What Are the Steps to Installing a PV Solar Electric System?

• We first need to determine your annual energy use. You can easily obtain this information from your utility provider by referencing the monthly bills you currently receive, calling your utility and asking for a monthly breakdown of your usage history, or by logging into your account on your utility’s website.

• PG&E customers may call 1-800-743-5000 to speak with an agent to get a “billing” history (press zero twice as soon as the phone connects to speak with an agent). Ask for your monthly kWh electric usage for the past 12-month period. Another way is to create an account at www.pge.com and download your yearly electrical usage.

• Please verify that your roof is in good shape. If it is not, the best time to re-roof is just before installing a PV solar system.

• Your solar installer should provide you with an analysis of the economic solar payback of your future solar electric system. This will help determine the financial viability of your solar system. If your electric bill is high, solar can be beneficial on financial terms alone.

• Willow Glen Electric will then design a PV system to net out the average annual electric bill (within your roof’s limits). Other options are to size a system that fits your budget and/or future goals. Shading will need to be avoided, as it has the biggest negative impact on a solar system’s performance.

• You will need to complete a California Solar Initiative online energy audit and provide us with a summary print out of recommendations. This must be submitted with the solar rebate paperwork.

• Willow Glen Electric will reserve your solar rebate as soon as you sign an installation agreement. The sooner this is done, the better, as rebates drop over time.

• After your system is installed, the local building inspector must check the installation and sign off on the permit. Next, a net energy metering interconnection agreement must be signed between you and your utility. A new bi-directional meter will be installed. After the permit and rebate form is signed, the rebate final signed version of the solar rebate paperwork is submitted by Willow Glen Electric to secure your solar rebate.