These questions were originally created by the American Solar Energy Society. We have categorized them to make it easier for you to find topics. We also tell you what to look for in a contractor’s answers.
Older, more established businesses are likely to have the knowledge, experience and financial stability if/when you have issues that need to be resolved. Choosing a vendor that is within a reasonable driving distance from your home should enable quicker service if needed.
Workers Compensation Coverage is NOT universally required. Before allowing workers on your site, it is wise to request and require documentation that the Contractor carries Workers Comp for ALL workers, including subcontractors. Failure to carry Worker’s Comp in Texas can give rise to unlimited site injury claims against property owners in Texas. Most Contractors should be able to provide an ACORD Certificate (an Insurance Industry standard document) from their Insurance Agent directly to a Homeowner – as “Certificate Holder.” The Agent is then obliged to inform Certificate Holders if the status of the Insured Contractor changes before the expiration of the policy.
Generally, the more the better. The installer may have more motivation to provide better support in the hope of new business from neighbors.
Yes is the only acceptable answer.
If the answer is no, see how many references they are willing to supply. If there are only a couple, or the references are old, ask why. Then think carefully about contracting with the vendor.
Commercial solar photovoltaic (PV) system installers in Texas MUST have or contract with a licensed Texas Electrical Contractor. You may find the status of a Texas Electrical Contractor by checking: TDLR Active License Search at https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/LicenseSearch/. You may search by names or license numbers. If they are listed – they are a TECL. If they are not listed, they are not licensed. Liability Insurance is required to be a Texas Electrical Contractor, however does not include the labor crews. NABCEP is an additional qualification that is not required, and is neither a license nor building code, but may indicate the contractor is using Best Practices. A Professional Engineer MAY be required to sign off the system design depending on your local city and/or utility requirements. The engineering sign-off may apply to the Electrical or Structural portions, or both.
NABCEP is an additional qualification that is not required, and is neither a license nor building code, but may indicate the contractor is using Best Practices.
Use this information to help you compare vendors. A service such as system performance monitoring is useful but not required.
The best answer is the vendor will because they will have experience and valuable connections to help expedite the process. If they do not have experience in your specific municipality or unincorporated area, this could be an issue. That issue might be as minor as schedule delays but could include an inability to conform with local rules and regulations.
If the fees are not included in the price of the system, be sure to add them to your personal budget so they don’t come as a surprise at the end of the project. Some municipalities have long waiting periods for approval of solar panels.
Ideally, your vendor should fill out and submit the paperwork for interconnection requests (to your distribution utility) and permits (to your municipality). Be sure to include the permitting and interconnection estimates in your timeline.
The vendor should talk from experience with your specific distribution provider. A generic estimate, based on experience (even if local) with a different distribution utility, Co-op, or municipal utility, is of no bearing whatsoever.
A licensed electrical PE should sign off on the design. It could be initially developed by her/his staff using in-house analyses/software or commercially available software. The shopper should ask the references how close their estimate came to reality. Review the contract to see if there is a remedy offered in the contract if the system doesn’t meet the estimate or an agreed minimum. A service such as system performance monitoring is useful but not required.
If they say no, insist that the project manager/installer be available, and put it in the contract.
Yes is the desirable answer; more vendor interactions with your municipality’s building department are usually better.
Texas Property Code Section 202.010 protects homeowners’ rights to install solar energy devices and prohibits HOAs from restricting such installations. HOAs can (and do) require prior approval from the HOA before solar is installed and they can impose reasonable restrictions regarding placement, size, and installation methods. This includes ensuring the panels don’t extend above the roofline, will conform to the roof’s slope, or are parallel to the roofline).
The vendor should be contractually responsible for meeting local building and fire codes. Make sure the contract requires them to provide a copy of the completed, approved inspection at the end of the project
Ask who does the inspection (vendor employee, structural engineering contractor?) and request a written copy of the report.
Ask for an explanation of the circumstances that a contract change can be made and in what time frame.
