Blog
Solar, in plain English.
Updates, insights, and honest guides on home solar, batteries, financing, and the policies that affect your bill. We publish new pieces regularly — start with the guides below, and check our Get Smart on Solar hub for the fundamentals.
Start here
Choosing an installer Installer vs. dealer: why it matters who actually installs your solar A lot of solar is sold by companies that never touch your roof. Here’s how to tell the difference — and why it affects your price, your quality, and who picks up the phone years later. Read article Solar economics Is solar still worth it in 2026 without the federal tax credit? The residential tax credit for owned systems is gone. That changes the math — but not always the answer. Here’s the honest version. Read article
Latest articles
Troubleshooting What to do if your original solar installer went out of business If the company that installed your solar has disappeared, you’re not stranded. Here’s what still works, what’s still covered, and how to get your system back under a service relationship. Read article How-to Using the Enphase app: a homeowner’s guide Enphase puts a microinverter on every panel — so its app can show production panel by panel. Here’s how to read it and get the most from it. Read article How-to Using the mySolarEdge app: a homeowner’s guide If your system runs on SolarEdge, mySolarEdge is how you keep an eye on it — including a per-panel view most solar apps can’t offer. Here’s how to read it. Read article How-to Using the Tesla app: a homeowner’s guide Your Tesla app is mission control for a Powerwall and solar system. Here’s how to read it, set it up the way you want, and get the most from it. Read article Policy & incentives Illinois solar in 2026: what the end of net metering means for your bill ComEd and Ameren have moved past full retail net metering. Here’s the honest picture for Illinois homeowners in 2026 — and what still makes solar pay. Read article Troubleshooting Solar not producing? A homeowner’s troubleshooting checklist Low or zero production can be perfectly normal — or a sign something needs attention. Here’s how to tell the difference, what you can safely check yourself, and when to call a pro. Read article Choosing an installer Installer vs. dealer: why it matters who actually installs your solar A lot of solar is sold by companies that never touch your roof. Here’s how to tell the difference — and why it affects your price, your quality, and who picks up the phone years later. Read article Policy & incentives Net metering in Utah: Provo, Lehi, and Rocky Mountain Power Utah’s utilities don’t follow one rulebook. Here’s the honest, utility-by-utility picture for sizing solar right. Read article Batteries & backup Texas grid outages and home battery backup: how it works Solar alone shuts off in an outage. Here’s how adding a battery keeps a Texas home running — and what it realistically covers. Read article Policy & incentives NEM 3.0 in California: why solar-only systems need a battery California changed how it pays for exported solar. If you’re going solar under NEM 3.0, here’s what actually drives the return now. Read article Financing Solar financing in 2026: prepaid lease vs. cash vs. lease/PPA With the residential credit gone for owned systems, how you pay for solar matters more than ever. Here’s how the three paths compare. Read article Solar economics Is solar still worth it in 2026 without the federal tax credit? The residential tax credit for owned systems is gone. That changes the math — but not always the answer. Here’s the honest version. Read article
Get straight answers for your home.
Reading up is smart. When you’re ready, tell us about your home and we’ll give you honest, local numbers — no pressure.
Get a quote