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Congratulations on going solar!
Whether you just signed your contract or have been with the GreenSpark family for some time, we’re glad you’re here. Find resources, commonly asked questions, and important contacts for every stage of your solar journey. Navigate this guide by letting us know where you’re at below.
Where are you in your solar journey?
Waiting for installation
Recent solar installation
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Established solar installation
Welcome to the GreenSpark Family
Congratulations on going solar! You’re on an exciting journey, and we’re so glad you’re here. While you await your solar installation, we want to ensure you know what to expect and when, who to contact, and where to go to get your questions answered.
Immediate Next Steps
What we're working on
- Completing a shading and energy analysis
Designing your system to meet current town codes and standards
Obtaining structural approval and building and electrical permits
Obtaining preliminary interconnection approval through your utility
Claiming your NYSERDA incentives
What you're working on
- Asking your tax professional about state and federal tax credit eligibility
Adding solar to your homeowners’ insurance policy
Ensuring our team can access your service panel and solar installation site
Notifying your Project Manager if other contractors are completing work at your home before your solar installation date
Timeline to Go Solar
Various factors impact your specific timeline; however, here is our process from the time you sign your contract until we install your array. Along the way, your Customer Experience Ambassador will check in to ensure you feel supported and in the loop about your project status.
Stage 1:
DESIGN & PERMITTING / 4-9 weeks
- You sign your agreement (woohoo!) and meet your GreenSpark Project Manager and Customer Experience Ambassador.
- Your design is ready for your review. Your Project Manager shares this by email and awaits your response!
- GreenSpark completes your home's structural analysis and prepares and submits all required applications for your Building Permit, NYSERDA Application, and Utility Interconnection.
- Look for emails from NYSERDA and your utility company to verify your funding application details and approve the connection with your utility.
Stage 2:
Pre-Install / 3–6 weeks
- GreenSpark has received all required permits and approvals. As soon as your payment plan is up to date, we'll order your equipment.
- You're getting installed! About a week out, your project manager will contact you to confirm the estimated install date.
Stage 3:
Installation / 2–6 days
- Installation time! This typically takes between two to six days, depending on the size and specific details of your project. GreenSpark will work with you to develop the best installation plan for your personal needs and permit requirements.
New Customer FAQ
The average timeline for installation can vary based on many factors, including the time of year, current installation project queue, utility response time, and more; however, on average, our customers are getting installed between 2 and 4 months after signing their contract.
During this time, your main point of contact is your Project Manager, who can help answer any project-related questions you have leading up to your installation. You’ll also receive communications from your Customer Experience Ambassador and the GreenSpark finance team during this stage of your project, who are happy to answer any general or financial questions you have. Feel free to fill out our contact form with any questions you may have, and a team member will reach out to you!
GreenSpark offers a robust referral program to encourage our customers to share their solar experience with friends and family interested in going solar. You’ll get $250 for every residential referral you send our way that goes solar and up to $2,000 for every business referral that goes solar. Start referring here!
Congratulations:
Your solar construction is complete!
With solar panels installed, your home is ready to harness the sun’s clean, abundant energy. You might have a few questions we haven’t answered yet, and we’re here to help!
I've got my panels, now what?
As a new solar owner, our team will support you throughout this exciting transition. Here’s what you can expect next.
Stage 4:
Interconnection / 1–4 weeks
- Your construction is complete (yay!) Look for a “mechanical construction complete” invoice for final project payment.
- Next, a private third-party electrical inspection of your solar array will be completed. The inspector will contact you to schedule a time.
- GreenSpark coordinates with your utility to finalize interconnection of your solar array with the grid. GreenSpark will contact you to turn your system on, if necessary.
- Next, GreenSpark will coordinate the town inspection to obtain your building permit and certificate of compliance/occupancy. Some towns require your presence for this 15-30 minute inspection. Your Project Manager will notify you if this is the case.
- Your utility will replace your existing meter with a digital 2-way meter (or reprogram your existing digital meter) within 10 business days of interconnection approval.
