Frequently Asked Questions

+ What is the ballpark cost?

Each house is a special case in terms of how solar will work, your usage, your solar access, and how much space you have on your roof…but typically $15,000-$40,000 depending on all those factors. The great news is that there’s a 30% Federal Tax Credit so come tax season you can actually get 30% of the system cost back.

+ What incentives are available?

With the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, the Federal Tax Credit for solar is now 30%! A Federal Tax Credit is different from a deduction, this is actually a credit that is dollar for dollar so if your solar system costs $30,000, you’ll get $9,000 back as a tax credit. This can be rolled over if it’s too much for your tax appetite in one year.

This incentive is available to households, to businesses and as a direct pay function for non-profits as well. Learn more about these incentives at https://www.sugarhollowsolar.com/incentives.

+ What incentives are available for rental properties going solar?

There are many scenarios that could be at play with rental properties. For example, if a business owns the rental property and pays for the solar system, then the business can take the 30% federal tax credit amount. Or even if an individual owns a home and, say, lives on the upper floor and rents out the basement, they are eligible for the 30% tax credit, as they are living in the home. Because there are a number of different scenarios that could be at play with rental properties, it is best for you to verify with an/your accountant, as the accountant would ultimately be the one signing off on your taxes. Anyone wishing to claim the credit should first consult with a tax professional to ensure that they are eligible. It's smart to speak with an advisor before making a major investment that you intend to claim on your taxes.

+ Do you offer financing?

Yes, we offer financing for up to 100% of your system cost, as do most solar companies these days. Be sure to check the terms closely however as not all loans are created equal.

+ What services do you provide?

Turnkey installations for commercial and residential solar systems (roof and ground mounted). We also offer battery back-up and simple EV charger installations that do not require trenching when paired with solar systems.

+ Do solar systems require batteries?

About 20% (and counting) of our customers add batteries to their solar systems. When living off-grid, a household needs batteries to hold the extra power, but when connected to the utility grid, most people who add batteries are desiring more safety and security by knowing their lights will stay on when the power goes out. If you stay connected to the utility grid, there is a system known as Net Metering where your excess solar power flows into the utility grid when you are overproducing and you build up credits to use for power later.

+ What kind of equipment do you use?

We offer a small selection of equipment options depending on your unique situation. Speaking with an Energy Consultant is the best way to understand your options as they do sometimes change but our commitment is that we always choose based on a combination of quality, warranty and price. Some common products we use are Tesla, Hanwah Qcell, Mission, Enphase, and SolarEdge and every product we use goes through a rigorous review process by our Technical Review board.

+ Are there any warranties?

We offer 25 year warranties for our solar panels and micro-inverters, a 10 year warranty for Tesla Powerwall, 10 Year workmanship warranty as well as a 1 year complimentary service guarantee. This means that if for any reason something goes wrong with your equipment in that time, we’ll take care of it without any charge to you.

+ Do you have a dedicated service team?

Yes, we have a service team. Their top priority is our customer base so that we can do our best to guarantee that our customers will be very happy with their solar & battery purchases for years to come. If there is the available capacity, we sometimes can service systems installed by others but we cannot guarantee that.

+ Does solar add value to my house?

The short answer is yes, but it’s hard to know how much. According to a recent study by Zillow.com, homes in North Carolina with solar sell for an average of 4% higher than comparable homes without. According to research by the U.S. Dept. of Energy, a home with solar panels sells twice as fast as a home without - even in a depressed market! Compared to other home renovations, solar can often recover 100% of the original cost, whereas some other improvements can recover as little as 4% of the original cost. We think all this holds true in western NC, but there are obviously a lot of factors that go into how the next owner will value the improvements you make at your home. As the industry continues to mature, the value of solar will only increase.

+ What is the payback time for a solar system?

Approximately 8-15 years for residential systems and 5 to 7 years for commercial.

+ Can solar really save me money?

The answer is likely yes, but possibly not. It depends on the specifics of your home and whether you’re looking for short-term or long-term savings. We wrote a blog to answer this question deeper: https://www.sugarhollowsolar.com/blog/will-solar-energy-save-me-money

+ Can my electric bill really be $0?

Currently you spend about $15 per month for your meter, also known as an interconnection fee. That charge doesn’t go away when you go solar because you are still connected to the utility lines and using their services. However, it is possible to zero out your electric charges if your roof can hold the right number of solar panels. This question of choosing the right number of solar panels is discussed more in this blog: https://www.sugarhollowsolar.com/how-many-solar-panels-do-i-need

+ How does a solar system affect my roof integrity?

Sugar Hollow offers a 10 year workmanship warranty with all of our installations. That said, with thoughtful design and installation practices, your roof should maintain all of its pre-solar integrity. Our design crew will assess any unusual circumstances.

+ How much maintenance does a solar system need?

