About Permits

Before connecting a PV system to the grid:

If you live where a homeowners association must approve a solar electric system, you or your PV provider may need to submit your plans. You’ll need approval before you begin installing your PV system. However, some state laws stipulate that you have the right to install a solar electric system on your home.

You will probably need to obtain permits from your city or county building department. These include a building permit, an electrical permit, or both. Typically, your PV provider will take care of this, rolling the price of the permits into the overall system price.

However, in some cases, your PV provider may not know how much time or money will be involved in "pulling" a permit. If so, this task may be priced on a time-and-materials basis, particularly if additional drawings or calculations must be provided to the permitting agency. In any case, make sure the permitting costs and responsibilities are addressed at the start with your PV provider before installation begins. You can also obtain this information ahead of time by calling or visiting your local building department. Have handy information the building department will want to know, such as: what type of roof is your existing roof (comp. shingles, tile etc.), how old is the existing roof, how old is the house? (The age of the house is important, because in some houses, especially older homes, the roofs weren't sheeted with plywood, they had "space sheeting"), what type of solar system are you planning on installing: (solar panels, shingles or tiles), if using panels, how big and what is the approximate weight, is there anything else on the roof in the area where you plan on installing the solar panels (such as an air conditioner). These are most of the questions they'll be asking, so it's a good idea to have that information handy when talking to them.

Code requirements for PV systems vary somewhat from one jurisdiction to the next, but most are based on the National Electrical Code (NEC). Article 690 in the NEC spells out requirements for designing and installing safe, reliable, code-compliant PV systems. Because most local requirements are based on the NEC, your building inspector is likely to rely on Article 690 for guidance in determining whether your PV system has been properly designed and installed. If you are one of the first people in your community to install a grid-connected PV system, your local building department may not have experience in approving one of these systems. If this is the case, you and your PV provider can speed the process by working closely with building officials to bring them up to speed on the technology.

What Should You Know About Insurance?

For grid-connected PV systems, your electric utility will require that you enter into an interconnection agreement. Usually, these agreements set forth the minimum insurance requirements to keep in force. If you are buying a PV system for your home, your standard homeowner’s insurance policy is usually adequate to meet the utility’s requirements. However, if insurance coverage becomes an issue, contact one of the following groups: National Association of State Energy, Officials (NASEO), 1414 Prince Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. Phone: 703-299-8800 - Fax: 703-299-6208 www.naseo.org/members/states.htm Check the above Web site to find the contact for your state energy office, which typically promotes the development and use of renewable energy resources in your state. The office might offer technical assistance, sponsor workshops and forums, and provide general information to resident energy consumers on renewable energy resources and applications.

National Association of Regulatory and Utility Commissioners (NARUC), 1101 Vermont, N.W., Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005, Phone: 202-898-2200 , Fax: 202-898-2213 www.naruc.orgThis Web site has a listing of state Public Utility Commissions that you may contact.

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), 1616 H Street, N.W., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006, Phone: 202-628-7745 , Fax: 202-628-7779 www.seia.org The Solar Energy Industries Association is the national trade association of the solar industry. Many states have a state chapter of the national SEIA organization, which can be found on SEIA’s web site.