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How do I use solar power at night?

Jameson explains how your home can use solar power at night, using a system of credits and balances.

Solar video transcript:

Hi, my name is Jameson and I'm an Account Manager with Sunrun. I'm here today to answer the question: How do I get my electricity when it's snowing or even at night?

Now, obviously during the night when the sun isn't out, your system is not producing any electricity. But the way that this all works is through a process called net metering. Let me show you how net metering works. In the morning, your system is producing a little bit of electricity. It's probably enough electricity use when you turn on the hair dryer or make toast for breakfast. You use it as your produce it. This is also what happens during the snow. Your system is still going to be producing a little bit of electricity and it's really just enough for you to use.

Now during the day, when the sun is at the highest point in the sky, your system is producing a lot of electricity. And you're probably not using all the electricity that's being produced because you might be at work. So, the additional electricity flows back into the grid and it's going to run your meter backwards.

So, at night time when your system is not producing any electricity, the additional credit carries over, so that way you can draw it back from the grid. And that's how you use electricity during the night.