Hey everyone! I'm looking to install solar panels before the year wraps up so I can take advantage of the 30% tax credit before it disappears. The issue is, I haven't bought anything yet and haven't even started the permitting or interconnection process. Is it realistic to get everything ordered, installed, and operational by December 31st, or am I pushing it? Also, if you have any insider tips or common pitfalls to avoid during the buying, installing, or permitting steps, I'd love to hear them. Thanks a bunch!
3 Answers
It's a tight timeline, but you can make it work! Just a quick tip: buy your batteries sooner rather than later—they won't get cheaper. Make sure you're calculating how many days of battery autonomy you want and get enough capacity to cover your max load during that time. If your solar array is sized right, it should recharge the batteries daily and cover your needs, too. If not, you'll face some frustrating cycles.
I managed to complete my installation in about 6 weeks from start to finish! It's definitely on the tighter side, but totally doable if you keep the momentum going. Good luck!
I read that going with a ground mount and off-grid setup can speed up the permitting process significantly. Just make sure to decide on a hybrid system with some sort of grid connection if that's what you want. And don't forget—getting permit-ready drawings from a service like Greenlancer can make things go smoothly. They helped me out for about $800 last fall! Also, remember, as long as you make the purchase by year-end, you may not need the system fully installed by then, but it’s best to push for getting it done ASAP.
Thanks for the Greenlancer tip! That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for.
Can you give us some details about your system and where you're located? How did you handle the permitting?