In most areas of the United States, solar panels yield the highest production during the summer, followed by fall and spring. As the sun's angle shifts throughout the year, the amount of direct sunlight your panels receive changes as well. This variation is known as seasonality.

In this article, we’ll explain how seasonality works, what to expect, and how our team thoughtfully designed your solar system to account for these changes.

Generally speaking, more sun yields more power. A rooftop solar system will likely produce more power in the sunnier months, when days are longer and the sun is higher in the sky. It will likely produce less power in the winter months when the days are short and the sun is low.

Like production, seasonality will vary by location. As a general rule, seasonal changes in production become more significant the farther you live from the equator, meaning homeowners in Florida will likely see less variation throughout the year than those living in Maine.

The position of the sun during each season of the Earth’s orbit is a core aspect of solar seasonality, so it’s important to know the average peak sun hours for each season. Here are the seasonal averages for the continental United States, courtesy of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory:

Weather is closely tied to seasonality, and can impact your production and savings in a variety of ways. Despite common belief, solar panel performance actually increases in cooler weather, reaching optimal efficiency between 45°F and 75°F. However, cloudy, rainy, or snowy weather can decrease the amount of sunlight that hits your solar panels and reduce overall performance.

Beyond panel performance, weather may influence your energy usage. Homeowners often increase their energy consumption in extreme hot or cold temperatures to maintain a comfortable indoor climate. If your energy bill increases in hot summer months even though your panel performance is high, the additional cost may be linked to an extended use of air conditioning.

Every Palmetto customer receives a custom solar design tailored to the unique features of their home including location, roof layout, peak sun hours, and seasonality. Your system’s expected production is modeled over a full 12-month cycle to provide an accurate annual estimate. Your actual production and usage will vary month to month, and will likely be higher in the summer and dip in the winter.

With your Palmetto LightReach agreement, your monthly payment stays the same year round and is based on the annual production estimate. These steady payments only increase once per year based on the escalation rate outlined in your agreement (0 to 3.5%). Seasonal ups and downs in solar output generally balance out over time, and with LightReach’s Production and Performance Guarantee, you can feel confident in the reliability of your system.

Due to seasonal changes in production, many homeowners with solar have higher energy bills in the winter months than they do in the summer. When your solar panels produce less energy in a given period, you may require more energy from the grid to meet your household energy needs. Understanding Production vs Consumption

In the spring and summer when solar production is the highest, the impact to your electric bill is often very noticeable, lowering more of your usage and charges (i.e. more savings). In the fall and winter, when the solar production is lower, the impact to your monthly electric bill will be less. It's unlikely to reduce all of your utility usage and charges in the winter months meanwhile your LightReach payment remains the same. In the winter it's possible your total electricity spend between the LightReach payment and electric bill is higher than before solar.

Palmetto LightReach's pricing is designed to provide savings for the typical customer over the year looking at 12-month average utility rates, and net metering policies.

Your actual savings depend on a range of factors: your household’s energy usage, system production, weather, utility rates, and local policies. While we guarantee your production, we cannot guarantee specific savings. If you have savings concerns, give it time. We recommend waiting 12 months before requesting a full review.

Seasonal changes in solar production are completely normal and expected. While your monthly energy savings may vary, your system is designed to deliver reliable performance over the full year. With LightReach’s predictable pricing and production guarantee, you can feel confident in the long-term value of your solar investment.