Solar FAQ's

Absolutely. Solar panels will continue to produce energy in cooler or foggier climates and even on overcast days.

Not at all. Our solar panels are not attached directly to your roof, but rather are mounted to a railing system. They actually help to protect and preserve the roof from leaks or collapses as our installers employ sealants to help serve as a barrier from the elements.

Don’t touch them. If you sweep or attempt to remove the snow, it can void the panel warranty.  The angle of the panels, and the slight heat of the panel will cause the snow to slide off very quickly.

The aesthetics of solar panels have changed recently to include black frames and a black background. Our solar designers prepare a layout that complements the look of your home to enhance the aesthetic appeal. In fact, many homeowners feel that solar paneling has actually improved the overall look of their home.

PPA means: Power Purchase Agreement.

This is an agreement between the customer and the solar company wherein the customer agrees to purchase their power from the solar company rather than their local utility company at a discounted rate.  The customer hereby avoids high annual utility increases and tiered rates.  The customer is contracted into a “fixed” annual escalator, and fixed rate per kWh that is less than the expected annual inflation and far less than the expected annual utility increases. It is generally a 20-25 year term agreement, saving the homeowner tens of thousands of dollars over the term.

Affiliate Solar offers PPAs or Power Purchase Agreements in California covering over 80% of the state. In markets where PPAs are not available, Leases are offered, which are very similar to a PPA. As an Example, Utah does not offer Power Purchase agreements.

This is an agreement between the customer and the solar company where the customer agrees to purchase their power from the solar company rather than their local utility company at a discounted rate. The customer avoids high annual utility increases and tiered rates. Solar leases take the worry out of owning solar. Simply pay the same amount every month in a given year and receive all the benefits of low-cost, clean energy.

You will receive a statement from your local utility company and you will receive a bill from your finance provider.  You are only required to pay the finance provider each month. However, the utility company will balance your solar credits and debits that are used and provide you with a monthly statement of both, so that you are aware of any balance at the end of your fiscal year. Some months you will likely use more than you produce and some months you will use less, which is why you are not required to pay until the end of the fiscal year.  If you use equal or less than your production, there will be no charges from the utility company other than your connection fees.

If you pay for your system in cash, you will only receive the statement from your local utility company as stated above and no other monthly bills.

When selling a home with an Tranont Solar solar system, customers have multiple options. No matter which you choose we are here to make sure the process is smooth and simple.

Option 1: If you have a PPA, lease, or EZOwn, you can transfer your agreement. By signing a transfer agreement, you can pass on your solar energy contract and monthly payments to the new homeowner.

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Option 2: Pre-pay your agreement. This is a one-time discounted payment, which equals all remaining payments and applicable tax under the Solar Agreement. The person buying your home will sign a Transfer Agreement to assume your rights and non-monthly payment obligations under the solar agreement. The system stays at your home and the new owner will only have to comply with the non-monthly payment portions of this solar agreement.

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Option 3: Move the system to your new home. If you are moving within the same utility district and your utility allows it, you may be able to move your system to your new home for a fee to Affiliate Solar.

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Option 4: If you purchased your system with cash,  congratulations!! You just gained equity in your home. If you purchased your system through a HELOC loan or Solar Engine Financing, you will need to pay off or transfer the remaining balance in the closing of your home.

No. What you’ll find on the title of a home with a Affiliate Solar power system (in the USA) is a UCC-1 fixture filing. A UCC-1 fixture filing is not a lien against the home. Tranont Solar files a Uniform Commercial Code Financing Statement, or UCC-1, on all of our solar energy systems in the real property records where each system is located prior to or when the system is installed. The finance company files the UCC-1 to notify anyone who might perform a title search on the address where the system is located that our property, the solar energy system, is installed on the home. This filing protects the rights of the finance company as the system’s owner against any mortgage on the real property. If the lender that holds the mortgage on the real property forecloses on our customer’s home, the UCC-1 filing protects our interest in the solar energy system and prohibits the lender from taking ownership of it. * If you pay cash for your system, there is no UCC-1 filing.

In Canada, the loan is a simple unsecured consumer line of credit.

If a UCC-1 is not a lien, can it be removed?

Yes. We are aware that lenders prefer not to see anything on the title so it’s common practice for us to release the UCC-1 fixture filing for financing purposes and refile later. In fact, we have a dedicated team for this purpose to ensure that there is no disruption to the sale, purchase or refinancing of your home.

Absolutely. When you purchase a home with a Tranont Solar rooftop solar system, you get all of the benefits of working with our solar finance partners. When you assume an agreement from an existing customer, you get all of the perks of this coverage for the term of the contract.

Solar panels installed on the roof of a solar home convert sunlight to electricity throughout the day. Any electricity that is not immediately used is put into the power grid. In most states, the utility company credits the customer for this surplus energy. These contributions offset the electricity the customer uses at night through a policy called net metering.

If you’re considering selling your home, give our transfer team a call. A dedicated reassignment agent will be appointed to your home right away and will remain your primary point of contact throughout the entire process. Our reassignment agents are real estate professionals that know the ins-and-outs of the home sale process, from listing through escrow, and have handled thousands of agreement transfers. In addition to helping facilitate the agreement transfer for you, they can also act as a resource for your listing agent and potential buyers if either have any questions about the solar system, solar agreement or the transfer process in general.

Absolutely not. As a matter of policy, with PPA, lease and EZOwn, Tranont Solar and our finance partners do not prevent home sales. If your buyer qualifies to purchase your home, they automatically qualify to assume your solar service agreement.