Solar Power FAQ

Capturing sunlight and converting it to electricity is a clean, pollution-free, efficient, and affordable way to power your home or business, and it helps stabilize the electric grid. It can increase your home value and lower your electric bills. Best of all, going solar is more affordable than ever with tax credits, solar rebates, net metering programs, declining panel costs, and flexible financing options.

Solar panels are most productive when South facing given our location North of the equator. However, anything from due East to just past due West is a productive solar window.

The only non-penetrating roof application is on a standing seam metal roof. On all others we use a very reliable roof flashing made especially for solar mounting systems.

Standing seam metal is probably the best roof material, but we frequently work with composition shingle and have a lot of experience with clay tile.

They do not. Off-grid or battery backup solutions are available and your energy consultant will be happy to go over those with you.

This depends on your utility company, local jurisdictions, your existing electrical service, and the type of panels you choose. Our energy consultants will create a custom proposal for you that includes system size, design, costs, benefits, financing options, and the available federal, state, and local incentives such as tax credits and rebates. We will walk you through the proposal during your appointment, which will take place at your home, at our solar design center, or virtually over the phone and online.

At a very high level, we can tell you that most of our customers tend to finance their investment and can do so with no money out of pocket and a payment that is often below their energy savings from day one. Our cash customers typically see a payback in 5-12 years, and an IRR that exceeds what the general stock market has historically returned over the last 70 years.

It depends on if your utility offers such a program – this is something our energy consultants can research for you.

A solar panel efficiency rating measures how much sunlight a solar panel can convert into electricity.

Efficiency for different manufacturers and types of panels ranges from about 12% to over 20%.

Freedom Solar is proud to sell only solar products with the highest efficiency. For example, REC’s solar panels range in efficiency from 19% to 22%.

In some cases, yes they do. This is simply based on your available roof surfaces, their direction towards the sun and shading profile.

Freedom Solar is locally owned and operated, founded in 2007 by brothers-in-law who were born and raised in Austin, Texas. After growing throughout the state of Texas, we expanded to nationally on our commercial division and Florida for residential operations. We have completed projects for commercial clients including Whole Foods, the University of Texas, and The United States Air Force, along with thousands of residential solar panel projects. We take pride in providing quality parts and service throughout the turn-key installation process and most importantly, servicing your solar array after the installation is complete. We believe in going above and beyond to exceed the customer’s expectations and give the best possible customer service.

Maxeon solar panels convert more sunlight to electricity, producing 44% more power per panel, and 75% more energy per square foot over 25 years.

They are highly efficient panels and Maxeon provides a 25-year complete coverage warranty on all their products, that also ensures a maintained energy output of at least 92% of their original production over the 25-year lifetime.

25 years bumper to bumper coverage includes power production, product coverage, and service/labor. If any issues, which are rare, arise with your array, Freedom Solar replaces the product on behalf of the manufacturer. Our Complete Freedom Warranty differentiates Freedom Solar from other companies. Additionally, Freedom Solar provides a lifetime transferable warranty on the solar panel installation.

Texas ownership, superior products, best warranty, outstanding customer service, and the most experience. But don’t take it from us – see what our customers have to say. We’re proud to be rated the #1 solar contractor in Texas.

There are a lot of options out there, and we have done a careful job to curate our solar panel offering.

We only offer products and services that we can stand behind with 25-year performance, product and workmanship warranty.

For example, we sell Maxeon panels, a US-based company with some of the most efficient solar panels in the world, among others.

We will help you maximize the resale value that solar panels add to your home. Our certified solar appraisal documents with all the details buyers need on your system, performance, and warranty, which is fully transferable to the buyer. We can also consult with your realtor to help them explain the value of your solar installation.

Listen to our podcast with Marc Richmond of Texas Green Realty to learn more about appraising your solar system and how to maximize resale value.

Another important difference for both production and consumption is that the utility can only measure what passes through its meter. If your utility offers net metering or similar buyback options, the utility will only credit you for excess generation that passes through its meter back to the grid. In other words, if your home uses electricity generated by your solar panels, this electricity will not show up on your utility bill. Similarly, your utility will only report on energy delivered through its meter to your home. The utility will debit you for the energy you consume from the grid when your energy needs exceed your solar generation (or at night). If you have consumption monitoring installed, your consumption data will be higher than what the utility reports because your solar monitor is reporting all your consumption whether it came from the grid or from your solar array. If the values are wildly different from each other and cannot be explained by the scenarios above, you may be experiencing one of the following issues:

• Incorrect configuration of the solar monitor
• Solar monitor calibration issue
• Utility meter calibration issue

If you have questions or are concerned about your monitoring, please contact our Service Department.

