The Definitive Guide to

Residential Solar in the U.S.

Maximize Your Solar Savings, Avoid Costly Mistakes

and Discover the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Sides
of Residential Solar

© 2023 by Adam Chandler. All rights reserved

Visit our website at www.theNetZeroHome.com
 Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - A Case for Solar ........................................................................... 6
Sustainability and Independence ............................................................ 15
Chapter 2 - Why Energy is Becoming More Expensive ................................ 17
Aging Infrastructure and the Energy Grid................................................ 17
Winter Storm Uri ..................................................................................... 18
Hurricane Ian ........................................................................................... 19
The 2022 Christmas Blizzard .................................................................... 19
Chapter 3 - How to Determine Your Real Electric Rate ............................... 21
Chapter 4 – Solar Batteries and Net Metering............................................. 25
What is Net Metering? ............................................................................ 25
Are Solar Batteries Necessary? ................................................................ 26
Chapter 5 - Ask These Questions Before You Go Solar ................................ 28
Will I Still Have an Electric Bill After Installing A Solar System? .............. 28
How Will Solar Panels Impact My Roof? ................................................. 29
Will I Qualify for the Federal Tax Credit? ................................................ 32
How Will Solar Panels Affect My Ability to Sell My Home?..................... 34
What Should I Know About Solar in my State? ....................................... 35
What is an SREC? ..................................................................................... 36
Does My State (and Utility) Offer Net Metering? .................................... 37
Should I Lease or Own my Solar System? ................................................ 37
What Type of Panels or Inverters Should I Choose? ............................... 39
Chapter 6 - Choosing the Right Installer and Warranty ............................... 42
Chapter 7 – From Contract to Installation ................................................... 46
Site Inspection: ........................................................................................ 46
System Design:......................................................................................... 47
 Permitting: ............................................................................................... 47
Installation: .............................................................................................. 48
Permission to Operate (PTO): .................................................................. 48
Chapter 8 – The Future of Solar Energy ....................................................... 49
What's Next for You? ............................................................................... 53
SECTION 2:.................................................................................................... 56
Alabama ................................................................................................... 57
Alaska ....................................................................................................... 58
Arizona ..................................................................................................... 59
Arkansas ................................................................................................... 60
California .................................................................................................. 61
Colorado................................................................................................... 62
Connecticut .............................................................................................. 63
Delaware .................................................................................................. 66
Florida ...................................................................................................... 68
Georgia..................................................................................................... 69
Hawaii ...................................................................................................... 70
Idaho ........................................................................................................ 71
Illinois ....................................................................................................... 73
Indiana ..................................................................................................... 75
Iowa ......................................................................................................... 76
Kansas ...................................................................................................... 77
Kentucky .................................................................................................. 78
Louisiana .................................................................................................. 79
Maine ....................................................................................................... 80
Maryland .................................................................................................. 81
Massachusetts ......................................................................................... 83
Michigan .................................................................................................. 84
Minnesota ................................................................................................ 86
Mississippi................................................................................................ 87
Missouri ................................................................................................... 88
Montana .................................................................................................. 89
Nebraska .................................................................................................. 90
Nevada ..................................................................................................... 91
New Hampshire ....................................................................................... 93
New Jersey ............................................................................................... 95
New Mexico ............................................................................................. 97
New York.................................................................................................. 99
North Carolina ....................................................................................... 101
North Dakota ......................................................................................... 103
Ohio ....................................................................................................... 104
Oklahoma............................................................................................... 106
Oregon ................................................................................................... 107
Pennsylvania .......................................................................................... 108
Rhode Island .......................................................................................... 109
South Carolina ....................................................................................... 111
South Dakota ......................................................................................... 113
Tennessee .............................................................................................. 114
Texas ...................................................................................................... 115
Utah ....................................................................................................... 117
Vermont ................................................................................................. 118
Virginia ................................................................................................... 119
Washington............................................................................................ 121
West Virginia.......................................................................................... 122
 Wisconsin ............................................................................................... 123
Wyoming ................................................................................................ 124
Glossary/Index ........................................................................................... 125
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ): ...................................................... 125
Interconnection Application: ................................................................. 125
Kilowatt-Hour (kWh): ............................................................................. 126
Net Metering: ........................................................................................ 126
Net Metering 3.0 (NEM3): ..................................................................... 126
Non-Bypassable Charges (NBCs): ........................................................... 127
Public Utilities Commission (PUC): ........................................................ 127
Photovoltaic System (PV): ...................................................................... 128
Power Purchase agreement (PPA): ........................................................ 128
Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC):......................................... 129
Tax credit: .............................................................................................. 129
Tax Exemption: ...................................................................................... 129
Regulated Energy Market: ..................................................................... 130
De-Regulated Energy Market: ............................................................... 130
Solar Batteries:....................................................................................... 131
Acknowledgements ............................................................................... 132
About the Author ....................................................................................... 133
 Chapter 1 - A Case for Solar
The first time I saw a solar presentation my eyes lit up and my
jaw dropped to the floor. As a homeowner, I saw a way to
shield myself and my family from inflating energy costs, while
doing something good for my community and the planet. As
an entrepreneur, my opportunity radar was going off like a siren
as my mind flooded with excitement and possibilities. This was,
without a doubt, the most intriguing value proposition I'd ever
seen, in my twenty-year career in sales and marketing. Yes, I am
one of the solar sales and marketing professionals that I will
warn you about in this book. As a homeowner who is
considering solar, you will soon learn why that is very good
news for you.
One of my rules for effective sales and marketing is to only sell
things that people would feel stupid saying no to. As energy
costs climb, for reasons you will discover in the next chapter, a
home solar system is like a financial shield, protecting you and
your family from inflation, over the next several decades. The
impact of such a system also has far-reaching benefits in your
community, to the planet, and to humanity as a whole. Would
you feel stupid saying no to a twenty-dollar bill if I told you it
would only cost you a five? When you truly understand what a
home solar system can do for your long-term energy costs, it is
a similar trade, only with much bigger numbers.
So why doesn't every solar-capable home already have a self-
producing energy system? One of the biggest reasons is a lack

6
of real education on the subject. Which is a driving factor
behind why I wrote this book. If more homeowners knew
about the benefits of solar energy, both financially and
otherwise, we would see a faster rate of solar adoption.
Trust is another major issue. When a residential solar system is
not designed and sold with integrity, it can have a tremendous
negative financial impact on the homeowner. As I learned more
about the solar industry, I discovered the many ways that
homeowners have been taken advantage of by smooth-talking
door-to-door solar sales reps. Only to find out, often many
months or years after they signed an ironclad contract, that
their home solar system is not producing anywhere close to the
amount of energy that they were told it would. Many of these
homeowners found themselves having to pay a monthly solar
bill on top of an electric bill, that they were told would vanish
after installing solar panels.
In future chapters, you will read about homeowners who found
themselves on the losing end of this. These people are now
paying two to three times more for electricity than they were
told they would by their solar sales representative. Not because
anything changed in their contract. Their monthly solar
payments stayed the same. But because their system started
under-producing a few years after installation. Imagine being
told that your home solar system would wipe out your electric
bill forever, only to find out 6 or 7 years later, that your system
is only producing enough energy to cover 15% of your home’s
energy usage. Only to then find out that an under-production
of contractual estimates of energy is not covered by your
manufacturer’s warranty, since your system is still technically
working. To add insult to injury, you then find out that there is
no way out of your contract even though the company that sold
7
and installed your solar panels has long since gone out of
business. This is the unfortunate reality for thousands of solar
pioneers and it is the #1 reason that solar deserves the bad
reputation it has in many markets across the U.S.
And please don't get me wrong. Many door-to-door solar sales
reps are absolute experts when it comes to residential solar.
They are honest, they design and sell solar systems with
integrity and they truly want what is best for the homeowner.
But for every 1 of those, there are probably at least 4 who have
absolutely no idea what they are talking about. They may know
how to dress it up and make themselves appear to be experts,
while knowingly providing you with misinformation and telling
you whatever you need to hear to make the sale.
I wrote this book because I saw a serious need for a reference
and a guide to residential solar. A resource that would simplify
the complicated issues and distill the many options
homeowners have for transitioning their homes to solar energy.
I'm also hoping that this book speeds up the inevitable
adoption of solar across the U.S.
Solar is big business. As a result of this fact, you have many
options. As the industry expands, those options will multiply.
Understanding your options will help you make an informed
decision about your transition to solar energy while helping you
avoid costly mistakes that are very avoidable with a little
education.
I also wrote this book to train my own solar sales team. This is
very good news for any homeowner who is considering solar
because in doing so, I will share why the unique solar service
we provide is vastly superior to the generic, cookie-cutter solar
options being offered by the competition. We call this service,

8
“the NetZero Home,” (www.theNetZeroHome.com). Think
of it like Solar 2.0. You will learn why we are almost never
beaten on price while providing the best possible long-term
energy savings to our customers. And why any homeowner
who chooses one of the generic solar alternatives, is accepting
an unnecessary financial risk that may not even be noticeable
to them for several years.
Admittedly, like many in the solar industry, I was more
passionate about sales and marketing and capitalizing on a
booming economic trend than I was about renewable energy.
Why would I reveal such a potentially damaging truth? As a
passionate sales and marketing professional, who was trying to
get a foothold in an explosive new industry, I began doing
extensive research into the solar industry as well as studying
renewable energy. Here's a story that will illustrate why this can
be very good news for you.
I know a guy, let's call him Jeff, who has owned a direct-mail
marketing company for over 30 years. The company built
direct-mail marketing campaigns for small businesses and grew
into one of the largest companies of its kind in the U.S. This
put Jeff in contact with some of the best copywriters in the
world. People who make their living writing to influence
consumer decisions.
Do you ever read the headlines on the covers of tabloid
magazines while standing in line at the grocery store? Unless
you are a professional copywriter like myself or someone who
loves gossip and drama, I'm guessing you probably don't. The
people who write those 'shock and awe' headlines are
professional copywriters. Tabloid writers make up a small
segment of the copywriting industry. I have many friends and

9
colleagues that make a very comfortable living writing sales
pages and designing email marketing campaigns as professional
copywriters. I've learned that the best copywriters in the world
are professional researchers. Their power comes not only from
the creative words and sentences they write but just as much, if
not more so, from the research they do before putting pen to
paper.
One day, Jeff found out that he had a very rare type of cancer.
After speaking with his regular doctor and the cancer specialists
they recommended, he reached out to the professional
copywriters in his network, to give himself every possible
advantage over the disease.
Now you might think it sounds crazy to seek advice from a
professional writer or marketer about treating a life-threatening
illness. He did this because, outside of the cancer specialists
recommended by his doctor, no one had done more research
on holistic and alternative medical treatments for cancer than
the professional marketers hired to design campaigns around
holistic medicine. Years later, a cancer-free Jeff lives to tell the
tale.
I tell you that story to illustrate why professional marketers like
myself can be a powerful resource for buying things like Solar.
Our desire to sell products and services in a specific vertical on
a large scale requires extensive research into the industry. We
do this research so we can better communicate the product's
benefits to the end user, as well as uncover additional benefits
that may be less obvious, so we can shine a spotlight on them.
We also learn all we can about the industry so we can expose
and exploit the weaknesses and vulnerabilities of the
competition, which, as you will see throughout this book, are

10
extensive. We dive deep into the industry and product to gain
every possible marketing advantage. In doing this research in
an industry like residential solar, we ask questions that an
individual homeowner would probably never think to ask. That
is another major reason why I wrote this book. And that is why
you will be very well served to listen and heed some of my
warnings before deciding to transition your home to Solar
energy.
In some communities, residential solar has a bad reputation.
And for a good reason. For some, the word solar conjures up
images of a pushy salesperson ringing the doorbell on a
Saturday morning when you just wanted to relax. And then
trying to sell you something that you never expressed the
slightest interest in. Or some 20-year-old kid at your elderly
mother's kitchen table trying to push her towards making a
$2,500 down payment on a solar system with zero regard for
her fragile financial situation.
I've heard of old-school real estate companies that would train
their in-home sales agents to pull out a toothbrush and explain
to the prospect that they will not be leaving your home until
you put your signature on the contract. And although I've
never heard of anything like that going down in the solar
industry, I have heard many horror stories from homeowners
who were lied to by less-than-ethical solar sales representatives.
These trusting homeowners ended up paying way more than
they expected because instead of eliminating their utility bill like
they were told they would, they now must pay both a utility bill
and their monthly payments for financing their solar system.
Again, I'm not knocking door-to-door sales, (no pun intended).
Many reputable solar companies engage in door-to-door sales

11
and many door-to-door salespeople care about the homeowner
and want to help them make the best decision for them. But
because residential solar is big business and there is a lot of
money to be made, the industry has also attracted a lot of less
than ethical people. People could care less about the long-term
experience of the homeowner, as long as they reach their sales
and financial goals.
About 90% of the solar industry operates on what is known as,
the red-line model. This is a compensation model used by solar
companies to determine the amount of commission they will
pay their sales representatives for selling residential solar
systems. Here’s how it works. After the hard costs of the
panels, system, and installation are taken into account and after
the solar company has made an acceptable profit from
facilitating the sale, that number is known as the red line. The
sales agents are told they can keep any money that they are able
to collect from the homeowner beyond that line. As you can
imagine, this compensation model has caused many
homeowners to overpay by thousands or even tens of
thousands of dollars and has attracted many unethical sales reps
and sales tactics. I’m not saying that everyone who operates
within this model is unethical. They may still calculate a fair
commission for themselves that does not gouge the
homeowner for every penny, but as you can imagine this model
opens the door to a potentially negative situation for the
homeowner. And I can’t imagine you would want your
grandmother sitting down at her kitchen table with someone
who stands to make an extra five to ten thousand dollars by
telling grandma whatever she needs to hear to make the sale
and leveraging her trusting nature as well as her ignorance
about how solar works.

12
As technology evolves and prices drop, the value proposition
of solar increases, and it becomes much more attractive to the
masses. Solar technology has evolved significantly over the past
few years. Similar to other evolutions in technology, it has
caused prices to decrease. Think about the first personal
computers or cell phones. They were bulky, inconvenient, and
expensive. And they were only available to the ultra-wealthy.
Residential solar panels have followed a similar trajectory. Solar
technology has reached a point, just as cellphones and personal
computers did, where prices have decreased to the point that
home solar energy production is much more accessible to the
masses today than it has been in years past.
As energy costs increase, as I will explain in the next chapter,
Solar will become more and more necessary for many
homeowners. We regularly find people who desire to go solar
to release the financial grip that the utility company has on their
lives but cannot do so due to external factors. Some of these
factors include the condition of their roof, their specific type of
roof, the fact that they have too much tree cover blocking the
sun, or several other factors that I will address in future
chapters.
The homeowner does not have the time or resources to
outthink the solar companies. That is what the individual
homeowner is up against. Teams of savvy entrepreneurs and
marketers in the solar industry. Companies with big budgets do
things like hire lawyers to write ironclad contracts and sales and
marketing teams to make those contracts look very beneficial,
banking on you not having the time or the mental bandwidth
to read the fine print nor the expertise to understand it even if
you did.

13
One of the first solar proposals I built was for my friend Jack
who lives in Hitchcock, Texas. Jack's current utility bill was
$299 per month on average. Because he lives in Texas, he pays
significantly more than that in the summer months and a little
less in the winter. Due to inflationary rate hikes from the utility
company, which I will explain more about in the next chapter,
in 10 years, he will pay $442 per month, and in 25 years, he will
pay $852 per month. But we locked in his monthly solar rate
for the next 25 years for just $138 per month and drop his
utility bill down to just $19 per month. So not only were we
able to reduce his monthly electricity costs by nearly 50%, but
we were also able to protect him from the inevitable future rate
hikes from the utility company. Shielding Jack and his family
from inflating energy costs.
The future costs Jack will pay for electricity are conservative
estimates based on a 4% annual increase, which is the national
average. California has seen electricity costs go up 16% in the
past year. New Mexico has seen a rate increase of 20%. New
Hampshire homeowners have seen electricity costs go up 40%,
and states like Texas have seen increases up to 70%. Why are
electricity costs rising, you ask? Don't worry, we will discuss
this in the next chapter.
The purpose of this book is to have an honest conversation
about the solar industry. I will not promise that it won't be
biased because it will be. I believe in solar and I will argue why
it makes sense for the homeowner (in most cases), and how it
can benefit our communities, our planet, and our shared human
experience. However, it won't be all sunshine and rainbows
(again, no pun intended). I will also share some of the potential
downsides of solar for the individual homeowner, as well as

14
what to look out for and what to avoid like the plague in the
solar industry.

