Solar Panels

the guide

Roof, sun and service first

A good proposal starts with the roof’s age and condition, shading from trees and neighboring buildings, the direction and pitch of each roof plane, and whether the electrical panel can take a solar connection. Panels are meant to stay up for decades, so a roof near the end of its life is usually replaced first.

What affects the price

System size, panel and inverter type, roof type and complexity, any panel or service upgrade, battery storage, ground-mount trenching, and whether you buy outright, finance, lease or sign a power purchase agreement.

Own, lease or buy the power

Owning the system means you keep any incentives and credits but also the upkeep. A lease or power purchase agreement means a third party owns it, and the contract terms — escalators, length, and what happens when you sell the house — matter as much as the monthly figure. Federal incentives for homeowner-owned solar changed in 2025, so confirm what currently applies with a tax adviser rather than a sales sheet.

Rules and paperwork in Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires most contractors who perform home improvements to register with the Attorney General’s office and to give you a written contract for any job over $500. The registration number belongs on the estimate and the contract — ask for it.
• Building permits in Pennsylvania are issued under the Uniform Construction Code by each municipality or the inspection agency it appoints, so the local building or codes office decides what needs a permit and an inspection.
• Permitted electrical work is inspected by the municipality or an approved third-party electrical inspection agency before it is covered up or energized.
• Pennsylvania’s Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act and the Public Utility Commission’s rules require a home solar system to go through the electric distribution company’s interconnection process before it operates connected to the grid, and they set the terms for net metering of residential systems up to 50 kilowatts.

Sources: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act; Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry — Uniform Construction Code; Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry — Uniform Construction Code; Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission — Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act. Rules change — confirm current requirements with the agency and with your municipality.

Questions to ask before you hire

1. How did you estimate my production, and what shading did you account for?
2. Who handles the permit and the utility interconnection application?
3. What do the panel, inverter and workmanship warranties each cover, and for how long?
4. What is your Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor registration number?

Frequently asked questions