"Basically making a profit at this point."

A Pennsylvania homeowner says switching to solar has slashed their electricity costs by hundreds of dollars a month.

What happened

On Reddit, the homeowner said their September electric bill dropped to $37 from the $308 they had been paying when they bought the house. In October, they reported paying $28 instead of $164.

They also said their current account balance stood at -$616.49 and shared a bar chart showing how much their savings improved under 1:1 net metering.

One commenter from Virginia described a similar experience, saying their highest electricity bill was $135. They said the higher cost came from running "energy sucking equipment for my home based business" and using it heavily during the first year.

Solar can be one of the most effective ways to reduce home energy costs, especially when combined with efficient appliances and equipment.

Solar leases can also produce monthly savings without requiring an upfront payment. Homeowners interested in comparing options can use EasyHome's free explorer tool to review offers from vetted installers in their area.

More background

How much solar saves depends heavily on local policy and how much electricity a utility credits for excess power sent to the grid. The Pennsylvania homeowner said 1:1 net metering and SRECs, or Solar Renewable Energy Certificates, helped produce a $1,000 payout.

The Virginia homeowner said their local rules were less favorable to solar customers, but added that the system was still "basically making a profit at this point anyway."

The homeowner said they love the panels and what they do for them.

Another commenter responded that it feels great, especially knowing the electricity use is not adding pollution beyond what was needed to produce the equipment.

What can be done?

Because they had saved earlier utility statements, the homeowner was able to compare the installer's projected payback with their actual results over time.

They said, "Luckily I kept my old bills so I have been able to do a lot of analysis."

Homeowners comparing options can also use EasyHome's free explorer tool to look at solar offers from vetted installers and explore backup battery storage. Adding a battery can help maximize savings and keep power on when the grid goes down.

Where can I learn more?

Homeowners around the country have reported major changes in their electric bills after going solar.

• In Pennsylvania, one homeowner headed into winter with 3,054 kWh banked and no bill.

• In New Hampshire, solar lowered monthly power bills from $200 to about $4.

• One homeowner said solar and a mini-split wiped out a $100 electric bill while still exporting power.

• In Texas, a homeowner said their electric balance reached -$7,000 after payoff.

• In Massachusetts, one homeowner expected a $0 solar bill but was waiting on National Grid.