Below you will find some common terms used in the electrical utility / solar industry. Understanding these terms will help you in your discussions with solar vendors.

• DC Electric: term used to categorize electricity with a constant positive polarity, the same as used in a common household battery.
• AC Electric: term used to categorize electricity with an alternating polarity, the same used in the transportation of power in the electrical utility grid system.
• Kilowatt (kW): used to describe instantaneous usable power, and is a product of multiplying the Voltage and Current component of a system.
• Kilowatt peak (kWp): used to describe the instantaneous energy output capability of a solar electric system under ideal solar energy conditions (aka during peak times during the middle of the day).
• Kilowatt hour (kWh): describes the amount of power delivered over a period of one hour and is the universal quantity for electrical utility billing.
• Voltage / Volts (V): term used to identify the pressure of a system - the greater the pressure the more power can be transported in an electrical wire.
• Ampere / Amps (A): term used to identify how much electrical energy is flowing in an electrical conducting wire.
• Feed in tariff (FIT): identifies an agreement were the utility company buys all the power generated from your solar electric system at a set price for a set period of years.
• Net metering: identifies an agreement were the utility company buys the surplus power which is not consumed in your home.
• Grid tie: used to identify when a system is connected to the electrical network, this connection type allows excess power to be taken in return for money/credits from your utility company.
• Off grid: identifies independent solar generation and consumption of electricity, associated with remote cabins / properties, typically a seasonal option or requires batteries and/or a generator.
• Local Distribution Company: term used for your power / electric utility (hydro) company