Frequently Asked Questions

How does a BP Solar Home Solutions® system generate electricity?
How do I use the electricity from my BP Solar electric system?
How will I know if my BP Solar Home Solutions® system is working?
Will I still need a utility provider? Do I need to be connected to the grid?
What happens in utility electrical outages (power cuts)?
What happens on cloudy days?
What is net metering?
Do I need a building permit?

How does a BP Solar Home Solutions® system generate electricity?
When sunlight shines onto BP Solar's solar panels, our advanced technology transforms the light into direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter then converts the DC electricity to alternating current (AC) electricity that is used in your home.
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How do I use the electricity from my BP Solar electric system?
The electricity generated by a BP Solar electric system works just like the electricity delivered by your local utility. The system connects directly to your utility panel or circuit breaker box, so it interfaces seamlessly with your utility power.
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How will I know if my BP Solar Home Solutions® system is working?
Since solar is a motionless and noiseless technology, the exclusive BP Solar Home Solutions® in-home monitor (available from your installer) allows you to keep track of how much power your system is producing as well as the cumulative energy production of your system over time.
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Will I still need a utility provider? Do I need to be connected to the grid?
You will still need to be connected to the grid through your local utility. While you generate the bulk of your own electricity during the peak hours of daylight and demand, your utility will seamlessly take over and continue to supply your electricity at night and on very cloudy days. For remote, off-grid applications in which utility access is not feasible, stand-alone systems with batteries are ideal.
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What happens in utility electrical outages (power cuts)?
By law, any solar system without battery backup must shut down until utility power is restored. This is a safety precaution that prevents random surges of power from travelling the grid and causing injury or damage.
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What happens on cloudy days?
Since solar technology requires sunlight to produce electricity, the bulk of your electricity production will take place in sunny conditions. Output is directly proportional to the amount of sunlight available at any given moment, so systems can generate 50 – 70% of their typical output under bright overcast conditions but production will continue to diminish as less light reaches the surface of the modules.
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What is net metering?
Net metering measures the difference between the electricity you buy from your utility and the electricity you produce with your solar power system. With net metering, any extra electricity produced by your solar power system is sent back into the utility grid, effectively spinning your meter backwards. Your meter spins forward when use more electricity than your system is producing. Your electric meter keeps track of this net difference as you generate electricity and consume electricity from the utility grid.
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Do I need a building permit?
Yes. The Home Depot will obtain the necessary permits from your local government. All costs are included in the system price.
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