Sustainability and Independence

To say that renewable energy has far-reaching benefits is an

understatement. Renewable energy, specifically residential
solar, has many benefits for the individual homeowner and
their families, as well as their communities, the planet, and
humanity as a whole. Currently, renewable energy generates
about 20% of all U.S. electricity and that number is quickly
rising.
You may be researching solar from a desire to reduce the
carbon footprint of your home and save the polar bears or you
may just want to save some money by cashing in on the federal
solar tax credit or the many state incentives that I will detail in
this book.
Regardless of your motives, your home's solar energy system
can and will protect the environment in several ways.
Thousands of pounds of coal must be burned every year to
power homes across America. Solar energy does not produce
any air pollution or greenhouse gases when generating
electricity. This means that using solar energy can reduce
harmful emissions that contribute to global warming and
climate change. Secondly, solar energy can replace or reduce
the use of other energy sources that have larger effects on the
environment, such as fossil fuels. By using solar energy,
homeowners can reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and
decrease their carbon footprint.
Earlier I mentioned how I helped my friend Jack reduce his
energy costs by nearly 50% by adding 26 solar panels to his
15
roof. Even though Jack's main goal for his transition to solar
power was to save money, his system carried the environmental
equivalent of planting 189 acres of forest or 5,922 trees. That
is how many trees would have to be planted for an equivalent
reduction of CO2 emissions. 537 barrels of oil would have to
be burned to produce the same amount of energy that Jack's
solar system produces.
As we will discuss in the next chapter, with each new home that
goes solar, that's a little less pressure and strain on the energy
grid. That's right, solar has a net benefit to the entire electrical
grid and even to non-solar owners. My friend Jack's decision to
go solar helps Jack's community by easing the strain on the grid.
In the future, I believe we will view buying electricity generated
from a power plant in the same way we currently view the horse
and buggy as a means of transportation or the telegraph as a
means of communication. It's archaic. Outdated. An industrial
age model whose time of reckoning has come.

Take our 60-second survey at www.theNetZeroHome.com

to see if your home qualifies

16
 Chapter 2 - Why Energy is
Becoming More Expensive
Many factors impact the cost of energy. Foreign and domestic
policies come into play, but I will not go into all that here. That
is not what this book is about. I aim to educate homeowners
about solar and hopefully help bring a new level of leadership,
honesty, and integrity to a budding industry that is not currently
known for those things. Not to bore you to death with a
discussion about current events or to potentially offend you by
discussing politics.

Aging Infrastructure and the Energy Grid

The electrical grid that powers North America is not one entity
but multiple regional grids. The eastern connection and western
connection are the largest. The three additional power grids in
North America are the Alaska Interconnection: the Texas
Interconnection, and the Quebec Interconnection. In the
1920s, the Central Electricity Board standardized the nation's
electrical supply and established the first synchronized AC grid
(alternating current). These regional grids operated as a national
system in the late 1930s.
So, with infrastructure nearly 100 years old, these systems need
to be repaired, upgraded, and overhauled. As the grid continues
to age and inflation causes prices of everything to increase,
including labor needed to fix and maintain the grid, these costs
are passed to the homeowner in the form of utility rate hikes.

17
Non-renewable energy sources like coal and gas and oil, derived
from fossil fuels produce roughly 65% of humanity's power
worldwide. Fossil fuels are used to produce electricity using a
3-step process. First, the elements (coal, natural gas) are
extracted from beneath the earth's surface and delivered to
power plants in various ways. Those power plants use the
elements to power turbines that allow electricity generation.
That electricity is then sent through power lines for your home.
Power plants and government agencies like your state's Public
Utility Commission (PUC), plan to spend the most money in
decades to shift to renewable energy as well as to upgrade and
replace this aging infrastructure.

Winter Storm Uri

Known as the Texas Freeze, Winter Storm Uri was a weather

event that caused 69% of Texans to lose power in February
2021. On average, the outages lasted 42 hours, but some lost
power for up to 10 days. This freeze also caused 15 million
people to lose access to clean water. Hundreds were killed from
hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other problems
resulting from losing power to critical medical equipment.
As critical infrastructure began to shut down, an order was
given by government officials to cut power to homes and
businesses to avoid a complete shutdown of the fragile energy
grid. This is known as "load shedding." A federal assessment
indicates the Texas electricity grid remains almost as vulnerable
to extreme winter weather as it was when it nearly collapsed
during this prolonged deep freeze in February 2021.

18
Hurricane Ian

Sept 2022. Over 2.5 million Florida residents were without

power as Hurricane Ian, a category 4 hurricane, barreled across
the state. The CEO of the largest utility company in the state
said that the storm had left many parts of the energy grid
beyond repair. Many homes and businesses were without
power for days or even weeks.
In Florida, hurricanes can damage the energy infrastructure due
to the state's reliance on above-ground power lines, especially
in coastal communities. This can leave many homes and
businesses without power for extended periods, which can be
especially problematic during the hot summer months.
Also, in Florida, the energy mix depends heavily on natural gas,
which can be disrupted by storms or hurricanes, causing power
outages. The state also relies heavily on solar farms, which can
be impacted by strong winds.

The 2022 Christmas Blizzard

Christmas day 2022. The Tennessee Titans were hosting the

Houston Texans for a football game in frigid winter weather.
Neither franchise had ever played a game in under 23-degree
temperatures, and the temperature that day was just 18 degrees.
Although I'm sure the players were not looking forward to
playing in such harsh weather, the comfort of the players or the
fans at the stadium was not the reason for the delay. Nashville
mayor John Cooper asked the Titans to postpone the game
because the Tennessee Valley Authority was conducting rolling
blackouts due to the high power demand because of the
unprecedented low temperatures. The city was asking non-

19
essential businesses to cut back on power because of the strain
on the power grid due to the cold weather.
Weather events like Winter Storm Uri in Texas, Hurricane Ian
in Florida, and the Christmas cold snap that caused rolling
blackouts in Tennessee and many other weather events around
the country, expose how fragile the energy grid is and how
vulnerable the human population is.
I believe this highlights a need for more diverse energy systems
as more weather events threaten to cut power to homes and
businesses. Renewable energy sources, including solar, wind,
biomass, geothermal, and hydropower, reduce our dependence
on fossil fuels and decreases the likelihood of widespread
power outages by diversifying the energy mix.
I've used these events to help support my argument for a
greater push towards renewable energy because they highlight
the vulnerability of traditional fossil fuel-based power systems
to extreme weather events. Renewable energy sources, such as
wind and solar power, do not rely on fuel deliveries and are not
as susceptible to supply chain disruptions caused by storms and
other extreme weather events. Additionally, these weather
events also point out that the traditional centralized power
generation and distribution system is not as resilient as a
distributed system with micro-grids, where communities can
generate and store their power, reducing dependence on a
centralized grid. These weather events and others like them also
bring attention to the need to have a more diverse mix of
energy sources and technologies. Doing so will reduce the risk
of large-scale failures and ensure that the power systems in our
communities stay reliable and resilient in the face of extreme
weather.

20
 Chapter 3 - How to Determine
Your Real Electric Rate
Do you know the rate that you're paying for electricity? If you
are like most American homeowners, you probably don't. Why
not? You probably know what gas prices are in your local
market, within a few cents at least. You would think that
determining what you are paying per kWh (kilowatt hour)
would be as simple as looking at your utility bill, but you may
not be getting the full picture. The way to determine your actual
electricity rate is to divide the total bill, or at least the electric
portion of the bill, by the total kWh you use in any month. Why
utility companies don't do this and give you your rate in simple
terms will become clear throughout this chapter. Okay spoiler
alert, it's because they profit from your ignorance.
Hidden charges & fees and confusing language are some ways
utility companies 'normalize' things like rate hikes and charging
you whatever they want for energy. They know you need
energy, and they know most people write off their energy costs
as a necessary expense. And because we mentally write it off in
our minds, they know they can get away with things like
'delivery charges.' Delivery charges? Did it cost them more to
deliver the electricity to your home, or is this a clever way to
get us to accept paying more than we did last year? Clever is a
good word for it, right? When we expose homeowners to these
facts during solar presentations, the words used more
commonly are sneaky, shady, and unethical.
Do you ever go to those big box stores like Costco or Sam's
Club where you can buy bulk products at wholesale prices?
21
Imagine you bought $225 in bulk items. You are sitting in the
checkout line thinking about how excited you are to get home
and stockpile your 10-gallon jug of pickles or 25 lb. bag of
coffee. The young clerk checks you out and politely offers to
help you to your car. After he helps you pack up your car, he
says thank you again and sends you on your way. A week later,
you see your bank statement, and the box store charged you
$300. You angrily call the store to find out what happened and
learn they included a $75 delivery charge to your order. How
would you feel about that? Would you vow never to patronize
that vile establishment again, or would you let them get away
with it without question? I'm guessing you would choose the
former if you are like most people. So we let the utility company
get away with it, month after month, without question? First,
because we don't know, and they profit from our ignorance.
And second, because we never had a clear alternative.
Another way utility companies normalize ridiculous charges
and hidden fees is with "Time of Use" billing. You might see
different charges on your utility bill for "peak" energy usage,
typically between 4 pm and 9 pm when people usually come
home from work and turn on the tv, the oven, the microwave,
the massage chair, etc., vs. off-peak charges when people rarely
use as much energy. Like any other commodity, it comes down
to supply and demand. Higher demand for energy means less
supply. It costs more for the electric companies to generate the
extra energy to power your home and that of your neighbors
during peak times, so they pass these costs to the end user as
these 'time of use' charges. This can be beneficial to
homeowners who choose to use less energy during peak times.
However, it also forces you to choose between using less
energy when you want and need it most, or accepting the fact

22
that you are paying more for the convenience of using your
energy.
Imagine you use the same gas station every time you fill up your
vehicle. You normally fill up in the morning before you go to
work, but one day you must fill up after work during rush hour.
You put $40 or $50 in gas into your vehicle, and then they hit
you with another $15 surcharge. In the fine print, you read you
had to pay 75 cents per gallon more because you filled up
during peak hours. Would you let the gas station get away with
that free and clear without at least making an angry social media
post or complaining to the attendant at the gas station? But why
do we let utility companies get away with it month after month?
Again, probably because we either do not know or understand
what is happening or the fact that there is no other alternative.
When deciding whether solar is right for you, you'll want to
clearly understand what you are paying for electricity. Your
utility company will tell you your kWh rate on your monthly
billing statement, but as previously mentioned, this may or may
not include things like "delivery charges," or they may try to
overcomplicate it by showing you your kWh rate at peak times
vs. non-peak times. The best way to get the most accurate rate
is to take the total kWh of energy your home used for the
month and simply divide it by your bill for the corresponding
month. Your utility company may tell you, you are paying 12
cents per kWh, but when you factor in things like delivery
charges, you find you are paying 15 cents per kWh. If your post-
solar kWh cost is 10 cents, the savings will be significant by
transitioning to solar.
In deregulated markets like Texas, utility companies often have
contracts where you lock in your kWh rate for a certain period.

23
Usually between 1 and 3 years. Since solar systems last 25 to 30
years, the rate you are paying to your utility company today,
based on your current contract, matters less than the rate you
will pay tomorrow. Your current contract may have you paying
9 cents per kWh, but your next contract may have you paying
13 cents per kWh. If your electricity rate goes up 3-5 cents every
3 years, you are basically in the same boat as most other
Americans, although it may not seem that way based on your
current utility bill.

Take our 60-second survey at www.theNetZeroHome.com

to see if your home qualifies

24
 Chapter 4 – Solar Batteries and
Net Metering
What is Net Metering?

Back in 1979, when people installed solar panels on their

homes, some very intelligent solar enthusiasts invented a
concept known as Net Metering. Net metering allows the
homeowner of a solar-powered home to sell the access energy
that their solar system produced back to the utility company.
So if your solar system produced 1,500 kWh of energy in one
month and your home only used 1,400 kWh, you could sell the
additional 100 kWh back to the utility company at a profit. The
specific buyback rate differs from one utility company to
another; some states have better net metering incentives than
others. I recommend calling your utility company and getting
their net metering policy details. A quality solar advisor will do
this for you and explain your utility company (and state) net
metering policies and incentives as part of their presentation.
Please also refer to the state-specific solar incentives and
policies in section 2. This section details state-specific net
metering policies and rebates, SRECs, tax exemptions, and laws
protecting homeowners' rights to install solar panels.
As more homes go solar, utility companies stand to lose more
revenue. Many utility companies are working with their state's
Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to find new ways of making
solar more expensive. Increasing grid connection fees are just
one way they do this. But homeowners are often grandfathered
in at the current net metering policy based on when they go

25
solar. This means that the sooner you go solar, the more money
you stand to save, and those who play the "wait and see" game
will more than likely pay for it.

Are Solar Batteries Necessary?

Whether or not to get batteries for your solar system comes

down to your ultimate solar goals. If your goal is to reduce your
energy costs while doing your part for your community and the
planet, solar batteries are unnecessary since your utility
company can act as a virtual battery for a fraction of the cost.
If your goal is complete energy independence, then you will
need batteries, and if you can afford it, more power to you, (no
pun intended). If your goal is to save money today, with the
eventual goal of complete energy independence, you can always
get solar panels today and add batteries to your solar system
tomorrow once battery technology improves to where prices
decrease.
The only time a home would need solar batteries is if the
homeowner wanted to be fully off the grid or fully energy
independent, which comes with some serious advantages,
especially in uncertain times. However, solar batteries are
expensive and unnecessary. A single solar battery retails for
about $12,000. With time, as with all technological advances, as
we've already discussed in chapter one, prices will fall, and
batteries will become less bulky, more practical, and therefore
more accessible to the masses. Battery technology is just not
there yet.
For the most part, solar batteries are unnecessary. A much
more practical alternative to purchasing bulky, expensive
batteries is simply working with your utility company and
26
paying a small monthly grid connection fee. Depending on the
utility company, the monthly fee could be from $10 to $40 per
month. So your utility company works like a virtual battery,
enabling your system to power your home with solar energy.
This arrangement between your home and the utility company
also makes Net Metering possible. If you are disconnected
from the grid, which may or may not be your goal, then Net
Metering would not be possible. You may keep paying your
grid connection fee to the utility company to make Net
Metering possible while having batteries for a worst-case
scenario situation like a blackout, but again, it depends on your
solar goals and your financial situation.

27
 Chapter 5 - Ask These Questions
Before You Go Solar
When it comes to buying and installing solar panels on your
home, there are things you should watch out for, and there are
things you should avoid, like the plague. The explosion of
growth in the residential solar industry and the fact that it is
forecasted to double by the end of 2030 have caused fierce
competition in the residential solar industry. A race for market
share can cause companies to adopt less-than-ethical sales
tactics that can put homeowners in an undesirable financial
position if they don't know the warning signs. This chapter will
reveal those warning signs and give you very important
questions to ask during a solar sales presentation.
Here are 7 important questions to ask your solar advisor before
buying solar through their company. How they answer these
questions will help you determine if you are sitting down with
an expert or a charlatan attempting to take advantage of your
ignorance in the field of residential solar.

Will I Still Have an Electric Bill After Installing A Solar

System?