With no moving parts and at least a 25-year warranty, solar panels require very little maintenance making them an easy addition to your home. They remain relatively clean as long as they’re exposed to rain or a quick rinse with a garden hose every few months, and with technology these days there is even an app you can download to check every so often to make sure your solar system is producing well.

+ How does snow affect a solar system’s performance?

When your solar panels are covered with snow, they will not produce much power, but they will heat up and eventually the snow will slide right off the tempered glass surface much faster than it will an asphalt roof. The other thing to note is that the days when it snows in this area are generally not long before the sun shines through, so you’re not losing much. Also, we do check that your home can hold the added weight of solar panels & snow load when we qualify homes for solar.

+ Will my system still generate power during a blackout?

Unfortunately, if you have solar but no on-site batteries to store the energy, you do lose power when the power goes out. It’s for the safety of the workers attempting to fix the outages so that a solar-powered home isn’t sending live electricity into the power lines that may be down.

If you want to make sure you keep the lights on, we recommend adding a battery backup system for exactly that purpose and more.

+ Can I take my home off the electrical grid?

Yes, it is possible to take your home off the electrical grid by installing a battery-backup system. This system will provide power when your energy demands exceed your production, especially during periods like the night when solar panels might not be generating electricity. However, it's essential to consider that this option may not always be the most economical or reliable solution. Before recommending this route, we'd like to understand your specific goals and requirements better. This will enable us to suggest the most suitable and efficient solution for your energy needs.

+ If I provide my own panels or battery can you install it?

We’re generally unable to do that for an array of reasons unfortunately, but we’re always happy to talk this out if you want to give us a call.

+ Can you fix a system that was not installed by SHS?

Potentailly, we do this on a case by case basis.

+ Can my HOA or neighbors prevent me from installing a solar system?

By law, you have the right to install solar on your home, as long as it’s a detached single family residence. A homeowners association may request your solar array not be visible to the street, but an HOA can’t legally restrict the placement if it means your solar won’t work properly (like a highly shaded or north facing angle). We have experience navigating this for homeowners. Read about NC’s solar access laws here.

+ Where are you located? What areas do you serve?

We are located in East Asheville, Haw Creek neighborhood. 2 Miller Rd E, Asheville, NC 28805 and our warehouse is nearby off of Swannanoa River Rd. We are licensed in NC & SC. We can help folks who are 2.5 hours maximum from our office in Asheville for residential and can go further for commercial projects.

+ How long have you been in business?

We have been in business since 2010.

+ Who owns the business?

Doug Ager and Phelps Clarke founded the company and ran it together until 2022; Doug is now spearheading the organization with the help of his leadership team who has over 100 years combined experience in business development.

+ What happens if the power grid goes out?

Your solar panels will be“grid-tied,” meaning that they’re directly connected to the regular power lines/poles in front of your house. This means when the power goes out, yours will too, just like everyone else’s.

Homeowners looking to protect themselves against outages and blackouts could consider a battery backup system to gain independence from the grid.

+ What is the impact on Homeowners Insurance?

Every homeowner’s insurance company handles their homeowner’s insurance policies differently. We typically find that installing a solar PV system on your home does not increase your homeowner’s insurance. But we recommend checking with your insurance agent to ensure that your solar PV system is appropriately covered or if there are any additional costs.

+ How long will the installation take?

A lot of this will depend on how quickly you make your decision to go solar! But on our end, here’s the general timeline. From when you sign your solar contract to actual installation generally takes from 2-3 months but at the time of signing your Energy Consultant will be able to give you a clearer estimate. The actual installation itself will only take 1-4 days generally depending on your unique property. (More for ground mounts or commercial projects.)

+ How many panels and batteries do I need?

Each house is a special case in terms of how many panels you need. We look at how well solar will work in your location, your desired utility offset, your energy usage, and how much space you have on your roof to determine the number of panels that will serve you best. We wrote more about this topic on our website: How many solar panels do I need?

+ What is battery backup? Why is it so important?

Battery backup is home energy storage, and can be charged from the grid or solar. If connected to a solar system, when the power goes out, your solar can power your home while the sun is shining, and batteries can kick in after dark. Battery backup is great step towards energy independence!

The importance of solar battery backup lies in its ability to provide a reliable and continuous power supply, even when sunlight is unavailable. It ensures a consistent energy flow, reduces reliance on the traditional electrical grid, and maximizes the use of clean, renewable solar energy. With solar battery backup, you can enhance energy independence, reduce utility bills, and contribute to a greener environment by reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

+ Do I have to purchase an EV charger through SHS for you to install it?

No. If you have already purchased a charger, we can quote you for just an install but please note that we only do EV charger installations that do not require trenching (digging in the ground) and when they are paired with a solar system installation.

+ Do you do off Grid systems? Solar Hot Water? TSR? Radiant Floor? Geothermal?

No, these are some of the requests we get that unfortunately we don’t offer, but we do have quality partners we can refer you to- so do not hesitate to give us a call for our recommendations.