Frequently Asked Questions

How will you know if my roof can hold solar?

Every SAVKAT® project is reviewed and signed off on by our professional engineering team prior to applying for town permits and utility interconnection. With the data collected from an on-site survey, our engineers look over your home’s structure and guarantee that the proposed location of the solar panels is structurally sound. During this process, the engineers will also run the necessary calculations of the local snow loads and wind speeds ensuring a safe, strong install. Finally, we ensure that the final Plan is compliant with all updated local and national building codes.

This Plan is submitted to the town in order to obtain proper permitting and documentation of your project. We also submit this document to any local incentive program processors on your behalf.

By going solar, you are producing your own electricity, so you are no longer subject to the rate hikes from your utility company. For example, utility companies in the northeast increase rates an average of 6-7% annually (and lately have been by double digits). Because of that, it’s common for our clients to see savings of 20-50% on day one by going solar.

The federal investment tax credit (ITC) is a tax credit that can be claimed on federal income taxes for 26% of the cost of a solar photovoltaic (PV) and storage systems. For example: If a solar panel system cost $15,000 then the owner of the panels is eligible for a $3,900 tax credit ($15,000 X 26% = $3900). Again, these credits are available on both solar panel systems and solar storage devices.

Consult your tax professional for your specific situation. We do not assume responsibility for your tax situation or credits.

We do a site survey is done to ensure your roof is fit for solar and takes approximately one hour to complete. The survey is conducted a few days after you decide to go solar. The site survey technician will inspect the roof and the trusses and/or roof rafters and attic area (if applicable) to ensure it is suitable for solar. The technician will also inspect the main electrical panel box, take shade readings, and exact roof measurements to send to our design and engineering team.

The solar tax credit is as follows:

  • 26% for 2022
  • 22% for 2023

The credit is currently planned to expire in 2024

To take full advantage of the federal tax credit, go solar now. By waiting you are losing out on potentially thousands of dollars in credits.

Solar panel systems have no moving parts, are very reliable and require little maintenance. We use one of the best panel systems on the market, The SunPower® Equinox® system. They are made in North America and come with a manufacturer’s warranty of 25 years. Depending on conditions, solar panels can last up to 40 years.

Connecticut provides a property tax exemption for “Class I” renewable energy systems and hydropower facilities that generate electricity for private residential use. The exemption is available for systems that serve farms, single-family homes or multi-family dwellings limited to four units. To read more about this tax exemption check out DSIRE.com.

Solar cells, also called “Photovoltaic” (PV) cells by scientists, convert sunlight directly into electricity. PV gets its name from the process of converting light (photons) into electricity (voltage), which is called the “PV effect”. A rooftop solar panel system is often called a “PV System”.

In addition to the federal ITC, many states offer rebates or other incentives for going solar. Don’t worry, if there are state incentives available we will apply for them on your behalf. This will help you save even more by going solar!

In parts of CT, there are also additional Eversource incentives available, including bill credits for being a part of their Connected Solutions program.

Consult your tax professional for your specific situation. We do not assume responsibility for your tax situation or credits.

On average, solar panels and the mounting equipment weigh 2-4 pounds per square foot or about 30-45 pounds per panel which is usually within the acceptable limits of your roof.

Leasing is a great way to reduce your electricity costs without taking out a loan or paying cash for the system. By leasing solar panels, you are switching your electricity provider from your utility to your solar panels and paying much less for electricity by using your available roof space to generate your own electricity. You are no longer subject to the utility’s rate hikes! You also don’t have to worry about qualifying for the federal solar tax credit or the state rebates because they are already factored into the lower monthly lease payment. By leasing solar panels, you are renting them for a monthly fee, and getting all the power that they generate. And when you lease with SAVKAT®, the SunPower® system we use has a Power Production Guarantee, so you are guaranteed that your solar panel system will produce the power stated in the agreement or SunPower® will pay you the difference of a shortfall. Since SunPower® systems are so well designed, shortfalls are very rare, but should one happen, you are covered! This is all written into your solar lease so you can move forward with confidence. There is no lien associated with the SunPower®Lease and it’s transferable to the next owner of your home, if you decide to move. Another benefit of leasing a solar panel system is the fact that the manufacturer, SunPower®, is the owner of the panels. So, they are responsible for the system, its maintenance, and power production. Your responsibility is simply to pay a fixed monthly rate that is lower than your current electric rate! How awesome is that? Lastly, leasing allows you to enjoy the benefits of clean energy, save money and depend on a predictable fixed monthly electric bill. That’s why we call this the “set it and forget it program.”

Net metering is selling the excess electricity produced by your solar system back to your power company. If you generate more electricity than you use, net metering is the mechanism used to keep track of the power generated and used. If Net Metering is supported in your area, at the end of your system installation, a net meter will be placed on your house to keep track of the electricity flow that you produce and consume, including what is sold back to the power company.

When you own a solar panel system panels (either through a financing program or by paying in full for the system) you are entitled to the 26% Federal Tax Credit as it applies to you. You also receive any applicable State Incentives. The SunPower®panels we install also have an industry-leading 25-year manufacturer’s warranty. Further, SAVKAT® uses all top-quality hardware and accessories on our system installs, which are also covered by this manufacturer warranty.

A great benefit of ownership is that when the system is paid off, you are generating electricity for free! This is a truly great advantage in that it saves you a ton of money! It isn’t uncommon to see homeowners save tens of thousands of dollars with solar ownership over the life of a system. And should you sell your home, the system simply transfers to the new homeowners, and they get the same benefit of not having to pay the utility’s high rates! That is a home value enhancement worth looking at!

Finally, when you opt to purchase or finance a system, there are no liens placed on the property.

SAVKAT® will handle all of this for you. If additional work including: roofing, electrical upgrades, trenching, structural reinforcement or tree removal is needed, we will provide an estimate for you and it will be eligible to roll into the Solar project financing.

Yes! SAVKAT® Offers the SunPower® SunVault Solar Storage System, which soon will have options that provide up to whole home power. We will be offering EV Chargers in the very near future, so check back with us soon. Solar Storage also qualifies for the same Federal Tax Credits as the Solar Energy System does, so you can save even more by adding it. These items can also be added to your chosen Solar project financing.

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