If your solar sales agent tells you, you won't have an electric bill
after going solar, they may be misleading you, and again, they
may do it without even realizing it, because that is how they
were trained to sell solar. However, If your solar system is
designed with integrity to fit your home's unique energy
consumption needs, you will still have to pay a grid connection
fee to the utility company that could range from $10 to $40 per
28
month depending on the utility. But if your solar system is not
designed with integrity to fit your home's unique energy needs,
you could end up having to pay a whole lot more. If your solar
panels only produce 1,000 kWh and your home uses 1,500
kWh, you will have to pay the utility company for the difference
of 500 kWh. At a rate of 14 cents per kWh that is another $70
per month on top of your grid connection fee. If you live in
California, where the average rate for electricity is double that,
you will pay an additional $140 per month to the utility
company on top of your solar payments if you finance or lease
your system.
Speaking of differences in costs from the state to state, this is
another thing you'll want to look out for. Door-to-door solar
teams will sometimes import their sales reps from other states
because they want to infiltrate a new market. They may post up
in a nearby hotel to canvas your area, even though they may
have no idea about the nuances of solar in your specific state
or utility.
If the solar sales advisor is asking you questions about your
home's energy consumption, that is a very good sign that they
want to design your system with integrity. If you plan to install
a hot tub and a heated pool, your home will use more electricity
in the future. A quality solar sales advisor will find this out
before designing your system to account for those increases in
energy consumption.

How Will Solar Panels Impact My Roof?

In most cases, solar panels will live on your roof, and since your
home's roof will likely need to be replaced at least once every
20-50 years, it is important to factor your roof into the solar

29
conversation and ultimate decision. If your roof is over 10 years
old and your solar sales advisor is not engaging you in a
conversation about your roof, that can be a clear warning sign
you are dealing with an amateur who, possibly by no fault of
their own, may not be providing you with the most accurate
information. You should also be very leery of a solar company
that does not perform a physical site inspection before
installing your solar panels. Virtual site inspections are one way
that a solar installer can save money. The company can save a
fortune on labor without a physical site inspection/roof
inspection. But at what cost? Or a better question may be, at
who's cost? The installer's decision to cheap out on things like
a site inspection can come at a big cost to the homeowner. A
cost that may not even be realized until 10 or 15 years later.
If your roof is more than 10 or 15 years old, you may need to
replace it in the next few years or sometime in the next decade.
This may add additional costs when it comes time to replace
the roof, as the panels may need to be temporarily removed to
replace the roof. However, the area of your roof covered by
solar panels can last much longer than the areas exposed to sun
and weather and not shielded by the panels. We've spoken to
roofers who have called solar panels "armor for your roof."
On top of protecting your roof from inclement weather like
hail, hurricane winds, or snow, solar panels can extend the life
of your roof by absorbing the sunlight otherwise absorbed by
the shingles. Your roof's direct and constant exposure to the
sun dries out the shingles, sun-bleaches them, and amplifies
their deterioration. Solar panels absorb this energy, protecting
and extending the life of your roof. Solar panels can affect
airflow, cooling your roof even more. This combination of
airflow and sun absorption can make your home up to 35%
30
cooler overall, reducing energy costs and consumption even
more.
Something else to consider is the roofing material on your
home. Although solar panels can be installed on all roofs, some
materials make the process easier and more cost-effective. If
you are like 70% of Americans and you have an asphalt shingle
roof, you are in the clear. Wood, slate, and clay roofs are more
brittle, which means solar panel installers may not walk around
freely as they could on a shingle roof. Anything that makes the
installation process more difficult and time-consuming will cost
more. However, it may still be much less expensive eventually
than dealing with inflationary rate hikes from the utility
company.
If you need a new roof before going solar, you will likely save
money by doing both simultaneously. According to the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the average cost of a
residential rooftop solar array is $19,000, and the average cost
to replace a roof is $10,000. By doing both at the same time you
avoid needing to replace your roof later and having to remove
the panels to do so. Like most things solar-related, this can save
a lot of money. Another benefit of packaging a roof
replacement with your solar system, if you need to replace the
roof anyway, is the federal tax credit. The federal tax credit
applies to the total cost of the solar system. If replacing the roof
or another expense (like tree removal), is needed to do solar
work for your home, then that will count towards the total cost
of your solar system. So, the federal government will pay 30%
of the cost of replacing your roof. If you were to wait 5 years
to replace the roof, the savings would not apply since the
federal government will not pay 30% of your cost to replace
the roof. But if you replace the roof at the same time as you
31
install solar, you can enjoy this additional financial benefit.
Your state may also offer a renewable energy tax credit or other
incentives to help you offset the cost of replacing your roof if
needed. See section 2 for a complete state-by-state breakdown
of solar tax credits, tax exemptions, rebates, and other state-
specific solar incentives.
Here's a basic overview of the installation process. The installer
will drill holes to anchor and mount the panels on the roof.
They will then insert lag bolts into the holes, which are strong
enough to withstand any weather conditions, including
hurricane winds over time. Once the lag bolts have been
inserted into the holes and the panels have been mounted, the
bolted areas are covered with flashing to protect the roof. This
flashing consists of moisture-resistant metal or plastic that
helps close off the holes and seals out moisture and wind from
the elements. This will direct water away so moisture will not
seep into your home through your roof.

Will I Qualify for the Federal Tax Credit?

Please Note: I am not a licensed CPA or tax professional. The

following information should only be used as a reference and a
starting point. Tax codes change over time. We will do our best
to stay as up-to-date as possible, but you should consult your
licensed CPA or tax professional for confirmation. This is not
legal tax advice and should not be taken as such.
The 30% federal tax credit is a major benefit of transitioning
your home to solar energy. Because of this, it is used in solar
sales presentations to entice homeowners to go solar. But not
everyone qualifies for the federal tax credit. To qualify for the
federal income tax credit, you must have taxable income that

32
exceeds the tax credit. If your solar sales advisor tells you that
you'll get a 30% tax credit without asking you if you have
taxable income, they may provide you with less than accurate
information, possibly without even realizing it, so they can
make a sale. Unfortunately, elderly people with no taxable
income have been taken advantage of due to this. They were
told they would get a tax refund that will cover 30% of their
system, but because they don't have taxable income, or enough
taxable income to cover the tax credit, they are not legible to
receive the credit, and they have to cover the difference out of
their pocket. This often happens well after they have signed a
long-term contract. In this situation, a solar lease or PPA may
be a good alternative since the monthly payments are usually
lower.
If you go with a solar lease agreement or a PPA (power
purchase agreement), the tax credit will not apply because you
are not buying the system. Here the leasing company gets the
federal tax credit because they are the system's owners. That is
how it works. It's a sweet deal for them! This is one of the
reasons a lease or PPA often has lower monthly payments. The
trade-off, of course, is that in 20 years or whatever the
timeframe stated in terms of the lease agreement ends, you do
not own your system, and you will have to sign another lease
agreement or go back to renting electricity from the utility
company. If you own your system, you get the tax credit, and
when you pay off your system, you own it outright, along with
all the power it produces. So, the long-term benefits of owning
as opposed to leasing can be tremendous. For more
information, see the question in this section on whether to own
or lease your solar system.

33
Some states also offer tax credits and tax exemptions for
transitioning to renewable energy sources like solar. See section
2 of this book to discover state-specific tax credits, rebates,
SRECs, tax exemptions, and other state-specific solar
incentives you can take advantage of in addition to the federal
tax credit. If I mention any acronyms or terms you do not
understand, please see the glossary section near the end of the
book.

How Will Solar Panels Affect My Ability to Sell My

Home?

This is the big question we get from homeowners, and it's

something you'll want to consider before transitioning your
home to solar power. Certain types of solar plans can be easier
to transfer to new homeowners than others. A PPA (power
purchase agreement), or a solar lease can be much harder to
transfer to a new homeowner. See the chapter on leasing vs.
owning for more details. You own the system when you
purchase it outright or buy it through a financing plan. Because
you own it, it will be much easier to transfer to a new owner
than a lease agreement (or PPA), where you do not own the
materials (panels, inverter) nor the power it creates.
Zillow reported that "During the past year, homes with solar-
energy systems sold for 4.1% more on average than comparable
homes without solar power." The article continued that in
places like Riverside, California, homes with solar panels sold
for 2.7% more on average, or $9,926, compared to places like
New York State, where homes sold for 5.4% more on average,
or $23,989 in value for the typical New York State home. A
Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory report found that home

34
buyers will pay a premium for homes with solar, since a solar
system is viewed as an upgrade, like a porch or finished
basement. The report also showed that homes with solar
systems sell faster, probably for the same reasons.

What Should I Know About Solar in my State?

It's important to understand your state's specific policies

regarding solar, which may make it more or less beneficial to
the individual homeowner.
Buying a solar system in a regulated market differs from buying
a solar system in a deregulated market. Deregulated markets
like Texas or Ohio, or part of Pennsylvania, to name a few, can
choose which retail energy provider they wish to use, while a
regulated energy market is where a utility company owns the
electric transmission lines and all associated infrastructure and
either generates or purchases electricity to sell to its customers.
The main difference between a regulated and deregulated
energy market is that in a regulated market, the state or federal
government controls the prices and terms of service for
electricity and natural gas. In contrast, prices and terms of
service are determined by the market forces of supply and
demand in a deregulated market.
Your state may offer additional tax incentives on top of the
federal tax credit. For example, South Carolina offers a 25% tax
credit on top of the 30% federal tax credit. So South Carolina
homeowners will get 55% of their solar systems paid for by the
state and federal government. Other states, like Idaho, offer a
40% credit, but it caps out after a certain amount. This makes
it extremely advantageous for homeowners in states like South
Carolina or Idaho to purchase a solar system.

35
In New Jersey, solar systems are exempt from sales tax and
local property taxes. To claim the exemption, property owners
must apply for a certificate from their local accessor, which
reduces the access value of the property to what it would be
without the renewable energy system. New Jersey also enacted
legislation to disallow homeowner associations from
prohibiting solar. Many other states have similar laws. See
section 2 for a complete state-by-state breakdown of state-
specific tax credits, tax exemptions, rebates, net metering
policies, SRECs, and other solar incentives.

What is an SREC?

SREC stands for Solar Renewable Energy Credit. These are

incentives offered often by a state or utility company for
homeowners to install renewable energy systems in their
homes. A home solar system is just one example of such a
system. SRECs are often based on the specific amount of kWh
your system produces. For example, in Massachusetts, under
the SMART program, incentives are paid directly to the
homeowner monthly as a check or ACH wire transfer.
Incentives range between $.045 and $.12 per kWh, depending
on the utility. So, for example, if you are a Mass homeowner
and your system produces 800 kWh of electricity, and your rate
is $.12 per kWh, you will receive a check from your utility
company for $101.14. My sister and her family live in
Nantucket, Massachusetts. One of her neighbors who
transitioned their home to solar told her they get roughly $400
per month back from their utility company because of these
credits.

36
In New Jersey, you get a $90 SREC for every 1,000 kWh your
system produces. So a 10KW system in New Jersey will
produce roughly $900 per year in SREC credits. You can visit
SRECTrade.com to get info about how to sell these credits. For
more information on state-specific SRECs, see section 2, as not
all states or utilities provide SRECs to their residents.

Does My State (and Utility) Offer Net Metering?

If your home's solar energy system produces more energy than

your home uses, net metering makes it possible for you to sell
the additional credits back to the utility company. Net metering
is an attractive selling point for solar. However, some states and
some utilities don't even offer net metering. The best thing to
do is ask your solar advisor and/or your utility company to ask
them if they have a net metering program. If your utility tells
you they don't offer net metering, and your solar sales rep tells
you that you can sell your credits back to the utility company at
a profit, that is probably a good time to end the meeting. Again,
they may not even realize they are lying to you. It may just be
how they were trained to sell solar. A quality solar advisor will
have done their homework and called your utility company
before the meeting so they can present you with the most
accurate net metering information.

Should I Lease or Own my Solar System?

Whether you lease your solar system or purchase it comes

down to your preferences and your goals. However, factors like
your credit score and overall financial situation will play a major
part.

37
Known as a Solar Power Purchase Agreement (SPPA), leasing
solar panels can carry advantages as well as some major
disadvantages. The biggest disadvantage of an SPPA or a solar
lease is that you do not own the system. You end up paying a
lot for something that has zero equity. Does it make more
financial sense to rent your home or to own it? It's a similar
conversation regarding an asset like your home's solar energy
production system.
Some people buy their solar system outright and pay cash up-
front. But in 9 out of 10 cases, paying cash is not an option.
Just like other major purchases like your home or your car,
financing makes it possible to buy your home's solar energy
system and pay it off over time. Because your solar energy
system holds tangible value, like your home or your car,
inexpensive financing options with rates ranging from 3% to
8.99% are available to qualified homeowners. Much like your
mortgage, you own the asset outright once it is paid off. An
asset that will continue to power your home forever, which in
many cases means thousands of dollars per year in energy
savings. Money that would have otherwise gone to a utility
company. And for how long? Picture those two creepy little
girls from the Shining. Forever and ever and ever.
Cunning solar salespeople may position a solar lease as a bigger
win for the homeowner than meets the eye. Solar leases are
difficult, if not impossible, to get out of. If you are on a 25-year
lease and you choose to sell your home in 5 or 10 years, you
may find it much more difficult to transfer to the new
homeowner because you do not own the system the way you
do when you buy it.

38
I recommend buying your solar system over leasing whenever
possible for the reasons mentioned in this chapter. But as I
mentioned, it is not always possible. Typically, you need a credit
score at least in the six hundred range to qualify, and like
anything you've ever financed, your income and debt-to-
income ratio will be a factor. Solar leases are easier to qualify
for because a 3rd party essentially owns your system and the
power it produces. Does it still beat renting energy from the
electric company? Usually, yes, but these are all factors you'll
want to weigh into your decision about leasing or buying your
home solar system.

What Type of Panels or Inverters Should I Choose?

First, let me create some context around this question since

most people have zero interest in becoming solar experts or
understanding the little nuance differences between panels and
inverters. If you're a solar manufacturer, engineer, or
electrician, you will probably curse my name for not going into
way more detail on specific systems and materials, which is fine
because I did not write this book for those people. I wrote it
for the individual homeowner interested in solar for the
financial and/or environmental benefits and those that want to
know enough, so they don't get ripped off.
The market's three most common types of solar panels are
monocrystalline solar panels, polycrystalline solar panels, and
thin film solar panels. Some of these panels are slightly more
expensive than others, some are slightly less expensive and
slightly less efficient. If you like to nerd out on technology, I
invite you to research these different panel types. However,
remember that solar technology is constantly evolving, and new

39
types of panels may come along any day and completely replace
these panel types.
A solar inverter converts direct current (DC) electricity, which
is what a solar panel generates, to alternating current (AC)
electricity, which the electrical grid uses. There are two main
types of solar inverters. A DC optimizer solar inverter is
typically used in a central inverter system, where multiple solar
panels are connected in series, and the DC power is optimized
before being converted to AC power. A micro inverter, on the
other hand, is used in a string inverter system, where each solar
panel has an inverter, and the AC power is optimized at the
panel level.
A DC optimizer is a better option for larger solar installations,
where many solar panels are connected in series. This is because
a central inverter can handle more power and is more efficient
than multiple micro-inverters. However, micro-inverters may
be better for smaller solar installations or on complex roofs,
where shading is an issue. Micro inverters can help to maximize
power output by allowing each panel to operate independently,
whereas shading on one panel in a DC optimizer system would
affect the entire system.
However, the only reason a solar sales rep would try to pull you
into a big discussion about the best panels or that you'd be
better off with a Solar Edge DC Optimizer or an Enphase
Micro-inverter is that their company does not provide a
production guarantee. If your solar installer guarantees that
your system will produce X amount of kWh of electricity every
year for the next 25 years, and it is clearly stated in the contract
that if it does not produce that amount, they will pay your utility

40
bill for the deficit or upgrade your system at no cost to you,
does it really matter what types of panels or inverters they use?
This is why the question about which panels or inverters to
choose is much less important than choosing the right solar
installer and warranty. Fortunately, that is what we will discuss
in the next chapter.

