Solar Power Basics — PV, Grid & Your Bill

What solar does on your roof

A solar panel produces direct current (DC) when light hits it. Nothing in your house runs on DC directly, so an inverter sits between the panels and your wiring, converting that DC into the same AC your existing connection already uses.

Most residential setups are grid-tied: the array feeds your home alongside the DISCO supply rather than replacing it. When the sun is out, appliances draw from the panels first; once demand exceeds what the array is producing, the shortfall comes from the grid as usual. The exact split depends on your inverter's settings and the net-metering agreement your DISCO approved.

Why your bill still matters

Installing solar changes how many units you buy from the grid — it does not touch the tariff structure itself. Slab rates, fixed charges, and NEPRA-set taxes are still calculated the way they always were, on whatever category your connection falls under. Your printed or duplicate bill remains the record for slab movement, FPA charges, and due dates, solar or not.

This site's job is reading that official bill accurately. Solar payback numbers sit on top of it, and any calculator estimate — including the ones in this guide series — should be treated as a planning aid, not a substitute for the bill itself.

Next steps

If you're weighing net metering specifically, the policy overview and application checklist guides below cover eligibility and paperwork. Commercial and industrial connections should read the tariff-alignment guides before anyone starts sizing equipment — the economics differ enough that residential assumptions won't carry over.