Residential Solar
FAQs

Solar panel installation and the system together can cost between $15,000 and $25,000 on average. As for electricity rates, the cost of that all depends on location. The national average is about 14 cents per kilowatt-hour and here in Delaware, the average monthly electricity bill for residential consumers is $154 per month.

The basic unit of a solar panel is a solar cell, made out of silicon wafers similar to those used in computer chips. These cells are assembled into solar modules, which in turn are connected together in rectangular solar panels. When the sun shines onto a solar panel, energy from the sunlight is absorbed by the PV cells in the solar panel. This absorbed energy in turn produces electricity throughout your home.

The typical residential solar system generally consists of 20 to 25 panels, but the precise number of solar panels you need depends on a few factors, such as where you live, the amount of energy you consume on average, and how much power the panels generate.

Modern solar panels systems, including batteries, do make it possible to power an entire house using solar energy. However, there are steps you must take to understand whether or not this is a feasible solution. First, you need to calculate how much energy you use every month. Next, evaluate your climate region’s solar energy production capacity. Also, assess the amount and proximity of large trees growing around and near your home.

A solar panel installation can help you drastically reduce or even eliminate your monthly electric bill. Solar panels also assist in cutting back your carbon footprint, as it’s a clean and renewable energy source. And finally, solar panels work to protect you from rising power rates, as the power of the sun is free for all of us to harness.

First, a CEUSA solar installation professional will examine your property to determine the most optimal solar configuration. As for the actual installation, we first set up a scaffolding to ensure safety during the installation process. Then we install solar panel mounts, which support the base of the solar panels. After the mounts are affixed, we install the actual solar panels to the mounting structure. Then, we install the electrical wiring for the solar panels and install the solar inverter, which is then bonded to the battery. And finally, we start and test the solar panels.

The efficiency of solar panels is determined by the amount of sunlight that is reflected on the panels’ surface, which is then transformed into electrical energy. The average efficiency of solar panels is around 15 percent on the low end and more than 20 percent on the high end.

The major benefits of solar panels add up to make it a worthwhile investment. These benefits include monthly savings on your electric bill, tax credits, the availability of clean, renewable energy, protected energy costs, and increased home value.

To claim a tax credit for your solar panels, you must file IRS Form 5695 as part of your tax return. You'll calculate the credit on Part I of the form, and then enter the result on your 1040.

Your solar panels will reduce or eliminate the electricity delivery part of your bill. On some bills, the part of the monthly statement that lists electricity usage for the month is titled “Deliver Services.”

When you have net metering, your utility company gives you a credit for the electricity that you send back into the grid. This means that during some months you'll show a negative electricity usage on your bill. Having a negative usage listed beside net metering on your bill translates to your solar panels generating more electricity than your house uses. When you generate more electricity that you use, you get a credit on your electricity usage—sometimes listed as “New Cumulative Credit”—and this credit is carried forward to your next bill.