41
 Chapter 6 - Choosing the Right
Installer and Warranty
Choosing the right solar installer and warranty can save you
from serious future headaches and can save you a lot of money.
When I say, "the right" warranty and installer, I mean the one
right for you. Like most other comparisons I make in this book,
I will present the information to help you make the best
decision for you.
With solar installers, you have a lot of options. If you live in a
major metropolitan area, you may have dozens of small
installers to choose from as well as some major ones. Many
small solar installers are construction contractors who offer
solar installations on top of their other services. Because they
do not only do solar they are not solar specialists the way a large
installer is.
The costs of using a smaller local installer vs. a major national
installer will differ greatly, depending on the market. I've heard
of solar installers in mountain towns in Colorado who have so
much demand they are all backed up for 6 to 12 months. A
larger installer can often install much faster because they have
the capacity and infrastructure to handle more volume than 20
smaller installers combined. Smaller installers are also more
likely to face supply chain issues. Supply chain issues can impact
major installers too, but due to their size and resources, they
can negotiate better deals with manufacturers to guarantee
supply.

42
A large national installer will have more resources and capacity
to handle higher volumes of installations. Because they are
more specialized they can usually do the job faster. That speed
often translates to lower prices for the end user. But there is
another longer-term reason a larger installer specializing in
solar will pay off eventually: the warranty or, better yet, the
production guarantee. A large national solar installer is much
more likely to still be in business 15, 20, or 30 years from now.
If your solar installer will back up their system with a guarantee
that spans multiple decades, you want them to be around long
enough to deliver on such a promise. A guarantee is a
contractual promise that protects the homeowner financially if
the system underproduces.
Any reputable solar company will have a warranty, but this is
another fancy way solar marketers and entrepreneurs can
protect a homeowner when the warranty may offer little actual
protection to the homeowner. A manufacturer's warranty will
only cover the equipment, as in the solar panels themselves and
the inverters. If the panels malfunction or stop working
altogether, the manufacturer's warranty says that the panels will
be replaced. Read the fine print to determine if you'd have to
replace the panels yourself. I'm guessing they wouldn't hire a
technician to install the replacement.
So, what will happen if you install solar panels with a
manufacturer warranty and your system under-produces 5 or
10 years down the road? First, you'd get a utility bill in the mail
that you'd have to pay for the electricity you used to cover the
deficit. This is on top of your monthly solar payments if you
are still under contract. The company will likely send a
technician out to your home, who would inspect the panels and
run some tests, and they would say something to the effect of,
43
"we have good news. We ran tests, and your system is working
just fine.” And when you ask them why you got such a large
utility bill, they would tell you something to the effect of, "oh
yeah, your system is still producing energy, it is just under-
producing, which is not covered by your warranty. To fix it you
will need to upgrade your system by adding new panels, and
here's the bill for that…" How would you feel in that situation?
This is one-way homeowners have been completely taken by
going solar while thinking a warranty is protecting them. And
this situation rarely happens until 5 to 10 years after the system
has been installed. This is one of the main reasons solar has a
bad reputation in some markets. And why many homeowners
regret their decision to go solar. Ask your solar advisor specific
questions about the contract and the warranty and who foots
the utility bill 10 years later if the panels or the system under-
produces.
On top of the manufacturer's warranty, which any reputable
solar company will have, look for a production guarantee. A
true production guarantee states that your solar system will
produce an actual guaranteed number of annual kWh (kilowatt
hours) for a specified period. If the contract does not specify
the energy the system will produce measurably, as the annual
production, that may be the solar company trying to make you
feel like you are protected when in reality you are only protected
if something happens to the equipment itself.
The solar installer must be in business for 2 to 3 decades to
honor the production guarantee, even if the annual kWh of
energy production is stated clearly in the contract. This is why
a large national installer will be a much safer bet than smaller
solar construction contractors. It is much more likely that they

44
will be around long enough to honor the promises they make
in the contract.
My friend Casey is a customer of NV energy who lives outside
of Las Vegas, Nevada. He installed solar panels a few years ago
and he was told the warranty would protect him. He was also
told that he could sell the access energy his panels produced
back to NV energy to help offset the cost of the system.
Unfortunately for him, today his system is under-producing
and forcing him to pay hundreds of dollars per month to NV
energy on top of his monthly solar payments. To add insult to
injury, when he asked someone from the company to come out
and inspect the system, they sent a sales rep who attempted to
sell him another $40,000 solar system on top of the $26K
system he had purchased that was not producing what was
promised. The homeowner said, "I was under the impression
they would send a technician who might tell me I had to add a
few new panels, not an entirely new system that would have to
be financed over another 2 decades." Unfortunately, Casey's
story is not unique.

Take our 60-second survey at www.theNetZeroHome.com

to see if your home qualifies

45
 Chapter 7 – From Contract to
Installation
The process of mounting a couple of dozen solar panels to a
roof is not rocket science. But solar installation is a
construction project that requires electrical engineering and has
many moving parts. And because it's a construction project, it
requires other things like permitting from the city or county and
submitting documentation to the utility company.
If there is one area of your solar project you don't want to cut
corners and cheap out on, it's the actual installation and
construction of your solar system. Some solar companies do
'virtual' site inspections to cut costs. The process includes
taking pictures of your roof and your home's electrical system.
If done wrong it could leave you vulnerable to some very costly
problems that you might not even notice for 5 or 10 years after
installation.

Site Inspection:

AI technology (artificial intelligence) has made amazing things

possible in the residential solar industry. Solar advisors can look
at a birds-eye view of the property and see the path that the sun
takes throughout the year to determine the specific energy
needs of the home. Sun exposure will affect a home in Ogden,
Utah differently than a similar home in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
AI makes it possible to make instant decisions. However, I
believe that with a $50,000 to $80,000 construction project,
have an actual human (or multiple humans) visit the home, get
up on the roof, check out the electrical system, and give the
46
project a green light before moving to final installation. The
installer may notice damage that only impacts a small section of
the roof, or that the electrical panel will require an upgrade to
maximize production.
If you decide to cut costs by going with a solar company that
offers a virtual site inspection, I would also hire a lawyer to go
through your contract with a fine-toothed comb and make sure
that you and your home are protected if anything goes wrong
5, 10 or 20 years down the road.

System Design:

The system must be designed virtually based on the

information in the site audit report. This is where the installer
will make the final decisions about the exact placement of the
panels and integration of the electrical system. Once the system
is designed and the site audit is complete, we will typically
schedule a Zoom meeting with the homeowner, so they can
give the green light and approve the scope of work permitting
the final installation of the panels.

Permitting:

Once the site inspection is completed, and the system has been
designed, it is now time to submit the permits to the AHJ,
Authority Having Jurisdiction, which may include the city or
county. Permits can be approved in as little as a few days or as
much as a couple of months, depending on where you live. If
you are part of an HOA (homeowner association) the HOA
will also need to approve the system. That is typically done
during the permitting process as the city or county will usually

47
want to see approval from the HOA before they finalize and
release your permits.

Installation:

Now that the permits have been obtained, we can move to the
installation. The installation of the panels and system typically
takes between 1 and 3 days, depending on the size of your solar
system and the job's complexity. Factors like extremely steep
roof planes, multiple planes, or other home/roof features can
slow the construction/installation process. This is one of the
main reasons an in-person site audit is so important. I can't
speak for all solar companies, but our installers pride
themselves on being as low impact on the homeowner as a
home construction project could be. Safety is also a major
priority. Because of this, factors like inclement weather can
delay installation, as we wouldn't want our installation crews to
be up on your roof during a snowstorm or a hurricane. Because
of the detailed pre-installation process described above, the
actual installation is typically fast and simple.

Permission to Operate (PTO):

The final step before installing and constructing a solar system

is permitted to operate or PTO. Essentially this is your utility
company verifying all the necessary documents and approving
the proposed electrical work. The timeline for this depends on
your utility company, your state, and other factors such as the
time of year. Since PTO happens after the system's installation,
your solar system will produce energy only after the PTO is
submitted and approved by the utility company.

48
 Chapter 8 – The Future of Solar
Energy
In times of change, learners inherit the earth; while the learned
find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that
no longer exists.
-Eric Hoffer
Have you heard the expression that pioneers end up with
arrows in their backs? Unfortunately, this has been the case for
many early solar adopters who have found themselves in a less-
than-desirable situation due to their ignorance about solar and
possibly being too trusting of a solar sales rep. They did not
have a reference like the one you are holding in your hand to
keep them from making costly mistakes. However, countless
others have experienced tremendous benefits from solar,
especially in places like California, which has led the way for
solar adoption in the U.S.
In the previous chapter, I told you about my solar client in
Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Since they are just a couple of
towns over from me we share the same utility company, Yampa
Valley Energy. YVE emailed all their customers in November
2022 about how they were updating their net metering policies.
The email was unclear about the specific changes, so I had to
call and speak with their net metering specialists to get
clarification. At first, I assumed the net metering rate was
changing to be more favorable for the utility company and less
favorable for solar customers in the area. Nothing changed
about their net-metering rates. Instead, they were capping the

49
size of solar systems they would allow to just 10 Kilowatts. My
client's home in Steamboat required a 16.4kW system. The
utility company told me that the change would not take effect
until after the first of the year, so as long as I submitted the
interconnection application to them by December 31st, they
would allow the larger system, which they did.
But what about all of their friends and neighbors who have not
decided to transition to solar energy yet? How does that policy
change from the utility company affect future solar customers
in the community? Smaller homes that consume less electricity
will be fine, but those with larger homes that require more
energy will be forced to continue purchasing a portion of their
electricity directly from the utility company. If a larger home
required a 20kW system, they would only be allowed to buy a
solar system that covers 50% of their home's electric usage.
Any larger system would be denied by the utility company.
They would have to keep buying the remaining 50% of their
energy from Yampa Valley Energy and be subject to all their
future rate hikes for the rest of the time.
I’m sharing this to illustrate why the best time to transition your
home to solar energy is now. I've never seen a situation where
it makes sense to “wait and see.” The pioneers have taken most
of the arrows already, and if you made it this far into the book,
you already know the right questions to ask to make sure you
get the best deal possible. I wrote this book as a guide and a
resource to help you ask the right questions and get the best
outcome when transitioning your home to solar energy.
In chapter 1, I asserted that one day, we will soon look back at
renting electricity from a utility company to power our homes,
as we look at the horse and buggy as a means of transportation.

50
Sure, many electric companies are transitioning away from
fossil fuels and investing in solar farms and wind farms, but
who do you think will pay for that investment or repair the
nearly 100-year-old energy grid over the long term? That's right,
you and I will have to foot the bill. The customers of the utility
company. We will pay for it as inflationary rate hikes for
decades until we do something about it.
And speaking of transportation, what will happen to the
demand for residential solar when 1 in every 2 cars on the road
are electric vehicles? According to an article on
Bloomberg.com, more than half of US cars will be electric by
2030. No one has a crystal ball, and that is a projection. It is,
however, a projection from a reliable source that studies
business trends, governmental policies, and global markets.
According to the article, In 2021, electric vehicles accounted
for less than 5% of sales in the US, which is below the global
rate of nearly 9%. This may seem obvious, but what will
become the new "gas" that will power these electric vehicles?
Yup, you guessed it, electricity! And where do you think this
electricity will come from? Will you be able to buy it from the
utility company? Yes, they would be happy to sell it to you, I
am sure. You can probably charge your electric vehicle right
from your garage. Your monthly gas bill may go to zero, but
your electric bill may increase by 20-50% per month.
However, being the smart and savvy homeowner you are, who
bought a system that produces renewable energy from the sun,
you won't have to rent that excess energy from the utility
company. Sure, you may need to add a couple of extra solar
panels, and there will be costs associated with that, but it will
be a one-time investment rather than a monthly expense, and
that one-time investment will probably pay for itself within a
51
year. These decisions are how the rich stay rich, and the poor
stay poor.
You may not care that your energy comes from burning fossil
fuels and you’ll get no judgment from me. As I stated in the
first chapter, I’m more of a capitalist than an environmentalist.
Some may hate me for saying that, but if my actions help speed
up the rate of solar adoption, reducing carbon emissions and
eliminating the need to burn fossil fuels across the country,
does my motivation really matter?
I mentioned above that less than 5% of vehicles on the road
are electric. Do you want to guess the adoption rate of
residential solar in the U.S.? It's between 4 and 5 percent. That's
right, at the time of this writing just 1 out of every 25 U.S.
homes have solar panels. And although I don't believe that
residential solar will get adopted by the masses as fast as electric
vehicles will, even going from 4% residential solar to 10% in
the United States means millions of homes transitioning to
solar energy over the next several years. And while going from
1 in 25 homes producing solar power to 1 in 10 is probable in
the next 5 to 10 years, I can see residential solar reaching 40%
or even 50% adoption in the next 15-20 years. Imagine driving
down your street, probably in your electric vehicle, and seeing
solar panels on one of every 2 homes you drive by.
What is it that made the United States an economic superpower
and a leader of the free world? Please allow my history nerd to
poke his head out briefly as we wrap up. I promise you’ll find
it interesting and relevant. The U.S. emerged as an economic
superpower after the allied victory in World War 2. Wasn't that
victory a direct result of the country's ability to produce goods
and machinery on a large scale? Which was a direct result of the

52
industrial revolution. And what fueled the nation throughout
the industrial revolution? That's right, oil. Oil has fueled much
of the global economy over the past 150 years. What do you
think will power humanity for the next 150 years? I believe that
mostly, it will be clean renewable energy sources such as solar,
wind, and hydropower. Let's explore the question I posed at
the beginning of this paragraph. Beyond the industrial
revolution and the allied victory in the 20th century, and all the
positive changes those events brought to the world, at the
forefront of all of it was the American people. The American
people's grit, determination, ambition, curiosity, and pioneer
spirit is what drove those positive changes. We now can lead
the world again as we transition out of the industrial age and
into the digital age. A time when we re-think how we operate
and question outdated industrial-age concepts that no longer
serve us. We are in the infant stages of a new renewable energy
revolution. We can all help to usher in that new age by sharing
educational resources like this one and investigating if a home
solar system makes sense for you.

Take our 60-second survey at www.theNetZeroHome.com

to see if your home qualifies

What's Next for You?

Reading this book may have brought up more questions for

you than answers. Which is good because better questions are
the answer. Asking the right questions can help you maximize
your energy savings and keep you from making costly mistakes
in complex industries like residential solar. Which, as we’ve
53
discussed, is an industry ripe with charlatans and many
salespeople who have no idea what they are talking about.
Again, there is nothing inherently wrong with door-to-door
solar sales reps, but a residential solar project is complex. There
are many moving parts and policies from the state and utility
company that factor into the cost for you to install a home solar
system.There are a lot of solar advisors out there who don't
know what the hell they are talking about who are just
regurgitating information they don't fully understand, because
that is how they were taught to sell solar. If you are sitting down
with a solar sales rep who starts his presentation by asking you
a lot of questions about your home, your roof, your financial
situation, and your goals for transitioning to solar energy, and
they can hold their own when you ask them questions you
learned to ask in this book, you are probably in good shape.
My team and I take an educational and consultative approach
to selling solar. Our goal is long-term success in the solar
industry and mass market adoption of residential solar. We
know this will not happen by squeezing the most profit or sales
commission from every homeowner, like many solar sales
representatives and companies do. We will only achieve these
goals by providing exceptional service throughout the sales and
installation process. From the initial discovery process where
we discuss your individual needs and your post-solar goals; to
the installation of your panels and through the life of your solar
system. We want you to refer us to your friends and neighbors.
We know this will only happen if you feel like you were listened
to; that your questions and concerns were addressed to your
satisfaction; that your individual needs were met, and that you
know with absolute certainty that you made an informed
decision about transitioning your home to solar energy.

