Frequently Asked Questions

When sunlight hits the solar panels, they produce clean, renewable electricity that powers your home or business. If your system produces more energy than you need on a given day, that energy flows out of your property and onto the electric grid.

The cost of solar varies widely based on your roof size and sun exposure. You may be eligible for a Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for 30% of the total cost of your installation, which is designed to lower the total cost of going solar. Your installer will provide you with a free quote specific to your property and will provide you with materials so you can apply for the ITC, if applicable. Solar panels typically pay for themselves in about 10 years through the savings on your electric bill.

Solarize Philly is a citywide program to help a discount program to help Philadelphia’s home and business owners go solar. The Philadelphia Energy Authority negotiated consumer protections with our pre-approved installation partners. PEA reviews and approves all solar modules, inverters, batteries, and other equipment that installers offer as part of Solarize Philly to ensure it is of the highest quality. PEA has performed a thorough review of our installers’ licenses, insurance coverage, and financials. PEA also requires that our Solarize Philly installers offer a minimum 10-year workmanship warranty for all installations.

Solarize Philly partner installers are required to use equipment that meets quality and safety certifications. Solar panels must be Tier-1 rated and all other equipment, including inverters, racking, and batteries, must be UL-certified.

Homeowners and businesses have a lot of different options to pay for solar.

Many homeowners consider a home equity loan or a home equity line of credit. Your installer will provide at least one financing option. You are also free to secure your own financing to pay for the solar installation. In most cases, we have found that the monthly loan payment is equal to or less than the monthly savings on your PECO bill.

Solarize Philly’s installer partner PosiGen offers an option to lease your solar panels (the way you lease a car) so you have a transparent and predictable monthly payment. This lease is available to everyone regardless of income or credit score. Other installers may also offer types of credit-based lease options as well.

PEA and PGCC will be running an RFQ to bring new residential solar developers into the program in late Spring 2025. Sign up here to be notified when the RFQ is released. <Monday.com form we need to create>. You can learn more about our previous Solarize Philly RFP process here but note that the program design is changing for Solarize Greater Philadelphia. We usually run an RFP every 2 years.

Commercial solar developers can email info@pasolarcenter.org to learn how to be added to the RFP procurement list for G.E.T. Solar projects.

When sunlight hits the solar panels, they produce clean, renewable electricity that powers your home or business. If your system produces more energy than you need on a given day, that energy flows out of your property and onto the electric grid.

The Solar for All (SFA) program, led by the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp. (PGCC) in partnership with the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA), is dedicated to expanding access to clean, affordable solar energy. Funded by $156M given to a coalition composed of the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp (PGCC) and the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) to support solar access statewide, the program is designed to serve low-income households by providing targeted financial assistance for solar installations, energy storage, and solar-enabling home repairs upgrades.

Participants in the Solar for All Program will finance their array through a subsidized solar power purchase agreement with a trusted financial partner. Our solar power purchase agreement product guarantees a minimum of 20% savings on a participant’s electricity bills. The program ensures a transparent and predictable monthly rate. After going solar through the Solar for All program, participants will still receive a reduced bill from their electricity provider and a bill for the solar power purchase agreement from the financial partner that owns the solar system. These two bills together will be at least 20% less than their pre-solar electricity bill.

A residential solar power purchase agreement (PPA) is a financial arrangement where a homeowner agrees to purchase electricity generated by a solar panel system installed on their property, owned and maintained by a third-party company, for a fixed period, typically 15-25 years.

PGCC expects to launch the program for Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties in mid-2025.

Eligible applicants for the Solarize Greater Philadelphia Solar for All (SFA) program include any household that owns property within Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware counties that meets income eligibility requirements (see table below). Participants will have to verify their income with acceptable documentation or an income affidavit. Households in Low Income/Disadvantaged Community (LIDAC) census tracts identified by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) can provide an income affidavit. Eligibility determinations will be carried out by program partners and the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp (PGCC) in partnership with the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA).

Interested participants will self-identify as low to moderate income (based on the table below) and select a vetted SFA program solar installer, who will provide a proposal and facilitate the application for Solar for All to the third party financial provider. The Financial provider will determine eligibility and underwrite their solar power purchase Agreement. Ineligible applicants will be diverted to Solarize Greater Philadelphia. 

Income Criteria for Southeastern PA Solar for All Program 

Source: US Dept of Housing and Urban Development

Households who go solar through the Solar for All program will receive a minimum of 20% savings on their electricity bill. PEA reviews and approves all solar modules, inverters, batteries, and other equipment that installers offer as part of Solar for All to ensure it is of the highest quality. PEA will perform a thorough review of our installers’ licenses, insurance coverage, and financials.

Solarize Philly partner installers are required to use equipment that meets quality and safety certifications. Solar panels must be Tier-1 rated and all other equipment, including inverters, racking, and batteries, must be UL-certified.

