The California Energy Commission reported that nearly 19 percent of the state's electricity stemmed from renewable energy sources in 2013. This percentage is set to increase up to 50 percent by 2030, according to The Los Angeles Times. The U.S. Energy Information Administration also found that not only can photovoltaic (PV) solar panels lower your monthly utility bill, but that rooftop solar capacity has nearly doubled from the start of 2013 to the close of 2014. From these figures it could be assumed that now is the time to go solar in California. However, Consumer Reports provided answers to certain questions all homeowners should consider before making the transition to solar energy.

The first question to ask yourself is whether or not your house is in a sunny spot. It is well known that the more sunlight your rooftop receives, the more power you can ultimately produce from your solar panel system, so long is it is not shaded by trees or chimneys. In addition, the price of electricity and federal and state incentives all contribute to how much your monthly bill could be. Try contacting a solar panel provider for a free consultation about solar rebates and costs for solar panel installation in your area.

Another question is how much power potential solar panel owners can hope to receive through an installation. For many providers, the panels can produce anywhere from 25 to 100 percent of an owner's electricity needs. Furthermore, a meter will record how much power your system produces, so all the excess energy you haven't used when it is cloudy or nighttime will be credited back to your utility bill.

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