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“They might have flipped the CTs and are reading the flow wrong.”
Photo Credit: iStock
After a roof replacement temporarily took down an Illinois home’s solar panels, the owner says electricity pulled from the grid rose sharply once the system was put back. The installer later told the homeowner that “something is unusual going on” and said a technician would be sent.
The account appeared in a post from a Redditor who said they live in Illinois and had solar panels plus a battery system installed in April 2025.
According to the post, the array was taken down in June 2026 so they could replace the roof, then put it back in early July. By September, utility data showed 1,512 kWh imported and only 106 kWh exported, while average daily grid use had climbed to 50.4 kWh from 21 kWh/day in September 2025.
They also said they added no new electrical equipment, and an HVAC technician inspected the air conditioner and found it operating normally.
In another comment, the original poster wrote, “August was 1mWh of production, September was 818kWh. This is in line with my historical average.”
That suggests solar production may have stayed close to normal even as overall household consumption looks much higher. One commenter wrote, “Maybe something isn’t connected property or a wire was damaged during uninstall and reinstall.”
For homeowners trying to lower power bills, going solar is still one of the best ways to save money on home energy, and solar leases in particular can deliver hundreds of dollars in monthly savings without any upfront costs. Use EasyHome‘s free explorer tool to see potential savings from vetted installers in your area.
This was not the first time the OP said a similar problem had surfaced.
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.
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A commenter said the reinstall may have required new utility paperwork and suggested that “they might have flipped the CTs and are reading the flow wrong,” referring to current transformers, small sensors that measure the flow of electricity.
In a reply, the OP said the CTs were set up incorrectly when the solar system was first installed and that they “had to have a tech come out and flip them.”
“I suspect that’s what happened this time,” they added. “I just didn’t think it would happen twice in a row lol.”
Solar is supposed to reduce reliance on grid power, but miswiring, metering errors, or a newly malfunctioning appliance can quickly erase those savings.
After talking with the installer, the OP said the company agreed the pattern was abnormal and would send a technician, without an update yet since that time last week.
That check should help sort out whether the spike is related to the reinstall, the inverter or battery setup, or a heavy load somewhere in the house.
People in the thread also urged the homeowner to gather more detailed monitoring information, including panel- or string-level data, monthly production totals, and any standby or real-time usage readings available in the app.
One commenter said that if production really is normal, then “something in your house is using more power” and could be “an appliance failing and getting stuck in a continuous run state.”
For homeowners considering a system or trying to get more value from the one they already have, EasyHome‘s free explorer tool can help compare vetted installers and estimate savings. EasyHome can also help you explore backup battery storage options, and pairing solar with a battery can maximize savings while keeping homeowners on solar when the grid goes down.
These similar stories show how solar billing surprises can stem from app mismatches, net metering rules, and other issues. 
• In South Carolina, a solar app showed grid exports as a bill charged 900 kWh.
• In Ohio, a homeowner learned net metering left nearly half the electric bill untouched.
• In Massachusetts, solar and mini-splits left one homeowner 4,100 kWh ahead on yearly power.
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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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