The Oregon Solar Electric Guide provides easy-to-understand information about solar electric power for your home or business. It covers both utility connected and independent systems.

 

 

Energy from the sun can be directly converted to electricity using solar cells, also known as photovoltaics or PVs. Today´s solar electric systems have 20 to 25 year warranties, are pollution free and can be used to offset your utility power or as stand-alone power for remote applications. The down side to this technology  is that it costs three to five times more than utility power. 

 

If you are connected to a utility and wish to produce your own electricity,  Oregon´s "net metering" law ( ORS 757.300) requires utilities to let you exchange any surplus power produced by your solar electric system for utility power you use when your system is not producing enough power to meet your needs (such as at night). Your meter simply spins backwards during sunny portions of the day when you are  producing more than you use. At the end of the billing period, you are only billed for the net energy you use.