A Sales Pitch, Then Someone Else Does the Work
- A salesperson shows up with financing charts and projected savings — no electrical background
- The actual work of installing solar gets subcontracted to a crew you never vetted
- Panel upgrades and wiring work get subcontracted again to a separate electrician
- Three companies involved in one project, and nobody owns the full scope
- Permitting and utility interconnection delays because the installer is not local
- When something goes wrong post-install, the finger-pointing starts
One Company, One Crew, Roof to Breaker Box
- Licensed electricians assess your roof, panel, and electrical system before quoting
- Same crew installs panels, runs conduit, wires the inverter, and connects to your panel
- Panel upgrades happen in-house — no subcontractor scheduling delays
- One point of contact from site assessment through final inspection
- Local teams in each market who know the permit office and utility requirements
- Post-install support from the same company that installed the system
Residential Solar Panel Installation Services
From initial site assessment to final utility interconnection, these are the solar installation services we deliver as a single contractor.
Solar Panel Installation
Rooftop and ground-mount solar panel systems sized to your energy usage. We install monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels with racking systems engineered for your roof type — asphalt shingle, tile, metal, or flat commercial. Every mount is sealed and flashed to prevent leaks.
Inverter Installation
String inverters, microinverters, and hybrid inverters installed and configured for your system. Microinverters optimize each panel independently, while string inverters work best for unshaded roofs. We match the inverter to your panels, battery plans, and utility requirements.
Backup Power Integration
Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ, and other home solar backup options installed alongside your solar panels or retrofitted to existing arrays. Backup power captures excess solar energy your panels produce for use at night or during grid outages. We handle mounting, wiring, and integration with your inverter and home electrical panel.
Electrical Panel Upgrades
Most homes need a 200-amp panel to support home solar panels. If your panel is undersized, outdated, or full, we upgrade it as part of the project. No separate contractor, no scheduling gap. Panel upgrades include new breakers, proper grounding, and code-compliant labeling so your solar panels connect safely to the grid.
Permitting & Utility Coordination
We pull all electrical and building permits, schedule inspections, submit interconnection applications, and coordinate net metering for your home solar panels. Permit requirements vary by market — our local teams in each city know the process and the people, which cuts weeks off the timeline.
System Monitoring & Maintenance
After your solar panels are installed, the system connects to a monitoring platform that tracks solar energy production in real time. You can see daily power output, spot underperforming solar panels, and verify your return on investment from your home. If production drops or an inverter flags an error, we diagnose and resolve the issue.
“Bates Electric recently performed an extensive upgrade to our home and shop electrical systems. The project included installation of Solar Panels (Yes! no more electric bills), upgrade of distribution panels, installation of electrical spike and brownout protection, and connection of a 10,000 watt standby generator with associated switching mechanism. We were very impressed with the quality of the work performed and the value provided. Most importantly, the work was done incrementally so we were never without power for more than a few hours at a time. They respond to questions with thoughtful, well researched answers and do their best to work around our schedules.”
— Verified Google Review, Lexington
Solar panel installation done by the electricians who wire your home
Most solar companies are sales organizations that subcontract the work of installing solar panels on your home. The crew that shows up may never have worked on your roof type, and the electrical panel upgrade gets handed off to yet another contractor. That means three companies touching your home and nobody owning the full scope.
Bates is the installer. We have been doing residential electrical work for over 30 years. When we put solar panels on your home, the same licensed crew runs the conduit, wires the inverter, upgrades your panel if needed, and connects the solar panels to the grid. One company, one crew, one warranty.
- Licensed, insured electricians trained in solar panels, solar energy systems, and power backup
- Full scope: solar panels, inverters, wiring, panel upgrades, permitting, and inspection
- No subcontractors — every wire on your home is pulled by a Bates installer
- Local teams in 18 markets who know the permit offices and interconnection rules
- Tesla Powerwall certified installer for home solar backup power
Solar Installation at a Glance
What to Learn Before Installing Solar on Your Roof
Installing solar is a significant investment, and it pays to learn what separates a good system from a bad one before you sign anything. Here is what homeowners should understand about rooftop solar before the first panel goes up.
Your Roof Condition Matters
Solar panels last 25 to 30 years, so your roof needs to be in good condition before installing solar panels on it. If your roof is older than 10 years or shows signs of wear, it makes sense to replace or repair it first. Removing and reinstalling panels later to fix a roof adds thousands in cost. During our site assessment, we evaluate your roof age, material, and condition so you know exactly where things stand before committing.
Not All Solar Panels Are the Same
All solar panels sold in the US meet international testing standards set by the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), but efficiency, warranty length, and degradation rates vary significantly between manufacturers. Tier 1 panels from companies like LG, REC, and Qcells typically offer 25-year warranties and degrade less than 0.5% per year. Cheaper panels may save money upfront but produce less power over time and carry shorter warranties. We help you learn the differences so you can make an informed choice.
