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Glossary
Photovoltaic - comes from the Greek where photo means light, and voltaic means electric
Inverter - converts direct current to alternating current
Net metering - the regulatory ability to get credit for electricity you generate with solar energy and send backwards through your utility meter
Photovoltaic - comes from the Greek where photo means light, and voltaic means electric
PPA - Power Purchase Agreement
AC - Alternating Current. Electrical systems where the directions of flow reverses at regular intervals (current and voltage can bepositive and negative values)
DC - Direct Current. Electrical systems where current flows in one direction (current and voltage are steady over time)
CEC - California Energy Commission
Ampere (amp) - A unit of electrical current or rate of flow of electrong. One volt across one ohm of resistance causes a current flow of one ampere
Electricity - energy resulting from the flow of charge particles, such as electrons or ions
Energy - the capability of doing work; different forms of energy can be converted to other forms, but the total amount of energy remains the same
Kilowatt (kW) - a standard unit of electrical power equal to 1000 watts, or to the energy consumption at a rate of 1000 joules per second
Kilowatt-Hour (kWh) - 1000 thousand watts acting over a period of 1 hour. The kWh is a unit of energy. 1 kWh = 3600 kJ
Volt (V) - a unit of electrical force equal to that amount of electromotive force that will cause a steady current of one ampere to flow through a resistance of one ohm
Watt - the rate of energy transfer equivalent to one ampere under an electrical pressure of one volt. ONe watt equals 1/746 horsepower, or one joule per second. It is the product of voltage and current (amperage)
"I love my new solar system! It is helping me save money on utility bills as well as reduce my carbon footprint. It's one of my best investments." Raymond Lui, CA
