The journey to solar is a very rewarding one. However, with more and more solar panels going up on roofs or ground mounts in our neighborhoods, many people assume that installing a solar project is a simple, quick process.
At ReVision Energy, we take pride in designing and installing clean energy projects that are tailored to each customer's specific home needs and energy goals. While each project follows the same steps and timeline, they can each face unique obstacles for our team to navigate.
To help our Solar Champions know what to expect when going solar with ReVision, we have created this 6-step guide to solar installations. We want to transparently educate the solar-curious on what the process of going solar realistically looks like, from start to finish. As always, reach out to our Solar Advisor team if you have any questions.
(Please include your address and phone number in the email so our Solar Advisors can connect you with the right branch!)
Once you have contacted ReVision Energy, you’ll hear from a Solar Advisor via phone or email to discuss your energy goals and motivation for going solar. They’ll use your address and a recent electric bill to create a basic modeling of your home’s solar potential. Based on available space and your family’s energy use, the advisor will create a preliminary project design, factoring in roof shading, pitch, and orientation. This will include an estimate of your energy bill savings potential.
If your home and energy goals are compatible with solar, the Solar Advisor will then schedule a site visit with one of our Solar Design Specialists, who will schedule a visit to your home (virtual or in-person) for more detailed discussion and modeling of the solar possibilities.
A Solar Design Specialist is your personal solar consultant: they are focused on developing a system model that equally prioritizes your needs and matches the specifications of your home. Your designer will identify and propose creative solutions when conditions limit the system size needed to match your energy goals (like adding a heat pump for temperature control, or battery storage for use during power outages).
When creating your system design, your solar designer will walk you through specific financing options and available incentives. They will ultimately share a detailed project proposal with you, based on your conversations, goals, and the specifics of your home.
Your project is designed to optimize panel performance and long-term savings based on the information gathered during your home evaluation. Some of the key factors that impact your unique design include:
Your proposal will outline system size, panel placement, and estimated energy offset.
After finalizing your system details, our Customer Experience team will help with navigate signing your contract and become your primary contact in the months leading up to installation. Applying for interconnection is a key step in this part of the process. We will walk you through the interconnection application process required for your utility, which will allow you to receive billing credits once your project is turned on.
You’ll also get scheduled for a second, more technical site visit that involves taking photos and measurements needed for our detailed planning around electrical equipment and the nitty-gritty specifics of your roof. If it is required in your state, we’ll share a Professional Engineering (PE) Analysis of your roof structure, using the data obtained during your Technical Site Visit.
The design packet serves as an instructional manual for our team of installers; it is also used to request permits from your town or city when applying for grid interconnection through your utility provider.
When you go under contract you will be added to our installation queue, and we will give you a window of time during which you can expect your installation to happen. It is usually several weeks between contract and scheduling, although exact time varies by project. Our Customer Experience team will be in touch with you frequently to prepare you for your installation as you wait in our queue.
When your installation window approaches, we will work with you to schedule the exact date that works for you. We will also share a reminder of the equipment we’ll be installing, per your contract, and answer any questions as you prepare for the big day.
To help your installation go smoothly, you prepare your home by:
Installation can be a day-long or multi-day event, depending on the size of your system and any required structural or electrical upgrades. We ask only that you try to be available when the crew first arrives to meet your Crew Lead for an overview of the final installation plan. After that they’ll be happy to interact and answer your questions throughout the day(s), but you don’t need to stay at the house.
An installation day typically begins between 8:00 and 9:00 am and ends around 4:00 pm. Installation shouldn’t impact you until we’ve reached the final step of install, when our crew will require a momentary power outage for us to safely complete the electrical tie-in of your system (your Crew Lead will tell you when to expect this).
After getting onto your roof, preparing it for safe and accurate attachment of equipment, the crew will install the electrical wiring that we’ll later connect to your home’s electric panel. They will then install the racking for the panels, followed by the panels themselves.
Your completed system looks great and is ready to do its job! There's just one last bit of red tape standing between you and all the rewards of going solar: we need to schedule a final inspection with your local building department. A member of our Operations Team will be there to meet the inspectors, but this process does require access to your home, so we’ll work with you to find good timing.
After your home and system pass inspection, we will request project review from your utility provider and within six weeks or less they’ll connect your system to the grid. We then receive Permission to Operate (PTO) within 24 hours. At this point we’ll share an operating guide with you, including instructions on how to activate your system and monitor its production.
You’re now officially a Solar Champion, joining the ranks of a community unlike any other. We’re honored to have you here! Your system comes with warranties and genuine, long-term service from our dedicated Service and Support department. If you run into any issues or have questions about your system and production, you can reach out to our team anytime.