As of Sept. 1, 2025, when the Residential Solar Retailer Regulatory Act took effect, homeowners in Texas now have five business days to cancel a solar contract without penalty or further obligation. This is a major shift that empowers consumers to reconsider and evaluate high-pressure solar sales tactics or confusing contract terms. Please note that a statutory right to cancel a contract or return a purchase because you change your mind is not the norm in Texas. State law grants the right to cancel — also called a “right of rescission” or a “cooling off” period — in only a few specific instances. For more information, visit: https://guides.sll.texas.gov/right-to-cancel
You should receive a written copy of the warranty as well as information about who to contact if you need to make a claim. It is common for there to be different warranties on the products (solar panels, power electronics, battery storage) and the installation services. We believe that a two-year warranty for the installation is a must. Longer is better. We’ve seen too many installation-induced failures crop up in hardware after that period, which is why getting a good installer — one likely to be around in more years than that — is absolutely critical. Also remember that the installer has no leverage over the equipment manufacturers’ warranties so it is equally important to choose a reputable solar panel manufacturer with longer warranties. The warranty on the panels themselves should be the longest period, with some internal electronics components being covered for fewer years. Twenty-five year warranties are available.
This would benefit everyone but especially people who live in older, inefficient homes with a great deal of air infiltration and minimal insulation. Many efficiency upgrades are much less expensive than buying the solar generation capacity to support the leaks.
Roof replacement requires removal and reinstallation of the solar panels. For this reason, adding solar panels to an asphalt shingle roof that is older is undesirable. Also hail resistance of the roof should be considered. If the shingles are damaged (even hail resistant shingles) the panels will need to be removed and reinstalled to repair the roof. A metal roof is much more durable than asphalt shingles, but also much more expensive. The extra cost may be justified in a hail prone area. Verify with your insurance company that removal and reinstallation costs are covered in your policy. When getting quotes, always get bids for removal AND reinstallation.
Here are some possibilities:
If you are given an off-the-cuff answer, beware! Everyone’s situation is different. It will also depend on your goals for installing solar. Ideally, the vendor will have a formula or an application that can estimate the savings for your particular project. Your savings will depend upon the size of your system, how much your monthly payment is for the system, the cost of electricity from the grid and if you are able to use the energy generated during the day rather than depending on your Retail Electric Provider (REP) to pay you for exported energy.
If your system is significantly oversized, or you are not able to use much electricity during the day (when it is generated by the system) the extra electricity will be exported to the grid. Some REPs will pay for the exported energy, but the price paid by the REP is seldom equal to the price the owner is charged for the electricity they import/buy when the Solar PV system is not producing electricity.
In Texas, most home installations fall into two categories: Smaller systems that are designed to consume all the power generated at almost all times of day or months of the year; Larger systems that are oversized to ensure the highest energy demand can almost always be met. The larger systems almost always produce “excess” energy, which is a good argument for adding batteries, an EV that can be charged during the day or a buyback contract with your Retail Electric Provider (REP). The size of your system has a major impact on your total cost of ownership (also known as life cycle cost).
The only good answer is yes.
If a salesperson cannot easily explain the differences between their purchase options, or if they seem to be steering you into a direction that is not optimal for you, request another salesperson. Or initiate conversations with another vendor. The company should be interested in the best solution for you – not the best solution for them.
This will likely vary from vendor to vendor. NEVER pay full price up front! Always have a significant portion held back (25% or more) until the installation is complete and the system is FULLY functioning. The payment structure needs to be defined in the contract. Make sure that the contract defines ‘complete’ or ‘fully functioning’ to include final approvals and, as provided, inspections/signoffs, by the distribution utility and/or municipality. The buyer should expect that a credit check will be required.
Do your homework first as described in Before You Meet with Solar Vendors/Installers to have a good idea of the incentives available and their structure. If the incentive goes to the vendor, it should be called out in the quoted system price.
Ask your solar vendor if there are shared solar or community aggregated solar projects in your area. If the vendor can’t tell you, do your own research. Chances are, there are not. Only municipal utilities and cooperatives can offer these, under numerous restrictions, and most don’t.
If you own your solar system outright, you can decide if you want to sell it with the house or take the solar panels with you. The system is designed specifically to the size and energy requirements of the house, so taking the system is not common. If you lease your system, most leases are transferable, but it’s good to check before you sign a contract. Ask your Leasor/Vendor to provide transferability information in writing. Most research indicates that a home with a solar system will add at least 4 percent to the sales value of your home.
Will a state-licensed professional electrical engineer review and stamp your drawings? Any estimate provided by the proposed vendor can be checked with available free tools. There may be some variation but beware of a highly aggressive model from your vendor. You can ask them to explain their estimating process.
