Frequently Asked Questions

This really depends on where you live, how much your electric bill is, the size of the system, incentives, roof replacement, tree removal, etc. But going solar can be a lot more affordable than you think. You can get a loan that’s $0-down and low-interest that is designed to be lower than your monthly electric bill. So you do not need to purchase the whole solar system upfront. We are happy to give you a free, no obligation quote so you would have an idea of how much it would cost for your home.

For most systems, solar owners break even after only 5-7 years, and you will continue to save money on your electric bill for years after that. With government incentives and solar credits the energy you produce from your home will keep money in your pocket. At ACE Solar, our goal is to design a system specific to your energy use, so that your monthly electric bill is as close to $0 as possible. Some months you can even get credits on your electric bill because you produced more energy than you used!

For every solar array installed, you are helping to keep harmful pollutants out of the atmosphere and water. Whereas fossil fuels cause environmental degradation and require large amounts of water and energy just to acquire, solar is carbon free and relies on the unlimited power of the sun. For every home that converts to solar energy, about 16,000 pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of our atmosphere per year, or roughly 24 trees. Over the course of the system’s lifetime this is over 400,000 pounds of carbon dioxide or 600 trees. Talk about reducing your carbon footprint!

Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels work by absorbing the sun’s energy throughout the day and converting it to Direct Current (DC) electricity. When a photon, or light particle, strikes the surface of your solar panels, they will provide electrons within the solar cell material with enough energy to begin moving, thus creating the current. However, most homes and businesses run on Alternating Current (AC) electricity, so this DC current is passed through an inverter that converts DC to AC before being distributed to your home.

There are several different options when it comes to financing solar. The most financially advantageous way is to own your system by either buying it outright or getting a solar loan. There are low-interest solar loans offered that are $0-down so you start saving money from day one. You can always look into leasing solar through either a solar lease or solar PPA, however, we strongly recommend you own the system to qualify for all the benefits going solar has to offer such as the tax credits, increased home value, significantly lowered electric bills etc.

The whole process, from our first contact to project completion, will usually take between 10-12 weeks. We pride ourselves on coming in on time and on budget. From the initial contact and proposal, we will then apply on your behalf for any incentives you may qualify for and will not begin construction until they have been approved. On install day, our professional team will get the job done in about two days, depending on the complexity of the project.

If your roof faces South, East, or West with minimal shade it could be an ideal roof for solar. The system has a lifespan of over 30 years, so it’s best to consider the condition of your existing roof before installing. There’s a cost to remove and reinstall the system if you need to replace your roof after installation, so it may be beneficial to replace it ahead of time. We can help with identifying all of these factors, so contact ACE Solar to receive a free, personalized quote and find out how much solar could save you even without the perfect rooftop.

When your solar system is connected to the grid and there is a power outage, the system will shut off to prevent injury for utility companies or emergency responders that are working to fix the issue. There are battery and generator components that can provide backup power in the event of a power outage.

We only use top-tier panels, which are the most efficient panels and the best warranties available on the market. We are also a small, local company. Smaller solar companies are on average $2,000-$5,000 cheaper than large solar installers. We are local to New England, so we are knowledgeable of the incentives, rebates, and permitting process in your area and will take care of it all for you.

While incentives vary state to state, there is a federal tax rebate available to anyone who installs solar.

In addition to this, all New England states offer net metering rebates. This is when your electric company takes any excess power produced by your solar array and refunds you in the form of bill credits which can be used to pay your electric bill when your solar array cannot keep up with your demand. Finally, all New England states do not raise property taxes based on the increased value of your home from the addition of solar.

See below for other incentives on a state to state basis.

Massachusetts: If you live in MA, you are eligible for the SMART program if you are in a region served by Eversource, National Grid or Unitil. Through the SMART program, you will be reimbursed for all the energy your solar array produces at a fixed rate per kWh for ten years. This helps you break even quicker and puts extra money in your pocket after that. Additionally, the state will give you a 15% tax rebate on the total cost of the project up to $1,000.

New Hampshire: Here you will receive $0.20 per watt up to $1,000 or 30% of the entire system cost upon installation.

Rhode Island: Rhode Island offers a solar grant program which will fund you, through the install company, for $0.85 per watt up to $7,000 for your installation cost.

Maine: The state will help you finance your project through a PACE loan if you qualify. With this loan, you will pay no money down and instead of monthly payments, you pay back the loan with annual assessments of your property value. Typically, you could receive this loan at a value of $15,000 for 15 years and an interest rate of 4.99%.

Connecticut: Connecticut offers several rebate programs for new solar owners. The first is a solar rebate program, the Residential Solar Investment Program, that offers a rebate of $0.463 per watt of installed solar up to 10 kW. The state also offers a low-interest loan for your system where you can borrow up to $25,000 for 10 years at low-interest rates. Additionally, you will not have to pay any sales or use tax on your new solar panels.

Vermont: You will not pay any sales or property taxes on the purchase of your system.

The amount of energy generated from solar panels does rely on the amount of sunlight they receive. This means your panels will produce electricity on cloudy days but it will be less than when it is sunny. They will not produce electricity at night. However, oftentimes solar can produce more energy during the day than you use and thanks to net-metering you will get compensated for that on your electric bill. Some solar customers eliminate their bill entirely and can even receive credits some months on their bill instead of charges.

Do people like low electric bills or free energy? Studies have shown homes with solar arrays tend to sell faster and for 4% more than comparable homes without solar. Fixing your home with solar is a great way to increase its value. When your home is appraised, it is noted that there is no added price for an electric bill associated with living there. For many homeowners, this is a great benefit! If you are leasing your system then you can transfer the lease agreement to the next owners or purchase the system from the company and include it in the sale of your home.