This is a great story about how a Southern California family cut their exorbitant electric bill - over $700 monthly - down to just $15/month. They added 50 PV panels for electricity production, switched their pool to solar heating, and installed solar powered lighting.

By Mekhalo Medina
KNBC/NBC News Channel

LOS ANGELES -- A California family is sharing the secret of how they cut their whopping $700 electric bill down to just $15. The Keating's pool is one of the big green changes the family made.

Solar panels now heat the pool. Water is pumped to the flat panels on the roof, then pushed back through tiny tubes. Solar expert Graham Owen installed them.

"It's almost the equivalent of the garden hose sitting in your yard. Turn on the faucet and hot water comes out," Owen explained.

The Keatings also put solar powered lights outdoors and swapped 60-watt bulbs in the chandelier for 2-watt bulbs.

The biggest change is on the roof. 50 solar panels turn the sun's energy into electricity. They're creating so much energy during the day their meter actually spins backwards.

"I couldn't stop myself from going out and watching it spinning. I like gadgetry, so it's the world's biggest gadget," said Kevin Keating.

They're putting electricity back into the system and getting credit for it from their energy provider.

Last year's bill for May and June was $730. This year, it was only 15.

The California Energy Commission says 28,000 homes in the state are now solar and more are on the way. Solar roof panels for an average home cost about $36,000. Solar panels for the pool are about $5,000. Financial incentives vary depending on your energy provider.