EVERYTHING ELSE WE CAN THINK OF
One of the most frustrating things we have experienced in this business has been a salesperson's inability to correctly convey and explain, what we feel is, the most important information a customer needs to make an informed decision. All too often, we found ourselves explaining - or re-explaining - a piece of basic information the customer told us was never told to them. Since we do not have a sales team, the following pages in the Deeper Dive & Member sections is our vehicle to get you everything else we can think of.
Most solar companies feel that giving the customer "too much information" will lead to "paralysis by analysis" and "lost sales". They are comfortable omitting information in order to close business. Our position is that method is short-sighted and insulting as evidenced by the results... Yes, sales were closed but 1. almost NO customers referred multiple friends and 2. less than 5% of solar salespeople remain in the business after 3 years.
Our philosophy is different...to create an experience so superior that our client becomes our advocate. The foundation for that experience begins with these pages and continues with every interaction we have. We look forward to working with you.
THE PROCESS
In more detail
STEP 1
You read this website. Thoroughly. You can read it whenever you like, as many times as you like. We believe that if you do this you will be more educated and confident and have almost no questions when we meet to discuss your proposal.
Your bill - Why do we need it? Accuracy. Your utility limits the size of your solar system to your last 12 months usage. If we are working with actual numbers we can design a system that will most closely match the maximum size they will allow.
Design - Why would you trust ours vs. theirs? All solar companies use software to produce a design that describes the number of panels and expected production. Ours is based on a calculator from the U.S. Department of Energy. You can check it out here. More on this topic on our About the Industry page.
Proposal - Our cost structure is a direct savings to you. We have less overhead, so we charge less. It's that simple.
Payment Arrangement - We figure out what your best option is. Cash, a payment plan, or mortgage refi that includes full retail value for your system (nobody else does this) are the choices presented on our Financial Options page.
Paperwork - Completing the Installment Agreement, Payment Agreement, and Interconnection Application allows us to start your project.
STEP 2
Engineering - We finalize your design by sending it to an engineering firm to certify its structural integrity. (No, your roof will not collapse under the weight.) This enables us to complete a set of plans required for installation. Estimated time: 2-4 days
Utility Permission - We are connecting to your electric company's infrastructure - they make the rules. Estimated time: 7-21 days depending on the company.
County and/or City Permission - Estimated time: 5-15 days depending on the jurisdiction.
Property/Homeowners Approval - Possibly the worst part of the entire process. Some turn around a request in a day, some only meet once a month. We suggest you reach out to your association to understand your rules and application requirements.
STEP 3
Scheduling - Time is money. Coordinating the material delivery, installation team, and electrician is essential so we pledge to schedule your installation at least 14 days in advance - with a rainout date if needed. We will confirm your appointment with you three times prior to arriving - 7 days, 3 days, and 24 hours.
Installation Day - The team will need access to the roof, attic, interior electric panel, and meter. They will be able to maintain six feet of distance from you. You are not required to stay in the home if you need to leave and the power will be shut off for 30-60 minutes to complete the interconnection and testing.
Cleanup - Your property will be left in the condition it was found when we arrived. We will clean up all trash and repair or replace your property if anything is damaged or broken by our team.
Inspection Approval - Depending on the jurisdiction, inspection will be scheduled as soon as they allow. Once approved, IT IS THE JURISDICTION'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ADVISE YOUR UTILITY. The utility will not accept notification of approval from the homeowner or the installer.
STEP 4
Permission to Operate (PTO) - Your electric company usually says they will be along in 10 to 14 business days to install your new meter and/or activate your system. In our experience, the major electric companies are usually only a few days.
Monitoring - Our independent service plan administrator conducts a 14 day analysis of your system once PTO is received. When that is complete you will have an online account set up and receive quarterly reports of your system's production.