Solar Misnomers or Understandings

Misnomer: Solar System = Solar Panel Array

 

Correction: Solar Photo-voltaic or Solar PV System, Solar Electric System, Solar Power System; sometimes Solar Energy System or Solar Panel System

Elaboration: A solar system is a collection of planets and their moons in orbit around the sun. When “solar system” is referenced in the solar industry, it is not accurately speaking of the system of solar photo-voltaic modules, inverters, and service meters that make up a proper solar array, but actually the assortment of celestial bodies in the outer recesses of space. Don’t believe it? Google image it!

Misnomer: Federal Tax Credit = A check from the federal government

Correction: Federal Tax Credit = A reduction of owed-in federal taxes

Elaboration: People tend to get “tax credit” confused with a “rebate.” With a rebate, you normally send in proof of purchase to a vendor within a given time frame and get a check back for a specified amount. With a tax credit you don’t get any money back, but rather, get credit returned to you based on how much of a tax liability you have. Read more about how the tax credit works, in financing blog category.

Misnomer: Net Billing = Net Metering

Correction: Net Billing is a feature of utility companies which gauges the total kWh a solar PV system generates each month and then buys any excess energy at wholesale cost. Net Metering is similar, but instead of buying out that excess energy at wholesale, the utility company will roll over the excess energy for the homeowner for use on the next billing month.

Elaboration: These are two different features for homeowners with solar PV systems. Utility companies will usually provide one or the other, but some utilities like PNM in New Mexico will provide net metering for systems under 10 kW in size and net billing for systems 10 kW and larger. 

Misnomer: Going Solar = Leasing a Solar PV System

Correction: Going Solar = At proSOLAR, this term means owning your Solar PV System

Elaboration: Some companies lend you solar panels and let you pay a renter’s fee for the time you have them. But proSOLAR believes that the best deal for the home/business owner is to own the system outright that generates your power for decades. So we provide various financing options to allow homeowners the benefits of energy independence that come with owning their own solar PV system. All systems come with warranties on labor and materials.

Misnomer: Solar Installer = Solar Contractor

Correction: A solar Installer is a company that physically installs solar panels on your home. A solar contractor is a company that contracts your services when going solar and this typically includes qualifying you for solar, designing your system, approving your financing term, providing the installation, obtaining permits, setting up net metering, and connecting to the grid.

 

Elaboration: Technically a solar installer can be a type of contractor, and a solar contractor can also install (or subcontract the installation) as part of your agreement. There are a lot of semantics at play but usually the installer is a company that only installs, and a contractor is a company that covers the gamut of contractual services, much like proSOLAR

Why go solar?

Homeowners and the Right of Ownership Homeowners in general understand and treat with value the right of ownership. They take

Top 5 Reasons to go Solar

Talk of solar is on the rise. Whether in city council meetings, at environmental-awareness events, or coming from the thrifty homeowner