Solar Project Timeline in DC

The first step of the process is getting a solar quote from your home. Solar contractors provide this at no-cost to you. Site evaluations can normally be completed remotely using satellite images, at times when there are shading concerns they may want to come on-site to verify any areas of concern. 

Make sure to have your most recent Pepco bill on hand when you reach our for a quote.

Once you are ready to move forward, you will enter into an agreement with the installer. This would be considered Day 1. 

Once a signed agreement is received along with all other relevant documents required, engineers will start planning out your project and drafting up the drawings required by DCRA to pull the permits.

This work requires a civil engineer to complete the drawings, and a structural engineer which reviews and approves the drawings and designs.

Once engineers complete the drawings and very the system size and specs, two permits are submitted to DCRA (department of Regulatory and Consumer Affairs), an electrical and a building permit. DCRA's engineer's will have to review the application in detail. This process can take about 4-6 weeks to complete. 

During this time an application is submitted to Pepco to be able to interconnect the solar PV system to the gird. Pepco will look at the system size and verify the system does not produce more than 100% of your consumption for the previous year. 

If the site is new construction, or if you recently moved in and do not have 1 year of consumption/usage data, and consumption calculator may be completed with your installer based on the amount of electronics you have in your home. 

Pepco normally reviews and approves applications within 30 days as well. 

Once all permits have been pulled, and Pepco has given the green light to proceed with the install, the scheduling of the installation date will take place. Most residential projects can be completed in one to three days, however larger commercial projects can take several weeks to complete.

Once the system is installed and inspected, the inspection report is submitted to Pepco and DCRA, and Pepco will alert their technicians to come and either swap or reprogram your meter to be capable of rolling backwards to provide you with credit with exported power, hence a net-meter.

Once the net meter has been swapped, Pepco will send an email to provide Final Approval to Operate, which means the system can be turned on. Your solar company will turn your system on and provide you with any final documentation of your system including a final invoice. You will then see the savings begin!