Questions
What people ask before they trust a number.
Starting with the one that matters most.
How do I know your payback numbers are real?
Because we publish the arithmetic. The calculator on this site states every assumption it uses — installed cost per watt, the utility rate, production per installed kilowatt and the federal credit share — right next to the result. You can check each one independently. A savings figure without its assumptions is a marketing number, not a forecast.
Will solar work on my roof?
It depends on aspect and shading more than anything else. A north-facing roof in the Triangle produces around 62% of what the same array makes facing south, and heavy tree cover reduces it further. We shade-model before quoting and we tell people no fairly often, particularly in Chapel Hill.
Why do you keep talking about my electrical panel?
Because solar, batteries, EV chargers and heat pumps all land on it. If your service is a 100 amp board, the panel upgrade is the real project and everything else queues behind it. We check capacity on the first visit specifically so this is not discovered halfway through an installation.
Does a battery pay for itself?
In North Carolina, usually not on rate arbitrage alone. Buy a battery because you want power when the grid is down and treat any savings as a bonus. We would rather say that plainly than sell one on a payback claim that does not hold.
Generator or battery?
A battery is silent, fuelless and pairs with solar, and it covers an evening. A generator is louder and needs gas, and it will run for days. If your concern is a multi-day outage after a storm, which is the realistic Triangle scenario, the generator is usually the right answer.
Is the federal tax credit still available?
It was at the time this page was written, and our calculator applies it at 30%. Incentives change with legislation, so confirm the current position with your tax advisor before relying on it. We do not present it as guaranteed.
Do I have a Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel?
If your home was built between the 1950s and early 1980s, possibly. Both brands have documented histories of breakers failing to trip. We will tell you what you have and what the evidence supports, without the theatrics — it is a genuine safety issue and it is also a favourite scare tactic.
Are you licensed?
We are licensed by the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors and our solar installers hold NABCEP certification. Both are verifiable — ask for the numbers and check them.