The Solar Panel Installation Process: What to Expect from Signature to Switch-On
Updated August 2026 with the latest rates and program details from PURA, Eversource, and state program filings.
Thesis: going solar feels like a big leap until you see that the homeowner's part of the process is about 30 minutes of conversation — the rest is on us. Here's exactly what happens between signing and flipping the switch.
Step 1: Design (week 1)
We build a custom layout for your roof using your last 12 months of electric usage — panel placement, production estimate, and your locked rate, all shown to you before anything moves forward.
Step 2: Permits, program paperwork, and approvals (weeks 2–6)
We handle the town permits, the utility paperwork, and your state program application — in Connecticut that's RRES, including the tariff election (Netting or Buy-All) that locks your rate structure for a 20-year term; in Massachusetts it's the net metering interconnection. You do nothing here except live your life; we update you as approvals land.
Step 3: Installation day (usually one day)
The crew arrives in the morning and most home installations are done the same day — several of our Google reviewers clocked theirs at about four hours.
Step 4: Inspection and permission to operate
The town inspects the work, the utility grants permission to operate, and your system switches on. From there, your roof is a power plant — and your bill starts working for you instead of against you.
Questions about any step? That's what the free estimate conversation is for — no pressure, just the full picture.