While you don’t need to be home for the entire installation appointment, we will need an adult present to let our team into the attic space or grant us any other necessary access to your property.

Many customers who can’t be home arrange for us to have access by leaving the garage door open or providing a key to a neighbor who can let us in.

Having someone on-site for at least the start of your appointment allows our technicians to work more efficiently and ensures we can complete your installation correctly.

If there is any conduit to be run inside your attic, garage, or other location where the conduit will be run. Likewise, if any equipment (such as the solar inverter(s) or a battery backup) is to be mounted inside (such as a garage), we will need access to that space. Otherwise, you are not required to be present during the installation.

We will let you know the estimated arrival time of the crew for your installation. If there are any locked gates that would restrict access to areas we need to work, we ask that these be left unlocked (if possible) if you will not be home. If there are any gate codes (to access your community, for instance) please share those with us before the installation start date.

Please ensure that your pets are secured for the duration of the work anytime our employees are onsite. If we arrive at your house and see that there is an unsecured animal in the work area, we will knock on the door and ask you to put your animal away. If you are not home and the pet is loose in the work area, we will attempt to contact you but will not enter. If we cannot complete our scheduled work due to a loose pet, you may be charged a $250.00 trip fee. Please respect this company policy to help us keep your pets and our employees safe!

Our team will be in touch with you about the remaining steps to get your system on. These steps vary depending on your utility and local jurisdiction. Upon passage of any necessary inspections we will provide instructions about how to energize your system. After the system is energized, you will be given access to your monitoring portal.

The final step of the process is the Launch Meeting, which will be scheduled with our Customer Care team.

You’ll receive an email with a scheduling link and final documentation about your system, called a Launch Packet.

This packet contains your system design, product, and warranty information, final payment receipt, and contact info for our teams should you need service in the future.

Depending on the steps required by your utility and local jurisdiction, a site inspection may be required. After those bureaucratic hurdles are complete, we will provide instructions about how to energize your system.

The installation itself typically takes 1-3 days, but there are various steps and different parties involved that go into powering your home with solar. Rest assured, we work to make the process go as fast as possible. On average, customers can expect it to take a total of 3-6 months from signing the contract to the system powering their home. This timeline is typical for the solar industry due to increased demand for home solar. Along with a site assessment of your home to get a custom design, there are additional permitting and approval steps with the city and utility. Click here to learn more about the installation timeline.

If you have any questions, you can reach our Customer Care team by email at [email protected], or by phone at 1 (833) 500-0014.

Our knowledgeable team is available to answer any questions you may have about your solar panel installation or ongoing system installation and operation. Please don’t hesitate to reach out!

You will be continuously updated on the progress of your solar installation through the project tracker in your myFreedom account, as well as via email or phone calls.

The project tracker inside myFreedom provides real-time updates at each stage of the process so you can monitor the status of your installation. It will automatically update as our team completes each milestone from permitting to inspection to final PTO.

Our Customer Care team can answer any questions you have along the way, so don’t hesitate to reach out to them at [email protected] or 1 (833) 500-0014.

Our Customer Care team will be in touch with you about the remaining steps to get your system turned on.

These steps vary depending on your utility and local jurisdiction.

Upon passage of any necessary inspections, and we will provide instructions about how to energize your system, and you will be given access to an online monitoring portal to track your solar output in real-time.

For the site assessment, we only need access to the areas of your property that are relevant for the solar panel installation. This `may` include:

• Roof: We’ll need to access the roof sections where we plan to mount the solar panel system. This allows us to inspect the roof condition and take precise measurements. If there are multiple roof planes, we’ll need access to each area.
• Electrical panel: We’ll need to access your main electrical panel to evaluate your current setup and plan for interconnecting the solar system.
• Drone flight path: Our drone needs a small amount of airspace above the installation areas for assessment. We ensure the drone stays directly over your property.
• Solar site: If designing a ground mount solar system, we’d need access to the planned installation site to analyze sunlight, terrain, etc.
• Attic: We may need brief access to your attic in order to take photos of the rafters/trusses to complete a structural analysis. Our site assessor will let you know if attic access is required for your specific project.

