Do Long Island Solar Panels Work in Winter? What You Should Know Before the Cold Weather Arrives

Yes, solar panels work all winter on Long Island. Shorter days and the lower angle of the sun mean that production decreases compared to summer, but your system will still be productive.

In New York, Net Metering helps by carrying your summer surplus into winter bills.

Key Takeaways

• Winter output is lower, but December through to February still contributes about 15% to 20% of your total annual production.
• Snow and clouds can lower or temporarily halt production, but over a full year the impact is minimal.
• You should look at solar production over a whole year, not just a single season.

How the Shorter Days Affect Solar Production

Solar panels on Long Island work best when days are long and sunny. Cold weather slightly improves overall panel efficiency. Winter’s biggest penalty is the lack of daylight, not the temperature.

• During summer’s peak around June’s Solstice, there’s just over 15 hours of total daylight. This means maximum solar production and the best savings you will see all year.
• During winter’s peak around December’s Solstice, there are only 9 hours of daylight. Panels are less productive overall, especially if it’s snowing or overcast.

That leaves a difference of around 6 hours between the peak of summer and winter.

Net Metering Helps to Balance Your Utility Bill in Winter

When a solar contractor plans your solar array and generates a cost/benefit analysis, they look at annual production as the crucial benchmark. Solar panels produce less energy in winter, but they still contribute to annual savings.

On Long Island, the key differentiator is Net Metering.

During summer and for periods of spring and fall, your solar panels will produce more energy than you consume. The excess goes to the grid and generates credits on your utility account. These credits help to balance the good and bad days, leveling out your savings over time.

They are also crucial for the winter. All that extra energy you generate in summer helps to offset the extra energy you take from the grid in winter. Phase One Net Metering credits (for systems up to 25 kW) are exported at the full retail rate for 20 years. That means every kilowatt-hour you export in summer will directly offset each kilowatt-hour you take from the grid in winter.

Your Net Metering credits aren’t just for winter. They also offset energy consumption in the evenings and on days when solar production is low, at any time of year. This is one of the fundamental benefits of installing solar panels in Suffolk or Nassau County. The Net Metering system on Long Island is more favorable to households than in other areas of New York, where credits are calculated through a more complex method and can vary throughout the year.

How Your Long Island Solar Contractor Plans an Efficient Solar Panel System

Your solar contractor will design your system to maximize production throughout the year. There are various factors that go into the design of your system, including:

• Your historical usage based on recent bills.
• Potential consumption increases for a growing family.
• The types of appliances or features in your home that consume electricity.
• The geometry and orientation of your roof.
• Surrounding shade structures like trees or other homes.

Power Solutions, one of the top-rated solar contractors on Long Island, installs microinverters for residential solar. Rather than one single inverter, each panel has its own. This maximizes production, even if individual panels or sections of the solar array are shaded at different times of day.

Attention to detail ensures that your system produces balanced savings throughout the year, even in winter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Install Solar Panels During Winter?

Yes, you can install your solar panels during winter. Planning in fall and installing in winter is a common strategy to beat the spring/summer rush. It allows ample time for consultation, system design, equipment procurement, and permitting/approval. When you start planning around October or November, your system will typically be ready to go the following summer.

Will My Winter PSEG Long Island Bill be Higher with Solar Panels?

It will likely increase compared to other seasons, but credits banked during spring, summer, and early fall help to offset this. Savings are generally predictable and surprisingly consistent when your solar panel installation is well-planned by a trusted solar contractor.

Explore Your Options for Residential Solar on Long Island

Solar panels work in winter, and with Net Metering, savings are balanced throughout the year. Power Solutions offers two unique pathways to install solar panels:

• Get solar panels through the Participate Energy Program with no credit check, no lien on your home, and a discount on a prepaid lease.
• Own your solar panels with a cash payment or zero-down financing, and leverage New York State’s solar tax credit, worth up to 25% of your total bill, capped at $5,000.

We can compare options, predict your long-term savings, and prepare a detailed cost/benefit analysis so you see all the data before signing a contract.

Get your free solar estimate online or call a Long Island solar professional at (631) 348-0001 today.