If you're considering solar energy for your Webb City home, you're already thinking about energy independence and long-term savings. Modern homes equipped with smart home devices, ranging from automated lighting to smart thermostats, are consuming more electricity than ever before, underscoring the need to size your solar system correctly. The right system delivers maximum savings without overspending on unnecessary capacity.
Understanding Your Home's Average Electricity Usage
Professional solar sizing begins with analyzing your utility bills from the past 12 months. Your total kilowatt-hours (kWh) used each month reveals your energy consumption patterns. Homes with high energy demands, such as electric heating or cooling, or multiple smart home devices, may use considerably more energy.
When Ipock Electric & Solar assesses your needs, we account for planned upgrades such as smart lighting, advanced thermostat control, and other energy-efficient features. These improvements can reduce the size of your solar system, saving you money upfront.
Solar Power in Missouri
Missouri's solar energy sector has experienced significant growth, with solar-generated electricity nearly tripling since 2018. Solar power surpassed hydropower for the first time in 2023, and in 2024, solar energy accounted for 11% of Missouri's renewable generation.
Webb City sits in Jasper County, which ranks 8th out of 115 Missouri counties for solar energy production per capita. The county's solar installations generate 3,955 megawatts of power, with nearly 19% of the county's electricity now coming from sustainable fuel sources. Five local electricity providers offer net metering options, making solar investments more financially viable by allowing you to sell excess power back to the grid.
How Professionals Determine Your Solar System's Kilowatt Size
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) PVWatts Calculator provides location-specific estimates of energy production for solar panel systems, accounting for local climate patterns, seasonal variations in sunlight, and your specific installation parameters. Our experienced team uses these tools to determine the optimal system size for your home in Webb City.
Your available roof space plays a critical role in solar system planning. For rooftop systems, array density is roughly 15 watts per square foot of applicable roof surface. Shading from trees, chimneys, or nearby structures reduces system performance, requiring strategic panel placement during professional assessment.
Panel efficiency matters too. High-efficiency solar panels are known for generating more electricity per square foot (sf), making them ideal for homes with limited roof space. Your roof's orientation and pitch significantly impact system performance. Solar panels typically perform best on south-facing roofs with a slope of 15-40 degrees. For fixed-tilt arrays in the Northern Hemisphere, panels pointed due south and inclined at the local latitude typically yield the maximum annual energy production.
Balancing System Size With Budget and Energy Goals
Expert planning takes your actual needs and budget into account. An appropriately sized system can generate greater than 100% of your annual energy consumption while providing reasonable payback periods through utility savings and available incentives.
Professional assessment also considers your plans. Adding smart home devices or an electric vehicle requires planning for extra capacity. Energy-efficient upgrades may reduce your capacity requirements compared to current usage levels.
Contact Ipock Electric & Solar today for a professional solar assessment that perfectly matches your energy needs and budget.
