If you’re looking for a quick answer, the actual process of installing solar panels on a home usually takes one to three days. However, the time between your installation and the moment you decide to go solar is going to be much longer than that.
In the United States, the installed solar capacity across the county increased by 33% in 2020, and growth is expected to continue for years to come. With the high demand for solar panels on homes and businesses across the country, the industry continues to expand and create renewable energy jobs.
While processes are becoming more streamlined with solar’s rapid adoption, most people can still expect to wait a considerable amount of time before their solar panels are installed and producing energy. This could be anywhere from a few months to the greater part of a year.
Apollo Energy is a locally owned and operated solar company based in Denver, Colorado. In this article, we will outline why a solar panel installation timeline matters and how long you can expect to wait before you are producing clean energy right on your roof.
Why Your Solar Installation Timeline Matters
First and foremost, no one likes to wait around for anything. In the case of solar panels, each day between the initial agreement and the system’s interconnection can be considered wasted sunlight, time, and money. While you should be wary of any solar company that can “guarantee” an installation in under 2 months, an efficient timeline is important for a few key reasons.
Cashing in on Federal Incentives - In order to qualify for the residential solar tax credit in 2021, solar panels must be installed on a roof in the same year the taxes are filed. What this means is that homeowners who decide to go solar late in the year may not qualify for federal credits if the installation is not complete by New Year’s Day.
Missing out on Potential Savings - Everyone knows solar panels pay for themselves in savings on traditional utility spending. However, these savings begin as soon as your system is installed and producing energy. If you decide to invest in solar, a prolonged timeline delays your electricity savings until the installation is complete.
Indications for Service in the Future - More than anything, broken promises and poor reactions to process hiccups are good indications that a solar company does not value customer service as much as perhaps they should. If your solar energy system needs maintenance, a long solar installation timeline may translate into a similarly long service timeline as well.
Our Solar Installation Timeline
After initial meetings with our customers, Apollo Energy is generally able to meet a 90-day installation timeline. While three months may seem like a long period of time, there is a considerable amount of work that goes into designing, permitting, and installing the best possible solar energy system.
Once the system is financed, the following must take place:
A detailed site audit and final system design
Applications and processing permits for the utility, city, and HOA
Installation, final inspection, and interconnection
While the process of going solar requires the cooperation of many different parties, oftentimes delays in the installation may occur at no fault of the solar company or homeowner. Of course, the average installation timeline is going to change seasonally, and there will always be outliers for both quicker or more complicated projects. For a more detailed look at the process of going solar, feel free to read the 10 steps we take for installing solar panels.
Conclusion
While it is true that most people collect multiple assessments for their property, choosing the right company to install your solar panels can be a difficult decision. The expected timeline is one of the most important Questions to Ask Solar Panel Companies, so knowing what you are signing up for is crucial for a quick and professional installation.
Of course, what a salesperson says and what a company does is not always going to be the same. With this in mind, it is always a good idea to check the solar installer’s online reviews to see real customer timelines and experiences. Even if they are one of the best rated solar companies in Colorado, reviews that indicate timelines as long as 6 to 9 months should be a red flag.
While solar may take some time to adopt, all of our customers are well aware that it is worth the wait. Even with that said, we are able to provide high-quality installations as quickly as possible. If you are interested in learning more about your home’s solar potential in Colorado or Wyoming, do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.