A system performance guarantee is ideal. A minimum performance guarantee for an initial few years can be provided (85% or 90% of the estimated output) and is needed. Otherwise, the installer has some incentive but not contractual incentive to address low performance. The vendor can and should consider insolation (the amount of solar radiation reaching a given area, which can change with short-term weather events, pollution, etc.) and could use that information to validate the estimate. If the output is low, an easy thing to check is that the energy coming from the Sun was not as expected.
(One NTREG member checked insolation for a year when his energy production was lower than expected. He found from meteorological data that insolation was lower than expected, which accounted for his reduced production. He presented his findings to NTREG before COVID).
The warranty for Solar Panels typically allows output to drop to 80% of the rated output over 25 years. Batteries will degrade in capacity as well and the time frames are shorter than for solar panels.
Research the ratings online.
Unless you have space limitations on your roof or challenges such as shade, you should be able to add more panels/modules later. This will also depend on the design of the system (micro inverters vs. a central inverter). A small system can be installed with the intention of increasing it later, but the system designer should know that future additions are desired. There will be trade-offs to be considered to allow additions, particularly larger additions.
This is an “It depends” question. There are advantages and disadvantages to each option that the system designer should be able to describe for the customer. The customer’s goals will influence the choice, too.
Again, it depends on what your goals are. If you want the latest and greatest technology, then wait for the newer technology. But you may always be waiting, because new technology is coming out continuously. If you want the best value, perhaps you should purchase the proven, widely-used technology at a lower cost. Buy the system that will meet your goals at an affordable price. If you can save significantly on monthly costs, waiting is costing money. If you can provide a capability you don’t have (such as backup power), you can decide what that capability means to you (like deciding between options when buying a car).
Another possible consideration is that some electronic components (e.g, monitoring and/or remote access systems and other ‘smart’ system features) require periodic software or firmware updates. Knowing which parts of the proposed system include these, how often they may occur (and whether they’re optional), and who does the updates may influence your decision.
There are pros and cons as well as cost differences to each. The system designer should be able to tell you about them.
Check the documentation for your specific EV and your EV charging equipment (also called EVSE, Electric Vehicle Support Equipment). An EV can charge from any residential 120 or 240 Volts Alternating Current (VAC) source. The difference will be the power demand and the time to reach the desired charge level. A higher EVSE power capability (240 VAC and high current) will charge the EV faster but may require more power than the solar PV system can supply.
If you have battery storage, you’ll be able to charge your EV even when the sun isn’t shining brightly if the battery system can support the power demand of the EVSE and has enough capacity to fill the EV to the desired State Of Charge (SOC).
Keep in mind that your ‘typical’ daily miles driven, and availability of the vehicle for daytime charging — not just the type of charging itself — may well show that your needs are met by 120 VAC charging. This is the case in the majority of owned sedan-class EVs. It’s also interesting to note that most EV batteries now have greater capacity than home batteries.
It depends upon just how much sun is peaking through the clouds. According to CNET, “Solar panels are most efficient in direct sunlight and will generate less electricity during cloudy conditions.” But they will still generate some electricity. If you have to charge only at night, the answer, without storing the PV output in a battery, is ‘No’.
This depends on the system’s size and design.
This is something homeowners should think carefully about and make a preliminary decision before talking to vendors. They can always change their mind if they get more info/education after talking to a vendor. Here are your options:
Panel-level monitoring is a “nice to have” feature which helps to diagnose a problem with the system. It requires extra electronics that can provide additional benefits to monitoring. It may come as part of the components in the system or there may be an additional charge. There are many older systems that don’t have it and still do the job. Your Supplier may also offer a no-cost or reasonable-cost remote monitoring program that allows them secure access to your system data. Be sure that their protection of your data is as important to them as it is to you.
This is dependent on many factors such as equipment availability, permitting and inspection requirements and grid interconnection requirements and approval. An experienced vendor who knows the authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) will be able to estimate and highlight the steps that are most time variable.
This is desirable.
This is desirable and may be required.
Yes. The installers need someone to consult with if issues arise.
These questions should be addressed in the contract. A pledge and handshake won’t go far in a dispute these days. When purchasing products or services, remember the adage, “If it isn’t written, it wasn’t said”. When money – and possibly lawyers – are involved, get it in writing.
