Solar proposal: After connecting with an installer, sharing your energy usage data, and determining your future energy needs, you'll schedule a time when the installer can visit your home to discuss your suitability for solar, which options are best for you, and where all the necessary solar system components could be placed on your home. Taking your specific wants and needs into account, the installer will then work with the data you've provided to create a system proposal. This proposal will include expected solar energy output and how the proposed system will meet your needs now and in the future, as well as a cost estimate and financing options. From site evaluation to receiving your solar proposal should take around a week or so, but it’ll depend on how busy your installer is. Some companies may provide a proposal based off your address and satellite imagery and then confirm site conditions with an in-person visit. Either way, the timeline is about the same.
Permitting: Once you approve a solar proposal and sign a contract, your installer will apply for the necessary permits. (We’ll talk more about what permits you might need later, but your installer will usually handle that.) Permitting approval times vary based on your local government building department but generally take one to three weeks. Later, a final (post-installation) approved permit from your city or jurisdiction is required to apply for Permission to Operate (PTO) for your system. A utility inspector will also come out to check your system installation before PTO is granted.
Energy audit application: Some states require an energy audit before you can apply for utility interconnection and rebates. Even if your state doesn’t require one, it’s a great idea to get one. Some states and utilities will provide one for free, and audits are also eligible for a 30% federal tax credit (up to $150) if there is a cost. An energy audit can determine if you’d also benefit from efficiency upgrades like better insulation, newer windows, or switching to more energy-efficient lighting or appliances, and the auditor can even check your house for health and safety issues. The gold standard for energy audits is through BPI.org. In many cases you can add energy efficiency upgrades to your solar project and get discounts on these improvements, helping improve your return on investment. There may be instances where you’re required or strongly encouraged to make some of these upgrades to get solar installed. But that varies by state and utility.
Interconnection application: Your installer will also apply for interconnection permission from your utility. The information provided to your utility will be like that for your local building department: the system's layout, orientation, size, included equipment, and estimated production, as well as corresponding system diagrams and, sometimes, the mode in which a battery system will operate. (Will your battery export and sell energy to the grid, import energy from the grid to use later in your home, or both?) An interconnection application usually gets accepted prior to installation, with final approval happening after the post-installation city inspection is complete. How long this takes depends on your utility’s workload and whether any adjustments need to be made to the design to meet interconnection standards.
Installation: Once permits are issued and the interconnection application is accepted, your Enphase installer can start. Depending on the size and complexity of your system, installation may take anywhere from one to four days. Scheduling will depend on your installer’s availability, so it’s good to discuss expectations early.
Final inspection: Your city, county, or other authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) needs to inspect the system after installation to ensure all the racking and wiring were installed to code and that the system matches the design submitted for permitting. Inspection scheduling depends on the building department’s availability. Often, it can happen within a week of installation completion.
Permission to Operate (PTO): Once your system is installed, inspected, and approved, your Enphase installer will receive permission to operate from the utility. PTO can take one to four weeks and will likely require a utility inspection before being granted. Afterward, your installer will either come to your home to turn on your system or activate it remotely, as can be done with many Enphase Energy Systems. Once activated, your system will start powering your home with clean, abundant sunshine and maybe even storing the excess in your solar batteries for use when the sun sets.
