At SaveOnEnergy, we work to offer accurate information with editorial integrity.Our partners do not direct our editorial content, though we may reference their products in our posts. Read more about how we make money.
- Solar can be a complicated process. Learn what a new solar owner wished they knew beforehand.
- Be aware of roadblocks that could delay your solar installation, such as slow-moving permitting approvals and changing solar policies.
- Ask your solar salesperson to explain their contingency plans for the five circumstances below.
Five things to know before installing solar panels
If you are considering installing the best solar panels on your home, working with a trusted solar company is vital to having the best solar installation experience possible. However, like many other home improvement projects, there are pitfalls you may not know about before getting solar panels for your home.
We spoke with a California homeowner who recently installed a solar system on their roof to find out what surprises she ran into. Here are the top five things she wished her family knew throughout their solar energy journey.
- You might wait a long time for permission to operate (PTO).
- Necessary roof repairs may take longer than expected.
- Inclement weather can delay your solar installation.
- Solar policies and benefits may change quickly.
- Sales commissions can increase the price of your solar proposals.
Keep reading to discover how these obstacles could affect your solar installation and how to be prepared.
You may wait awhile for permission to operate (PTO).
Interconnection ties your solar system to the power grid. Getting approval for interconnection from your utility is known as Permission to Operate (PTO). PTO is the final step of getting your solar panels turned on and functioning after all solar permitting is completed. Without PTO, your panels may look pretty, but you cannot generate energy, send energy to the power grid, or begin net metering through your local utility.
Depending on your utility, PTO can take six weeks or less, but your solar installer might not tell you that getting PTO could take much longer than anticipated. The homeowner we spoke with waited four months to get PTO after having her solar system installed. Long waits may be especially common if you live in an area where solar is popular or solar policies are in flux, such as California.
A non-operating system will also prevent you from claiming the solar tax credit, or Residential Clean Energy Credit. The government requires the installation to be fully complete, with PTO being the very last step. If you don’t have PTO, installation is ongoing. This government tax credit is worth 30% of your solar system costs as a rebate on your federal taxes.
How to prepare for PTO
- Confirm how your solar installer handles delays in PTO. Find out if your solar installer compensates or reimburses you if you have to start paying back your solar loan before getting PTO.
- Understand the PTO process, including reimbursement for delayed PTO, before signing the contract. Otherwise, you could end up paying the loan plus your monthly electricity bill.
Get your free solar savings estimate
You can significantly lower your energy costs by investing in solar panels. Enter some basic information below and we’ll provide an instant, free estimate of solar cost and savings for your home.
Roof repairs may take longer than expected.
Solar installers should complete an evaluation of your roof’s condition before the contract is signed. A strong roof is important to hold the racking equipment and panels for the system’s lifetime. If repairs are needed, it will affect your overall solar panel cost. If your roof needs more repairs than anticipated, the cost and time it takes to install solar panels or solar roof shingles can significantly increase. Your installer will also inform you if you have trees blocking access to sunlight, which will require some trimming or removal to improve your solar panels’ efficiency.
The California homeowner we spoke with had a 20-year-old roof. Given the longevity of solar panels and the age of the roof underlayment, the homeowner decided to replace the roof and work with a contractor recommended by their solar contractor. However, the roof’s complicated design and low-quality work from the roofing crews extended the timeline of repairs.
How to prepare for roof repairs
- Ensure your installer does a thorough roof evaluation, not just a casual inspection.
- Consider getting quotes and repair recommendations from a separate dedicated roofing company to ensure you won’t be caught off guard by repairs once the solar installation is underway.
- If tree limbs cover your roof, you may need to contact a certified arborist for pruning before roof repairs can begin.
Weather can impact your solar panel installation timeline.
Consider the season and weather when you are getting solar installed. Peak sun production is during the summer in the northern hemisphere, so you may consider scheduling installation during the fall or winter. Weather events that prevent outdoor work can lengthen your installation timeline, especially if roof repairs are needed.
Even if you select a generally mild season to install solar, unanticipated inclement weather can always pop up and create delays. For example, our California homeowner started roof repairs in October, a typically mild weather season for the state. However, heavy rain over the next several months delayed the roof repairs and created additional repair work. Therefore, the solar installation was stalled for months.
How to prepare for weather delays
- Ask your solar installer how weather delays can affect installation. Find out what, if any, accommodations are considered to help the process along.
- Establish when and how your installer will provide timely communication with you in case of inclement weather delays. Having a dedicated point of contact is necessary.
- Verify that a clearly written plan of action for weather delays is part of your installer’s solar contract.
Solar energy policies can change.
Solar policies for state rebates and incentives and net metering benefits can change. For example, California slashed solar incentives by introducing Net Energy Metering (NEM) 3.0. The new NEM iteration will stop California solar users from using the power grid as storage for excess energy generated. This policy affects the return on investment (ROI) of solar installation and increases the benefits of getting a top-rated solar battery.
The homeowner we interviewed said the modified CA policies affected their solar installation in several ways. For instance, the long wait times for Tesla panels compelled them to go with a company with quicker installation because they wanted to get their solar panels installed before NEM 3.0 went into effect.
By getting solar installed in time to qualify for NEM 2.0, the homeowner gets energy bill credits through California’s net metering policy. In April 2023, NEM 3.0 officially began, meaning new solar installations have fewer net metering benefits.
This policy change caused a significant backlog of solar panel connection applications throughout the state. This delay resulted in the homeowners waiting 4 months for Permission to Operate (PTO). During this time, the homeowner was unable to begin generating energy.
How to prepare for solar policy changes
- Keep up with solar news and changing solar policies in your state.
- Ask your solar installer to explain how upcoming policy changes affect your ROI.
- Apply for rebates and PTO quickly to guarantee your solar system will be approved for current solar policies.
- Ensure you have forms filled out correctly and submitted by the appropriate timeline.
Commission plays heavily into the overall solar sale.
Door-to-door salespeople earn their income from commission, a percent of each sale they make. This means your solar quote may be inflated by thousands of dollars. The homeowner we spoke with said one direct sales representative they had an appointment with priced their system at nearly $80,000k. This proposal was over twice as much as other estimates she received. However, the sales rep offered to cut his commission to match a quote she got from another solar company.
How to prepare for solar price quotes
- Get at least three quotes before deciding on a solar installer, especially from non-door-to-door salespeople.
- Try getting quotes from both local and national solar companies, such as Palmetto, SunPower, Momentum, and other solar companies.
- Some solar companies will price-match other quotes and proposals. Ask every installer you get a quote from if they offer a price match.
- Be aware that a quote from a door-to-door rep may not be the best deal on solar panels.
Conclusion
Getting the best solar panels installed on your home is often the culmination of months of thought, preparation, and research. As other home improvement projects tend to go, be prepared for some things to not go according to plan. Avoid unexpected costs and time delays by communicating transparently with your solar company. SaveOnEnergy can eliminate some stress by connecting you with a trusted solar installer.