The process is fairly quick depending on the municipality and the utility company. Once a system has been agreed upon between homeowner and solar company (number and location of panels, access to electric meter and site assessment), the remaining steps are:

• complete a set of engineering drawings,
• secure a building permit,
• deliver and install materials, and
• notify utility company to activate metering rollback option on your net meter

These steps typically take between two and six weeks.

Yes, some differences are more subtle than others.

First, solar panels are now designed and manufactured by dozens of companies worldwide. Since solar panels are primarily passive devices (no moving parts - hopefully ; -) ), the differences in quality of the panels may not be as evident. The best advice would be to be sure to choose a vendor with a solid reputation for quality and a stable financial history so that you have a higher likelihood that the company will be around to endorse your warranty (typically 25 years) should the need exist.

There are significant differences in inverters / micro-inverters as well as in mounting systems. Again the systems are passive, but electronic equipment is susceptible to heat damage. An improper installation could jeopardize the life of the inverters. It is important that the solar installation company have training and a proven track record of outstanding customer satisfaction to ensure your peace of mind that the right system components have been selected and installed properly.

For more information, please contact your Red Bull Solar rep to learn which products we endorse.

CAUTION: What’s the difference between a solar sales rep and used car salesperson. Answer: The used car salesperson KNOWS he’s lying.
Unfortunately, many solar sales reps have been trained to incorrectly present cost of ownership, payback period and ROI. They often base their analyses off unrealistic assumptions.

For more information, please contact Red Bull Solar corporate to learn how we base our analysis.

Although many contractors claim that each system is unique, there are far more common characteristics than special conditions. Insist that your contractor provide you with a simple cost breakout that indicates how much they are charging for the installation of a specific system including:

• number of panels
• power output per panel (both DC and AC)
• cost for total of panels plus all taxes, installation, engineering, project management and permit fees
• any special charges for changes to electrical panels / sub-panels, special conditions (like restricted access or non-composition roofing material or structural issues) should be itemized and disclosed in detail

A practical price comparison should be cost per DC watt. Compare total selling price divided by total DC power output (simply # of panels times rated DC output per panel).

SECOND CAUTION: Do not deduct tax credits, grants or utility incentives. These savings should apply exactly the same, regardless of solar vendor - provided you don’t get lured into some type of leasing or rental scam. For more information why we discourage leases and rental, contact Red Bull Solar corporate offices.

Solar systems consist of solar panels, inverters, mounting brackets and the connections back to the utility meter.

• Each solar panel is an aggregation of interconnected solar cells linked into larger modules, allowing the solar panel manufacturer to configure the panels to meet specific power loads.
• Each solar cell converts solar energy into DC (direct current) electricity via the the photovoltaic effect.
• Inverters are used to convert the DC power produced by the solar panels into alternating current, AC, that can be used to power your existing lights, appliances and standard loads typically powered from your utility company. The DC power from each panel can be individually converted into AC by using micro-inverters or multiple panels can be placed in series to utilize a larger single inverter.
Either approach will deliver power back to your electrical panel and cause your modern meter to roll back and send your inverted solar power back onto the utility company’s grid. In effect, you are selling your power back the utility and they are distributing it back onto the grid to your neighbors.
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Since photovoltaic solar systems are passive, virtually no moving parts, the systems should run trouble free for decades. The only maintenance effort should be making sure there is no build-up of dust or leaves on the panels.

Caution: Don’t fall victim to hollow maintenance programs. It would be cheaper to have pay for a service call (typically $75 or less) if your hose won’t reach and you don’t plan to climb on your roof.

The utility companies have a proven, albeit cumbersome, process to allow you to roll back the meter. You need to provide the utility company certain information, including proof of homeowners’ insurance, type of system, etc. The installation company should provide a complete service including being the interface to the utility company.

Your solar company should also provide you with all the documentation to ensure you receive your state and federal tax credits when you prepare your taxes.