Frequently Asked Questions - All FAQs

The Arizona Registrar of Contractors does not have any specific solar license, but considers this to fall under the CR11 general electrical license. There is a special solar only domestic hot water license. A minimal bond is required. Arizona Registrar of Contractors

The AZ Solar Center and AZ Solar Energy Industries Association provide lists of PV retailers. Retailers either can provide installation or can refer you to installation contractors in your area. Try to find a company located in the area where your system will be installed. Price is only one factor when selecting a PV company and/or contractor.

Here are some other considerations:

• Does the company have experience installing grid-connected systems?
• How many years has the company been in the business of installing PV systems?
• Does the company use licensed Arizonacontractors?
• Does the company have any judgments or liens against it?
• Will the company provide references from previous customers?
• If you get more than one bid, make sure that the bids are for the same identical system.

To estimate the best system size for your home or business, examine your electricity usage for the past 12 months.There are ‘Solar calculators’ on the web that will give ballpark cost and performance estimates.

If you want your PV system to meet half of your electricity needs, then you should size it to meet half of your annual electrical usage. Alternatively you can offset only a small portion of your electricity bill with a single PV panel.

• First of all, do not install a system that produces more energy on an annual basis than you expect to use because the normal ‘net metering’ does not allow the utility to fully credit you for the excess.
• If in doubt, start small and ask the installer to plan for expansion in the future (i.e. install a larger inverter and conduits at little extra cost).

You will need to enter into an Interconnection Agreement with your utility. This agreement addresses the terms and conditions under which your system will be safely connected to the grid. The agreement also specifies the metering arrangements (called net metering). Net metering allows you to "bank" any surplus electricity your system generates on the electric grid. Excess electricity might be generated during the day when your system produces more electricity than you need. Your meter would simply run backwards to record the amount of electricity banked on the grid, allowing you to use an equal amount of electricity later without incurring any additional cost. If you use more electricity from the grid than you have banked, your utility will charge you monthly for the difference. If you select a rate plan with Peak and Off-Peak periods, the utility will most likely account for the net metering by rate period.