The solar installation process

So, you finalize your contract with your solar installer – what next? While installing a residential solar panel system will only take 1-2 days on average, there are a few additional steps in the installation process that can stretch your installation timeline out to 2-3 months.

• Engineering site visit: your solar company will visit your house and inspect your roof and electrical system to make sure you’re ready for solar (and potentially storage!).
• Permitting: your installer will work with local jurisdictions to ensure they pull the proper permits to solarize your home. Depending on your area, this could include building permits, electrical permits, or solar-specific permits.
• Ordering equipment: as soon as your paperwork is complete and approved, your installer will place an order for your preferred equipment with their distributor.
• Install: your installer will prep your roof and electrical panel before attaching racking, mounting your panels, and connecting your inverter. For the average residential system the process takes 1-2 days, but it could be more depending on weather conditions, whether you’re installing a battery system, and more.
• Inspection: a representative from your local government will come out to your property to inspect your system and ensure it’s up to code.
• Interconnection & permission to operate (PTO): similar to the permitting process, your installer will handle the legwork for this step directly with your utility company and apply to get your solar panels connected to the grid. Once your utility grants you permission to operate (PTO), you can turn on your system and watch as electric bill savings roll in.

Learn more about the solar installation process