Absolutely! Once we’ve assessed your home and energy needs, we will provide a computer generated design showing how the solar panel system will look on your roof.

The rendering will include:

• Panel placement and layout
• Number of panels and overall system size
• Panel tilt angles and orientation
• Access pathways and spacing
• Roof obstructions avoidance
• String inverter/microinverter location
• Conduit routing

A dedicated member of our design team will call you, and you can give us feedback on the layout. We’ll work with our engineers until you’re satisfied with the design.

The installation itself typically takes 1-3 days, but there are various steps and different parties involved that go into powering your home with solar.

Rest assured, we work to make the process go as fast as possible. On average, customers can expect it to take a total of 3-6 months from signing the contract to the system powering their home. This timeline is typical for the solar industry due to increased demand for home solar, and at times it can take longer than 6 months.

Along with a site assessment of your home to get a custom design, there are additional permitting and approval steps with the city and utility. Click here to learn more about the installation timeline.

Typically, the only paperwork we require from you is your signed contract and a copy of your recent electricity bill showing your last 12 months of usage, or as many as you have available if less than 12. This allows us to analyze your historical energy usage and properly size your solar system.

We may need additional documents based on your specific project, like a plat survey for ground mount systems. Our Customer Care team will let you know if there are any additional documents needed before we can begin designing your array.

When we come out to inspect your home, we’ll check if your electrical system needs any upgrades to handle the extra power from solar panels. We’ll also get up on the roof to evaluate its condition and measure the roof space to design an optimal solar layout. We’ll use a drone with specialized software to get accurate data. We’ll check for any nearby trees or buildings that could cause shading and reduce your solar production.

After the inspection, we’ll explain anything we found that could affect your solar system. We’ll update your production estimate based on the specifics of your home, and ensure you feel confident in your decision to join the solar revolution.

Yes, you are required to be home for the site assessment so you can grant us access to certain areas of your home.

For example:

• We need access to your attic in order to take photos of the structural framing.
• We need to take pictures of any interior electrical subpanels.
• If mounting any equipment like Powerwalls in your garage, we need photos inside the garage space to plan the layout.

We appreciate you taking the time to be present for the site assessment. This allows for a smoother appointment and more comprehensive property analysis, so we can help you be more powerful.

If you haven’t received the email with your solar site assessment time, here are some tips:

• Check your spam or junk mail folder. Sometimes appointment emails can get filtered there by accident.
• Reach out to our scheduling team at [email protected]. They can look up your appointment details and resend the confirmation.
• Call our customer care line at 1 (833) 500-0014. Our team can assist with getting your assessment time scheduled and confirmed.

To confirm the appointment, simply respond directly to the email you receive or give our Customer Care team a call at 1 (833) 500-0014.

If you need to reschedule the assessment for any reason connect with scheduling by emailing [email protected].

Yes, you will be given the opportunity to give design approval prior to installation.

Our dedicated design team member will call you to discuss the design and answer any initial questions you have. It’s a collaborative process—we want to get your feedback and make sure you’re fully satisfied.

Please note, if we’re unable to reach you after five phone call attempts and don’t receive a response to our email with your attached design, we’ll move forward with the proposed design of your panels.

If you happen to miss the initial call from our design specialist, no worries at all! We completely understand life gets busy.

Our dedicated design team will make several attempts to connect with you and review the proposed design:

• They will call you up to 5 times over a span of three days in the morning and evening.
• If they don’t reach you on the first call, they’ll send an email with your attached design. You’re welcome to reply back to this email to approve your solar array.
• If we’re unable to to reach you after 5 phone calls, we’ll leave you a voicemail letting you know we’re moving forward with the original design developed based on the site assessment data. This initial design is carefully crafted to maximize solar production on your home.

Please don’t hesitate to call us back directly if you see a missed call or email—we really want to hear your feedback! Our goal is a design optimized for your home and preferences.

The time it takes for a city or county to approve solar permits can vary widely, typically ranging from a few weeks to a few months.

