SITE ASSESSMENT & DESIGN
The first step in the process is to produce a technical design of your system. This enables us to get permits, submit applications, and provide our crew with a detailed blueprint to follow on the day of installation.
To start this process we need to schedule a formal site assessment. This visit will give us all of the remaining technical details needed in order to complete the structural and electrical designs. If you have not already scheduled this visit, and if you are in Multnomah, Clackamas or Washington Counties in Oregon, or Clark County in Washington, you have the option to select a time by going to this calendar link here. If you'd like to request a time outside the calendar availability shown please let us know and we will reach out directly to schedule with you. If you are outside of the Portland Metro Area, we will reach out to you directly to schedule your appointment directly.
Once the design is complete we will send it to you for approval as well as any paperwork to sign electronically. Please note that the design process can take up to 60 days in some cases, but most often is complete within a month. On occasion, a project may require engineering. If this is the case for your project, we will provide additional details. Note that the engineering process can take up to 3-4 months at times.
PERMITS & APPLICATION SUBMITTALS
When the design is complete, we will send the design to you via email to review. As soon as you have approved the design plan we will submit any required permit applications, apply for net metering with the utility (as needed), as well as apply for any incentives applicable to your system. There will likely be some documents to sign at this time depending on your utility, so watch for emails to avoid delays. We will reach out to let you know when to expect e-signature requests.
Please note that design approval triggers the first 50% solar invoice
(this is not applicable to clients using a financing product)
Note that permitting can take anywhere from 4-18 weeks, depending on the permitting jurisdiction
INSTALLATION
Once your permits have been issued, we can schedule your installation! Your Project Manager will go over what exactly to expect when we get closer to install day. Please note that final payment is due when installation is complete.
Please note that final payment is due when installation is complete.
The install often only takes a day, but sometimes spills over to a second or third day depending on the system size, weather, or other factors.
INSPECTION
After the installation is complete, your system will be inspected for code compliance.
We will coordinate with you to select a day and time when you will be able to meet an inspector.
The inspections generally occur within 7-10 business days after we have completed the installation.
UTILITY NET METER
Once the city inspection is approved, we notify the utility and they will reach out to you to schedule a time to replace your house meter with a new bi-directional net meter. Once they have completed this work you can then turn the system on!
It can take up to ten business days for the utility to schedule this time with you.
WALKTHROUGH
At this point we complete the process by providing your final system documentation and walkthrough, and setting up your monitoring system. We hope that provides you with a good overview. Please let us know if you have any questions along the way.