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City of Phoenix National Bank of Arizona APS SolarCity

Frequently Asked Questions

About Solar Phoenix

How Solar Works

Installation Process

Solar Lease


About Solar Phoenix

  • How does the program work?

    The Solar Phoenix program allows Phoenix homeowners to install a home solar system with zero upfront cost and a low monthly lease payment.

    Homeowners can save money over time because their lease payment plus new lower electric bill is typically less than what they pay the utility company today.

    The program is a collaboration among the City of Phoenix, National Bank of Arizona, APS and SolarCity.

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  • Who is eligible?

    Homeowners who reside in the City of Phoenix and qualify for solar financing from National Bank of Arizona.

    Participants must have be in good financial standing and have a minimum FICO score of 700 or greater.

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  • Does the program utilize tax credits and solar incentives?

    Absolutely. Solar Phoenix allows homeowners to take advantage of available federal, state and utility solar incentives with no upfront cost or administrative burden.

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  • How do the financial incentives work?

    The program makes use of federal and state tax credits, plus utility rebates that reduce the cost of the solar system to the homeowner. Each solar system is financed by National Bank of Arizona, leased to the homeowner, and installed and maintained by SolarCity.

    Homeowners make a lease payment each month, and get the benefit of all the electricity the solar system produces. The customer's monthly electricity bill is typically reduced by more than the cost of the monthly solar lease payment.

    This allows most Solar Phoenix customers to actually save money each month by switching to solar power, with no upfront costs.

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  • How many homeowners do you expect to cover in the program?

    Up to 1,000 homeowners.

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  • How does this program compare to the property tax model other cities are using?

    Solar Phoenix is expected to be the largest program of its kind. No other city program has resulted in more than 50 solar installations. Solar Phoenix is expected to see 10-20 times that many.

    It demonstrates the commitment and innovation of our public and private sector leaders in delivering a program good for all Phoenicians.

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  • If I live in Phoenix and am a SRP customer, can I still participate?

    Yes, the program is open to all qualified homeowners in Phoenix who are customers of either APS or SRP.

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  • How is this different from SolarCity's SolarLease program?

    Solar Phoenix is a Phoenix-based fund from the National Bank of Arizona and benefits local Phoenix residents. The Solar Phoenix lease is similar to SolarCity's lease in other respects.

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  • How long will it take to install my solar system?

    The first step is to request a free solar consultation and quote. Once you decide to install a system, SolarCity will conduct a site audit, design your system, and request a building permit. Once the building permit is received, SolarCity will install the solar system.

    The system then must be inspected by the City of Phoenix, and subsequently by your utility company. Each step in the process takes several weeks, and the entire process typically takes about four months.

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How Solar Works

  • Will solar work on my home?

    We hope so! The two biggest factors are the amount of sunlight you get throughout the day and the amount of open roof space. We can give you a quick assessment by looking at satellite photos of your property.

    If your roof looks good, we will schedule a follow-up free solar consultation where one of our experts will survey your site to evaluate if a solar power system will fit with your architecture and meet your energy needs.

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  • Will I need to adapt my home to run on solar power?

    No. Solar power electric systems fit seamlessly into your home. You won't have to buy new appliances or change your electrical outlets; everything will work just the same as it did before. You should experience no practical changes except for one: you won't have to pay a big electrical bill every month!

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  • No big utility bill? Really?

    Really! When you begin to generate your own solar power, your electricity bill will drop significantly. How much you can save will depend on the size of your solar system and your electricity usage. When your solar system generates more electricity than your home can immediately use, your excess power flows back to the utility grid and your meter literally spins backward!

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  • What size solar system do I need?

    Every home is different, so the size of your system will depend on your energy needs, roof space and solar goals. Residential solar systems are typically 3-10 kW. SolarCity will custom design a system to meet your specific needs and offset as much of your utility usage as you desire.

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  • What maintenance is required?

    Your solar energy system requires very little maintenance, largely because it has no moving parts. All your system requires is minimal shade, occasional cleaning and inspection. We suggest that you keep an eye on trees that may shade your system and keep them trimmed.

