Solarize Gwinnett FAQs

1. Do homeowners need to work with their utility companies before installing solar on their roofs?

No, our competitively-selected solar installer, Better Tomorrow Solar, will coordinated with your utility company on your behalf. The customer will only need to sign an interconnection agreement with their utility company after solar panels have been installed.

2. What is the estimated cost and energy production of a typical solar energy system?

The cost and energy production of a system depends on multiple factors, including roof pitch, orientation, and shading. As an example, the average system size in the US is about 7 kW. This system can produce about 9000 kWh of solar energy annually. Through Solarize Gwinnett, a 7 kW solar energy system has the potential of costing about $17,000 if we reach our lowest pricing tier of $2.45 per watt. Costs can vary depending on financing vs paying cash.

3. What federal and state incentives are available for solar?

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) offers a 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit for all installations. Unfortunately, the state of Georgia does not offer any tax incentives for solar customers. Incentives offered by individual power companies are ever-changing. As of now, Sawnee EMC is offering full retail net-metering, but there are no other incentives of which we are aware at the moment.

4. What impacts do trees and roof orientation have on a solar installation? How does solar work on multi-unit townhomes?

a. Shading is the most important factor when determining solar eligibility. Beyond that, the ideal rooftop for solar would have plenty of south-facing roof surface area.
b. Installing solar on townhomes is really only viable if each unit owns their portion of the roof. In that case, any one of the units may install solar at any point.

5. Can you use the solar energy generated by your system onsite? Do homeowners need to be interconnected to the grid as back-up? If so, what is the fee structure of the utility company?

Almost all of our installations are tied to the existing power grid. It can be cost-prohibitive to take a home entirely off-grid. Your home or business will use the solar energy generated onsite. If there isn't enough solar energy generated to meet your power demands, the grid will be your back-up (unless you are installing batteries, in which case they will be your back-up). There may be an interconnection fee when solar is installed to change out the electric meter to a bi-directional meter.

6. How and when are property owners credited for excess solar energy generated by their utility company?

The way it works currently is that solar produced is used in the property first and any excess is sent back to the grid. The power company installs a bi-directional meter to measure the flow of electricity in and out of the home. Any power sent back to the grid is credited to the customer on the next bill. The amount that is credited is dependent on the power company.