Term | Definition |
AC Disconnect (hanging) | The primary purpose of these disconnect switches is so that you can shut off the incoming flow of power from your solar panels |
AC/DC Current | AC stands for alternating current and DC for direct current. AC and DC power refer to the current flow of an electric charge. Each represents a type of “flow,” or form, that the electric current can take. Although it may sound a bit technical, the difference between AC and DC is fairly basic: Direct current (DC) always flows in the same direction. Alternating current (AC), as you might expect from the name, changes direction frequently — 60 times per second in the U.S. (though the back-and-forth motion of the electrons still conveys energy to the end device). “A simple way to visualize the difference [between AC and DC] is that, when graphed, a DC current looks like a flat line, whereas the flow of AC on a graph makes a sinusoid or wave-like pattern. |
ACH (Automated Clearing House) Form | ACH stands for Automated Clearing House, which is an electronic payment system used for transferring funds between bank accounts in the United States. An ACH Form, also known as an ACH Authorization Form or ACH Agreement, is a document that authorizes a company or organization to initiate an ACH transaction to collect funds from or credit funds to a person or business's bank account.ACH Form is used to authorize payments related to solar energy systems or services. For example, it could be used for automatic monthly payments for a solar panel installation or for payments related to solar energy generated by a residential or commercial solar power system. In such cases, the ACH Form would typically include information such as the person or organization's banking details, the amount and frequency of payments, and specific authorization for the company or organization to initiate ACH transactions for solar energy-related payments. It's important to note that the exact content and format of an ACH Form may vary depending on the specific requirements of the company or organization implementing the ACH transaction and the purpose of the payments being authorized. |
Adders | Additional products or services added to the solar deal. Adders can be classified as value adders or system adders. |
AJH | AHJ stands for Authority Having Jurisdiction. A building department or local authority that our partners submit plans to for obtaining a permit to build. |
Array | A collection of multiple panels connected to work together. Arrays are made up of strings of panels, connected to increase the total power output. |
Azimuth | Azimuth is the compass direction that solar panels face, measured in degrees clockwise from due north (0° to 360°) Reference Point: The most common convention is to measure from due north 0 Degrees with the angle increasing clockwise.
|
Base PPW | The base system cost per watt. Includes all item costs required to install the system. Does not include value adders |
Change Orders | A change order is a written contract agreed upon and signed by the homeowner and installer to change the original plans. |
Closer | A term for a sales rep. The closer visits the home to close the deal and help the homeowner through obtaining financing and contract signing. |
CRM (Customer Relationship Management) | CRM's are a technology used to manage company relationships and interactions with customers and potential customers. External CRM's can also be used to track the status of an install after the contract has been signed. |
Deal Type | The deal type includes pre-qualification, design, proposal, contracting, site survey, and any other information that an installer chooses to gather. This is typically created and filled out by the sales rep within Enerflo. Installers may have multiple deal types for different situations of sales dealers. |
Dealer Fees | Surcharges added on top of the total system cost by the lender. |
Design | A design is the rendering of a home, furnished with a PV system, that is completed based on the homeowner’s usage for the purpose of a solar proposal. |
Disposition | The current state of mind of a homeowner as described by the sales rep or setter. Examples may include, "ready to move to proposal," "Has more questions," and "Not interested at this time." |
Dormer | A dormer is a roofed structure, often containing a window, that projects vertically beyond the plane of a pitched roof. Common dormer types are: arched top, eyebrow, gabled, hipped, and shed |
DSM | A Digital Surface Model, or DSM captures a surface, including natural and human-made structures. A DSM captures the surfaces of all features elevated above the 'bare earth'. |
Electrical Engineering Stamp (EE) | A licensed professional electrical engineer's approval of the electrical installation of the solar system. |
EPC | EPC stands for Engineering, Procurement, Construction and is a prominent form of contracting agreement in the construction industry. In solar industry EPC term is used for providing end-to-end solar services from designing the system, procuring the components and installing the project. So this is the Installer. Company responsible for physically installing the system. |
ESS | Energy Storage System, or ESS is a common industry acronym referring to batteries. |
EV Charger | Electrical Vehicle Charger |
Equipment | Equipment specifically refers to what the EPC installs to convert energy from the sun into thermal or electrical energy.
