Sunrun's Solar Terms

Browse our handy solar glossary and get expert definitions along with breakdowns for Solar Terms you'll be sure to run into.

Solar Terms

  • Electric Bill

    Electric Bill

    The bill that a local utility issues to a consumer for the electricity that their home consumes.

  • Electrical Panel Upgrade

    Electrical Panel Upgrade

    Electrical panels divide incoming electrical power from the grid into subsidiary circuits to distribute power throughout the building.

  • Energy Storage

    Energy Storage

    When a battery stores power from a PV solar system.

  • Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

    Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC)

    Reduces the total cost of your solar energy system by 30% with a credit to your federal taxes.

  • Gigawatt

    Gigawatt

    A unit of electrical power equal to one billion watts or 1000 megawatts.

  • Greenhouse Gases

    Greenhouse Gases

     Gases that trap heat in our atmosphere increasing the rate of climate change.

  • Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

    Kilowatt-hour (kWh)

    Standard unit for electricity. Customers pay for electricity by the kWh.

  • Local Utility

    Local Utility

    Where consumers buy grid electricity and where power is generated at a local level.

  • Megawatt

    Megawatt

    A unit of electrical power equal to one million watts.

  • Microinverter

    Microinverter

    A device that converts the generated solar energy into usable electricity for a home.

  • Monitoring

    Monitoring

    Sunrun proactively monitors your solar system’s production to make sure it's producing properly.

  • mySunrun

    mySunrun

    A web app available to Sunrun customers to track and monitor your Sunrun solar system. 

Where's Sunrun

Sunrun has hundreds of thousands customers powering their homes with renewable energy each month. Locate solar services in your state.

Plans & Services

Find the best home solar plan within your budget today. You can go solar and save for little to $0 down with Sunrun.

Brightbox Battery Storage

Brightbox™ Battery makes storing and managing clean affordable solar energy simple and easy.

Solar Panels

Solar power is yours for the making. Sunrun creates home solar panel systems that optimize for efficiency, durability, service, and value.

Sunrun News

From solar news to smart home energy saving tips, learn how solar is helping thousands save on rising energy costs.

Solar Education

Learn how to go solar simply with Sunrun’s solar education center, including articles, videos & FAQs.

Cost of Solar

As electricity rates are rising the cost of solar panels have never been lower. Switch to home solar and save with Sunrun.

Utilities

Find out more on how to lower your electric bill, how to read your electric bill once you go solar, and which green initiatives your utility is focused on today.