Solar Won't necessarily Lower Your Electricity Bill – It Will Do Much More

Recently, I installed solar panels at my home, and while the experience has been amazing, I haven’t seen a significant drop in my electricity bill. Let me explain why.

I use net metering, which allows me to store excess electricity for later use. However, even though I already have plenty of energy saved in my “net metering bank,” my bill has only dropped from 130 euros to around 100 euros. Why? First, about half of the cost consists of taxes and provider fees. Second, I still have to pay for the transportation of electricity to and from the grid. That’s right—even though I generate and store my own power, I get charged for its movement through the system.

At first glance, this might make solar seem less worthwhile, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Here’s why.

Switching to solar allowed me to adopt heat pump units for heating and cooling, saving me up to 2000 euros a year on heating costs. It also made it possible to cool my home efficiently in the summer. On top of that, we recently bought an electric car—meaning no more money spent on gas. These savings alone make solar a game-changer.

It’s also important to note that my current electricity costs are based on winter conditions. During summer, days are longer, and my heating needs drop significantly compared to cooling where I live. As a result, my transportation costs decrease, and my electricity bill goes down to about 50 euros.

That said, having solar does change the way you use electricity. Before installing solar panels, we were more cautious with energy consumption—washing dishes by hand instead of using the dishwasher, limiting heating usage, and avoiding power consumption overall. Now, with solar power, we use electricity more freely. We run the heating more in winter and keep the air conditioning on all day during hot summer months. While this means we consume more power than before, the real benefit is in the improved quality of life and the long-term savings.

So, while solar may not dramatically cut your electricity bill, it does so much more. It gives you energy independence, helps you save money in other areas, and improves your overall comfort. That’s the real value of going solar.

And don’t forget the good you do for the planet!