Residential Solar Installation
We are here to serve our community during these extraordinary times—which is why we are committed to providing safe solar installation and offering BIG SAVINGS. Ask about the available savings today!
Experienced, expert local solar installation company
At SouthFace Solar & Electric we build all types of solar power systems in Arizona, from residential to commercial and off-grid.
When you are looking to buy solar panels to help power your home, our solar consultants will do the most to teach you about the ins and outs of solar power during our no-pressure, no obligation, free consultation. We will answer all of your questions and address all of your concerns.
Our in-house expertise in solar system sizing and residential solar system installation ensures we come up with the best solution for the energy goals you have for your home. And because all of our installers work for us in-house, we can guarantee a higher quality of work and a seamless end-to-end process.
The Advantages of Solar Energy for Your Home Include:
- Reduce your energy bill
- Fast payback periods, meaning a high return on your investment
- Isolation from rising energy prices
- Fixed expenses help you plan your budget
- Secure backup power during a power outage with solar batteries
- Reduce carbon footprint and environmental impact
How much do solar panels cost?
SouthFace Solar & Electric’s solar calculator takes a few key pieces of information (your monthly utility bill and service provider) and estimates what size system you might need to zero out your electric bill, including any savings from available solar rebates and incentives – like the Federal Solar Tax Credit.
Maximizing the Solar Potential of Your Home
We listen to your energy needs, goals, and budget. Our solar technicians analyze the direction and tilt of your roof, utility interconnection agreement, and buyback rates. As each Arizona utility offers different rate programs for solar customers, we custom design solar PV systems to optimize your savings.
Payback for most solar systems ranges from 6-12 years. Most of the components of your solar energy system will come with 25-year manufacturer warranties, and most solar systems continue to operate long beyond their warrantied life. Return on investment ranges from 8-12% annual return, making solar an attractive investment.
Three Types of Common Solar Electric Systems
Standard Grid-Tied Solar Energy Systems
These are the most popular and basic types of solar PV systems for a house. They require the fewest components, are reliable, simple to understand, and typically have the quickest financial payback. The few simple components are:
- Solar panels to convert power
- An inverter to change that power into Alternating Current (AC)
- An interconnection meter with your electric utility
Grid-tied solar energy systems work well for customers on time-of-use plans with their electric utility company, such as APS’s Saver Choice. A small grid-tied solar PV system to offset your home’s peak usage works well for some of the new plans that SRP is offering solar customers and for customers serviced by Electric District 3.
Battery Storage and Demand Shifting Systems
A “demand shifting” or “demand shaving” system combines solar power production with other energy management techniques like a small solar battery storage and a load controller. The load controller, solar battery, and solar inverter work together to manage the energy that you draw from the grid. This way, you can live your life and use your power as you choose, and the system will automatically adjust to help you see maximum savings. As an added benefit, the solar battery backup can power your house in case of a blackout or power outage to provide backup power to your lights, outlets, and small appliances.
Demand-shifting solar energy systems are a great solution for customers on SRP’s E-27 “Customer Generation” rate plan and APS’s “Super Saver Max”.
Off-Grid Solar System
Fully off-grid solar energy systems range in size from just big enough to power a cabin in the woods to running large, full-size homes with air conditioning and appliances. Designing off-grid solar systems is a careful balance between having enough power to live your life comfortably and limiting the solar system to a reasonable cost and complexity. Off-grid solar systems consist of:
- Solar panels
- A battery storage bank
- A grid-forming inverter
- Charge controllers
Off-grid solar battery storage systems are best for those looking to completely eliminate their energy bill and keep the lights on during an outage. At SouthFace Solar, we are experienced off-grid experts and we can help you find the best balance.
Solar Incentives
When you install solar, or a solar plus battery system, you can qualify for the Federal Investment Tax Credit (sometimes referred to as the solar tax credit). As of the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act in August 2022, the ITC is worth 30% of the cost of your solar installation. The federal solar tax credit is set to continue at this rate until 2032. Beginning in 2023, the ITC will also be applicable to stand-alone battery storage systems. While there are no utility rebates available in Arizona, we will design a system to take advantage of your utility rate programs. Take a look at the solar incentives available in Arizona for solar installation.
Owning Solar
At SouthFace Solar, we only sell solar systems for purchase. We do not offer leases or “rent” the solar equipment—and for good reason! While the prospect of no risk and no upfront cost seems attractive to many homeowners that are interested in solar installation, most solar leases offer far fewer savings for the customer in the long term. Leased solar energy systems tend to be installed with cheaper equipment and hurried solar installation methods, leading to issues and lost solar production down the road. Leased solar systems can also become a major sticking point when it comes time to sell a home. Through a cash purchase or solar loan, you can receive all the benefits from the available solar incentives and receive cash dividends for the life of your system.
We offer low APR financing with little money down.
Solar Panels and Products
At SouthFace Solar, we have chosen to install top-tier solar equipment that will provide dependable renewable energy for decades. Our solar energy systems are built to last, with little to no solar panel maintenance or solar panel repair.
We sell and install solar inverters made by Enphase, SolarEdge, and Outback, as well as lithium ion solar batteries from Enphase, SolarEdge, and others.
For our off-grid solar customers that opt for the lower cost of lead-acid batteries, we install auto-watering systems to make the upkeep a non-issue.
Each solar energy system the SouthFace Solar team installs comes with online system monitoring, so that you can watch your solar panel production in real-time. We’ll both have access to up to date information about how your solar electric system is performing.
Your Solar Experts for Life
Founded on 35 years of solar experience, the SouthFace Solar & Electric team specializes in custom designing and engineering solar solutions. Our goal is to maximize each customer’s solar investment while providing all the solar power they require. To us, great service means remaining on-call far beyond the installation of your solar energy system.
Listen to what some of our solar customers are saying about their experience installing a home solar energy system with SouthFace Solar & Electric: