Consumption. Step One.
Before you consider getting a solar electrical system, give an accurate assessment of how much power you actually consume. In the process of doing so, attempt to investigate ways that you could potentially reduce your consumption. There are a few different techniques in accomplishing this, but one technique is to make your own KWH Workbook.

Solar electrical systems can be grid-tied, battery-stored, or hybrid.
Some people have separate DC power panels for their solar battery systems.
There are really an infinite number of ways you can design a system, but there's only going to be one way that works best for you and your home. So learn about it as much as you can.

Solar power systems are assessed for their production on an annual basis. That's because production will vary over the course of the seasons. You should assess your power on an annual basis.

Your electrical bill is composed of two separate features. One is all of the charges for transmission and connection to the grid, which is a flat monthly rate. That part could be as much as $30, but check your bill and find out exactly how much it is. The second feature of your bill is the fee for how much electricity the power company says you have consumed.

Solar can eliminate that second feature if you size a system to exactly your usage. However, if you size it just slightly larger, it will also pay for the other fees in your bill. Because any power that you do not consume is bought from you at a lower wholesale rate by the power company.

Once you have established how much power you need, it's a good time to evaluate your site for how much power you can provide, based on the specifications of your roof or yard, depending on where you want to place your panels.

On to [evaluation]