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Solar, in plain English.
Updates, insights, and honest guides on home solar, batteries, financing, and the policies that affect your bill. We publish new pieces regularly — start with the guides below, and check our Get Smart on Solar hub for the fundamentals.
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Choosing an installer Installer vs. dealer: why it matters who actually installs your solar A lot of solar is sold by companies that never touch your roof. Here’s how to tell the difference — and why it affects your price, your quality, and who picks up the phone years later. Read article Solar economics Is solar still worth it in 2026 without the federal tax credit? The residential tax credit for owned systems is gone. That changes the math — but not always the answer. Here’s the honest version. Read article
Latest articles
Solar economics The truth about the $0 electric bill: the fees solar doesn’t offset Solar shrinks the biggest parts of your bill dramatically. It doesn’t erase the bill — and knowing exactly which lines stay is what separates an honest estimate from a sales pitch. Read article Solar economics How to size your solar system — and why your current electric bill is lying to you A solar system isn’t sized off a dollar amount. It’s sized off the energy you use — and the energy you’re about to use. Here’s how to get the number right. Read article Policy & incentives New solar tariffs take effect December 4 — what they mean for homeowners A federal trade action puts price floors on imported solar equipment starting December 4. Here’s what changed, what it means for prices, and what it doesn’t change — with the sources to back it up. Read article Solar economics How to calculate your true solar payback period — without a spreadsheet There’s no universal solar payback number — it depends on your roof, your utility, and the assumptions behind the math. Here’s how to run an honest one yourself. Read article Troubleshooting What to do if your original solar installer went out of business If the company that installed your solar has disappeared, you’re not stranded. Here’s what still works, what’s still covered, and how to get your system back under a service relationship. Read article How-to Using the Enphase app: a homeowner’s guide Enphase puts a microinverter on every panel — so its app can show production panel by panel. Here’s how to read it and get the most from it. Read article How-to Using the mySolarEdge app: a homeowner’s guide If your system runs on SolarEdge, mySolarEdge is how you keep an eye on it — including a per-panel view most solar apps can’t offer. Here’s how to read it. Read article How-to Using the Tesla app: a homeowner’s guide Your Tesla app is mission control for a Powerwall and solar system. Here’s how to read it, set it up the way you want, and get the most from it. Read article Policy & incentives Illinois solar in 2026: what the end of net metering means for your bill ComEd and Ameren have moved past full retail net metering. Here’s the honest picture for Illinois homeowners in 2026 — and what still makes solar pay. Read article Troubleshooting Solar not producing? A homeowner’s troubleshooting checklist Low or zero production can be perfectly normal — or a sign something needs attention. Here’s how to tell the difference, what you can safely check yourself, and when to call a pro. Read article Choosing an installer Installer vs. dealer: why it matters who actually installs your solar A lot of solar is sold by companies that never touch your roof. Here’s how to tell the difference — and why it affects your price, your quality, and who picks up the phone years later. Read article Policy & incentives Net metering in Utah: Provo, Lehi, and Rocky Mountain Power Utah’s utilities don’t follow one rulebook. Here’s the honest, utility-by-utility picture for sizing solar right. Read article Batteries & backup Texas grid outages and home battery backup: how it works Solar alone shuts off in an outage. Here’s how adding a battery keeps a Texas home running — and what it realistically covers. Read article Policy & incentives NEM 3.0 in California: why solar-only systems need a battery California changed how it pays for exported solar. If you’re going solar under NEM 3.0, here’s what actually drives the return now. Read article Financing Solar loan vs. lease vs. cash vs. prepaid lease in 2026 With the residential credit gone for owned systems, how you pay for solar matters more than ever. Here’s how the four paths compare. Read article Solar economics Is solar still worth it in 2026 without the federal tax credit? The residential tax credit for owned systems is gone. That changes the math — but not always the answer. Here’s the honest version. Read article
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