Factors such as local regulations, workload, and the complexity of your solar panel system can influence the approval timeline. We’ll keep you updated via your myFreedom account, and send emails to the address we have on file.

As your turnkey professional solar installer, we handle all communications and interactions with the utility company on your behalf, so there is no need to connect with your utility company.

Our team will take care of the necessary paperwork, approvals, and coordination with the utility to ensure a smooth and hassle-free connection of your solar panel system to the grid.

There may be times when you need to sign documents to move your utility paperwork along—we’ll notify you when your participation is required. Otherwise, your job is simply to enjoy the benefits of your new solar panel system while we handle the rest!

Absolutely! Here is what you can expect from us in terms of permit status updates:

• Permit submission: We’ll let you know as soon as your permit applications are submitted
• Requests for additional information: If anyone asks for any clarification or supplemental documents, we’ll reach out right away to gather what they need.
• Approval notification: You’ll hear from us as soon as we receive official notice that your permits have been approved.

Communication will be ongoing while your permits are issued, via realtime updates in your customer portal and through email. Please reach out to us if you ever have any questions or concerns during the review process. We know how important these updates are!

The time it takes to review and approve permits is up to each local building department, so we are unable to expedite any permits. Some may have quicker turnaround times than others based on their current workload and processes.

The good news is that we’re solar experts who submit the most complete and compliant permit application possible to try to minimize any delays. We’ll also stay in close communication with the various departments throughout the process to provide any needed clarification and updates in a timely manner.

While we can’t expedite the permitting itself, what we can promise is clear ongoing communication with you so you know what to expect throughout the process

There are a few things that could potentially delay the permitting process for your solar installation:

• Permit backlog: Some building departments may have a significant backlog of permits to review, which could slow things down. We’ll follow up with them regularly to try to expedite the process.
• Requests for additional information: The building department may request clarification or additional details during their review. In smaller jurisdictions, the building department may just be learning about how solar permitting works. We’ll work closely with them to provide anything they need as quickly as possible.
• Roof structural analysis: If required, the structural roof analysis done by an engineer could take some time and delay the permit approval. We’ll try to get this scheduled and completed promptly.
• HOA approval: If your homeowners association needs to approve the solar installation, their review process could add some time as well. We’ll coordinate with them right away to get the ball rolling.

While delays are possible, we’ll do everything we can to minimize them and keep your permit moving through the approval process as quickly as we can, and inform you as soon as your applications have been approved.

Typically, we’ll handle all the HOA communication and coordination for you.

To make things smoother, feel free to provide your HOA portal login and contact info in the account settings in your myFreedom account. That way, our solar team can easily reach out to them on your behalf.

Some HOA’s have unique requirements for solar panel applications, such as collecting the signatures of your neighbors, that we may need your assistance with. We’ll let you know if your HOA is asking for anything like this.

Other than those rare instances, we’ll take care of submitting any required HOA paperwork and securing approvals. Solar installation just got easier!

The number of installation days can vary based on the size of your system. In general, our team can fully install a standard sized residential solar array in 1 dedicated workday. For larger systems, it may take 2 to 3 days.

We’ll do our best to communicate proactively about any factors that may push your installation timeline out, and weather is always a factor—we can’t install on rainy or extremely windy days. Our goal is always to provide realistic schedule expectations, and keep you informed of your timeline and any delays.

Our fully licensed and insured solar installation crew will be the ones completing the work at your home. A typical installation team consists of:

• A crew lead/foreman: The head installer who oversees the project and crew.
• Installers: Our trained solar panel installers who will do the majority of the installation work.
• Electricians: Our certified electricians responsible for wiring and connections.

We do background checks on all staff that will access your property—safety and security is our top priority.

You will maintain power throughout most of the solar installation process. However, there will likely be a 4-6 hour planned shutdown when we tie your solar system into your home’s main electrical panel.

During this final hookup, we will need to safely shut off power from the grid so our electricians can complete the connections. We give advance notice before any outage.

No, your solar panels will not be fully operational and producing energy immediately after the installation.

Your system will need to pass all necessary inspections before we officially activate and turn on your solar panels. We’ll take care of scheduling inspections, and update you via the project tracker in your myFreedom account.

