1. Site Survey

Our trained Renewable Energy Electrician (not a salesperson) will come out to your home, home site or business to assess your location for renewable energy sources. We design each system based on your specific site and your needs/wishes/budget. In all likelihood, the person you see for the evaluation will be one of the people doing the actual installation. We don't use outside salesmen and we don't “farm out” our work to others.

2. Power Consumption Analysis

For a grid-tied system without battery back-up, this can be as simple as looking at your power bill and estimating how much a solar system of a given size will offset your average cost. If you like, we will also suggest ways and means to cut down on your power consumption. This is a critical part of the process for those folks who will be off-grid. Producing you own electricity is a wonderful thing, but saving electricity first is always the best use of your hard earned dollars.

3. Discussion of State and Federal Tax Credits, Incentives and possible Financing

In Oregon, there are incentive programs offered by the Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO), a State tax credit, and Federal tax credits. We will determine which of those apply to you and what you can expect to recoup from each. We are an ETO Trade Ally and an Oregon Department of Energy Tax Certified Contractor. IF you are in the Pacific Power territory, we can also work with you to secure financing if needed. For businesses and non-profits who are outside of city limits, there is also the possibility of a Rural Energy Assistance Program (REAP) grant. If you may qualify, we will discuss the pros and cons of a REAP grant with you. In Northernmost California, there are no incentives of state tax credits but the federal tax credits and the REAP program may apply.

4. RE System Proposal

We will give you a written firm estimate of the work and a breakdown of the incentives and tax credits. If you choose to go ahead with the job, we will execute a simple construction contract and ask for a 10% deposit. For most systems, this will suffice until the work is completed. Once we receive the deposit, we will reserve your components and any incentive payments, obtain the necessary electrical and building permits and schedule your installation.

5. Installation and Inspection

Depending on the size and scope of the installation, the job may take as little a two days up to a month or more. Most residential installations take between two and four days once we get started. We are professional electricians and your installation will be done in a clean and workmanlike manner. Once your system is operational, we call for the inspections and interface with the inspectors. Only after the system is inspected, signed off and fully operational do we ask for the final payment.

6. Finishing The Paperwork

We do all the paperwork from start to finish for the ETO incentive and ODOE state tax credits. We will make sure you have a copy of the final receipt and interface with your tax preparer if necessary for the federal tax credits.

7. Warranty

Except for batteries or physical damage beyond our control, we give a two year unconditional full system warranty. For components that have a longer warranty by the manufacturer, we will fully support the product as long as that warranty is in effect. Electron Connection has no “orphans”. If we installed it, we'll work with you to keep it going and operational long after the manufacturer warrantees expire.