“Equipment” is used most often when referring to solar panels, inverters, and batteries. |
Fire Setback | Fire setbacks are designated pathways that are required to be on the roof according to fire code in case of emergency. |
Grid-Tied System | Solar system that is connected to the electric grid and can use electricity from the grid when solar production is low. |
Gross PPW | The total cost per watt of the solar system. This includes all value and system adders and dealer fees. |
Ground Mount | Solar panels mounted on the ground instead of a roof. |
HIC | Home Improvement Contract, another term for install agreement or service agreement. |
HOA | Home Owner's Association. Typically must get approval prior to install, and installs must meet guidelines set forth by the HOA. |
ICX Form | When the customer is not on the Utility Bill an ICX Form has to be signed to allow the individual buying solar to move forward with the install process as well as the financing option to allow PTO. |
Install Milestones | Milestones that are marked off after an agreement is signed. Examples are, Agreement signed, Site Survey, Installation, and PTO ( Permission to operate). |
Inverter | Converts the power generated by a solar panel from DC to AC energy. |
Kilowatt (kW) | A kW or kilowatt is a unit of measurement for the rate of power an electrical device or load uses. 1 kW = 1,000 W |
Kilowatt Hour (kWh) | A unit of energy measuring the total electricity a solar panel system produces over a period of time, like a day or year. It is calculated by multiplying the power output in kilowatts (kW) by the number of hours it runs, and it is the standard unit used to measure and bill for both the solar energy your panels generate and the energy your home consumes from the grid. |
Lease | A solar lease is a long-term contract where a homeowner pays a fixed monthly fee to use a solar panel system installed on their roof, which is owned and maintained by a third-party company. Unlike ownership, the homeowner doesn't buy the system, but they do get the benefits of reduced electricity bills. Typical leases last 20 to 25 years, and at the end of the term, the homeowner can renew the lease, purchase the system, or have it removed. |
LiDAR | Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is a remote sensing technology that uses lasers to acquire elevation data about the Earth's surface. Some companies use LiDAR technology to determine the size and location of trees, the placement of rooftop obstacles, as well as the height and pitch of each roof. |
Main Service Panel (MSP) | The main electrical panel in a home |
Main Panel Upgrade (MPU) | An electrical panel upgrade commonly done to handle the amps required for solar (200 AMPS required). MPU's typically require a permit and work order from the power company to complete. |
Mega Watt Hour (MWH) | A megawatt hour (MWh) is a unit of energy commonly used to measure large amounts of electrical energy consumption or production over a period of time. It represents the amount of energy produced or consumed when one megawatt (MW) of power is used for one hour.
One MWh is equivalent to one million watt hours, or 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh). This unit is often used to measure the energy output of power plants, wind turbines, or solar panels, as well as the electricity consumption of large industrial or commercial buildings over a period of time. |
Milestone | Milestones refer to key stages or steps involved in the process of installing a solar energy system. These milestones may vary depending on the type and size of the solar project, but some common ones include: Site Survey Complete, Permit Received, Install Completed, PTO. These are typically updated by the EPC. |
Mounting Type | How the solar system will be mounted. Typically ground or roof. |
M1 | Milestone 1 : When the customer typically first signs their contract. The first chunk of commission is usually paid to the sales rep at this point. |
M2 | Milestone 2: Once the finance company has paid the installer, M2 has been met. The second portion of commission is paid out at this point. |
Nearmap | Nearmap is a program that gathers map data. Aerialytic utilizes Nearmap to gather DSM data to have accurate, up-to-date imagery of homes to design on, and elevation data to determine roof pitch, tree height, obstacle placement, etc. |
Net Metering | Billing arrangement that allows solar panel owners to receive credit for the excess electricity they generate and send back to the grid. |
NEM Signer | NEM stands for Net Energy Metering. If the utility account holder is different from the primary signer, they are usually required to sign the contract. This contact is known as the NEM signer. |
Obstacle | An obstacle is the term used to reference a rooftop obstruction. Obstacles are typically chimneys, sunroofs, satellite dishes, rooftop AC units, vents, and pipes. |
Off Grid System | System that is not connected to the main power grid, such as a remote cabin that relies on solar power. |
Offset | The percent of electricity consumption replaced by the solar system's production. Calculated by taking the total yearly consumption divided by total yearly production. It is typically expressed as a percentage. |
Overhead Costs | Solar overhead costs refer to the indirect expenses associated with the installation, operation, and maintenance of a solar energy system. These costs are not directly related to the production of energy but are necessary to support the overall function of the system. Examples of solar overhead costs include:
Overall, solar overhead costs are an important consideration when evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a solar energy system and can significantly impact the overall return on investment. |
Panel | A panel is another term for a photovoltaic module. Photovoltaic modules are a device that captures solar power to transform it into an electric current. |
Perfect Packet | The packet of documents that must be signed in Docflo to allow the project to move forward. This includes the sales/install agreement, utility agreements, state agreements, permitting documents, and any other documents required by the installer or jurisdiction. |
Photogrammetry | Photogrammetry is the use of photography in surveying and mapping to measure distances between objects. By combining enough overlapping 2D images, photogrammetry software can be used to generate photorealistic 3D representations of topographic surfaces |