The finish line of solar is called PTO, or Permission to Operate from your utility company. Once we pass all system inspections, we will update the project tracker, so you will be able to access your Permission to Operate letter, and enjoy the benefits of going solar.

The typical solar inspections required include:

City inspection: Required by your city or authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) to close out any electrical or building permits required for the installation.
Utility inspection: Required by your utility company to approve grid interconnection.

We will schedule all the required inspections with the relevant electrical, city, county, and state authorities.

The inspectors will only need access to the areas relevant to the solar installation. They do not need full access to your entire property.

Typically, the inspectors will review:

• Roof area: Where the solar panels are mounted
• Outside the home: Where any conduit runs from the roof to the electrical panel
• Electrical panel: Where the solar system ties in
• Attic space: If wiring runs through it

They may also want to see areas in the home near the electrical panel, like the garage or utility room.

The full approval process for your new solar system usually takes 2-4 weeks from the time installation is completed, depending on the required inspections for your location. Here’s what to expect:

• Local inspections: After installation, your city/county building department will need to inspect the system and approve it meets electrical and fire codes.
• Utility inspections: Your energy utility company will also need to inspect the system and approve your interconnection agreement before turning the system on.
• Final sign off: After passing inspections and testing, we can complete the final approval process and officially activate your solar system.

Some of the key things solar inspectors look for during the inspection process are:

Roof structure and attachments: They will check that the roof can structurally support the panel weight and that mountings are properly secured.
Electrical connections: They confirm all wiring is up to code, properly sized, and adequately protected.
Voltage and currents: They test that voltage and currents are within expected ranges throughout the system.
Safety features: They check that all required safety mechanisms like shut off switches are installed and functional.
Panel condition: They inspect panels for any damage sustained during installation.
Inverter operation: They ensure the inverter is working properly to convert the solar energy into usable electricity.
Meter connection: They confirm the meter is correctly allowing energy to flow both ways.
Waterproofing: They check areas where roof or walls were penetrated to confirm proper seals.

The goal is to verify all solar components were installed correctly and safely.

For most inspections you are not required to be home, and there is very little you need to do on your end to prepare. We recommend:

Clear access to electrical panels: Make sure the area around your main electrical panel is clear so the inspector can easily access it.
Remove pets: For safety, please secure any pets away from the inspection areas.
Charge devices beforehand: There may be brief planned power shutdowns as part of inspection.

Yes, the inspection will be scheduled on a specific day, and our team will take care of scheduling it for you.

You will be notified of the inspection date and details via email, as well as through updates on your project tracker in your myFreedom account.

For most inspections, you do not need to be home, as inspectors are only assessing the exterior of the property.

However, some jurisdictions may require entry to the attic or roof during the inspection. You or another adult would need to be home to provide the inspector access.

We’ll let you know at the time of scheduling if you need to be on site.

We will notify you as soon as we receive the results of the solar inspection via email and the updates in your myFreedom account.

You can count on us to keep you informed each step of the way until your system is fully signed off!

If any part of your solar system fails inspection, our team will take the necessary steps to resolve the issues and schedule your reinspection.

If any corrections need to be made to your system in order to pass the inspection, our scheduler will reach out to you to send a technician to address these issues. Rest assured our team has experience navigating this smoothly, and will keep you updated via email and your myFreedom account.

Your inspection is typically requested very soon after installation is completed, and you’ll be updated on your date and time via email and in your myFreedom account. Please note that the inspection date is dictated by the availability of your city and utility inspection departments.

Rest assured we attempt to get the soonest possible inspection appointment time!

Yes, most solar power systems are designed to be expandable so you can add more solar panels or batteries in the future.

Let us know if expansion plans are on your horizon, and we’ll get you taken care of!

To request service or speak with someone from our Service Department, please visit our service department page and fill out our form describing your request. A representative from our team will get back to you shortly to schedule service or answer any questions.

Our qualified service technicians are available to provide assistance, troubleshoot any issues, and promptly take care of repairs whenever needed.

No, you do not need to worry about registering the warranty for your solar system.

Our team takes care of that entire process for you, and can answer any questions about your warranty during your launch meeting.

