FAQ
Your solar questions, answered straight.
Real answers from the licensed electricians who do the work, not a sales script. Don't see your question? Call the office and a real person will help.
Cost & Financing
- Do you offer financing?
- Yes. We work with a few trusted financing partners, including Climate First Bank (a local bank based in St. Petersburg) and Credit Human, so you can go solar with little or no money down and pay over time. We'll walk you through the options that fit your budget during your free consultation.
- Is the consultation free?
- Yes. Every consultation and quote is completely free, with no obligation and no high-pressure sales.
- How does pricing work?
- We start from standardized pricing, then adjust for the specifics of your home. Things like a tile roof or a required electrical upgrade can affect the cost, so your final price reflects your actual install rather than a one-size-fits-all number. Be cautious of unusually cheap quotes. They often mean subcontracted crews, questionable licensing or insurance, cut corners, or cheaper equipment, all of which cost you in quality and performance down the road.
- Is there a deposit, and what's the payment schedule?
- For cash purchases, we use a simple milestone-based schedule that we'll walk you through during your consultation or when your contract is sent. Financed projects follow the terms of your lender.
Process & Timeline
- What are the steps from first call to a running system?
- Consultation, system design, a site survey, engineering, permitting, installation, inspection, and finally the net-metering application with your utility. We handle the heavy lifting at each step and keep you informed along the way.
- How long does the whole process take?
- The full process, from contract signing to completed inspection, typically takes 30 to 90 days. The biggest variable is how quickly your local jurisdiction issues the permit. The install itself is usually completed in a single day, weather permitting. Larger or more complex jobs, and some battery systems that need a return visit to commission the software, can take longer. Once your system passes inspection and we submit the net-metering agreement, the utility has a window of up to 30 days to install the bi-directional meter and grant Permission to Operate (PTO).
- Do you handle the permitting and utility paperwork?
- Yes. We handle all permitting and the utility interconnection and net-metering paperwork for you.
- Do you handle HOA approval?
- The HOA application itself is the homeowner's to submit, but we make it easy. We provide all the technical information and documentation your HOA requires to complete their forms.
- Will I lose power when my meter is swapped for a net meter?
- Most of the time, no. In rare situations, such as a very old meter that your utility company needs to replace, there will be a short outage. It's brief and expected. If a short power interruption would be a problem for you (medical equipment, working from home, etc.), just let the office know and we'll help plan around it.
Your Home & Roof
- Does my roof need to be a certain age or condition?
- Ideally your roof has about 10 years or more of life left. We'll evaluate your roof, and if we find it to be questionable we'll let you know so you can get a roofer's opinion before you make your final decision to add solar.
- What roof types can you install on?
- Shingle, tile, and metal (standing-seam metal is excellent), as well as flat and low-slope roofs. Flat roofs require a quick site visit to confirm, but in most cases we can install on them.
- How do you handle shade from trees?
- The design software we use to build your proposal measures your roof's shade and factors it into your final production estimate, so the numbers you see already account for real-world shading. Keep in mind that as your trees grow, this may need to be reevaluated in the future, which you can see through your Enphase Enlighten monitoring app. Our Enphase microinverters help too: because each panel produces independently, shade on one panel won't drag down the rest of the array's production.How microinverters work →
Reliability, Safety & Backup Power
- Can I use my solar during a power outage?
- On its own, no. By law, grid-tied solar must automatically shut off during a utility outage to protect line workers. Every system has to be UL 1741 listed to be legally permitted, installed, and eligible for net metering. To keep your lights on when the grid goes down, you'll want a battery backup or a generator. Every home is different, so contact the office and we'll design backup options that fit your needs.Battery backup options →
- How well does the system hold up to lightning and storms?
- Very well. Our systems are among the most lightning-resistant you'll find because of how we ground them: we install an oversized grounding path to your electric system that is 3 times the electrical code requirement, and we add surge protection to help suppress a strike or surge. It's a level of grounding detail most installers don't do.
- Will my system stay compliant with future codes?
- Yes. Our Enphase microinverters meet all current NEC codes and are built to the grid profiles projected for the future, including standards used elsewhere that could come to Florida. That means your system is ready for changes a utility or insurer might require down the road. Every May Electric system sold since 2012 is still compliant to this day.
Warranty & Support
- What warranties come with my system?
- A lot of coverage. REC panels carry a 25-year product, performance, and labor warranty. Enphase microinverters are warrantied for 25 years and Enphase IQ batteries for 15. You can extend the whole system, panels and microinverters, to a 30-year warranty with Solar Insure.The Solar Insure 30-year warranty →
- If I have Solar Insure, does May Electric Solar still service my system?
- Yes, absolutely. Solar Insure helps us with unexpected warranty issues or costs, and the Solar Insure warranty is transferable to new homeowners and service providers if you choose. We never sell your warranty to outside companies.
- Who monitors the system?
- Both of us. You can monitor your system through the free Enphase Enlighten app, and we can monitor your system as well. Enphase can also monitor your system to help diagnose any issues if needed.
Ownership & Long-Term
- What happens if I sell my house?
- The system stays with the home, and all of the manufacturer warranties are tied to your address, regardless of who owns it. There may be a small monitoring transfer fee from Enphase (typically $200 or less; ask us for current rates). If you have Solar Insure, there are no fees for the warranty transfer to the new homeowner, and no limit to the number of times the warranty can be transferred.
- How much maintenance does a system need?
- Almost none. The monitoring does the bulk of the work for us, outside of the rare act of God or nature event. In most cases Florida's rain keeps the panels clean. With flat roofs or heavily wooded areas, it can be beneficial to wash your panels every few years; we'll advise you at your consultation. When cleaning the panels, never use chemicals of any kind. The panels have a protective coating that cleaners can damage. Water only.
- How long until it pays for itself, and how long will it last?
- Typical payback for a Florida residential system is about 8 to 12 years, depending on your utility, your install costs, and the equipment you choose. Panels last well beyond that. REC panels, for example, are guaranteed to still produce at least 92% of their rated output in year 25 (no more than 2% loss in the first year, then about 0.25% per year), and they keep degrading at that slow rate for years after. Enphase microinverters guarantee your power for 25 years, extendable to 30 with Solar Insure.Is solar worth it in Florida? →
Company & Trust
- How long have you been in business, and are you licensed?
- May Electric Solar has been in Florida solar since 2006, and we're a licensed electrical contractor led by a Master Electrician (FL Lic. #EC13005353). Solar is an electrical project first, and we do it by the book. The May Way!About May Electric Solar →
- Do you use subcontractors?
- Never. Every system is designed and installed by our own in-house crews under licensed Master Electrician oversight. The people who install your system are May Electric employees, not a rotating cast of subcontractors.
- What makes May Electric different from national installers and door-to-door companies?
- A straight, honest sales approach with no gimmicks and no high-pressure pitch. We're a local company with the experience and longevity to give you real peace of mind, the technical depth of a Master Electrician, a strong service record you can read in our reviews, and a genuine commitment to be here for the long haul.
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