News > Thanks to Switch Together, today, our home is net-zero

Thanks to Switch Together, today, our home is net-zero

• Solar affordability

October 23, 2026

Imagine opening your electric bill and seeing a big, fat “$0” at the bottom.

It seems like a pipe dream, but that’s exactly what I experience. Thanks to solar, my home is producing more electricity than we use. 

Every time I check my electric meter, it makes me smile because it’s not climbing higher every month like I was seeing. It’s going backward. 

Switch Together was the program that made it all possible.

My gateway into clean energy

The savings from solar have been incredible to see, but going solar wasn’t just about saving money for me. It was about doing something meaningful for the future.

I’ve been involved with Solar United Neighbors for about five years after discovering the organization at a clean energy event in Montgomery County. I started attending SUN events in Bowie and learned more about what rooftop solar could do. The more I learned, the more it made sense.

My “gateway” into clean energy was actually a battery-powered lawn mower. That led to portable battery storage, then replacing our gas water heater with a heat pump water heater, and later replacing our gas furnace with a heat pump HVAC system. Solar was the final piece of the puzzle.

Today, our home produces as much energy as it uses.

Deciding the best time to go solar

There were several reasons I decided it was time to install solar panels. Reducing fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions has always been important to me. I also wanted to make use of the federal clean energy incentives that were available at the time. Beyond that, sunshine is free. The idea of generating my own electricity, eliminating my electric bill, and earning Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) made the decision even easier.

Why I went solar with Switch Together

I joined Switch Together because I liked knowing the installer had already been carefully vetted. Buying solar is a big investment, and I wanted confidence that I was working with a reputable company that offered competitive pricing and would stand behind its work.

Solar Energy World installed my system. Because so many homeowners signed up through the program, there was a longer wait than expected. I enrolled in the fall, but my 13-panel system wasn’t installed until April of this year, after the federal tax incentives had expired. Even so, Solar Energy World honored the value of the expired incentive by reducing my installation cost. That kind of customer service really impressed me.

The installation itself was surprisingly easy. The panels are tucked away where you can barely see them, and now they quietly generate electricity every day. I don’t have to do anything except let the sun do its thing.

Do my solar panels really work?

People sometimes ask if solar really works, and I tell them to look at my electric bill. After my utility installed a new bidirectional meter, I watched it change from tracking electricity I was buying from the grid to tracking electricity I was sending back. Thanks to Maryland’s net metering program, I’m receiving fair credit for the excess energy my system produces. Seeing those numbers below zero is incredibly satisfying.

We need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels to address climate change, strengthen our energy independence, and build a more resilient electric grid. Every rooftop solar system contributes to that goal by producing clean electricity right where it’s needed.

Advice if you’re thinking about going solar

If you’re considering solar, my advice is simple: Start by talking with people who have already gone through the process. Every home is different, and hearing real experiences can help you decide what’s right for you. I also recommend getting a home energy audit first. You may find opportunities like adding insulation or improving efficiency before installing solar, which can reduce the size and cost of the system you need.

It’s also worth thinking about how long you plan to stay in your home. Solar can be an investment, so your timeline matters.

If rooftop solar isn’t a good fit because of trees, roof orientation, or other factors, don’t assume you’re out of options. My family participated in community solar for years before installing panels, and it was a great experience. Community solar allows you to support renewable energy and save money even if you can’t install panels yourself.

For anyone ready to move forward with rooftop solar, I strongly recommend joining a group purchase like Switch Together. The program negotiates competitive pricing, carefully vets installers, and answers the many questions people naturally have before making such a significant investment. It gave me confidence throughout the process, and today I’m enjoying the benefits of producing my own clean energy every single day.

The sun sends us free energy every day. It feels good knowing we’re finally putting it to work.

— Bob Kellaway