    Using SolarGuard—the SolarCity service team proactively monitors your system output to ensure that your system is performing as it should. In the unlikely event that your system underperforms, SolarCity will alert you and help to remedy the situation.

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  • How reliable is solar power?

    Solar systems built today are very reliable. They have proven to be dependable sources of energy for large office buildings, mass retailers and governmental agencies, supplying megawatts of energy.

    Some of the largest companies in the world have buildings powered by solar energy. SolarCity has incredible high quality standards and only uses best of breed equipment—we build our systems to last.

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  • Do I need a battery back-up system?

    No. Battery systems are expensive and are not recommended. All SolarCity solar systems are connected to the utility grid so you always have access to a power source. You never have to worry about “running out” of power.

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  • What happens at night, or when the weather turns cloudy?

    Since the amount of power your solar system generates is a direct result of sunlight, it will produce slightly less energy when the weather is cloudy. Your system will not produce any energy at night. Your SolarCity power system will be interconnected to your local utility grid, so that you can automatically begin to draw power from the grid whenever you need it. You won't experience any power interruptions—the switch between solar system power and the utility grid happens seamlessly, with no effort on your part.

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  • What happens if there is a black out?

    In the event of a black out, your system is designed to turn off. This is a safety requirement by the utility company so that their technicians can safely repair down electrical lines.

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  • How long will a solar system last?

    Most of the parts on your solar system, such as solar panels, carry manufacturer's warranties of 25 years; other parts, such as inverters, carry 10-year warranties.

    In addition, SolarCity offers a warranty of at least 10 years on installation and system performance. Most solar systems may far outlast their warranties; many of the first solar systems installed more than 30 years ago are still going strong.

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Installation Process

  • Is it difficult to switch over to solar power?

    No. SolarCity makes it easy to switch to solar. We will get your solar system up and running as quickly and smoothly as possible so that you can start saving money and using clean energy. You won't experience any changes inside your home.

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  • What kind of permits are needed to meet local building codes?

    As part of our comprehensive service, SolarCity will obtain all building permits and design your system to meet your local building codes. We'll arrange the electrical, building and utility inspections and be on-site to make sure that everything is up to code. SolarCity takes care of your project every step of the way.

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  • What if my roof needs repairs after I've installed solar panels?

    Ideally, you should install solar panels on a roof that is in good condition. When a SolarCity site auditor comes out to inspect your building prior to installation, he or she will check to make sure that your roof is suitable for a solar installation.

    Once the solar panels are installed, they actually help to protect your roof from the elements. If you should ever need to make repairs on the roof, the solar panels will need to be removed and re-installed. SolarCity offers this service for a reasonable fee.

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Solar Lease

  • What are my options at the end of the solar lease?

    A solar lease is a very flexible way to go solar. When your solar lease ends, you have several good options to choose from:
    • You can upgrade to a new system with the latest solar technology under a new lease.
    • You can also extend your existing lease in five year increments.
    • You can ask SolarCity to remove your system for free.


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  • What if I move to a new home before the end of the lease?

    You can pass on the solar system to the new owners in two ways. The great thing about either of these options is that solar homes typically have a higher resale value, because of the lower electricity costs.
    • You can transfer the lease to the new homeowners if they qualify with excellent credit.
    • You can also prepay the lease and include it in the asking price.


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  • Can I decide to buy the system later?

    No, but you can renew your lease in five year increments.

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  • A solar lease includes full service. What is included?

    • Your free SolarGuard monitoring service will alert you and SolarCity of any changes in performance. If we see a problem, we will give you a call to help diagnose the problem and dispatch a repair team to fix it if needed.
    • Every solar lease includes an extended warranty on workmanship and hardware through the end of your lease. SolarCity will repair or replace broken components at no cost to you. For instance, your inverter will likely need to be replaced around year 12.
    • Solar performance is guaranteed. If your system doesn't produce as much electricity as we promise we will pay you back.


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  • How does the Performance Guarantee work?

    SolarCity offers a performance guarantee that your system will produce as much electricity as we promise, or we will pay you back. This takes into account normal weather variation and solar panel performance over time. The amount of electricity we promise to deliver is stated in your contract. We track your system performance through our SolarGuard monitoring service.

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