our planet, but it’s easy to forget the benefit for our wallets, too.
One Reddit user shared their energy bill before and after installing solar panels and a home battery, and the difference will blow your mind.
Reddit user Mdizzle29 is based in California, somewhere that is certainly not low on solar-loving sunshine.
They showed that their energy bill had dropped from $280.87 to a measly $17.21. That’s a hefty saving of $263.66.
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The first bill (without solar panels) covered mid-November to early December 2022, compared to the solar-fuelled bill for the same time period in 2023.
Posting the incredible difference on the subreddit r/Damnthatsinteresting, Mdizzle29 received 10,000 upvotes, with people sharing their awe at the bills as well as their own experiences with solar panels.
A top comment said: “My dad did a full install like this for his house and shop, he told me he always ends up selling energy back. He lives In Redding.”
Another said: “A lot of my neighbours here in Ontario, Canada are doing the same.”
In response, someone said: “A lot of places are starting to block the ability to do this, Florida and California are some.”
And it’s true, net metering allows homes with solar panels to effectively sell off their surplus solar energy to the broader electricity grid. Most states allow net metering, though the amount allowed, and value of solar credits can differ from state-to-state. Solar panel company solar.com have a map of the US detailing which states allow what kind of net metering.
The home of this Reddit user, California, has been a leader in the US for solar panel incentives, so when the state changed their solar panel incentives, people were disappointed.
The California Public Utilities Commission voted to decrease the value of solar energy credits by 75% in April 2023.
The Golden State still dominates the US solar energy market though, by producing 29% of the country’s solar energy according to chooseenergy.com, with Texas coming in second at 14.1%.
Commenters were also pointing out the additional savings you could make if you had an electric vehicle as well as solar panels with one writing: “Imagine you got an electric vehicle you charge mostly at home with those panels. You'd save so much again.”
Of course, solar energy is cheaper in the long term if you can afford the initial cost. The original Reddit poster said they paid around $30,000 for their solar panels.
Although that initial cost is hefty, if you can afford it you’ll likely save a considerable amount in the long-term, plus, solar panelling could add significant value to your home.