Frequently Asked Questions

If your home has a 100A panel and you're adding an EV charger (30-50A) or significant loads, a panel upgrade is likely needed. We assess during the energy audit. Many homes can accommodate EV charging by shifting non-critical loads, but homes with newer large HVAC systems or electric heat typically need the upgrade.

We don't directly finance, but we work with PACE programs (Property Assessed Clean Energy) and solar lenders that cover electrical systems. We also provide detailed ROI analyses to support your loan applications. Many homeowners use HELOCs (home equity lines of credit) or solar-specific loans.

Solstice Electric was founded in 2016 by Sarah Chen. We've completed over 280 residential and commercial projects across the Front Range. Our team includes 5 licensed electricians and 2 dedicated energy engineers.

Yes. All installations come with a 10-year workmanship warranty covering labor. Equipment carries manufacturer warranties (typically 5-10 years for chargers, 10-15 years for batteries, 25 years for solar). We're bonded and insured ($2M general liability).

Yes. Tesla Wall Connectors use Tesla's proprietary connector, but all Teslas come with an adapter for standard SAE J1772 connectors. Both work fine. We typically recommend Tesla Wall Connector for Teslas and standard Level 2 for mixed vehicle households.

This depends on your utility rates and off-peak pricing. In Boulder, PSCo offers time-of-use rates. Charging at 2 AM might cost $0.08/kWh while peak rates are $0.18/kWh. A Tesla Model 3 (60 kWh battery) costs $5-$11 to fully charge depending on when you charge. Our smart charging systems automatically shift charging to cheapest hours.

Yes, if your electrical service can support the load. A 200A panel can handle 2-3 Level 2 chargers. Multiple simultaneous charging requires higher service or smart load-balancing. We size systems during the energy audit to accommodate your vehicle count.

A 13.5 kWh Powerwall powers critical loads (refrigerator, HVAC, lighting, medical equipment) for 4-8 hours depending on your consumption. With solar, it can run indefinitely during the day. We design critical-load sub-panels to maximize battery runtime on essential circuits only.

Modern batteries (Tesla Powerwall, LG Chem, Enphase) are rated for 10,000+ cycles, which translates to 20-30 years of daily use. They retain 70-80% capacity after 10 years. Most come with 10-15 year warranties that cover degradation beyond the rated curve.

Absolutely. That's the whole point. Solar generates power during the day; a battery stores it for use at night or during outages. A solar+battery system maximizes self-consumption and minimizes grid import.

The electrical interconnection (from your solar array to your panel/battery and the grid) requires a licensed electrician. We don't install panels but we handle the full electrical integration and interconnection permitting with PSCo and the city. Many homeowners work with solar installers for panels and hire us for the electrical backend.

Net metering lets you export excess solar power to the grid and receive bill credits. In Colorado, you get credits at the full retail rate (currently ~$0.13/kWh). PSCo applies net metering on a monthly basis. We handle all paperwork and interconnection.

City permits: 2-3 weeks. PSCo engineering review and approval: 4-6 weeks. Once approved, PSCo installs a bi-directional meter (1-2 weeks). Total: 2-3 months from permit application to live solar generation.

Simple payback (based on utility bill savings alone) is typically 15-20 years. But Powerwalls provide resilience, which has intangible value. Federal 30% ITC tax credits and Colorado rebates ($2,000-$5,000) reduce the upfront cost and cut payback to 10-15 years.

The federal 30% ITC applies to battery storage (Powerwalls, etc.) if paired with solar. EV chargers and panel upgrades don't currently qualify, but check the IRS website (www.irs.gov) for the latest. Colorado offers state rebates for certain storage systems; we can advise during the audit.

Yes. Projects that combine panel upgrade + EV charger + battery often save 10-15% through bundled labor and streamlined permitting. We provide detailed proposals breaking down each component.