Common questions about solar panels 
 

Q and A 

What’s SREC? An SREC  stands for solar renewable energy credits. It’s a trade-able instrument that represents environmental perks of electricity harvested from renewable energy sources. One SREC represents 1 megawatt hour of electricity.  In addition to individual state Solar Energy Grant Programs and the Solar Federal Income Tax Credit, Maryland residents who have installed a solar system can also earn and sell SRECs. 

Is a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) transferable? If you sell your house, you may transfer the PPA to the new homeowner or buy the solar system. You can prepay the remainder of the payments due under the PPA. This method will make the transfer more enticing to the new homeowner. 

What regular maintenance do solar panels need? Generally speaking, solar  systems are very low-maintenance. The system owner must only wash the panels down with water when they get dirty so light can get through.

How long will my solar energy system last? If properly installed, it should last about 30-40 years. 

If there is a power outage, will my solar system keep making energy? For safety reasons, your grid-tied system automatically switches off when there is a power outage. If you choose to add a  battery storage system, your system will continue to generate and consuming energy when the grid is down. Having a solar battery with your system enables  energy self-consumption and energy-independence.

Can my homeowners association prevent me from installing solar panels? No it cannot.  According to DSIRE (Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency): ”HOAs are barred from restricting a homeowner’s right to install solar panels. States which have laws that override any HOA contracts seeking to deny the right to install solar PV systems include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.”

How can solar energy improve national security? The US relies on oil, from potentially unstable or unfriendly countries. These resources are suspetible to political disorder, trade wars, embargoes, and other changes. Over 53% are imported yearly and solar energy could decrease this dependency. This making our economy and nation more secure. 

What is a kilowatt hour? This is what you pay when you purchase energy from the local utility. A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is a unit for measuring energy. It’s one kilowatt of power used over a period of one hour.

What’s net-metering? Net metering’s billing mechanism credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they contribute to the network. If a home is net-metered, the  meter runs backwards to give credit against what electricity is consumed at night or other periods where the home’s electricity use exceeds the system’s output. Customers are only billed for their “net” energy use.
 

Further questions? 

Solar power is here to stay, and the sooner you explore how much you can save, the sooner you can enjoy the benefits of residential solar power. Go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. It tells you how much solar power you need, and how much you can save. Please visit our solar blog to find out more about the benefits of going solar.