Stage 5:
Customer onboarding / 1–2 weeks post-install
- Now comes the fun part - seeing your solar array in action! Look for an email containing your solar monitoring portal and login instructions to view your array’s energy production!
- We want you to feel excited and confident in your new solar-powered home. Look for an email from your Customer Experience Ambassador containing your Owner’s Manual and invitation to schedule your New Customer Welcome Visit.
- At Your New Customer Welcome Visit, you and your Customer Experience Ambassador will review your Owner’s Manual and answer any questions about your new solar array.
New Solar Owner FAQs
Depending on the inverters selected for your array, you will access your monitoring application through either SolarEdge or Enphase. Your contract specifies your inverter manufacturer; however, please confirm with your Project Manager if you need clarification. You will receive an email directly from SolarEdge or Enphase with your monitoring credentials. To access your monitoring app, locate the email with your credentials and log in using the links below for your respective monitoring application provider.
The app and the utility meter measure different things. Your monitoring app shows the total production of your solar array, whereas your utility meter measures how much energy you imported and exported to the grid. The difference between the two is what your household uses in real time.
Net metering is a program employed by New York State utilities that credits you for your unused solar production. When you need to pull electricity from the grid when your solar production is lower than your energy demands, such as in the winter when there is less sunlight, your utility will apply those credits to cover the electricity you use from the grid. Download our net metering guide for more details!
Winter bills occur because your system may not produce enough energy during the fall and winter to cover your usage. Without enough overproduction in sunnier months to build up a surplus of credits (through net metering), you may need to draw more power from the grid.
We size solar arrays to meet a home’s annual energy needs; however, depending on your roof size, tree shading, or obstructions, your array may not be able to cover 100% of your energy production. Energy production can also fluctuate year over year based on various factors. Your Owner’s Manual includes an annual production estimate you can check against your historical energy bills to better understand your expected energy coverage.
While grid-tied solar electricity clearly works in New York, each home and each array will have different capacities to produce electricity. Your contract will define your annual production estimate, which GreenSpark guarantees at least 90%. You will be compensated for the difference if you do not meet that percentage. For example, if your annual production estimate is 10,000 kW, GreenSpark guarantees your array will produce at least 9,000 kW. If your array only produces 8,000 kW for the year, we will compensate you for the 1,000 kW difference. You can find more details about our production guarantee here.
File for your solar tax credits within the year that your installation was complete and became operational. Consult with a tax professional for specific advice and download this checklist that includes all of the pertinent information you’ll need for tax preparation.
Visit our ‘reading your utility bill’ section for a guide to reading your utility bill.
Visit our ‘reading your utility bill’ section for information on where to track your bank of net metering credits.
To estimate your maximum possible production, multiply the AC size of your system (in kW) by the number of daylight hours. For example, a 10 kW system with 10 hours of daylight could produce up to 100 kWh under perfect “test-lab” conditions (basically at the equator!). However, actual production is typically 40-60% of this maximum due to real-world factors.
DC disconnects and AC disconnects are safety switches. They need to be turned off in emergencies or when electrical work is being performed on your system.
Have a question we haven't covered?
Look at you, you Solar Hero!
We’re so happy you’re part of the GreenSpark family and hope you’re already seeing some serious solar savings. Here are some resources and frequently asked questions that might be helpful as you navigate your new life with solar.
Solar Owner Resources
Solar Owner FAQs
A member of our customer care team is here to help. Send us an email or fill out our contact form and a team member will reach out to you!
For more information, visit our ‘reading your utility bill’ section.
Depending on the inverters selected for your array, you will access your monitoring application through either SolarEdge or Enphase. Your contract specifies your inverter manufacturer; however, please confirm with your Project Manager if you need clarification. You will receive an email directly from SolarEdge or Enphase with your monitoring credentials. To access your monitoring app, locate the email with your credentials and log in using the links below for your respective monitoring application provider.
Before speaking with your tax professional, download this checklist that includes all of the pertinent information you’ll need.
Reading Your Utility Bill
Click on your utility provider’s name below to view a guide to reading your bill.
Your GreenSpark Team
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