Lower Your DC Pepco Bill with Uprise’s No-Cost Solar Program

Interested in going solar for free? You may be thinking free solar panels sound too good to be true — and in many cases, they are. But Uprise is pioneering a new way to bring free solar to DMV rooftops through our no-cost solar program, similar to what’s called a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in the solar industry. Forget what you thought you knew about PPAs; here’s how ours stands apart.

First off: what is a PPA?

Here’s how our PPA works: you agree to let our professional team install solar on your roof, and we own the system. We receive financial incentives like the 30% federal solar tax credit (which help us fund our no-cost solar program), and you receive significant breaks on your power bills and the capability to run your home on renewable energy. We’re responsible for monitoring and maintaining the system for 20 years; after that, you become the system owner.

This is not a limited time offer. You can act now, or in eleven months, or in two years and seventeen days and four hours. Our PPA is not a scam designed to pressure you into purchasing. Uprise’s PPA is here to stay — it’s how we do business. You should never feel pressured into going solar; instead, you should feel like you have thoroughly understandable options from a solar company you trust.

Our PPA ensures solar isn’t just for those who can pay thousands of dollars at once, but for everyone. And here’s more good news — you qualify. We already know it! Uprise is authorized as an installer for Solar for All, a program run by DC’s Department of Energy and Environment and the DC Sustainable Energy Utility, to offer residents free solar. But we also offer our own PPA, with no qualification requirements.  

Those are the basics — now, let’s dig into some details and common questions.

With a PPA, will I receive two power bills?

Yes. Here’s how it works: your panels generate electricity, which powers your home. You pay us for that power at a lower rate than you’d pay your electric company (Pepco, Dominion, or BGE). You will have to pay them for any power you need when it’s nighttime or your panels aren’t producing as much (on a cloudy day, for example). But if you’re using less electricity than your panels are generating, you’ll be able to sell that power back to your utility company through net metering.

Solar typically saves homeowners 50 to 80% on electricity bills. It won’t zero out your bills entirely, because you’ll still owe your utility company service fees each month. However, some customers find that all they owe are those service fees.

Does an Uprise PPA include an escalator clause?

No, an Uprise PPA does not have an escalator clause, or a provision that a PPA electric rate can increase at certain points (such as yearly). Our electric rate stays the same for all 20 years of our PPA. If you’re offered a PPA, an escalator clause is definitely something to watch out for, but at Uprise, we do not include them.

Will a PPA make my home harder to sell?

No, an Uprise PPA will not make your home harder to sell. The new owner will receive power from the panels, pay us for that electricity, and pay the utility company for any additional power, just as you would. Whoever is the homeowner at the 20-year mark owns the system. Basically, you’d be selling a home with a very small electric bill, with built-in solar maintenance for 20 years.

Rooftop solar can make your home more attractive to buyers, especially those seeking sustainable features, and can increase your home value. According to Zillow research, houses with solar can sell for 4.1% more on average than similar homes without solar. 

Will a solar PPA increase my taxes?

Solar panels are part of your home, in the eyes of tax authorities. And in theory, yes, authorities could reassess your home and increase your property taxes. However, DC, Virginia, and Maryland all offer property tax exemptions for solar.

What if there’s an issue with my roof?

Part of our contract includes one uninstall/reinstall for your panels. If your home has a roof issue during the 20 years of an Uprise PPA, we are happy to come out and temporarily remove the panels so you can get that issue fixed, and then put them back on. We’re a solar and roofing company, and our in-house roofer TJ, who has nearly 30 years of roofing experience in the DMV, can provide you with a quote for the roof repairs, if you’re interested.

What if a natural disaster strikes? Do you have insurance?

We sure do. If there’s a big event like a hurricane, we’re covered. As the system owner of your rooftop panels, we’ll come out and fix the system if a natural disaster damages it.

Will you still maintain my solar panels after 20 years?

When you become the system owner, you’re responsible for maintaining your panels. However, you are always welcome to call Uprise to come out for any maintenance; you’d just need to pay us as you would another contractor performing work on your home. In many cases, we’ll be able to diagnose and troubleshoot remotely before a maintenance visit is necessary.

Solar panels are low maintenance, and since we’re the system owner for the first 20 years, we have an incentive to keep your panels operating at top production. We actively monitor and maintain all the solar systems we own, and it’s likely that if there is an issue, we’ll catch it before you do. 

All Uprise customers, regardless of how they pay for solar, receive access to the Enphase App. In the app, you’ll be able to see how your panels are performing. If they ever aren’t producing as much power as you expected, please do give us a call. (With a PPA, the work is on us for 20 years!)

How can I learn more about no-cost solar?

We think our PPA is the best one around. We would be more than happy to answer all your no-cost solar questions, whether about something we discussed in this blog or something we didn’t! And we’d be happy to walk you through your options for paying for solar (we also offer solar loans or cash payments). Call us at (202) 280-2285 or fill out the form below to get in touch.