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“Your usage more than doubled from last year, from 25kWh a day to 61kWh a day.”
Photo Credit: iStock
A Southern California homeowner thought their solar upgrade had backfired after their annual electricity costs increased following installation. However, Reddit users pointed out that the problem seemed tied to a spike in the homeowner’s energy consumption rather than an issue with the solar panels.
In a Reddit thread, the homeowner explained that they had installed 37 panels and three home batteries but still paid more on electricity after going solar. They wrote that adding two more batteries “didn’t change from the previous month” and that they were hoping it was “some sort of metering problem.”
Rather than blame the panels, several commenters pointed to the consumption figures, using data that the original poster provided.
“This isn’t a solar thing,” one commenter replied. “Your usage more than doubled from last year, from 25kWh a day to 61kWh a day.”
Another user pointed out that the OP’s electric bills showed 736 kilowatt-hours in the earlier period compared with 4,800 kWh in the later one, including 3,600 kWh from the grid.
For their part, the OP couldn’t explain why their energy consumption had increased so much. 
“Well it’s a mystery because nothing has changed- even our AC schedule is basically the same,” they wrote in the comments. “No new EV, our house is more insulated than it was then, the only addition is solar.” 
Still, solar remains one of the best ways to save on home energy costs. Homeowners can use EasyHome‘s free explorer tool to compare local pricing and potential savings and get quotes from vetted installers in their area.
With energy prices through the roof, there’s never been a better time to go solar — and EasyHome can help you find the best prices from the best installers in your area.
EasyHome takes the guesswork and headaches out of energy upgrades by showing you estimated savings from a network of vetted local partners. To get started, just enter your ZIP and share a few details about your home — seeing your estimate is really that easy.
Most commenters agreed that the OP’s screenshots of energy consumption and generation showed a steep rise in day-to-day power demand, while other indicators suggested the solar panels and home batteries were functioning properly. This led several Redditors to recommend investigating the unknown source of the energy use.   
In response, the homeowner shared other details that could have affected their electricity consumption: the property had a pool, one EV was already in the household before solar, and a 9-month-old baby meant more air-conditioning use. The homeowner also added that the utility would not send anyone out to inspect the problem and that the solar company kept “making excuses.”
“Get an amp clamp and start clamping circuits, something is drawing a big almost certainly constant current,” one Redditor recommended. 
A separate line of discussion focused on whether the utility setup was part of the problem. One commenter suggested that if the system was switched on before permission to operate was finalized, the customer could be billed incorrectly for both imported and exported electricity. 
“This is what I was suspecting was happening because I’ve heard it happened from my buddy as well,” the homeowner replied. 
For homeowners trying to avoid the OP’s headaches, EasyHome’s free explorer tool can help make solar price, expected savings, and installer choices easier to compare. EasyHome can also help readers explore backup battery storage, letting homeowners maximize savings while making their homes more resilient during a power outage.
Other solar homeowners have run into similar billing surprises and wondered whether their systems, meters, or energy use were to blame.
• In South Carolina, a solar owner saw app exports clash with a 900-kWh grid bill.
• A new homeowner bought a house with rooftop panels, then got a $420 electric bill anyway.
• After solar service, one homeowner got a strange negative bill.
• One homeowner said rooftop solar cut a sky-high bill enough to take their breath away.
• In Florida, a pitch turned an $800 power bill into a $300 credit.
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© 2025 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved. Do not sell or share my personal information. Reach us at hello@thecooldown.com.

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