Your bill is the real starting point
The most reliable input for any honest Long Island solar quote is your actual PSEG Long Island bill — not an online estimate. A reputable installer will ask to see twelve months of usage before sizing anything, because your real consumption pattern drives the system size, the savings math, and whether battery storage makes sense. Long Island Solar Installation Pros is a licensed installer, not a PSEG partner; we read your bill with you and, if you have a competing proposal, we will read theirs on the same terms.
For addresses inside the Village of Freeport, the bill comes from Freeport Electric rather than PSEG Long Island, and the line items and credit rules differ — use the actual utility's bill, not PSEG assumptions, for those homes.
The numbers that matter
Start with total kWh used over the billing period — and ideally over a full year, since Long Island usage swings hard between summer cooling and winter heating. That annual figure, not a single month, is what a system should be sized against.
Then separate supply charges (the cost of the electricity itself) from delivery charges (the cost of moving it across the grid). Note the basic service charge — a fixed daily or monthly fee for staying connected — because that is the part of the bill net metering does not erase. Finally, check which rate or tariff you are on; PSEG Long Island offers a Time-of-Day option that changes when energy is most expensive and can shift whether battery storage pays off.
What changes on the bill after solar
After your system receives Permission to Operate, a net meter measures the power you export as well as the power you draw. Excess generation can earn energy credits that reduce future usage charges. But you will still receive a monthly PSEG Long Island bill — the service charges and grid-connection fees remain, so a right-sized system reduces the bill rather than eliminating it.
Whether Time-of-Day rates and battery storage improve your specific math depends on your usage pattern and the rate plan you choose. We model that side by side using your real bill. Incentives change and eligibility varies — confirm details with the program administrator and a qualified tax professional.
Frequently asked questions
- Which number on my PSEG Long Island bill matters most for solar?
- Your total kWh used — ideally across a full year, since Long Island usage swings between summer cooling and winter heating. That annual figure is what a system should be sized against, not a single month or an online estimate.
- What is the basic service charge on my PSEG bill?
- It is a fixed fee for staying connected to the grid. It is the part of your bill that net metering does not erase, which is why a right-sized solar system reduces your bill rather than eliminating it.
- Should I switch to a Time-of-Day rate if I go solar?
- It depends on your usage pattern and whether you add battery storage. Time-of-Day rates change when energy is most expensive and can make storage more valuable, but they do not help every household. We model it using your actual bill before recommending a rate plan. Incentives and rate plans change — confirm details with the program administrator.
Keep reading
Solar in your Long Island town
Local roof, shade, permitting, and utility notes for the towns this guide applies to.
Helpful official resources
Programs change. We link directly to the program administrator rather than rephrase them, and we confirm current details during the consultation.
- PSEG Long Island — Solar + Energy Storage→PSEG Long Island
- PSEG Long Island — Time-of-Day Net Meter Bank Exchange→PSEG Long Island