Choosing the Right Solar Installers
The company installing solar on your home should be a licensed electrical contractor, not just a solar sales organization. Many solar installers are primarily sales teams that subcontract the actual electrical work. Ask who physically does the wiring. Ask if they handle panel upgrades in-house. Ask if the crew is licensed and insured in your state. If the answer to any of those is “a subcontractor,” you are paying a middleman. Bates Electric is the electrician — no middleman, no handoff.
Rooftop Solar vs. Ground Mount
Rooftop solar is the most common residential option because it uses existing space and avoids taking up yard area. Ground-mount systems make sense when your roof faces the wrong direction, has too much shade, or is not in good enough condition to support panels for 25+ years. Ground mounts cost more due to additional racking and trenching but can be positioned at the ideal angle for maximum production. We assess both options during the site evaluation so you can learn which approach produces more energy for your property.
Understanding Solar Installation Costs and Savings
The true cost of installing solar depends on your system size, equipment choices, roof complexity, and available incentives. Here is how the numbers typically break down for a residential rooftop solar project.
System Size & Installation Costs
The average residential system is 6 to 10 kW. At current market rates, installation costs run $2.50 to $3.50 per watt before incentives. A 7 kW system typically falls between $17,500 and $24,500 before the federal tax credit. The 30% ITC brings that same system down to $12,250 to $17,150 out of pocket. We provide exact pricing during your free assessment — no ballpark guessing from a satellite image.
Your Electricity Bill After Solar
A properly sized system can reduce your electricity bill by 80% to 100%. With net metering, excess power your panels produce during the day gets credited to your utility account, offsetting the power you draw at night. Many homeowners see their monthly bill drop from $200 or $300 to under $20 — just the base connection fee. The higher your current electricity bill, the faster the system pays for itself.
What Affects Your Payback Period
Three factors drive payback speed: your local utility rate, the amount of sun your roof gets, and available incentives beyond the federal ITC. Homes in markets with high electricity rates and strong sun exposure see payback in 6 to 8 years. Markets with lower rates may take 9 to 12 years. Either way, the panels keep producing free power for 15+ years after payback. We walk through the math for your specific situation so you learn exactly what to expect.
Is This You?
“My electric bill is $300+ a month and keeps climbing.”
A properly sized home solar panel system can eliminate or drastically reduce your electricity costs. Solar panels on an average home pay for themselves in 7 to 10 years and generate free power for 25+ years after that. The math is straightforward — we calculate your exact payback during the site assessment.
“I got a quote from a solar company but something felt off.”
Solar sales companies make money selling financing, not installing solar panels on your home. If the quote leads with monthly payments instead of solar panel specs, if the salesperson cannot answer technical questions, or if they will not tell you who actually does the work — those are red flags. Get quotes from a real solar installer who handles the electricity and wiring directly.
“I want solar but my electrical panel is ancient.”
An outdated or undersized electrical panel is the number one blocker for putting solar panels on your home. Solar-only companies subcontract panel upgrades, which adds cost and delays. We upgrade your panel as part of installing solar panels — same crew, same day, no scheduling gap between the panel work and the solar connection.
“We lose power every storm and I am done with it.”
Solar panels alone will not keep your lights on during an outage — you need backup power. A Tesla Powerwall or Enphase IQ paired with your solar panels stores solar energy and powers your critical circuits when the grid goes down. We install your home solar panels and backup power together so they work as one integrated setup from day one.
“I do not understand the permitting and utility stuff.”
You should not have to. Solar permits, structural engineering reviews, utility interconnection applications, and net metering enrollment are our responsibility. We handle all of it in every market we serve. Local teams who know the local process mean fewer delays and fewer surprises.
“I want the federal tax credit before it changes.”
The 30% federal Investment Tax Credit is the single biggest home solar incentive available. It applies to the full cost of your solar panels including labor, inverters, and power backup. The credit is scheduled to step down in coming years, so the sooner you install solar panels on your home, the more you save. We outline every available incentive during your consultation.
How We Work
Every residential solar panel installation follows the same four phases — from first call to flipping the switch.
- Residential and commercial solar installations follow the same process
- Physical installation typically completed in 1 to 3 days
- All work permitted, inspected, and interconnected to utility standards
Site Assessment
A licensed electrician evaluates your roof orientation, shading, electrical panel capacity, and energy usage. We design the system size and layout based on actual data, not estimates from satellite images. Free, no obligation.
Design & Permitting
We finalize system design, select equipment, pull permits, and submit your utility interconnection application. You approve the plan, equipment specs, and final price before we order anything or schedule the install.
Installation
Our crew mounts the racking, installs panels, runs conduit and wiring, installs the inverter, upgrades your electrical panel if needed, and connects everything. We seal every roof penetration and clean up completely when done.
Inspection & Activation
We schedule the city inspection, coordinate final utility approval, and activate your system. We walk you through the monitoring app so you can track production from day one. Your system starts generating power and credits immediately after utility permission to operate.