• Guaranteed 20% savings on your electricity bill.
• Go solar at $0 upfront cost.
• Predictable pricing.
• PGCC’s  third party financing partner owns and maintains the system
• The third party owner of your system retains the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit and SRECs.

Once you have signed the contract, your installer will apply for a permit from your local municipality to start the interconnection process with your electricity provider. The timeline for this process varies, but is typically within 30-60 days. From there, the company will install the solar array on your roof, which takes 1-3 days. Finally, the installer will submit for final interconnection approval from your electricity provider and they will come out to switch your meter to a bi-directional one, and then your installer can flip the switch and turn on your solar array!

The ideal roof for a solar installation is one that is unshaded, and is ideally less than 10 years old and in good condition. Your installer will do a free assessment of your site to find out whether it has enough sun exposure to be a good fit for solar. It is possible to remove panels if roof repairs are needed, but it is best to have any needed work done before the solar is installed. Some of our installers can also provide you with ground-mounted and carport options.

Your installer will provide a proposal that shows how much you can expect to save. The solar energy produced will flow into your home or business, and any extra electricity will flow out onto the electricity grid. PECO will credit your bill for this excess production, through a process known as “net metering.” When your solar array is not producing (e.g. at night), your house will consume electricity from the grid and your bill credits will be applied toward the cost of this grid-based power. PECO will pay out any credit balance each May. For information on how solar billing works if you switch to PECO’s Time of Use Pricing, please refer to PECO’s Solar Net Metering Time of Use Q&A.

Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) are performance-based incentives that create economic value from solar generation. Each megawatt-hour of electricity generated by your solar system equals 1 SREC from the state. A typical home in Philadelphia generates 3-5 SRECs annually. For SFA projects, the financial partner will own and maintain the solar panels, and keep all SRECs. You will benefit from savings by using the clean energy generated by the solar PV system.

Contact the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp at info@phillygreencapital.org with any other questions!

Installers for the Solar for All Program will be selected through a procurement process that is expected to begin in Spring 2025. Keep an eye on our website for more information on when and how to apply.

Yes. Solar for All is a new program with separate, more robust installer requirements like enhanced reporting, completing solar enabling repairs, working with Solar for All financial partners who will own and operate arrays on participants’ homes, and marketing requirements.  More information will be provided on these requirements through the forthcoming installer procurement process.

Eligible applicants for the Solarize Greater Philadelphia Solar for All (SFA) program include any household that owns property within Philadelphia, Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware counties that meets income eligibility requirements (see table below). Participants will have to verify their income with acceptable documentation or an income affidavit. Households in Low Income/Disadvantaged Community (LIDAC) census tracts identified by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) can provide an income affidavit. Eligibility determinations will be carried out by program partners and the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp (PGCC) in partnership with the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA).

Interested participants will self-identify as low to moderate income (based on the table below) and select a vetted SFA program solar installer, who will provide a proposal and facilitate the application for Solar for All to the third party financial provider. The Financial provider will determine eligibility and underwrite their solar power purchase Agreement.

Ineligible applicants will be diverted to Solarize Greater Philadelphia.

Yes, the Solar for All Program is a collaborative effort between the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp (PGCC), the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA), and the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA). These organizations will manage the program’s operations and outreach. Community partners will also play key roles in expanding program access and education. Additionally financial providers will be procured and offer PGCC vetted residential power purchase agreements for qualified customers.

PGCC expects Solar for All installations to begin in mid-2025 following a procurement process that is slated to begin in early 2025.

Solarize Philly partner installers are required to use equipment that meets quality and safety certifications. Solar panels must be Tier-1 rated and all other equipment, including inverters, racking, and batteries, must be UL-certified.

Installers will provide detailed proposals that estimate the expected energy savings based on the household’s energy usage, system size, local solar potential, and adoption of a vetted power purchase agreement from a program financial provider. PGCC will subsidize the power purchase agreement to meet 20% savings compared to a participant’s pre-solar electricity bill.

The Solar for All program will mandate that all participating installers provide minimum workmanship warranties on installations. Installers must also meet specific consumer protection standards, including transparent pricing, quality assurance for all equipment, and detailed communication on project timelines. Additionally, all equipment must meet Tier-1 and UL certifications and be approved by the financial partner who will own the system and provide the PPA.

Contact the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp at info@phillygreencapital.org with any other questions!

PGCC expects to launch the program for Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties in 2025.

Community partners play a crucial role in the Solar for All Program by helping PGCC and PEDA to connect low-income households with the resources and information needed to apply. They will assist with outreach efforts, education, and increasing awareness about the benefits of the program within local communities.

You can assist by spreading the word about the Solar for All Program through local events, social media, and distributing educational materials. Get in touch with us to request PGCC support in outreach!

Contact the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp at info@phillygreencapital.org with any other questions!