1. Assess Your Energy Needs

Review your electricity bills to understand your current energy consumption. If your electricity bill is over $100 a month, solar probably makes good financial sense as a long term investment.

2. Schedule an Appointment with a Reputable Solar Consultant

When looking for a company to work with, it’s important to read online reviews before reaching out to them. Only reach out to solar companies with a positive reputation that has been in business for more than 5 years.

Before your initial appointment, we will request a copy from you of your latest electricity bill. That bill gives us a good idea of your energy needs throughout the year and helps us determine the optimal solar system size for your property. We will also use satellite-based technology to evaluate your roof’s potential for installing solar panels or to assess the viability of your land for a ground-mounted solar system.

At your solar consultation, whether it’s in person or on a video call, we will provide you with a proposed system design for your property along with a personalized quote. We can also provide you with financing options and present you with all available incentives including:

• Net metering. Many utility providers credit you for the excess energy your system produces.
• Federal rebates. The federal solar tax credit (ITC) allows you to take 30% of the cost of your solar panel system off your federal taxes.
• REAP Grants. This program provides guaranteed loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses for renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agricultural producers may also apply for new energy efficient equipment and new system loans for agricultural production and processing. Our consultants can help you figure out if your property qualifies for this unique grant program.
• Local incentives. Some governments and utility providers offer financial help to make solar power as affordable as possible.

The primary goal in the first meeting is to provide you with an objective assessment of your home’s solar potential and the products we offer. If solar does not make financial or logistical sense for your situation, we’ll be honest with you about that. If you decide to proceed with your project, you’ll sign an agreement and, if applicable, apply for financing.

Plans for Residential Solar Installation

3. Designing Your Solar Installation

Timeline: Two to Four Weeks*

Our company’s site surveyor will schedule a visit to your property to take measurements and get a closer look at your electrical setup. During this time we will confirm that the site meets zoning, structural and electrical requirements.

Good Energy Solutions’ solar designers will use this information to create a plan that will eventually get submitted to your electric company for approval. The design will define the placement of your solar panels, how the system will be wired and connected to your current electrical system, and show additions to your electrical system like shutoff switches and optional batteries. You will give final approval before the plan is forwarded to your electrical company and the city or county.

Where required, your plan will be reviewed and stamped by a licensed engineer to ensure the installation will meet structural or electrical standards. 

Factors that impact this timeline: This step in the process could be delayed if you decide to change the design of your solar panel system, or if the engineer requires additional information before stamping the plans. 

4. Permits and Approvals

Timeline: Four to Six Weeks*

Before we can begin installation of your solar panels, we need several sign-offs from your city, your electric company and your homeowner’s association (HOA) if applicable. The good news is that we take care of obtaining all of the permissions needed from the powers that be including utility interconnection agreements, net-metering applications, and local permits. Outside of signing a few documents, you won’t have to worry much about this part of the project as we take on the responsibility for getting all the necessary approvals from all entities involved in the solar project.

Our team will keep you updated throughout the permits and approval process.

Factors that impact this timeline: Unfortunately, we have little influence over other organizations timetables when it comes to permits and approvals. Backlogs and staffing issues can impact how fast your solar project gets the green light from your electric company or city’s administration. Due to the amount of solar that we install in Kansas and Missouri, our company has strong relationships with many of the entities who will eventually sign off on your project.

5. Installing Solar on Your Property

Timeline: One to Five Days*

Once all of the permits and approvals have been worked out, our solar team will reach out to you to schedule an installation date. Our solar electricians will efficiently work to install your solar panels and all of the other components of your new system.

Factors that impact this timeline: The length of installation depends on the complexity and size of your solar project. Steep roofs, building ground mounts, adding batteries to your system and weather all play a factor in how long your solar will take to install.

6. Inspections (You’re Almost There!)

Timeline: Four to Six Weeks*

Your electric company and city inspector will need to approve your solar system after it’s installed. They will make sure that the work done on your new system meets all of the local fire codes and standards. Your current meter will also be swapped out with a bidirectional model that will allow for the net metering of your excess electricity.

Factors that impact this timeline: The duration required to process and complete these inspections will depend on your schedule, as well as the regulations of your jurisdiction and utility provider.

Solar Monitoring App from Enphase

7. System Activation and Monitoring

Timeline: One to Three Weeks*

Once your solar system is approved, it will be activated. This part of the process is also called PTO (Permission to Operate). Your utility will issue this document to you after they inspect and approve your solar panel installation. At this point we flip the “on switch” for your solar system and it will begin generating clean renewable energy.

At this stage we will also go over all of the monitoring tools that you can use to track the energy production and performance of your system. We will also answer any additional questions you may have.

Factors that impact this timeline: The only delays to this step will come from any scheduling conflicts related to the closeout meeting.

8. After Your System is Operational

Although solar panels require minimal maintenance, periodic cleaning and inspections can ensure they continue to operate efficiently. Also, it’s important to check your monitoring app every now and again to ensure your system is working correctly.

Good Energy Solutions will support your solar installation throughout its lifetime. We stand behind our workmanship and the quality materials we use for all of our solar projects. With a dedicated in-house Solar Service and Repair Department, our team can help keep your solar panels efficiently generating clean renewable energy for decades to come.

*Timelines are approximate and may be influenced by factors beyond Good Energy Solutions’ control. Generally, customers should anticipate a timeframe of 3 to 6 months from contract signing to having the system fully operational in their home.

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