18 Markets. One Master Contractor.
Bates Electric provides residential solar panel installation across 18 locations. Same standards, same licensed electricians, same process — wherever you are.
- Every market staffed with local, licensed electricians
- Local permitting and utility interconnection expertise in each city
- Residential and commercial solar installations in all locations
Everything Homeowners Need to Learn About Solar Panels
Use this guide to learn what solar panels cost, how much electricity solar panels produce, how to compare quotes from different solar installers, and what reviews from real homeowners say about going solar. The more you learn before getting quotes, the better decisions you will make.
How Much Electricity Do Solar Panels Produce?
A typical home solar panel produces about 350 to 400 watts of power in direct sunlight. A system of 20 solar panels on your home can generate 7,000 to 8,000 watts of solar energy at peak — enough to power most homes entirely. Annual electricity production depends on your location, roof angle, and shading. Homes in sunnier markets like Miami, Tampa, and Naples produce more solar energy per panel than homes in Chicago or St. Louis, but solar panels generate meaningful electricity in all 18 of our markets. Your solar installer should model your specific home production before you sign anything — we do this during every free assessment.
How to Compare Solar Quotes
When comparing quotes from solar installers, look past the monthly payment pitch and focus on the cost per watt, the solar panels being used, the inverter type, and the warranty terms. A good installer will give you a quote that breaks down the cost of the solar panels, the cost of labor, the cost of the electrical panel upgrade if needed, and the exact incentives you qualify for. If a solar installer cannot explain the difference between a string inverter and microinverters on your home, or cannot tell you the wattage and efficiency of the solar panels they plan to use, keep looking. Get at least two or three quotes before choosing a solar installer for your home.
What Real Reviews Say About Home Solar
Read reviews from homeowners who have gone solar in your area. Look for reviews that mention the installer by name, describe the quality of the solar panels and wiring, and talk about whether the home solar system performed as promised. Reviews that mention electricity savings, power production, and how the installer handled permits and inspections give you the clearest picture. Our reviews consistently mention the quality of our electricians, the thoroughness of our home solar work, and the fact that we handle everything from the solar panels on the roof to the electrical panel in the garage. Over 2,700 reviews across our 18 markets tell that story.
Solar Energy Incentives Beyond the Federal Tax Credit
Beyond the 30% federal ITC, many states offer additional incentives that reduce the cost of putting solar panels on your home. Net metering lets you sell excess solar energy back to the grid, effectively spinning your electricity meter backward. Some states offer Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) that pay you for every megawatt-hour of solar energy your panels produce. Local power companies may offer rebates for installing solar panels on your home as well. These incentives change regularly, so your solar installer should walk you through every incentive available in your market. We do this as part of every home solar consultation.
Ready to Go Solar With an Electrician You Can Trust?
Schedule a free home solar assessment. We will evaluate your roof, your electrical panel, and your electricity usage, then put together a solar panel system design with a clear price and timeline. No pressure, no financing pitch.
Frequently Asked Questions
A typical residential solar panel installation runs between $15,000 and $35,000 before incentives, depending on system size, roof complexity, and equipment choices. The federal solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) currently covers 30% of the total installation cost. A 6kW system for an average home usually falls in the $18,000 to $24,000 range before the tax credit. We provide detailed estimates during a free site assessment.
The physical installation typically takes 1 to 3 days for a standard residential system. The full timeline from signed contract to powered-on system is usually 6 to 12 weeks, because permitting, utility interconnection approval, and inspection scheduling add time. We handle all of that paperwork and coordination so you are not chasing permits and utility forms yourself.
It depends on your current panel. If your electrical panel is 100 amps or less, or if it is already near capacity, an upgrade to 200 amps is usually required before solar can be connected. Older panels with outdated breakers (Federal Pacific, Zinsco) should be replaced regardless. Our site assessment evaluates your panel capacity and includes any necessary upgrades in the project scope and estimate.
Standard grid-tied solar systems shut down during outages for safety — they cannot send power back into lines that utility crews are working on. If you want power during outages, you need a battery storage system like a Tesla Powerwall paired with your solar array. The battery stores excess solar energy and provides backup power when the grid goes down. We install and integrate battery systems as part of the solar project.
The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) lets you deduct 30% of your total solar installation cost from your federal taxes. Many states and utilities offer additional rebates, net metering credits, and Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs). Incentives vary by location and change regularly. During your consultation, we outline every incentive available in your specific market so you know the true out-of-pocket cost.
Solar installation is fundamentally electrical work. Panels connect to inverters, inverters connect to your main electrical panel, and your panel connects to the utility grid. A licensed electrician understands load calculations, panel capacity, wire sizing, grounding, and code compliance at a level that solar-only salespeople do not. We also handle the electrical panel upgrades, sub-panel additions, and wiring that solar-only companies typically subcontract out to someone else.