You got solar to lower your electricity bills. So why does your bill still look high? It’s one of the most common calls we get, and the answer, nearly every single time, is not what people expect to hear.
Ben Walsh, Harman Solar’s troubleshooting specialist, breaks down exactly how he diagnoses these calls, what the data actually shows, and what you can do right now to get clarity on your system.
When someone calls in saying their bill is high, Ben starts with the same two-question framework every time:
That’s it. Those are the only two explanations. And according to Ben, 95% of the time the answer is #2.
Before assuming it’s a usage issue, Ben verifies the system is performing as designed. Here’s the process:
Both numbers, inverter and utility, should match closely. If they do, your system is producing what it should. The issue is usage, not production.
Here’s an important distinction Ben makes on almost every troubleshooting call: your monitoring showing zero doesn’t mean your system is producing zero. Think of it like a broken speedometer. Just because the gauge reads 0 doesn’t mean the car isn’t moving.
The most common cause of monitoring failure? A router change or updated Wi-Fi password. The inverter loses its connection to the internet, stops reporting data, and people panic thinking the system went down. In most cases this is a five-minute phone call fix, no truck roll, no service fee.
Ben’s rule: if your inverter reads zero but your utility portal shows production, it’s a monitoring issue. If both read zero, that’s a real production problem and you need someone out there.
Ben’s theory on why usage increases are so common: when people get solar, they unconsciously feel like energy is now “free.” Thermostats creep down a degree or two. The hot tub discussion comes back up. The idea of an electric car seems more feasible. Small changes that feel insignificant add up fast.
One example from Harman’s own team: a staff member got solar installed. His wife immediately dropped the thermostat to 72°. Their bill went up and neither could figure out why. The system was working perfectly. They were simply using significantly more air conditioning than before.
When people insist nothing has changed, Ben digs deeper. He looks month-by-month and year-over-year. If July and August usage spiked compared to the same months last year, that points to more AC usage. If last winter was unusually low, maybe the family was traveling. If a certain stretch had higher usage on specific days, that’s often when a house guest was visiting. The data always tells the story, eventually people confess.
“I’ve never in my entire life seen a situation where the solar system is working, usage doesn’t go up, but magically the bills did. It doesn’t work that way.” — Ben Walsh
This is one of the most important things to understand about solar in Phoenix, and one of the most frequently misrepresented facts in the industry: you will always have an electricity bill. Always.
Here’s why: solar panels don’t produce power at night. In Phoenix, air conditioning runs around the clock for much of the summer, including overnight when it’s still 105°. That nighttime power has to come from the grid. Even customers with a 200% offset (producing twice their historical usage) still carry a utility bill.
The right way to think about solar savings is annually, not monthly. Some months, typically spring and fall, you may have a near-zero or even negative bill. Summer months will almost certainly be positive. The goal is net annual savings, not a zero bill every month.
If a salesperson tells you that you’ll never have another electricity bill, that’s a lie. Full stop. Challenge them. Get it in writing. Or just walk away.
Here’s a tool Ben uses when customers are frustrated that their bill hasn’t dropped to zero: implied savings. He takes their pre-solar electricity rate and multiplies it by their current (higher) usage. That number, what the bill would be without solar, is often dramatically higher than what they’re actually paying.
Example: a customer was paying $180/month before solar. They added a pool and their usage went up. Their bill is still $175/month. They’re frustrated. But without solar, that same usage at their old rate would cost $240/month. Solar is saving them $65/month, they just can’t see it because they’re comparing the wrong numbers.
Harman is offering 90 days of free active monitoring, no credit card, no obligation, no catch. Here’s what it does:
That last feature is particularly powerful: it cuts through the sales pitch entirely. Instead of a salesperson telling you what your savings will be, you can see it for yourself with your own data.
This monitoring is available to everyone, not just Harman customers. Whether you have a lease, a loan, a system from another installer, or no solar at all, you can use it.
Save money on your electric bill every month!
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