PPA | Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is a contract where a third-party company installs, owns, and maintains a solar panel system on a property, and the property owner buys the electricity it generates, often at a lower, fixed rate than the local utility. The key benefits for the customer are no or low upfront costs, predictable energy savings, and no responsibility for maintenance, which is handled by the PPA provider. These agreements typically last 10 to 25 years. |
Production | Production is the amount of electricity the PV system generates. |
PTI | Permission to Install. A milestone in the install process |
PTO | Permission to Operate. A milestone in the install process indicating that the utility has given approval to turn the solar panels on and begin generating solar energy. |
PV | Stands for PhotoVoltaic. |
Racking | Mounting for solar panels. Attached to the roof and panels are placed on top. |
Rebate | Rebates are financial incentives offered by government entities or utilities to encourage the adoption of solar energy systems. These rebates provide a monetary reward to homeowners or businesses that install solar energy systems, helping to offset the upfront costs of installation. Solar rebates are typically offered as a percentage of the total cost of the solar system, and can vary based on factors such as the size of the system, location, and other eligibitlity criteria. Some solar rebates may also be based on the amount of energy generated by the system or the environmental benefits of using solar energy. The availability and amount of solar rebates can vary depending on the state, provice, or country where the solar system is installed, as well as the specific uiltiy company or government program offering the rebate. In addition to solar rebates, other financial incentives for solar energy adoption may include tax credits, net metering programs, and performance-based incentives. |
Redline | The lowest PPW a sales rep is allowed to sell a system at. |
Re-Roof | Re-shingling the roof before installing a solar system. |
Renewable Energy | Energy derived from sources that can be replenished, such as solar, wind, or hydroelectric power. |
Roof Plane | A roof plane is the surface of the roof. |
Roof Segment | Roof segments are a singular line, between two points of the roof. The term roof segment is used primarily when referencing the design. (for example: the ridgeline, a the rake line from the eave to the ridge, etc.) |
Sales Org | The sales company that employs sales reps. The sales org typically sells the systems. |
Sales Rep | Employed by the sales org or installer. They typically sell door-to-door, meeting with customers and selling solar and closing deals set by the setters. |
Scheduler | Schedules appointments with customers. |
Setter | Typically setters call home owners or do the initial contact with the homeowner. A setter typically focuses on setting appointments for the sales rep (also known as closer). |
Shade Report | A shade report is an analysis that displays the amount of solar radiation that enters an area. A shade report factors in all surrounding structures, trees, and obstacles to determine the most productive areas of the home to place solar panels..
Shade reports show the estimated total production, shade and system losses over the first year of production. Shade reports can be found inside of the design tool. |
Site Survey | A solar site survey is an on-site inspection of a property to determine its suitability for a solar panel installation. It involves a professional assessing factors like roof condition, structural integrity, shading from obstacles, and electrical system compatibility to design the optimal and safest system. The survey's findings are compiled into a report used for the final system design, cost-benefit analysis, and permit applications. |
Small System | Typically small systems are solar systems less than 4kW. |
Structural Engineering Stamp (SE) | Licensed Professional Structural Engineer's approval of structural portion of solar system |
Sun Hour | Sun hour typically refers to the amount of time during a day when the sun's rays provide enough solar irradiance (solar energy) to generate a certain level of electricity from a solar panel or to effectively support plant growth. One sun hour is defined as the amount of solar energy received by a location during one hour of full sunlight, which is equivalent to an irradiance of 1,000 watts per square meter (W/m²). The actual number of sun hours a location receives depends on factors such as latitude, season, time of day, cloud cover, and atmospheric conditions. |
SREC (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) | SRECs are earned from the physical electricity that your solar panels produce. Think of them like a “voucher” that proves that the electricity from your solar panels is renewable. You earn one SREC for every 1,000 kWh (or 1 MWh) of electricity produced by a solar system. |
Time of Use | Solar power you produce will charge your battery. Any additional power will be sent to the utility and you'll receive credits. When your energy is most expensive, typically starting in the late afternoon, you will use energy from your battery rather than the utility. |
TPO | Third-Party Ownership TPO solar stands for Third-Party Ownership, a financing model where a company installs and owns a solar panel system on a customer's property, and the customer pays for the power generated or the use of the system. This model is common in solar leases and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). It offers homeowners lower upfront costs and no responsibility for maintenance, while the TPO provider handles installation, maintenance, and claims tax credits |
True Net Metering | Solar power you produce will charge your battery. Any additional power produced will be purchased 1:1 from your utility and credited to your account |
Utility Rate | The price per kWh for utilities |
Utility Tariff | A tariff is a pricing schedule or rate plan that utilities offer to customers Along with the pricing plan, there may be certain rules for each tariff a utility offers, such as the times or seasons when prices will vary, eligibility for a tariff, when/how a customer can join or leave the tariff, what type of meter must be installed and more Other things that can be found in a utility's tariff book include sample forms that customers may be required to fill out, rules for applications for service, bill adjustment, low-income programs and service area maps |