54
I hope this book has opened your eyes to the many options you
have when transitioning your home to solar power. I hope you
took the many opinions I shared throughout the book as just
that. One man’s opinions based on my extensive research,
expertise, and biases. Ultimately the solar company and installer
you choose is up to you, just as the decision to transition to
solar is completely up to you. In my expert opinion, the solar
installer we exclusively use to install our systems provides the
only true production guarantee in the solar industry. As I
mentioned in the chapter about choosing the right installer and
warranty, any reputable solar company will offer a warranty on
the equipment, which is not to be confused with a production
guarantee where the specific amount of kilowatt hours of
electricity your system will produce annually is guaranteed in
the contract. Some solar companies may even claim to have a
production guarantee, but as soon as you ask them to show you
where on the contract it states the actual number of kWh of
electricity being guaranteed, that is when they stop returning
your phone calls. Our contracts state the number of kWh of
electricity we guarantee your system will produce, year after
year, for the next 25 years, in plain English, on the first page of
the contract. There are many other ways we protect
homeowners from getting burned by solar (no pun intended),
but the 25-year production guarantee is the biggest one and the
only guarantee of its kind in the solar industry.
To learn more, please visit our website
www.theNetZeroHome.com
From there, you can schedule a consultation with us to answer
your questions and get specific pricing for your home's solar
system.

55
 SECTION 2:
A State by State Snapshot of Solar Policies, Incentives,
Tax Exemptions and Homeowner Rights

Important: In this section, you will read about tax credits, tax
exemptions, and other tax-related incentives offered by specific
states. I am not a licensed CPA or tax professional. This
information should only be used as a reference and a starting
point. Tax codes also change over time. You will see references
to state websites where you can stay up to date on specific tax
codes, credits, incentives, etc. Beyond those references, you
should consult your licensed CPA or tax professional for any
legal tax advice you seek as that is not what I am providing in
this book.

56
Alabama

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: The state of Alabama does

not currently have any statewide solar incentives, however
there may be local incentives provided by individual cities,
towns, counties and/or utility companies.
Net Metering: There is no statewide net metering policy in
Alabama
Tax Exemptions: Alabama provides a property tax exemption
for the value added to a home by a solar installation. Alabama
does not have a sales tax exemption for solar energy equipment.
Solar Rights: Alabama does not have a specific law that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property.
However, the state does have a Renewable Energy Property
Tax Abatement, which provides a property tax abatement for
renewable energy property that is installed on a taxpayer's
property. This can help reduce the overall cost of going solar
and make it more attractive for homeowners.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other reference listed below.
Reference - www.alabama.gov

57
Alaska

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Alaska does not currently

offer solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on
their homes.
Net Metering: Alaska allows homeowners with solar panels to
sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process called
net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing solar
panels and make it more financially viable for homeowners to
go solar.
Property Tax Exemptions: Alaska does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Solar Rights: Alaska does not have a specific law that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property.
However, the state does have a Renewable Energy Production
Tax Credit, which provides a tax credit for renewable energy
production, including solar energy. This can help reduce the
overall cost of going solar and make it more attractive for
homeowners.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other reference listed below.
Reference - www.alaska.gov

58
Arizona

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Arizona's Solar Energy

Credit is available to individual taxpayers who install a solar
device at the taxpayer's primary residence. The credit is allowed
against the taxpayer's personal income tax in the amount of
25% of the cost of a solar device, with a $1,000 maximum
allowable limit.
Net Metering: Arizona allows homeowners with solar panels to
sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process called
net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing solar
panels and make it more financially viable for homeowners to
go solar.
Property Tax Exemptions: Arizona does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property. However, the state does offer a
Solar Equipment Sales Tax Exemption, which exempts
homeowners from paying sales tax on solar equipment
purchases. This exemption can save homeowners up to 10%
on the cost of their solar installation
Solar Rights: Arizona has a Solar Rights Act that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property and
prohibits homeowner associations (HOAs) and local
governments from unreasonably restricting the installation of
solar panels. This helps ensure that homeowners have the
ability to go solar if they choose to do so.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other reference listed below.
Reference -www.srectrade.com - www.AZ.Gov
59
Arkansas

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Arkansas does not currently

offer solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on
their homes.
Net Metering: Arkansas allows homeowners with solar panels
to sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process
called net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing
solar panels and make it more financially viable for
homeowners to go solar.
Property Tax Exemptions: Arkansas does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Solar Rights: Arkansas does not have a specific law that
protects homeowners' right to install solar panels on their
property. However, the state does have a Renewable Energy
Property Tax Credit, which provides a tax credit for renewable
energy property that is installed on a taxpayer's property. This
can help reduce the overall cost of going solar and make it more
attractive for homeowners.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other reference listed below.
Reference
www.arkansas.gov

60
California

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: California offers several

solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on their
homes. The rebates are available through the state's New Solar
Homes Partnership program, which is administered by the
California Energy Commission (CEC). To be eligible for a
rebate, homeowners must install a solar system that meets
certain size and performance criteria as specified by the
utility company.
Net Metering: California allows homeowners with solar panels
to sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process
called net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing
solar panels and make it more financially viable for
homeowners to go solar. Excess credits at the end of each
month roll over from month to month within the annual true-
up period. At the end of each annual true-up period, any
remaining kWh credits are paid at the rate set by the CA CPUC,
typically between $.02-$.04/kWh, depending on the utility.
Property Tax Exemptions: California does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other reference listed below.
Reference
- www.srectrade.com - www.cpuc.ca.gov/solarguide - www.ca
lifornia.gov

61
Colorado

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Colorado offers several

solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on their
homes. The rebates are available through the state's Solar
Rewards program, which is administered by Xcel Energy. To
be eligible for a rebate, homeowners must install a solar system
that meets certain size and performance criteria.
Net Metering: Colorado allows homeowners with solar panels
to sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process
called net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing
solar panels and make it more financially viable for
homeowners to go solar.
Property Tax Exemptions: Colorado offers property tax
exemptions for the value of solar panels installed on a
homeowner's property. This can help reduce the overall cost of
going solar and make it more attractive for homeowners.
Solar Rights: Colorado has a Solar Rights Act that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property and
prohibits homeowner associations (HOAs) and local
governments from unreasonably restricting the installation of
solar panels. This helps ensure that homeowners have the
ability to go solar if they choose to do so.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other reference listed below.
Reference -
www.colorado.gov - https://co.my.xcelenergy.com/s/renewa
ble/solar-rewards - www.srectrade.com

62
Connecticut

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Connecticut offers several

solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on their
homes. The rebates are available through the state's Solar
Rewards program, which is administered by Eversource Energy
and United Illuminating. To be eligible for a rebate,
homeowners must install a solar system that meets certain size
and performance criteria.
Net Metering: Connecticut allows homeowners with solar
panels to sell excess electricity back to the grid through a
process called net metering. This can help offset the cost of
installing solar panels and make it more financially viable for
homeowners to go solar. Unused credits each month roll over
to subsequent months within 12-month true-up
period. Unused credits at the end of each true-up period are
“cashed out” at the utility’s avoided cost of wholesale power as
bill credits. The wholesale cost of power varies but is typically
around $.03-.04 per kWh.
Property Tax Exemptions: Connecticut offers property tax
exemptions for the value of solar panels installed on a
homeowner's property. This can help reduce the overall cost of
going solar and make it more attractive for homeowners.
Solar Rights: Connecticut has a Solar Rights Act that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property and
prohibits homeowner associations (HOAs) and local
governments from unreasonably restricting the installation of
solar panels. This helps ensure that homeowners have the
ability to go solar if they choose to do so.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so

63
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other reference listed below.
Reference
www.ct.gov - www.energizect.com/ - www.iso-
ne.com/participate

64
Washington DC (District of Columbia)

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: DC SRECs are some of the

highest-valued in the country, selling at upwards of $450. To
see current SREC prices in Washington DC visit
SRECTrade.com
Net Metering: DC allows homeowners with solar panels to sell
excess electricity back to the grid through a process called net
metering. This can help offset the cost of installing solar panels
and make it more financially viable for homeowners to go
solar. Annual retail net metering (“NEM”) is available for
systems up to 1MW. Net excess generation on a monthly basis
is credited to the customer’s next bill indefinitely at retail rate
for systems 100 kW or less. Credits are expressed as a dollar
value on the customer's bill and may be carried forward
indefinitely.
Property Tax Exemptions: The District of Columbia also
offers property tax exemptions for homeowners who install
solar panels on their homes. This means that the value of the
solar panels will not be included in the taxable value of the
home, reducing the property taxes that the homeowner has to
pay.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other reference listed below.
Reference -
www.washington.org - www.srectrade.com - https://www.wa
shington.org/

65
Delaware

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Delaware offers several

solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on their
homes. SREC’s are administered by the Delaware Sustainable
Energy Utility (SEU). To be eligible for a rebate, homeowners
must install a solar system that meets certain size and
performance criteria. Qualifying systems in Delaware are able
to generate SRECs for the system’s entire usable life.
However, SRECs have a life of 3 years. E.g. 2020 SRECs can
be counted towards the 2020, 2021 or 2022, compliance
periods. Delaware solar system owners should make sure to sell
their SRECs during that 3-year period. An SREC in Delaware
could be worth up to $400 depending on the utility.
Net Metering: Delaware allows homeowners with solar panels
to sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process
called net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing
solar panels and make it more financially viable for
homeowners to go solar. NEM in Delaware is annual retail net
metering i.e. one-for-one credits with an annual true-up.
System sizing is limited to the lesser of 25kW or 110% of
customers’ historical usage. Net excess generation at the end of
the annual true-up period will be credited at each utility’s
wholesale cost of power.
Property Tax Exemptions: Delaware does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Solar Rights: Delaware has a Solar Access Act that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property and
prohibits homeowners associations (HOAs) and local
governments from unreasonably restricting the installation of
66
solar panels. This helps ensure that homeowners have the
ability to go solar if they choose to do so.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
https://www.dsireusa.org/ - https://www.srecdelaware.com -
www.srectrade.com - www.delaware.org

67
Florida

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Florida SRECs are the

property of the system owner, and customers may sell RECs
back to the utility.
Net Metering: Florida allows homeowners with solar panels to
sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process called
net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing solar
panels and make it more financially viable for homeowners to
go solar. NEM in Florida is annual retail net metering i.e. one-
for-one credits with an annual true-up. However, starting in
2024 there is a step-down schedule for energy credits. I.E. solar
systems approved in 2024 and 2025 net metering customers
will get a 75% credit for excess kWh of electricity they send
back to the grid. In 2026 that goes down to 60% and in 2027-
28 it goes down to 50%.
Property Tax Exemptions: Florida provides a 100% property
tax exemption for residential renewable energy property and an
80% property tax abatement for non-residential renewable
energy property. Solar Energy Systems are exempt from
Florida’s state sales tax.
This helps ensure that homeowners have the ability to go solar
if they choose to do so.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference www.srectrade.com - https://www.myflorida.com/

68
Georgia

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Georgia does not currently

offer solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on
their homes.
Net Metering: Georgia allows homeowners with solar panels to
sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process called
net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing solar
panels and make it more financially viable for homeowners to
go solar. Excess kWh of electricity exported to the grid in real
time will be compensated at about ~$.037/kWh.
Property Tax Exemptions: Georgia does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Solar Rights: Georgia does not have a specific law that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property.
However, the state does have a Renewable Energy Property
Tax Credit, which provides a tax credit for renewable energy
property that is installed on a taxpayer's property. This can help
reduce the overall cost of going solar and make it more
attractive for homeowners.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.georgia.gov - www.energysage.com/local-data/net-
metering/georgia-power - www.georgiapower.com

69
Hawaii

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Hawaii does not currently

offer solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on
their homes.
Net Metering: Hawaii allows homeowners with solar panels to
sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process called
net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing solar
panels and make it more financially viable for homeowners to
go solar.
Property Tax Exemptions: Hawaii does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Solar Rights: Hawaii has a Solar Access Act that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property and
prohibits homeowners associations (HOAs) and local
governments from unreasonably restricting the installation of
solar panels. This helps ensure that homeowners have the
ability to go solar if they choose to do so.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.ehawaii.gov

70
Idaho

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Idaho does not currently

offer solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on
their homes. However, Idaho allows taxpayers an income tax
deduction of 40% of the cost of their solar system. Taxpayers
can apply this 40% deduction in the year in which the system is
installed and can also deduct 20% of the cost each year for
the following 3 years. The max deduction in any one year is
$5,000. The total maximum deduction is $20,000.
Net Metering: Idaho allows homeowners with solar panels to
sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process called
net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing solar
panels and make it more financially viable for homeowners to
go solar. Idaho does not have a statewide net-metering policy.
However, each of the state's three investor-owned utilities --
Avista Utilities, Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power --
have a net metering tariff on file with the Idaho Public Utilities
Commission (PUC). Many smaller utilities also offer net
metering. Net excess generation credits may vary by utility but
generally is carried forward to following month’s as a kWh
credit to future months.
Property Tax Exemptions: Idaho does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Solar Rights: Idaho does not have a specific law that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property.
However, the state does have a Renewable Energy Systems Tax
Credit, which provides a tax credit for renewable energy
systems that are installed on a taxpayer's property. This can help
reduce the overall cost of going solar and make it more
71
attractive for homeowners.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
www.https://www.idaho.gov www.programs.dsireusa.org/sys
tem/program/detail/7/solar-easements-rights-laws

72
Illinois

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Illinois offers several solar

rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on their homes.
The rebates are available through the state's Adjustable Block
Program (ABP), also known as the Illinois Shines program,
which is administered by the Illinois Power Agency (IPA). To
be eligible for a rebate, homeowners must install a solar system
that meets certain size and performance criteria. As energy is
generated from a solar system, renewable energy credits are
created for each MWh (1,000 kWH) produced. SREC prices
have typically ranged from around $37 to $76 per SREC. This
means that homeowners with a 6 kW solar system could earn
around $360-$750 each year for their SRECs in the state of
Illinois.
Net Metering: Illinois allows homeowners with solar panels to
sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process called
net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing solar
panels and make it more financially viable for homeowners to
go solar. NEM agreements vary by energy supplier. Customers
elect their annual NEM cycle to begin/end in either April or
October. Excess NEM credits expire at this time. NEM credit
roll over from month to month, up until the end of the annual
NEM cycle
Property Tax Exemptions: Illinois does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property. Illinois offers a special assessment
of solar energy systems for property tax purposes.
Solar Rights: Illinois has a Solar Access Act that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property and
prohibits homeowner associations (HOAs) and local
73
governments from unreasonably restricting the installation of
solar panels. This helps ensure that homeowners have the
ability to go solar if they choose to do so.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.illinois.gov - www.icc.illinois.gov/public-utility

74
Indiana

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Indiana does not currently

offer solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on
their homes.
Solar Loans: Indiana offers several solar loan programs to help
homeowners finance the installation of solar panels on their
homes. These loans are available through participating lenders
and are typically offered at a low interest rate.
Net Metering: Indiana allows homeowners with solar panels to
sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process called
net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing solar
panels and make it more financially viable for homeowners to
go solar.
Property Tax Exemptions: Indiana does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Solar Rights: Indiana does not have a specific law that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property.
However, the state does have a Renewable Energy Property
Tax Credit, which provides a tax credit for renewable energy
property that is installed on a taxpayer's property. This can help
reduce the overall cost of going solar and make it more
attractive for homeowners.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.in.gov - https://www.in.gov/iurc/

75
Iowa

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Iowa does not currently

offer solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on
their homes.
Net Metering: Iowa allows homeowners with solar panels to
sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process called
net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing solar
panels and make it more financially viable for homeowners to
go solar.
Property Tax Exemptions: Iowa does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Solar Rights: Iowa does not have a specific law that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property.
However, the state does have a Renewable Energy Property
Tax Credit, which provides a tax credit for renewable energy
property that is installed on a taxpayer's property. This can help
reduce the overall cost of going solar and make it more
attractive for homeowners.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.iowa.gov - https://iub.iowa.gov