The solar panels themselves produce direct current (DC) electricity, but our homes run on alternating current (AC) provided by the grid. Here’s why there’s a mismatch and how we convert between the two:

• Panel operation: Solar cells generate DC power when exposed to sunlight. This is their natural mode of operation.
• AC power grid: The utility grid delivers AC power for compatibility with our home’s outlets and appliances.
• Inverter’s role: An inverter is needed to convert the DC solar power into usable AC power for your home.
• Automatic conversion: The inverter seamlessly receives the DC input from panels and inverts it into grid-quality AC power.
• Matched systems: We properly size and match the inverter to your panel system to efficiently handle the conversion.

So in summary, we need the inverter as the bridge between the DC solar system and AC home grid.

We will notify you by email and update your Project Tracker as soon as your solar system receives PTO (Permission to Operate) from your utility company` and is fully approved.

PTO is the final step in the interconnection process where you receive approval from the utility to activate your solar system and begin generating electricity.

Procedures, rules, and regulations can vary by utility, but we’ll provide you with clear notification as we navigate the ins and outs of your utility company for a seamless installation experience.

You should start seeing energy production from your new solar panels very soon after the system is launched and activated. It can take a few months for your system to fully integrate, and for you to get an overview of `what` you can expect your production levels to be.

If you have questions or are concerned about your monitoring, please contact our Service Department and select “I am concerned about my system’s production but there are no visible alerts or errors” on the form.

Even with solar panels, most homeowners will still receive an electric bill each month, however, panels allow you to rely less on the grid and reduce your monthly utility charges.

A few reasons you may still receive an electric bill are:

• Solar panels need sunlight to generate electricity, so they won’t produce power at night or on cloudy days.
• Most solar panel systems are connected to the utility grid, so you’ll still have to pay any fees charged by the utility for maintaining infrastructure and customer service.
• Unless you have battery storage, excess solar electricity produced during the day can’t be used at night when solar isn’t generating power.
• Finally, unless your utility offers net metering, you won’t get credit for sending excess solar power back to the grid.

That said, solar panels can still significantly lower your electricity costs. The more sunlight your panels get, the more solar power they’ll generate to offset grid electricity usage. And with options like battery storage and net metering, you can further reduce bills by storing solar energy for nighttime use and earning credits for excess solar generation.

Your panel type will tell you the monitoring app you’ll need to download to keep track of your system performance remotely and stay informed about your solar energy output.

If you have Maxeon panels, you can follow this link to download the myMaxeon monitoring app, and learn more about monitoring your panels.

If you have Mission Solar panels, you’ll want to use this link to download the Enphase Enlighten monitoring app.

Please ensure that your pets are secured for the duration of the work anytime our employees are onsite.

If we arrive at your house and see that there is an unsecured animal in the work area, we will knock on the door and ask you to put your animal away. If you are not home and the pet is loose in the work area, we will attempt to contact you but will not enter.

If we cannot complete our scheduled work due to a loose pet, you may be charged a $250.00 trip fee. This policy keeps our employees and your pets safe.

Inspection dates are determined by the city or utility, and we have limited flexibility to make adjustments. Any rescheduling requests are dependent upon city or utility availability and could result in significant delays to your project.`

`If you need to reschedule an inspection, please reach out to [email protected]. Our team will coordinate with the city or utility to find an alternate appointment, and notify you by email of your new time.

We can arrange for our crew lead to meet with you on site on the first day of the installation to go over proposed conduit runs and equipment locations.

Our scheduling team will contact you to confirm your installation schedule and who will be on-site at your home.

Our dedicated, in-house service department is here to keep your system running smoothly and to make your life easier.

All of our Service Technicians are full-time, background-checked, fully insured employees—we do not use sub-contractors or temps for our standard servicing work. Contact us online or call 833-500-0014.

We can de-install and re-install solar PV systems regardless of make, model, or previous installation company.

Our team of 100% full-time Freedom Solar employees will coordinate with your remodel or roofing contractor. We offer free system diagnostic inspection during service and will return your system to equal or better performance. Contact us before work begins.

Between Freedom Solar and the solar panel manufacturer, you will receive a 25-year bumper to bumper warranty, including coverage for power production, product coverage, and workmanship. If any issues, which are rare, arise with your array, Freedom Solar will communicate with the manufacturer on your behalf.

