solar energy
Understanding Your Solar Contract: Red Flags in PPAs, Leases, and Financing
Solar PPA lease terms transparency explained for DC homeowners: what escalator clauses, SREC forfeiture, and buyout terms actually mean before you sign.
Solar Energy
38 articles
solar energy
Solar Interconnection Explained: Why It Takes Time and How to Stay Informed
The solar interconnection utility approval timeline in DC runs 10–20 weeks. Here's what each step involves, what causes delays, and how to stay informed.
solar energy
How to Choose a Solar Company That Actually Answers the Phone
Solar customer service accessibility breaks down industry-wide after installation. Here's what to test before you sign with any DC solar company.
solar energy
Understanding Your Solar Contract: What Questions to Ask Before You Sign
Solar lease vs purchase contract terms determine who keeps your SREC income and what happens when you sell. Here's what to read before you sign anything in DC.
solar energy
The Hidden Timeline: Understanding Utility Interconnection and Why It Matters for Your Solar ROI
Pepco's interconnection review averages ~77 days. Here's the full DC solar utility interconnection timeline, why delays happen, and what your installer should be doing about it.
solar energy
What a Professional Solar Installation Should Look Like: Quality Benchmarks Every Homeowner Should Know
Solar installation quality standards in DC: what proper flashing, commissioning, and documentation look like — and how to verify them before you sign.
solar energy
What to Expect After Your Solar Install: Why Post-Sale Support Matters More Than You Think
Solar warranty support after installation is where the industry loses homeowners. Here's what should happen after your system goes live — and how to verify it before you sign.
solar energy
DC Solar Energy: Complete Guide to Going Solar in Washington DC
DC solar in 2026 without the federal tax credit: what systems cost, what DC SRECs pay, and which financing paths actually work for DC homeowners.
solar energy
When Solar Production Falls Short: Estimate Accuracy and Production Guarantees in DC
Solar production less than estimate is an industry-wide pattern in DC. Here's what causes inflated projections, what honest modeling looks like, and what a written guarantee should cover.
solar energy
What Happens to Your Solar Warranty If Your Installer Goes Out of Business?
When a solar installer closes, panel and inverter warranties survive — but workmanship coverage disappears. Here's what DC homeowners need to know and verify.
solar energy
Roof Assessment for Solar in DC: What Installers Actually Check
A solar roof assessment in DC checks six things before any design begins. Here's exactly what installers look at — and what can delay or block your project.
solar energy
Protecting Your Roof During Solar Installation: What Insurance and Workmanship Standards Should Cover
Solar roof damage during installation is an industry-wide pattern. Here's what insurance, flashing standards, and written warranties should cover — and how to verify before you sign.
solar energy
Pepco Interconnection Timeline: How Long Does It Really Take in DC?
The Pepco interconnection timeline runs 10–20 weeks for most DC residential solar systems. Here's what drives each phase and how to avoid the delays that stretch it.
solar energy
Solar Installation Timeline: What's Normal, What's a Red Flag, and How to Stay Informed
DC solar projects take 8–12 weeks from contract to PTO. Here's what's normal, what signals a delay, and how to verify an installer's track record before you sign.
solar energy
Reading Your Solar Contract: 5 Red Flags and What Honest Installers Should Disclose Upfront
Five solar contract red flags DC homeowners miss — escalator rates, SREC ownership, and production estimates that don't survive a shading analysis.
solar energy
DC Roof Replacement Guide 2026: Signs You Need One, What It Costs, and the Solar Connection
DC roof replacement costs $8,000–$25,000 in 2026. Here's what drives the price, signs you actually need one, and why re-roofing is the cheapest time to add solar.
energy savings solar energy
Best Solar Loan Rates DC: Financing Options for 2026
Solar loan rates in DC range from 4.5%-8.5% APR in 2026. Compare secured, unsecured, and dealer financing with SAPP rebate savings.
community solar energy
Solar Panels in Columbia Heights DC: A Ward 1 Homeowner's Guide
145+ Columbia Heights homes already have solar. See why Ward 1's row houses and no historic overlay make it ideal — plus the full DC incentive stack and savings.
battery storage solar energy technology
Tesla Powerwall vs. Enphase IQ Battery in DC: Which One Is Right for You? (2026)
Tesla Powerwall 3 and Enphase IQ Battery 5P are the two batteries we install most in DC. Here's an honest comparison of specs, cost, and which one fits different home types in 2026.
solar energy community
What Happens During Solar Installation in DC: A Step-by-Step Guide
The DC solar installation process takes 6–12 weeks from contract to power-on. Here's every step from site survey to Pepco PTO.