76
Kansas

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Kansas does not currently

offer solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on
their homes.
Solar Loans: Kansas offers several solar loan programs to help
homeowners finance the installation of solar panels on their
homes. These loans are available through participating lenders
and are typically offered at a low interest rate.
Net Metering: Kansas allows homeowners with solar panels to
sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process called
net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing solar
panels and make it more financially viable for homeowners to
go solar.
Property Tax Exemptions: Kansas does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Solar Rights: Kansas does not have a specific law that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property.
However, the state does have a Renewable Energy Property
Tax Credit, which provides a tax credit for renewable energy
property that is installed on a taxpayer's property. This can help
reduce the overall cost of going solar and make it more
attractive for homeowners.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
https://portal.kansas.gov - https://kcc.ks.gov/electric

77
Kentucky

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Kentucky does not currently

offer solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on
their homes.
Solar Loans: Kentucky offers several solar loan programs to
help homeowners finance the installation of solar panels on
their homes. These loans are available through participating
lenders and are typically offered at a low interest rate.
Net Metering: Kentucky allows homeowners with solar panels
to sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process
called net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing
solar panels and make it more financially viable for
homeowners to go solar.
Property Tax Exemptions: Kentucky does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Solar Rights: Kentucky does not have a specific law that
protects homeowners' right to install solar panels on their
property. However, the state does have a Renewable Energy
Property Tax Credit, which provides a tax credit for renewable
energy property that is installed on a taxpayer's property. This
can help reduce the overall cost of going solar and make it more
attractive for homeowners.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.kentucky.gov - https://www.psc.ky.gov/

78
Louisiana

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Louisiana does not currently

offer solar rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on
their homes.
Net Metering: Louisiana allows homeowners with solar panels
to sell excess electricity back to the grid through a process
called net metering. This can help offset the cost of installing
solar panels and make it more financially viable for
homeowners to go solar.
Property Tax Exemptions: Louisiana does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Solar Rights: Louisiana does not have a specific law that
protects homeowners' right to install solar panels on their
property. However, the state does have a Renewable Energy
Property Tax Credit, which provides a tax credit for renewable
energy property that is installed on a taxpayer's property. This
can help reduce the overall cost of going solar and make it more
attractive for homeowners.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.louisiana.gov - www.lpsc.louisiana.gov

79
Maine

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Maine offers several solar

rebates to homeowners who install solar panels on their homes.
The rebates are available through the state's Solar Rebate
Program, which is administered by Efficiency Maine. To be
eligible for a rebate, homeowners must install a solar system
that meets certain size and performance criteria.
Net Metering: ME utilities offer Net Metering for residential
solar. Net metering credits are earned for excess power that are
reflected on the customer’s monthly utility bill and will roll over
month to month. Net metering credits can be used to offset
future charges on a one-to-one basis during billing periods
when the participant uses more energy than their solar array
generates. Any unused credits expire after 12 months
Property Tax Exemptions: Maine does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for the value of solar panels installed
on a homeowner's property.
Solar Rights: Maine has a Solar Access Act that protects
homeowners' right to install solar panels on their property and
prohibits homeowner associations (HOAs) and local
governments from unreasonably restricting the installation of
solar panels. This helps ensure that homeowners have the
ability to go solar if they choose to do so.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.efficiencymaine.com - www.maine.gov - www.maine.go
v/mpuc
80
Maryland

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Maryland has a SREC

program, which allows homeowners who install solar panels to
earn credits for the excess electricity they generate. These
credits can be sold to utilities, which helps offset the cost of
installing solar panels. Qualifying systems in Maryland are able
to generate SRECs for the system’s entire usable life. MD
SRECs have a useful life of three years. E.g. 2020 SRECs can
be counted towards the 2020, 2021 or 2022, compliance
periods. The Maryland Energy Association (“MEA”) offers a
$1,000 rebate per residential project.
Net Metering: Maryland has a statewide net metering program
that allows you to sell excess solar energy back to the grid in
exchange for credits that can go toward any future utility
bills. To qualify for NEM, systems must be primarily intended
to offset all or a portion of a customer's on-site energy
requirements and are limited in size to that needed to meet
200% of the customer's baseline annual electricity use or 110%
of the customer’s historical annual usage. Net excess
generation (NEG) is generally carried over as a kilowatt-hour
credit at the retail rate for 12 months. Compensation for any
NEG remaining in a customer's account after a 12-month
period ending in April of each year is paid to the customer at
the commodity energy supply rate, which varies but is roughly
$.03/kWh.
Property Tax Exemptions: Solar systems in the state of
Maryland are exempt from the states sales tax and the value
added to your home by the solar installation will be exempt
from property taxes.
Solar Rights: Maryland has a Real Property Code that prevents
81
homeowner associations in Maryland from denying
homeowners the right to install solar systems.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
www.maryland.gov - www.psc.state.md.us - www.srectrade.co
m

82
Massachusetts

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Massachusetts has a solar

renewable energy credit (SREC) program, known as the
SMART program, which allows homeowners who install solar
panels to be paid a fixed kWh incentive for each kWh their solar
system produces. Incentive rate varries based on the utility.
Rates typically range from .045 and .12 per kWh. Paid for 10
years for system under 25kW and for 20 years for systems over
25kW. 15% tax credit up to $1,000 of a renewable energy
system installed on a taxpayer’s primary residence. The 15% tax
credit can be carried over for up to 3 years, if the tax credit
exceeds the taxpayer’s income tax liability.
Net metering: Massachusetts has net metering laws in place,
which allow homeowners with solar panels to sell excess
electricity back to the grid at the same price they pay for
electricity from the grid. This helps homeowners offset the cost
of their solar panel system. NEM availability varies by utility.
Property Tax Exemptions: Homeowners who install solar in
Massachusetts are eligible for an exemption from any additional
property taxes associated with value added by their solar energy
system. In addition, homeowners are exempt from paying sales
tax related to their solar systems.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
www.mass.gov - www.srectrade.com - www.mass.gov/info-
details/solar-massachusetts-renewable-target-smart-
program - www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-public-utilities

83
Michigan

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: In Michigan, SRECs can be

generated through the use of solar panels and other renewable
energy sources.
Net metering: Michigan utilities are required to offer net
metering, which allows homeowners with solar panels to sell
excess electricity back to the grid. This can help offset the cost
of solar panel installation and make it more financially viable
for homeowners.
Solar panel incentives: The state of Michigan offers several
incentives for homeowners who install solar panels. These
include a state tax credit of up to $2,000, as well as a federal tax
credit of up to 30% of the cost of the solar panel system.
Property Tax Exemptions: Michigan exempts the sale and
installation of solar energy systems from sales tax. This can help
to reduce the overall cost of a solar panel system. Michigan also
exempts solar energy systems from property tax. This means
that the value of a solar panel system will not be included in the
assessment of a homeowner's property for tax purposes.
Solar Rights: Michigan has a solar access law that prohibits
homeowner associations (HOAs) and other entities from
restricting the installation of solar panels or other renewable
energy systems on a homeowner's property. Michigan also has
a Renewable Energy Standard. This program requires utilities
to generate a certain percentage of their electricity from
renewable sources, including solar energy. This can help to
create a market for solar energy in Michigan and make it more
financially viable for homeowners to invest in solar panel
systems.

84
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.michigan.gov - www.michigan.gov/mpsc - www.srectra
de.com

85
Minnesota

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: In Minnesota, SRECs can

be generated through the use of solar panels and other
renewable energy sources.
Net metering: Minnesota utilities are required to offer net
metering, which allows homeowners with solar panels to sell
excess electricity back to the grid. This can help offset the cost
of solar panel installation and make it more financially viable
for homeowners.
Solar panel incentives: The state of Minnesota offers several
incentives for homeowners who install solar panels.
Community solar programs: Minnesota also has several
community solar programs, which allow homeowners to
participate in a shared solar panel installation and receive
credits on their electricity bills.
Solar Rights: According to Solar United Neighbors Minnesota
is one of 23 states where HOAs are allowed to forbid members
from adding solar to their homes.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.mn.gov - www.mn.gov/puc - www.srectrade.com

86
Mississippi

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: In Mississippi, SRECs can

be generated through the use of solar panels and other
renewable energy sources
Net metering: Mississippi utilities are required to offer net
metering, which allows homeowners with solar panels to sell
excess electricity back to the grid. This can help offset the cost
of solar panel installation and make it more financially viable
for homeowners.
Solar panel incentives: The state of Mississippi offers several
incentives for homeowners who install solar panels. These
include a state tax credit of up to 50% of the cost of the solar
panel system, as well as a federal tax credit of up to 30% of the
cost.
Community solar programs: Mississippi also has several
community solar programs, which allow homeowners to
participate in a shared solar panel installation and receive
credits on their electricity bills.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.ms.gov - www.psc.ms.gov - www.srectrade.com

87
Missouri

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: In Missouri, SRECs can be

generated through the use of solar panels and other renewable
energy sources.
Net metering: Missouri utilities are required to offer net
metering, which allows homeowners with solar panels to sell
excess electricity back to the grid. This can help offset the cost
of solar panel installation and make it more financially viable
for homeowners.
Solar panel incentives: The state of Missouri offers several
incentives for homeowners who install solar panels. These
include a state tax credit of up to 25% of the cost of the solar
panel system, as well as a federal tax credit of up to 30% of the
cost.
Solar panel financing options: There are several financing
options available for homeowners who want to go solar in
Missouri. These include loans, leases, and power purchase
agreements (PPAs).
Community solar programs: Missouri also has several
community solar programs, which allow homeowners to
participate in a shared solar panel installation and receive
credits on their electricity bills.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.mo.gov - www.psc.mo.gov - www.srectrade.com

88
Montana

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: In Montana, SRECs can be

generated through the use of solar panels and other renewable
energy sources.
Net metering: Montana utilities are required to offer net
metering, which allows homeowners with solar panels to sell
excess electricity back to the grid. This can help offset the cost
of solar panel installation and make it more financially viable
for homeowners.
Solar panel incentives: The state of Montana offers several
incentives for homeowners who install solar panels. These
include a state tax credit of up to $500, as well as a federal tax
credit of up to 30% of the cost of the solar panel system.
Community solar programs: Montana also has several
community solar programs, which allow homeowners to
participate in a shared solar panel installation and receive
credits on their electricity bills.
Solar Rights: The state of Montana has a solar access law that
prohibits homeowner associations (HOAs) and other entities
from restricting the installation of solar panels or other
renewable energy systems on a homeowner's property.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.mt.gov - psc.mt.gov - www.srectrade.com

89
Nebraska

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: In Nebraska, SRECs can be

generated through the use of solar panels and other renewable
energy sources
Net metering: Nebraska utilities are required to offer net
metering, which allows homeowners with solar panels to sell
excess electricity back to the grid. This can help offset the cost
of solar panel installation and make it more financially viable
for homeowners.
Solar panel incentives: The state of Nebraska offers several
incentives for homeowners who install solar panels. These
include a state tax credit of up to 25% of the cost of the solar
panel system, as well as a federal tax credit of up to 30% of the
cost.
Community solar programs: Nebraska also has several
community solar programs, which allow homeowners to
participate in a shared solar panel installation and receive
credits on their electricity bills.
Solar Rights: Nebraska has a solar access law that prohibits
homeowners associations (HOAs) and other entities from
restricting the installation of solar panels or other renewable
energy systems on a homeowner's property.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.nebraska.gov - psc.nebraska.gov - www.srectrade.com

90
Nevada

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: The state of Nevada offers

several incentives for homeowners who install solar panels.
These include a state tax credit of up to $2,000.
Net metering: Nevada utilities are required to offer net
metering, which allows homeowners with solar panels to sell
excess electricity back to the grid. This can help offset the cost
of solar panel installation and make it more financially viable
for homeowners.
Tax Exemptions: In Nevada, sales tax exemptions are available
for solar energy systems and renewable energy systems that
generate electricity for residential or commercial use. Nevada
also offers property tax exemptions for solar energy systems.
Under Nevada state law, the value of a solar energy system
installed on residential or commercial property is not included
in the property's taxable value. This means that property
owners who install solar energy systems will not pay additional
property taxes as a result of the installation.
Solar Rights: In Nevada, homeowners have the right to install
solar energy systems on their property without interference
from their homeowners' association (HOA) or other
community organization. HOAs and other community
organizations are prohibited from imposing unreasonable
restrictions on the installation of solar energy systems, such as
requiring prior approval or imposing fees or penalties. Nevada
also has net metering laws that protect the rights of
homeowners who generate their own electricity with solar
energy systems. Under these laws, homeowners who generate
their own electricity with solar energy systems are able to sell
excess electricity back to the grid at the same rate as they
91
purchase electricity from the grid. This helps to ensure that
homeowners are fairly compensated for the excess electricity
they generate and helps to reduce their energy costs.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.nv.gov - puc.nv.gov www.srectrade.com

92
New Hampshire

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: The NH Public Utilities

Commission offers rebates to qualifying NH residents who
install PV systems. The rebate amount is $.20/W up to the
lesser of $1,000 or 30% of the system cost. Systems must be
<10kW DC to qualify. Rebates will be paid out by the PUC
following interconnection and final incentive approval. For the
latest funding availability refer to the NH Public Utilities
Commission website.
Net metering: New Hampshire utilities are required to offer net
metering, which allows homeowners with solar panels to sell
excess electricity back to the grid. This can help offset the cost
of solar panel installation and make it more financially viable
for homeowners.
Net Metering (“NEM”) is offered in NH, offering a one-for-
one kWh credit for electricity exported to the grid within the
course of a month, with the exception of the following non-
bypassable charges on electricity imported. At the end of each
month, a customer with surplus generation will receive a
monetary bill credit equal to; 100% equivalent to the energy
service charge; 100% equivalent to the transmission charge;
25% equivalent to the distribution charge. If, at the end of the
month, a customer has not produced enough solar generation
to cover their energy consumption, the customer will be billed
the net consumption by the retail rate the customer is enrolled
under. However, if the customer has net metering monetary
credits banked from previous months, the value of those
credits will apply and offset the customer’s utility bill until the
net metering bank equals a value of 0.
Property tax exemptions: New Hampshire exempts the sale
93
and installation of solar energy systems from sales tax. New
Hampshire also exempts solar energy systems from property
tax. This means that the value of a solar panel system will not
be included in the assessment of a homeowner's property for
tax purposes.
Solar Rights: NH state law permits cities and towns to offer
exemptions from local property taxes for certain renewable
energy installations. There is no statewide property tax in NH.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.nh.gov - puc.nh.gov - www.srectrade.com

94
New Jersey

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: This program allows

homeowners to sell the excess solar energy they generate back
to the grid. The credits earned through this program can be
sold to utilities, providing an additional source of income for
homeowners. The Successor Solar Incentive (“SuSI”) replaced
the Transition Incentive Program (“TIP”) effective August 28,
2021. The SuSI creates fixed-price, 15-year Solar Renewable
Energy Certificates (“SREC-IIs”). One SREC-II is created for
every 1,000 kWh that is produced, which can then be sold to
an intermediary. SREC-IIs are valued at $90 each for residential
net metered systems.
Net metering: New Jersey's net metering (“NEM”) rules
require state's investor-owned utilities and energy suppliers
(and certain competitive municipal utilities and electric
cooperatives) to offer net metering. System size of renewable
energy facility is limited to that needed to meet annual on-site
electric demand. Net Excess Generation (“NEG”). Customers
receive month-to-month credit for NEG at the full retail rate.
NEM credits carry over month-to-month within a 12-month
annual true-up period. Any remaining NEM credits at the end
of the 12-month true-up period are compensated at the
wholesale cost of power.
Property tax exemptions: New Jersey law allows homeowners
to receive a property tax exemption for the value of their solar
panels. This can help offset the upfront cost of installing a solar
system. In order to claim the exemption, property owners must
apply for a certificate from their local assessor which will
reduce the assessed value of their property to what it would be
without the renewable energy system