The Complete Freedom Warranty differentiates Freedom Solar from other companies. Additionally, Freedom Solar provides a lifetime transferable warranty on the solar panel installation.

A critter guard is a protective system designed to keep pests and animals from interfering with solar panel installations.

To get a quote on adding critter guard protection to your existing solar panels, contact our team. We’ll assess your setup and provide next steps to schedule installation.

There are a few reasons why your electricity bill may still be higher in summer even with solar panels:

• Increased Energy Use – Summer often involves more AC use, appliances running, long days, etc. This can outpace solar output.
• Peak Rates – Some utilities charge higher peak rates in summer afternoons/evenings when solar production is declining but demand is still high.
• Overcast Weather – More cloudy, rainy days in summer can periodically reduce solar output.
• Roof Orientation – Panels facing east or west are less aligned with the summer sun’s path than true south.

While solar panels can drastically reduce your summer electricity costs, some higher use and billing factors may remain. Careful load management, battery storage and checking your billing plan can help optimize summer savings. But seasonal fluctuation is to be expected.

Adding a battery storage component to your existing solar array is a great way to maximize clean energy usage and provide backup power.

Contact your energy consultant to add a Tesla Powerwall or Enphase IQ 5P.

Congratulations on a successful solar install!

We recommend you take a look at our blog post, How to Read Solar Electric Bills, to learn how to accurately read your electric bill. To learn more about solar energy buyback plans, click here.

Our team of solar experts are standing by, so please reach out to our Customer Care team for information regarding your specific utility bill.

File Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits and your paid in full invoice with your tax return to claim the credit. You should claim the credit for the tax year when the property is installed, not merely purchased.

The credit is not refundable or transferrable, so the credit amount you receive can’t exceed the amount you owe in tax. You can carry forward any excess unused credit, though, and apply it to reduce the tax you owe in future years.

Please reach out to your tax advisor or accountant if you have further questions regarding the federal tax credit for solar and battery installations.

We’ll send you an email to let you know the estimated arrival time of the crew for your installation

If there are any locked gates that would restrict access to areas we need to work, we ask that these be left unlocked (if possible) if you will not be home. If there are any gate codes (to access your community, for instance), please share those with us before the installation start date by updating your myFreedom account. 

Please ensure that your pets are secured for the duration of the work anytime our employees are onsite.

If we arrive at your house and see that there is an unsecured animal in the work area, we will knock on the door and ask you to put your animal away. If you are not home and a pet is loose in the work area, we will attempt to contact you but will not enter.

If we cannot complete our scheduled work due to a loose pet, you may be charged a $250 trip fee. This policy keeps our employees and your pets safe.

We can de-install and re-install solar PV systems regardless of make, model, or previous install company. Our team of 100% full-time Freedom Solar employees will coordinate with your contractor. We offer free system diagnostic inspection during service and will return your system to equal or better performance. Contact us before work begins.

We will help you maximize the resale value that solar panels add to your home. Our certified solar appraisal documents with all the details buyers need on your system, performance, and warranty, which is fully transferable to the buyer. We can also consult with your realtor to help them explain the value of your solar installation.

Listen to our podcast with Marc Richmond of Texas Green Realty to learn more about appraising your solar system and how to maximize resale value.

Our dedicated, in-house service department is here to keep your system running smoothly and to make your life easier. All of our Service Technicians are full-time, background-checked, fully insured employees – we do not use sub-contractors or temps. Contact us online or call 512-220-8219.

Another important difference for both production and consumption is that the utility can only measure what passes through its meter. If your utility offers net metering or similar buyback options, the utility will only credit you for excess generation that passes through its meter back to the grid. In other words, if your home uses electricity generated by your solar panels, this electricity will not show up on your utility bill. Similarly, your utility will only report on energy delivered through its meter to your home. The utility will debit you for the energy you consume from the grid when your energy needs exceed your solar generation (or at night). If you have consumption monitoring installed, your consumption data will be higher than what the utility reports because your solar monitor is reporting all your consumption whether it came from the grid or from your solar array. If the values are wildly different from each other and cannot be explained by the scenarios above, you may be experiencing one of the following issues:

• Incorrect configuration of the solar monitor
• Solar monitor calibration issue
• Utility meter calibration issue

If you have questions or are concerned about your monitoring, please contact our Service Department.