Professional, Full Service
Professional solar panel system installation by a state licensed contractor includes labor, wiring, electrical setup, balance of system parts, building permit, utility approval, inspection, monitoring setup, activation, and have a 5 to 10-year warranty on labor. Installation services are not subject to state sales tax. Final price subject to system design and site visit. Additional fees may apply for electrical panel upgrade, multiple roof areas, conduit wiring greater than 100 ft, two or more story property, or tilt mounting.
Who Is a Solar Installer
Solar installers are people or corporations with contracting and electrical licenses that qualify them to work safely with photovoltaic (PV) systems, conduct a site assessment, calculate system capabilities, select a system design, adapt the mechanical design and the electrical design, install subsystems and components at the site, perform a system checkout and inspection, and maintain and troubleshoot a PV system.
In every state, installers are required to obtain licensing pursuant to state and federal regulations, but there are also national certification bodies creating and implementing a series of quality and credentialing programs for professional installers.
The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), for example, is comprised of a volunteer board of renewable energy stakeholder representatives.
Certification programs like the ones offered by NABCEP do not take the place of local, state, or federal licensing regulations, but offer a sort of insurance that the installer being chosen to work on your home meets and exceeds a stringent set of criteria. Someone applying for certification with NABCEP is someone who is already licensed and who possesses the job experience installing solar PV or who has been educated to perform such.
NABCEP believes that given basic instructions, major components, schematics, and drawings, a PV installer is required to specify, adapt, implement, configure, install, inspect and maintain” PV systems that meet reliability and performance needs of the client, employs quality craftsmanship, and complies with all necessary standards, codes and safety requirements.
Certification requirements for NABCEP also make certification distinction between solar PV system installers and solar thermal installers.
Actual licensing for installers varies by state. In Oregon, for example, all contractors who install any solar electrical system must have an Electrical Contractors License as well as a Construction Contractors Board (CCB) license. Additionally, Oregon issues two types of licenses for solar electric installers: General Electrical Contractor and Limited Renewable Energy Contractor. The State of Oregon also requires that solar hot water system installers possess a plumbing business registration.
In California, an electrical, solar or plumbing contractors license granted by the California State Licensing Board is required.
In Florida, solar energy systems are required to be installed by a licensed contractor. While the installer performing the actual installation does not need a license, they are required to be employed (only) by and work under the supervision of a licensed contractor.
In Florida, there are two solar contractor categories: Certified Solar Contractor (CV) and Residential Solar Water Heating Specialty Contractor (CW). The CV license qualifies the holder to install residential and commercial photovoltaic (solar electric or PV), solar water heating, and solar pool heating systems. The CW license is no longer offered, but those who currently hold that license are permitted to continue operating. The CW license was limited to residential solar water heating and residential solar pool heating systems only. The CW license holder is not authorized to install PV systems and is not authorized to install solar water heating or pool heating systems on commercial buildings.