Solar panel installation does not happen immediately. The installation itself takes, at most, a week, and often lasts only a few days. However, before the solar power company can begin installation, they must undergo what can be a lengthy process to obtain the permissions they need to do the work on your home. This process can take up to several months to complete

1. How Long Does it Take for Solar Panels to Be Installed?
Solar panel installation does not happen immediately. The installation itself takes, at most, a week,
and often lasts only a few days. However, before the solar power company can begin installation, they
must undergo what can be a lengthy process to obtain the permissions they need to do the work on
your home. This process can take up to several months to complete.
Typically, both a building permit and an electrical permit will be required before the solar installers will
be able to legally conduct their work. However, the type of permits required and the process needed to
obtain them depend on the city in which the installation is taking place, as well as on whether the
panels are residential solar panels or commercial panels.
For instance, some areas require a specific solar permit, while others require that the company obtain
permits for the separate building and electrical aspects of the installation. In California, solar
companies must obtain permission to connect the system to the power grid before they can activate
the system. Some cities, especially in California, are friendlier to solar power than others, and will,
therefore, have an easier or more affordable permitting process than others.
There are a number of other requirements that you may need to meet in order to complete the solar
panel installation. First, your area may also require inspections of the system after it is up and running
to ensure that it is safe and properly installed. These inspections will add to the overall time it takes to
get your system working.
Second, your solar power company may also need to verify the structural soundness of your home
before beginning work, because of the weight that solar panels add to the roof. This verification often
takes place through an inspection. They will also need to make sure that your home meets the state's
or city's guidelines for structures that bear certain loads. The inspections and any resulting work will
also add time to the total installation process.

2. Because each area is unique in the requirements it has, you will need to hire a company that is
familiar with your area and is willing to do the work of tracking down permits and following the area's
guidelines. The areas served by Revolve Solar have a few unique aspects to their own solar
installation requirements.
For instance, Austin solar companies must also have NABCEP (North American Board of Certified
Energy Practitioners) certified professionals on their installation teams in order for you to qualify for
certain rebate programs, and Chico requires a specific solar permit before installation.
Because of the inspections, permits, and guidelines that must be met before installation can be
completed, preparing your solar panels for use can take some time. Unfortunately, time is not a luxury
solar power customers have if they want to take advantage of the current incentives available to them.
These incentives, while not necessary for you to go solar, can make a significant impact on the overall
cost of installing your system. Rebates from utility companies can add up to thousands of dollars, no
small amount of money. For some families, these incentives could mean the difference between being
able to afford the installation and needing to delay the energy-saving advantages of solar even longer.
Time is important for these incentives, because many of them will eventually run out. For instance,
many of the tax incentives in California and Texas expire in 2016. This means that if you wait too long
to commit to solar power, you could end up missing out on the programs that allow you to gain tax
relief for doing so.
In addition to the delays to installation created by the permitting process, the increasing popularity of
solar power is making it more likely that it will take longer to get your system set up. Solar companies
in California and Texas may need to lengthen the timelines for installation in order to handle the
increasing influx of customers seeking their services. As a result, you will need to plan well in advance

3. in order to make sure you receive your system in time to take advantage of this year's tax rebates.
In addition, the rebates offered by utility companies for solar power users are paid for by limited funds,
and many of the companies offering them are quickly running out of the money they have set aside for
the rebates. Many of them in both California and Texas have already exhausted their funding and
closed down their rebate programs. Unless you move quickly, you may find that there are no longer
rebate programs for which you are eligible by the time you are ready to use them. As a result, time is
essential in making the most of the solar power incentives available.
Because solar panel installation can take some time, you will need to plan ahead in order to take
advantage of the rebates and incentives that are out there for customers who decide to go solar.
Acting early can give you and your solar company enough time to complete the installation process
before incentives and rebates run out. Once you choose to move forward, your solar power company
will obtain the permits and inspections necessary to get you started on the path to a working and
efficient solar power system.