This is a “nice to have,” but may come at an additional cost.
Yes, but that is allowed by the panel warranty, a percentage loss over a period of years. Twenty percent loss allowed over 25 years has been a common warranty metric, but some panels have different limits.
Roof replacement requires removal and reinstallation of the solar panels. For this reason, adding solar panels to an asphalt shingle roof that is older is undesirable. Also hail resistance of the roof should be considered. If the shingles are damaged (even hail resistant shingles) the panels will need to be removed and reinstalled to repair the roof.
A metal roof is much more durable than asphalt shingles, but also much more expensive. The extra cost may be justified in a hail prone area. Verify with your insurance company that removal and reinstallation costs are covered in your policy. When getting quotes, always get bids for removal AND reinstallation.
It will affect your energy generation. This is a design consideration when developing the system just like tree growth. If the array can be located where future shading is unlikely, it may be the best option.
North Central Texas Council of Governments is a voluntary association of, by, and for local governments, established in 1966. We help our members plan for common needs, strengthen our individual and collective power, recognize regional opportunities and resolve regional problems. We represent 16 counties, 220 cities and 53 school districts and other special districts.
Why is NCTCOG interested in rooftop solar? Because energy is the economic driver of our economy. It is used by literally every person in north Texas, both at home and at work. We take for granted that electricity will always be there when we need it. And that is because the people who came before us built a system that would meet the needs of future generations as well as their own.
Now it’s our turn to ensure that future generations have access to all the energy they need and want.
Between 2026 and 2050, the population in our service area is projected to grow by 43 percent. (If you think traffic is bad now, think about how bad it could be with almost double the people on the road. But that’s another topic for a different day.)
This is why it is critical that our current institutions think about and plan for how to meet those rapidly increasing energy needs. We need to generate enough new energy to accommodate the population growth, expanding commercial and industrial sectors and the new energy-intensive businesses like cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence.
The non-partisan, nonprofit public policy research and advocacy organization Texas 2036 advocates for an “all of the above” energy strategy. Why? Because no one sector (fossil fuels, nuclear, renewables, hydrogen) can meet our projected demand by itself.
Residential solar is an excellent option in the “all of the above” portfolio. It is one of the lowest cost options that will help protect Texas’ vulnerable grid and ensure that homeowners have a lower cost choice in how to purchase their electricity (depending upon how you purchase it). This guide explains those options in more detail so you can make an educated decision.
NCTCOG supports long term planning, and we support consumer choice. We’re happy to share this information with those who are thinking about making a switch. I made the switch. And I’m glad I did!
We’ve all heard horror stories about people who were bullied and scammed by rooftop solar installers. There are a lot of false claims and bad actors out there. Fortunately, there are a lot of good guys, too. Solar power is a great fit for many homes. Kudos to the Texas Legislature for their work in the 2025 Session to help protect both the industry and consumers.
As the chair of a non-profit, volunteer driven organization whose purpose is to educate and advocate for renewable energy, we’re proud to share this new educational microsite called The Truth About Residential Solar with you. Yes, we’re advocates for rooftop solar, but we are also practical and concerned about the same things that you are (total cost of ownership, long term benefits, how to find a good contractor, how to avoid a scam, energy intermittency, etc.).
The purpose of this microsite is to give you as much accurate, bias-free information as possible so you can make well-researched, fact-based decisions about rooftop solar. It’s not marketing fluff, but it IS written for the layperson who has just begun their due diligence when considering rooftop solar. If you find material in here that is not accurate, I want to hear about it personally (chair@NTREG.org). I promise that thoughtful questions and comments will get a thoughtful reply.
We are grateful to our partner, the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) for helping us disseminate this information as well as our other co-sponsors and contributors: Texas Solar Energy Society, Solar United Neighbors, the Texas Electric School Bus Project, and others.
We hope this content answers all your questions. If not, we invite you to join us at any of our standing monthly meetings. We address many ‘responsible energy’ issues (not just residential solar power), and you will be able to learn more and network with solar power owners, as well as with our ‘energy geeks’ who have been involved with rooftop solar for many years (and in some cases, decades). Or, as I mentioned, reach out to me personally.
Congratulations on your decision to learn more about rooftop solar. You’ve made a wise decision.
