Solar Doesn't Work at Night? (The Grid Bank)
No, panels don't work at night. But you won't lose power. Learn how Net Metering turns the grid into a virtual battery for your home.
I was at a bar, and a guy told me, "Solar is a scam. The sun goes down every night! What do you do then? Sit in the dark?"
He thought you needed a basement full of batteries just to watch Netflix at 9 PM.
The Virtual Battery He was missing the concept of Net Metering.
Unless you live in a cabin in the woods, you are still connected to the utility wires. Think of the electric grid as a giant, infinite battery bank.
- 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM: You are at work. The sun is blasting your roof. Your system is cranking out 8,000 watts, but your house is only using 500 watts (fridge and wifi). The extra 7,500 watts flows backward through the meter and onto the grid. You are spinning the meter in reverse. You are depositing energy into the bank.
- 8:00 PM: You get home. The sun is down. You turn on the TV and the stove. You pull power from the grid. You are withdrawing from the bank.
At the end of the month, the utility sums it up. Did you deposit more than you withdrew? If yes, you owe nothing (just the connection fee). The grid stored your power for free.
The Seasonal Shift It works seasonally too. In April, you produce way more than you use (no AC, lots of sun). You build up a massive credit balance. In August, when the AC is running non-stop, you burn through those credits. You don't need a physical battery because the utility company acts as your accountant.
Pro Tip From the Field "Watch out for your 'True-Up Date.' This is the anniversary when the utility settles the score.
If your True-Up date is in October, you are in trouble. You just finished the hot summer, you burned all your credits, and you might owe a bill.
Call your utility and ask to move your billing cycle date to March or April. Why? Because you want to start your 'solar year' in the spring, building up a huge bank of credits before the summer heat hits. It’s a simple paperwork trick that keeps cash in your pocket."
FAQ: Nighttime Myths
- Q: Do panels generate power from moonlight?
- A: No. The voltage is too low to wake up the inverter. They sleep at night.
- Q: What if I have negative credits at the end of the year?
- A: Most utilities will pay you out for the excess, but usually at a terrible 'Wholesale Rate' (like 3 cents/kWh). Don't oversize your system to make a profit; oversize it just enough to kill the bill.
- Q: Do I need batteries for Net Metering?
- A: No. You only need batteries if you want backup power during a blackout."