95
Solar Rights: New Jersey enacted legislation preventing
homeowners associations from prohibiting the installation of
solar collectors on certain types of residential properties. A
homeowner association is permitted to regulate certain aspects
of solar collectors, including the qualifications of installation
personnel, collector location, concealment and size. However,
any regulation that would increase the collectors' installation
and maintenance cost by more than 10%, or would prevent the
system from operating at maximum efficiency, may not be
enforced.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.nj.gov - nj.gov/bpu - www.srectrade.com

96
New Mexico

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: This credit allows

homeowners to receive a credit on their state income taxes for
a portion of the cost of installing a solar panel system. The
credit is equal to 10% of the total cost of the system, up to a
maximum of $6,000.
Net metering: New Mexico allows homeowners with solar
panels to receive credit on their utility bill for the excess energy
they generate. This can help offset the cost of the energy they
use from the grid. Customers’ usage is net metered on a
monthly basis. Each month, excess kWhs will be credited or
paid out to the customer at the utility’s avoided cost of power
rate, which varies monthly but is roughly $.01-$.02/kWh. PNM
customers with systems under 10kW have the option to carry
excess kWhs forward as credits to future months. Any unused
credits at time of account termination are paid out at the
avoided cost of power rate. All utilities subject to Public
Regulation Commission (PRC) jurisdiction must offer net
metering (Municipal utilities, which are not regulated by the
PRC, are exempt.)
Property tax exemptions: New Mexico law allows homeowners
to receive a property tax exemption for the value of their solar
panels. This can help offset the upfront cost of installing a solar
system.
Solar Rights: New Mexico allows a homeowners' association to
regulate the installation or use of solar panels so long as the
regulations do not "effectively prohibit" their installation or
use.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so

97
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.nm.gov - nm-prc.gov - www.srectrade.com

98
New York

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: The SunNY program is run

by the New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority (NYSERDA) and provides financial incentives to
help homeowners and businesses install solar panels. The
incentives are based on the size of the solar panel system and
the location of the installation. In New York, Solar Renewable
Energy Certificates (SRECs) are a way for solar energy systems
to earn credit for the clean energy they produce. The value of
SRECs is determined by the market, and it can fluctuate over
time. However, the state has established an SREC program that
sets a minimum price for the credits and helps to stabilize the
market. New York State has also established ambitious
renewable energy goals, with plans to generate 50% of the
state's electricity from renewable sources by 2025, which will
likely make SRECs more valuable as the demand for clean
energy increases.
Net metering: New York state law requires utilities to offer net
metering to customers who generate their own electricity with
solar panels. Net metering allows you to sell excess electricity
back to the grid at the same rate you pay for electricity from the
grid. Credits are earned for excess power that are reflected on
the customers monthly utility bill and will roll over month to
month.
Property tax exemptions: New York state law allows
homeowners to claim a property tax exemption for the value
of their solar panel system. This means that the value of the
solar panels will not be included in the assessment of your
property for tax purposes.
Solar Rights: New York state has a "right to install" solar
99
provision that prevents homeowners associations or landlords
from banning the installation of solar panels. The state also has
a "Megawatt Block" program, which is a volume-based
incentive program for larger-scale solar projects, as well as a
"Value of Distributed Energy Resources" tariffs that help to
provide incentives for customers to install solar panel.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.ny.gov - dps.ny.gov - www.srectrade.com

100
North Carolina

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: The North Carolina

Renewable Energy Property Tax Credit offers a 35% state tax
credit for solar energy systems installed on residential
properties, with a maximum credit of $2,500. Additionally,
homeowners may be eligible for federal tax credits, including
the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which allows homeowners to
claim a credit equal to 26% of the cost of their solar energy
system. Additionally, The NC GreenPower program is a non-
profit organization that promotes and facilitates solar energy in
the state, they offer incentives and rebates to residential,
commercial, and non-profit customers that install a solar
energy system in North Carolina.
Net metering: North Carolina has a net metering policy that
allows homeowners who generate their own electricity through
solar panels to sell excess electricity back to the grid. This helps
offset the cost of installing and maintaining a solar energy
system. Annual retail net metering (i.e. one-for-one kWh
credits) is required to be offered by the state’s two IOUs, Duke
Energy (both Progress and Carolinas) and Dominion Energy at
this time. Customers who interconnect under the current net
metering policy may remain on the existing tariffs until January
1, 2027. Once that date passes, customers will be required to
move to the existing net metering tariffs in place at that time.
Property Tax Exemptions: North Carolina offers a property
tax exemption on 100% of customer-owned solar systems and
80% of leased photovoltaic systems.
Solar Rights: Cities and counties in NC may not adopt
ordinances prohibiting the installation of "a solar collector that
gathers solar radiation as a substitute for traditional energy for
101
water heating, active space heating and cooling, passive heating,
or generating electricity for residential property." However,
there are limits and conditions. It’s worth noting that Duke
Energy, the utility that serves much of the state, offer rebates
to customers who install solar systems. The rebate is $.60/W
on the first 10kW (i.e. $6,000 maximum incentive). Approved
rebates are paid to customers directly by Duke Energy
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.nc.gov - www.ncuc.gov - www.srectrade.com

102
North Dakota

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: North Dakota does not

currently have a state-wide solar rebate program which would
require utilities to produce a certain percentage of their
electricity from renewable sources such as solar. However,
some utility companies in North Dakota may offer incentives
for solar power, so it's worth checking with your local utility
company to see if any incentives are available.
Net metering: North Dakota has a net metering policy that
allows homeowners who generate their own electricity through
solar panels to sell excess electricity back to the grid. This helps
offset the cost of installing and maintaining a solar energy
system.
Federal tax credits: Homeowners in North Dakota may be
eligible for federal tax credits, including the Investment Tax
Credit (ITC), which allows homeowners to claim a credit equal
to 26% of the cost of their solar energy system.
Tax Exemptions: North Dakota does not currently offer
property tax exemptions for homeowners who install solar
panels on their property. However, North Dakota does offer
sales tax exemptions for the purchase of solar energy systems,
including both solar electric systems and solar thermal systems
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.nd.gov - psc.nd.gov

103
Ohio

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: The Ohio SREC market is

oversupplied. Under current market conditions, a substantial
number of systems sited in PA and other bordering states look
to OH to sell SRECs.
Net metering: Ohio has a net metering policy that allows
homeowners who generate their own electricity through solar
panels to sell excess electricity back to the grid. This helps
offset the cost of installing and maintaining a solar energy
system. Residential NEM is intended primarily to offset part or
all of a homeowner’s electricity consumption up to 120% of
total annual consumption.
Tax credits and incentives: Ohio offers a number of tax credits
and incentives to encourage the use of renewable energy,
including solar energy. For example, the Ohio Development
Services Agency's Clean Energy Grant Program provides
grants to homeowners, businesses, and other organizations to
support the installation of solar energy systems.
Tax Exemptions: Ohio does not currently offer a statewide
property tax exemption for homeowners who install solar
panels on their property. However, some local governments in
Ohio may offer property tax exemptions or abatements for
solar energy systems, so it's worth checking with your local
government to see if any such incentives are available. Ohio
does offer sales tax exemptions for the purchase of solar energy
systems, including both solar electric systems and solar thermal
systems.
Solar Rights: Ohio state law also prohibits homeowner
associations and landlords from prohibiting residents from

104
installing solar energy systems on their property, unless the
installation poses a significant risk to the health and safety of
the residents or the structural integrity of the building.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.ohio.gov - poco.ohio.gov

105
Oklahoma

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Oklahoma currently does

not offer statewide rebates or SRECs for homeowners who
install solar panels. However some utilities may offer SRECs
and/or rebates.
Net metering: Oklahoma has a net metering policy that allows
homeowners who generate their own electricity through solar
panels to sell excess electricity back to the grid. This helps
offset the cost of installing and maintaining a solar energy
system.
Tax Exemptions: Oklahoma does not have any state-level
property tax exemptions or sales tax exemptions specifically for
homeowners who install solar panels.
Solar Rights: Oklahoma has not adopted any specific laws that
protect homeowners' rights to install solar panels on their
property.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.oklahoma.gov - oklahoma.gov/occ

106
Oregon

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Oregon statute requires that

utilities offer NEM. Investor-owned utilities are required to
carry excess monthly generation forward to subsequent months
as a kWh credit (“annual net metering”). Municipal utilities and
cooperatives have the option to offer annual true-ups or credit
monthly excess generation at the utility’s avoided cost
(“monthly net metering”). Systems should be sized to offset the
customer’s usage. Usage caps may vary by utility. Net metering
for residential systems is capped at 25kW. The Oregon
Department of Energy's Energy Trust of Oregon offers
incentives for residential solar panel installations through its
Solar Electric Incentive Program. This program provides cash
incentives for installing solar panels on homes and other
buildings.
Net metering: Oregon also has a feed-in tariff program, which
allows homeowners and businesses to sell excess solar energy
back to their utility at a fixed rate.
Solar Rights: By Oregon law, HOAs cannot prohibit
installation of solar PV systems as long as the system meets all
health, safety, and performance standards required by state and
local permitting authorities.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
www.oregon.gov - www.oregon.gov/puc/pages/default.aspx
- www.srectrade.com

107
Pennsylvania

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Systems in Pennsylvania are

able to generate SRECs for as long as they remain an eligible
generator. PA SRECs have a useful life of three years. E.g. 2020
SRECs can be counted towards the 2020, 2021 or 2022,
compliance periods. After that time, SRECs essentially lose
their value. System owners should make sure to sell their
SRECs during that three-year period. PA SRECs have recently
been selling in the $20-40 range. To see current SREC prices in
Pennsylvania . Utility companies are required to purchase a
certain amount of renewable energy, and the SREC program
helps them meet this requirement.
Net metering: Investor-owned utilities must offer retail net
metering (i.e. one-for-one credits) to residential customers that
generate electricity with systems up to 50 kW in capacity. Net
excess generation on a monthly basis is credited to the
customer’s next bill at the retail rate. At the end of the annual
true-up period, remaining excess credits are paid out to the
customer at the retail rate
Tax Exemptions: Pennsylvania does not have a sales tax
exemption on solar equipment or installation
Solar Rights: Pennsylvania does not have rules that prevent
HOAs from stopping you from going solar
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.pa.gov - puc.pa.gov - www.srectrade.com

108
Rhode Island

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Provides Performance-

Based Incentives (“PBIs”) - also known as a “Feed-in-Tariff” -
that are paid out monthly over 15 or 20 years <10kW = 15
years >10kW = 20 years 1 Not available in all utilities 4.
Customers are paid a fixed rate for each kWh produced by their
solar system. 2020 rates: <10kW = $.2965/kwh >10kW =
$.2345/kWh. Incentives earned under the REG program are
first applied to the customer’s bill. Any remaining credits are
then paid to the customer monthly by check. Customers who
opt for the REG Program do not qualify for Net Metering.
Net Exporters (customers who produce more than they use in
a month) will receive a dollar-amount bill credit for the excess
generation ● Net Metering Credits carry over from month to
month but cannot be “cashed out”
Net Metering: Rhode Island allows homeowners with solar
panels to sell excess electricity back to the grid. When a solar
panel system generates more electricity than the homeowner is
using, the excess is sent back to the grid and the homeowner is
credited for the excess electricity. Net Metering Credits shall be
equal to the total kilowatt-hours of electricity generated and
consumed on-site during the billing period multiplied by the
sum of the: Standard offer Service kilowatt-hour charge for the
rate class applicable to the net metering customer; Distribution
kilowatt-hour charge; Transmission kilowatt-hour charge; and
Transition kilowatt-hour charge.
Property Tax Exemptions: Solar electric systems sold in Rhode
Island are exempt from the state's sales and use tax. Qualifying
renewable energy systems and associated equipment used in
residential and manufacturing sector are exempt from property
109
taxes throughout the state
Solar Rights: Pennsylvania does not have rules that prevent
HOAs from stopping you from going solar
Renewable Energy Fund: This fund provides financial
incentives to residential, commercial, and industrial customers
who install solar panel systems on their property. The
incentives are based on the size of the solar panel system and
the amount of energy it generates.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
www.ri.gov - ripuc.ri.gov - www.srectrade.com

110
South Carolina

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Systems owners can claim a

personal tax credit on their South Carolina state taxes equal to
25% of the system’s cost. The maximum credit they can claim
in any given tax year is $3,500 or 50% of taxpayer's tax liability
for that taxable year, whichever is less. If the amount of the
credit exceeds $3,500 for each system, the taxpayer may carry
forward the excess for up to ten years.
Net Metering: South Carolina allows homeowners with solar
panels to sell excess electricity back to the grid. When a solar
panel system generates more electricity than the homeowner is
using, the excess is sent back to the grid and the homeowner is
credited for the excess electricity. Retail net metering (i.e. one-
to-one credit for each kWh fed into the grid) must be offered
by each of the state’s Investor Owned Utilities through
December 31st 2020. kWh credits roll over to following
months within the true-up period. Excess credits at the end of
each true-up period are paid out at the utility’s avoided cost of
energy as a bill credit. While the avoided cost of energy varies,
it currently is estimated to be roughly $.02/kWh
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing: PACE
financing allows homeowners to finance the upfront cost of
installing solar panels and other energy-efficient upgrades
through a property tax assessment. The assessment is paid back
over a period of time through the homeowner's property taxes.
Property Tax Exemptions: The SC property tax exemption is
for 80% of the value of renewable energy property and applies
to property taxed as business personal property or utility
property.

111
Solar Rights: In South Carolina, homeowners' associations are
allowed to restrict the placement of solar panels
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.sc.gov - pic.sc.gov - www.srectrade.com

112
South Dakota

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: South Dakota does not have

any statewide solar rebates or SREC programs for homeowners
who install solar panels.
Net Metering: South Dakota allows homeowners with solar
panels to sell excess electricity back to the grid through a
process called net metering. When a solar panel system
generates more electricity than the homeowner is using, the
excess is sent back to the grid and the homeowner is credited
for the excess electricity.
Tax Exemptions: South Dakota does not have any state-level
property tax exemptions or sales tax exemptions specifically for
solar panels.
Solar Rights: SD does not have any specific laws or regulations
that protect homeowners' rights to install solar panels on their
property.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.sd.gov - puc.sd.gov

113
Tennessee

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Tennessee does not have

any statewide solar rebates or SREC programs for homeowners
who install solar panels.
Net metering: Tennessee allows residents to connect their solar
panels to the grid and receive credit on their utility bills for any
excess electricity they generate. This is known as net metering.
State incentives: The state of Tennessee offers a variety of
incentives to encourage the adoption of solar energy. These
include the Tennessee Solar Institute, which provides grants
and incentives for solar projects, and the Tennessee Valley
Authority (TVA), which offers a variety of incentives for
residential, commercial, and industrial solar projects.
Tax Exemptions: Tennessee does not have any state-level
property tax exemptions or sales tax exemptions specifically for
homeowners who install solar panels.
Solar Rights: TN does not have any specific laws or regulations
that protect homeowners' rights to install solar panels on their
property.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
www.tn.gov - tn.gov/tpuc

114
Texas

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: The state of Texas does not

currently offer any specific incentives or rebates for solar
energy, but it does have a number of programs in place to
encourage the adoption of renewable energy. These include the
Renewable Portfolio Standard, which requires utilities to
generate a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable
sources, and the Competitive Renewable Energy Zone
program, which aims to encourage the development of
renewable energy projects in certain areas of the state.
Net metering: Net metering is rarely offered in Texas. Those
utilities that do offer Net Metering typically operate with
monthly true-ups, discounted Net Metering Credits, or a
number of non-bypassable charges. As an alternative to Net
Metering, some utilities offer buyback, export, or other value
of solar rates that vary widely in benefit to the customer. Each
utility should be reviewed individually to understand the
economics of its post-solar billing structure. Texas allows
residents to connect their solar panels to the grid and receive
credit on their utility bills for any excess electricity they
generate.
Tax Exemptions: Texas provides a 100% property tax
exemption for residential renewable energy property.
Solar Rights: Texas House Bill (HB) 362 limits homeowner
associations (HOAs) and property owners associations (POAs)
from restricting solar devices outright. To comply with this law,
homeowners that live in neighborhoods with HOAs must still
follow the normal procedures for seeking improvements,
including a written request or application to an appointed
Architecture Review Committee or similar council.
115
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.texas.gov - puc.texas.gov - www.srectrade.com

