Solar + Batteries Provide Affordable Electricity

Solar installation companies will typically have a few solar panels they offer. Most companies offer solar panels from Q-Cells, Proudly Made in the USA, which make up over 30% of the solar panels installed nationwide. Normally a premium grade solar panel like the REC Group Alpha Black and a value line of solar panels will be offered as well. This way you will have multiple options to meet your needs and budget.

It is important to make sure your solar panels are paired with a quality inverter. An inverter converts the DC electric power a solar panel creates into AC power that you use in your home. Most quality solar systems are paired with either Enphase or SolarEdge inverters. 

The best quality solar panels will have a high efficiency rating, power production will stay consistent for many years and they will have 25 year warranties.

The average cost to have a solar system installed in California is about $30,000. It typically costs between $9,000-$13,000 to add battery backup power. Keep in mind if you pay cash or finance the project you will receive a 20-40% Federal Tax Credit to help pay for your solar system. 

Over 80% of the solar systems installed in California are done with a ZERO DOWN option. This is either through the ownership model of financing, a power purchase agreement or by leasing a solar system. 

These multiple options make switching to solar affordable for the large majority of homeowners in California. 

The average time from when you order your solar system to your installation date is about 4-6 weeks. After the solar panels are installed, it typically takes a few more weeks before the utility company grants permission to operate (PTO).

A few things that add more time to a solar project being installed are roofing, electric upgrades and city permits/inspections. Time added…

• If you work with a roofing company that is a partner of the solar installation company, it may not add much time to the installation date of the solar panels. They will install the roof while the solar design and city permits are being done. 
• Some electrical upgrades like a main panel upgrade can added 3-6 weeks to the project. The amount of extra time will depend on your local utility company as they will need to approve the main panel upgrade and schedule to run power lines to your home to accommodate the extra power needed. 
• Most cities will process solar permits within a week or two. However there are some cities that take 4-6 weeks to issue a permit. After the solar panels are installed the city will send an Inspector to check out the job and approve the work. This is normally just a week after installation, but some cities do get backed up and take several weeks to inspect a job. 

PATIENCE NEEDED! Once the solar panels are installed, be prepared that it will often take as long for you to receive permission to operate from your utility company, as it did from the time you ordered your solar system to the installation date. Utility companies are not highly incentivized to ”lose” a paying customer… so it may takes a bit longer than expected. 

BUT SMILE you are so close to being independent from your utility company and soon you’ll no longer be experiencing their electric rate increases. Savings are about to start filling your bank account.