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Solar Payback Period in DC: How Long Until Panels Pay for Themselves?
DC solar systems pay for themselves in 2-3 years with the $10,000 SAPP rebate, or 4-6 years at full price. See the full math with real 2026 numbers.
solar energy dc neighborhoods energy savings
Solar in Petworth & Brightwood: A Ward 4 Homeowner's Guide (2026)
Petworth and Brightwood are two of DC's best neighborhoods for rooftop solar — mostly outside historic districts, good south-facing rear roofs, and a history of community group buys. Here's the 2026 guide.
energy savings solar energy
DC SREC Prices 2026: What Are They Worth and Who Buys Them?
DC SRECs are worth $360-$455 per credit in 2026. See real contract pricing, who buys them, and how to maximize your solar income in Washington DC.
solar energy energy savings technology
Heat Pumps + Solar in DC: The Complete Guide to Going All-Electric (2026)
Pair solar panels with a heat pump and you can eliminate your gas bill entirely. Here's how the all-electric combo works in DC, what it costs, and how to capture 2026 rebates before they expire.
solar energy energy savings
Solar + EV Charging in DC: How to Power Your Car From Your Roof
DC homeowners with EVs can eliminate both their electricity and gas bills with solar. Two incentives expire in 2026 — here's the sizing guide, cost breakdown, and DC-specific incentive stack.
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Solar Panels in Georgetown DC: What Historic Homeowners Need to Know
Georgetown homeowners can go solar — but the Commission of Fine Arts review, CFA guidelines, and 10–14 week timeline require more planning than a standard DC install. Here's what to know.
solar energy
DC Solar Permitting: What Homeowners Need to Know (Including the New GRID Act)
DC solar takes 3–6 months — not because of installation, but permitting. Here's how DCRA, Pepco interconnection, and the new GRID Act affect your timeline.
solar energy energy savings community
Solar Advantage Plus (SAPP): DC's $10,000 Solar Rebate Before It Runs Out
Income-qualified DC homeowners can get up to $10,000 back through Solar Advantage Plus (SAPP) — but funding is first-come, first-served. Here's who qualifies and how to apply.
solar energy energy savings
DC Solar Incentives in 2026: What's Left After the Federal Tax Credit Ended
The 30% federal solar tax credit is gone — but DC's SREC market, SAPP rebate, and Solar for All program keep DC solar economics strong in 2026.
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Solar Panels in Capitol Hill: A Homeowner's Guide to Going Solar on a Historic DC Row House
Yes, you can put solar on a Capitol Hill historic row house — if you know the rules. This guide covers historic preservation, row house roofs, costs, and DC incentives.
solar energy energy savings
High Pepco Bill? Here's What DC Homeowners Are Doing About It in 2026
DC electricity bills are up 85% since 2020. Here's what DC homeowners are doing about it — solar savings, net metering, SRECs, and $0-cost-to-you options explained.
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How to Choose a Solar Installer in DC (Without Getting Scammed)
How to choose a solar installer in DC without getting scammed. 7 red flags, credentials to verify, questions to ask, and a DC-specific checklist.
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Maryland Solar Incentives in 2026: Every Program, Real Numbers
Maryland homeowners can offset 40-55% of solar costs through stacked incentives. Here's every program and what you actually qualify for in 2026.
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Pepco Solar Approval Process in DC: Timeline, Steps & What Causes Delays
DC homeowners wait 12–24 weeks for Pepco solar approval. Here's every step of the interconnection process, what causes delays, and how to protect your federal tax credit.
solar energy energy savings
Pepco Net Metering in DC: How Solar Credits Work and What You Actually Earn
Pepco net metering lets DC solar homeowners earn credits at the full retail rate for excess power. Here's exactly how the credits work, what you'll save, and the DC-specific rules.
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Solar Panels on DC Row Houses: What Homeowners Need to Know
DC row houses are ideal for solar. Learn about roof challenges, costs, permits, historic district rules, and how to maximize your investment.
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DC SREC Guide: How to Earn $3,000+/Year From Your Solar Panels
DC SRECs pay $400+/MWh — the highest in the US. Learn how to register, sell, and maximize your solar income in Washington DC in 2026.
solar energy energy savings
Solar Panel Cost in DC: Why Free Panels Aren't the Best Deal
DC solar panels cost $22K–$34K before incentives, with a 4.5-year payback driven by DC's SRECs worth $4,000+/year. The federal ITC ended Jan 2026 — learn why owning still beats "free" panels.