116
Utah

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: The Utah solar tax credit,

officially known as the Renewable Energy Systems Tax Credit,
covers up to 25% of the purchase and installation costs for
residential solar projects, capped at $1,600, whichever is less.
Net metering: Utah allows residents to connect their solar
panels to the grid and receive credit on their utility bills for any
excess electricity they generate.
Tax Exemptions: Utah exempts the purchase or lease of
equipment used to generate electricity from alternative
resources from the state sales tax
Solar Rights: Under the law, HOAs need to enact a special
declaration to prohibit owners of detached dwellings – meaning
homes that don't share a roof or walls with other homes – from
moving forward with solar installation.
Note: Several communities in Utah have implemented
"Solarize" programs, which offer group discounts on solar
installations to residents who sign up to participate.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
www.utah.gov - psc.utah.gov - www.srectrade.com

117
Vermont

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: The state of Vermont offers

a variety of incentives to encourage the adoption of solar
energy. These include the Vermont Clean Energy
Development Fund, which provides grants and loans for
renewable energy projects, and the Vermont Energy
Investment Corporation, which offers a variety of incentives
for residential, commercial, and industrial solar projects.
Net metering: Vermont allows residents to connect their solar
panels to the grid and receive credit on their utility bills for any
excess electricity they generate. This is known as net metering.
Tax Exemptions: Buy a new home solar system in Vermont
and your property taxes won't go up. Installing a system could
also help you build home value. Solar racking and mounting,
inverters, cables, inverter monitors, battery banks, and modules
are exempt from tax when they are part of a qualifying system.
Solar Rights: A property owner may not be denied permission
to install solar collectors or other energy devices based on
renewable resources by any entity granted the power or right in
any deed restriction, covenant, or similar binding agreement to
approve, forbid, control, or direct alteration of property.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
www.vermont.gov - puc.vermont.gov - www.srectrade.com

118
Virginia

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Solar systems in Virginia are

able to generate SRECs for as long as they remain an eligible
generator. VA SRECs have a useful life of five years. E.g. 2021
SRECs can be counted towards the 2021 through 2025
compliance periods. System owners should make sure to sell
their SRECs during that five-year period.
Net metering: Utilities in Virginia must offer net energy
metering providing compensation for monthly net excess
generation at the full retail rate. Annual net excess generation
is credited to the solar customer based on the utility’s avoided
cost rate. Total net metering is capped at six percent of utility’s
peak-load from the previous year. Annual net excess generation
is credited to the solar customer based on the utility’s avoided
cost rate.
Tax Exemptions: As of January 1, 2023, residential and
agricultural solar installations up to 25 kW will be declared a
separate class of taxable property and such facilities shall be
wholly exempt from state and local taxation. Virginia doesn't
offer sales tax exemptions.
Solar Rights: Virginia's solar rights law means that bylaws
cannot prevent homeowners from installing solar panels on
their property. The only way a homeowners' association that
does not have a rule against solar panel installation in its
recorded declaration could create such a rule would be to
change the recorded declaration.
Note: The Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) projects
6,454 MW of new solar capacity to be installed over the next 5
years. In 2020, Virginia’s Clean Economy Act was signed into

119
law requiring Dominion Energy Virginia to be 100% carbon-
free by 2045 and Appalachian Power to be 100% carbon-free
by 2050. It also requires nearly all coal-fired plants to close by
the end of 2024.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
www.virginia.gov - scc.virginia.gov - www.srectrade.com

120
Washington

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: The state of Washington

offers a variety of incentives to encourage the adoption of solar
energy. These include the Solar Production Incentive, which
provides payments to homeowners and businesses for the
electricity their solar panels generate, and the Renewable
Energy System Cost Recovery program, which allows utilities
to recover the costs of renewable energy projects through their
rates.
Net metering: Washington allows residents to connect their
solar panels to the grid and receive credit on their utility bills
for any excess electricity they generate. This is known as net
metering.
Property Tax Exemptions: Washington State does not offer
residents and property owners a property tax exemption on the
added value of their house that comes with installing new solar
panels. A 100 percent sales and use tax exemption on purchases
of machinery and equipment used directly in a solar energy
system capable of generating 10kW of electricity or less.
Installation charges are also exempt.
Solar Rights: Under the Washington Solar Rights Law, you
have a right to put solar panels on your property no matter your
borough of residence in the state.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
www.wa.gov - utc.wa.gov - www.srectrade.com

121
West Virginia

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: West Virginia offers a tax

credit for the purchase and installation of solar energy systems.
This credit is equal to 25% of the cost of the system, up to a
maximum of $2,500.
Net metering: Net metering allows residents who generate their
own solar energy to sell excess energy back to the grid. This can
help offset the costs of going solar and make it more financially
viable for homeowners.
Tax Exemptions: West Virginia does not offer property tax
exemptions for installed solar systems. West Virginia does not
have a sales tax exemption for solar energy equipment.
Solar Rights: West Virginia has laws preventing HOAs from
restricting homeowners from installing solar panels.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference -
www.wv.gov - psc.state.wv.us - www.srectrade.com

122
Wisconsin

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: Wisconsin offers a tax credit

for the purchase and installation of solar energy systems. This
credit is equal to 10% of the cost of the system, up to a
maximum of $1,000.
Net metering: Wisconsin has net metering laws in place that
allow residents who generate their own solar energy to sell
excess energy back to the grid. This can help offset the costs of
going solar and make it more financially viable for
homeowners. The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin
(PSC) requires all regulated utilities to allow net metering for
systems up to 20 kW in capacity. The order applies to investor-
owned utilities and municipal utilities, but not to electric
cooperatives.
Tax Exemptions: When you purchase and install rooftop solar
panels in Wisconsin, you won't pay any property taxes. When
you purchase a new solar array in Wisconsin, you won't pay any
state sales and use tax. The exemption is for 100% of the state
sales tax on eligible home solar energy systems, and it could
save you 5% right off the bat.
Solar Rights: Wisconsin has several laws that protect a
resident's right to install and operate a solar or wind energy
system.
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.wisconsin.gov - psc.wi.gov - www.srectrade.com

123
Wyoming

State Incentives/Rebates/SRECs: There is no market for solar

renewable energy certificates (SRECs) in the state of Wyoming.
Leafscore.com . Wyoming offers a 50% residential rebate, up
to a maximum of $3,000.
Net metering: Wyoming has net metering laws in place that
allow residents who generate their own solar energy to sell
excess energy back to the grid. This can help offset the costs of
going solar and make it more financially viable for
homeowners.
Tax Exemptions: Wyoming does not offer a statewide tax
credit, rebate program or property or sales tax exemptions for
solar. Wyoming does not offer a statewide tax credit, rebate
program or property tax exemptions however they do exempt
solar power equipment from sales taxes.
Solar Rights: The law does not permit private restrictions on
solar energy systems and homeowners associations (HOAs) are
no exception
Note: These programs and incentives may change over time, so
it's always a good idea to check with the state’s PUC (public
utilities commission) and other references listed below.
Reference
www.wyo.gov - psc.wyo.gov - www.srectrade.com

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 Glossary/Index
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ):

In the context of a construction project, like a home solar

system installation, an AHJ refers to the Authority Having
Jurisdiction, which is a person or organization responsible for
enforcing specific codes and regulations related to building
safety and compliance. The AHJ is typically a government
agency or official who has the power to approve plans, issue
permits, and conduct inspections during the construction
process to ensure that the building meets safety standards and
complies with applicable codes.

Interconnection Application:
An interconnection application is a process by which a
homeowner or business owner applies to connect their solar
energy system to the grid. The application is typically submitted
to the local utility or independent system operator (ISO), the
entity responsible for managing and maintaining the electric
grid in a certain area. An interconnection application allows a
solar energy system owner to connect their system to the grid
and get compensated for the energy they produce if it exceeds
the energy they consume. This process is crucial for integrating
distributed generation into the grid, and the local utilities or
independent system operators regulate it.

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Kilowatt-Hour (kWh):

A kilowatt-hour is a unit of energy commonly used to measure

the amount of electricity consumed by a household or building.
It represents the energy used by a 1,000-watt device for one
hour. For example, if a 100-watt light bulb is turned on for 10
hours, it would use 1 kilowatt-hour (100 watts x 10 hours =
1,000 watt-hours = 1 kilowatt-hour). The electric utility
company will charge customers based on the kilowatt-hours
they have consumed in a billing period, usually a month. It is
also used to measure electricity production by power plants,
solar panels, or wind turbines.

Net Metering:

Net metering is for homeowners who generate their solar

energy to sell excess energy back to the grid/utility. This can
help offset the costs of going solar and make it more financially
viable for homeowners.

Net Metering 3.0 (NEM3):

Net Metering 3.0, also known as NEM 3.0, is a California solar

initiative that allows solar panel owners to receive credit for the
excess energy they generate and send back to the grid. It also
allows for solar battery storage systems to store excess energy
generated during the day for use at night or during periods of
high energy demand. This initiative aims to promote the
widespread adoption of solar energy and support the
integration of renewable energy sources into California's power
grid. NEM 3.0 is expected to enable more customers to install

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solar and storage systems by fairly compensating their
contributions to the grid.

Non-Bypassable Charges (NBCs):

A non-bypassable charge is a type of fee or charge added to the

cost of electricity for all customers, whether they generate their
electricity or purchase it from the utility company. These
charges are typically used to fund specific programs or
initiatives, such as renewable energy development, low-income
energy assistance, or energy efficiency programs.
All customers benefit from these programs, even if they have
their generation source, such as solar panels, so they should all
contribute to their funding. Non-bypassable charges are
typically added to the electric bill as a separate line item and are
not based on the electricity used.
In net metering, non-bypassable charges can include costs
associated with maintaining the grid, such as transmission and
distribution costs, incurred even if the customer is generating
their electricity. These charges are typically assessed separately
from the energy consumption charges and are often mandatory
for all customers, whether they have a solar system.

Public Utilities Commission (PUC):

The public utilities commission is the governmental body that

determines utility rates and policies for a specific state. A public
utility commission (PUC) is an agency or organization that
regulates the rates, services, and overall performance of public
utilities, such as electric, gas, and water companies. The main
goal of a PUC is to ensure that the utility company provides

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safe, reliable, and reasonably priced service to its customers
while also protecting the interests of the public. PUCs also
approve or deny new projects, supervise rate changes, and
handle customer complaints. They are typically state-level
organizations, but some areas may have city or county-level
PUCs.

Photovoltaic System (PV):

A photovoltaic (PV) system, also known as a solar electric

system, is a system that converts sunlight into electricity using
solar cells. The cells, made of semiconductor materials, absorb
photons from sunlight and release electrons, which flow
through an electrical circuit to produce electricity. PV systems
can be used for various applications, including powering
homes, businesses, and other buildings and powering
streetlights, water pumps, and other equipment. They can be
connected to the grid or can be standalone systems. They can
also be used combined with other renewable energy sources
such as wind or hydropower.

Power Purchase agreement (PPA):

A solar power purchase agreement (PPA) is a financial

arrangement in which a third-party developer owns, operates,
and maintains a solar energy system on a customer's property.
The customer agrees to purchase the generated electricity at a
fixed rate for a specified period. The customer benefits by
having a reliable source of renewable energy at a known cost,
while the developer benefits by selling the electricity and
receiving a predictable revenue stream. PPAs are commonly

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used by businesses, government entities, and other
organizations to procure renewable energy.

Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC):

SRECs are a way for solar energy systems to earn credit for
their clean energy. These credits can then be sold to utilities or
other entities to help them meet their Renewable Portfolio
Standards (RPS) requirements.

Tax credit:

A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction in the income tax

that a person or company owes to the government. Tax credits
are often used as an incentive for individuals or businesses to
engage in certain activities, such as investing in renewable
energy or hiring employees from certain groups. For example,
in the United States, there is a Federal Solar Tax Credit (ITC)
that allows solar panel system owners to deduct 26% of the cost
of the system from their federal taxes. This credit helps to
offset the initial cost of installing a solar panel system and
makes it more affordable for individuals and businesses. Some
tax credits are refundable, so if the credit amount exceeds the
tax due, the excess will be refunded to the taxpayer, while some
are non-refundable, so they can only offset the tax owed and
nothing more.

Tax Exemption:

A tax exemption is a legal provision that allows certain

individuals or entities to be exempt from paying taxes on
certain types of income, property, or transactions. Tax
exemptions are often used to encourage certain behaviors or
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activities deemed beneficial to society, such as charitable giving
or investing in certain businesses. For example, in the United
States, tax-exempt organizations such as religious institutions,
educational institutions, and charitable organizations do not
have to pay federal income tax on their income. In addition,
some states and localities provide property tax exemptions for
certain types of property, such as those owned by disabled
veterans or used for certain agricultural activities.

Regulated Energy Market:

The government controls the prices and terms of service for

electricity and natural gas in a regulated energy market. This
means that utilities must provide electricity and natural gas to
all customers within their service area at a regulated,
government-approved rate. The utilities are also responsible for
the transmission and distribution of electricity and natural gas.
They are typically overseen by a regulatory body that ensures
they provide safe, reliable service at fair prices.

De-Regulated Energy Market:

In a deregulated energy market, the government allows

competition among providers to set prices and terms of service
for electricity and natural gas. This means customers can
choose their electricity and natural gas provider rather than
being stuck with the utility that serves their area. Deregulation
allows for more competition among energy providers, which
can lead to lower prices and more options for customers.

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Solar Batteries:

A solar battery is a type of energy storage device used with a

solar energy system. It stores the excess energy generated by
the solar panels during the day, so it can be used later when the
sun is not shining. They store energy in a chemical form, which
can be converted back into electricity when needed.

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Acknowledgements

I want to acknowledge a few people that have made this book

possible. First, my amazing wife, Stefanie. Thank you for your
support and your willingness to ride the entrepreneur roller-
coaster with me.
Special thanks to Steve Biggins for teaching me much of what
I know about the solar industry and coaching me though many
of the challenges I’ve had along the way. In an industry filled
with charlatans and shit-bags, Steve, you are one of the good
ones! Special shout out to Ian Saunders and Juaquin Costa.
Each of these 3 men have helped me to navigate the
complexities of the solar industry with integrity and class. Each
of them are industry experts who teach their solar sales agent
students how to provide the best possible experience for the
homeowner while creating a financial win for themselves. In
doing so, they are helping to bring a new level of honesty and
integrity to the residential solar industry.

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 About the Author

Adam Chandler is an expert solar advisor and the creator

of www.theNetZeroHome.com
When exposed to residential solar as a professional
entrepreneur of 15 years and discovering all the possibilities, as
well as the many challenges, Adam saw an industry screaming
for disruptive change and real leadership. As well as the need
for honest communication, education, and a new level of
integrity. He believes that the solar industry can do better and
must do better in order to reach mass-market adoption in the
U.S. The only way that will happen is by moving away from the
red-line model that gouges homeowners for every penny and
by exposing the business practices and sales tactics that have
given the industry a bad name in many markets across the
country. As you will learn throughout this book, Adam is
passionate about education, entrepreneurship, sales &
marketing, and renewable energy. He does not hide the fact that
he is motivated by long-term financial success in the solar
industry. Which he believes will only happen by educating
homeowners and treating them with respect throughout their
solar journey. As well as by attracting ethical solar agents and
building a sales team that is centered around integrity and
driven to provide the best possible experience and outcome for
our solar customers.
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