Frequently asked questions

Every day brings a new sunrise, providing us with an endlessly renewable, clean, and reliable energy source: solar power. Switching to solar significantly reduces our dependence on harmful fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas, which pollute our air and negatively impact our health and environment.

Investing in a residential solar energy system is investing in the planet’s future. Solar energy conserves non-renewable resources, protects the environment, and is increasingly affordable, accessible, and efficient. Homeowners gain peace of mind and energy independence, ensuring they have control over their energy choices for years to come.

Several factors influence whether your home is ideal for solar energy, such as your location, roof angle, shading throughout the day, and the home’s age.

Our expert solar advisors can assess if solar is a good fit for your home right now. Using advanced solar design technology, they’ll conduct a customized analysis to better understand your specific energy requirements and home’s potential for solar production.

Determining the right number of solar panels for your home depends on several unique factors:

• Energy consumption: How much electricity do you currently use? Reviewing your electric bills to see your annual kilowatt-hour (kWh) usage helps us tailor the system precisely to your needs. We’ll dive deeper into this during your free consultation.
• Local climate: The amount of sunlight your area receives directly impacts the number of panels required.
• Roof exposure: Factors like shading, the direction your roof faces, and aesthetic preferences will influence your system’s design and size.

Your past electricity usage data is crucial in designing a solar system tailored to your home’s specific energy demands.

Since electricity consumption varies between households and across seasons, reviewing a full year of your utility bills helps us accurately predict your energy needs. Our solar consultants use this comprehensive 12-month overview to capture your home’s usage patterns and design a solar solution uniquely suited to you.

Customizing your solar system involves analyzing your historical energy usage, available roof space, and your design preferences to ensure optimal performance and satisfaction.

We start by evaluating your past electricity consumption to determine the ideal system size. Using satellite imagery, we assess your roof’s dimensions and orientation, focusing on areas with optimal solar exposure (typically south-facing roofs).

Next, we confirm our findings through an on-site survey, physically inspecting your roof and main electrical panel to ensure accuracy. Lastly, we present the final design to you, detailing precisely how your solar system will look and how much electricity it will generate.

For more information on panel efficiency or to preview equipment specific to your home, our sales consultants are always available to help.

Solar panels produce less energy on cloudy days and none at night, but you can still draw power from the grid when needed. If the system generates extra energy during the day, that excess can be sent to the grid for credits to help offset your usage. Solar panels also work in winter, even in cold temperatures. Heavy snow can temporarily reduce output, but snow typically slides off once the sun warms the panels due to their smooth surface and angled position.

You can read more about this in our blog post: Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days?

Yes, expansion is possible! Northern PWR can evaluate your existing system and energy needs to determine the best options for adding more panels. With proper care and minimal maintenance, most solar systems last 25 to 30 years. We don’t currently offer cleaning or maintenance services, but you can contact a local contractor if needed. Generally, solar panels require minimal maintenance unless there is noticeable snow, dirt, or debris affecting production.

Our team follows strict safety protocols, including PPE use, adherence to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards, and regular site inspections.

If your solar panels are damaged, Northern PWR can help coordinate repairs or replacements through the manufacturer. Panels typically come with a 25-year performance warranty, and other components have their own warranties. We also include a workmanship warranty on our installation.

We guarantee that your system will produce at least 85% of the estimated annual energy outlined in your contract. If it doesn’t, we’ll take corrective action.

Check your monitoring system for alerts. If something seems off, contact us and we’ll help troubleshoot and resolve the issue. Northern PWR does not monitor your system directly, but we’ll set you up with a monitoring portal. You can track your solar production and enable alerts to be notified if the system detects any issues. We recommend checking your monitoring site about once a week to catch any problems early and avoid unexpected utility charges. There are monitoring instructions that can be found in the customer’s documents.

We recommend notifying your insurance provider. In most cases, your home’s value may increase, and your coverage may need to be adjusted accordingly. Your insurance provider will be able to assist you.

To request reimbursement, contact us. We may request additional documentation if needed during the approval process. Our approval process can take several weeks. Once approved, it can take a few additional weeks for the check to be processed, printed, and sent to you in the mail.

Solar Club is a loyalty program for Alberta homes registered as micro-generators. Members can move between a high rate for the months they export more than they use and a low rate for the months they import, and earn cash back on imported electricity. You join through a participating energy retailer once you have a signed solar contract. See how Solar Club works.

Nova Scotia Power’s Self-Generating Option lets you install a system of 27 kW or less on the same meter as your home. Surplus kilowatt-hours are banked and applied to later use through the calendar year, with a settle-up each January. Read the Nova Scotia guide.

The federal Canada Greener Homes Grant and Loan are closed to new applicants, and Nova Scotia’s SolarHomes rebate stopped taking homeowner applications on April 17, 2025. What remains depends on where you live: Alberta’s micro-generation credits and Solar Club, Nova Scotia’s net metering, and municipal financing in some communities. We confirm what applies to your address when we prepare your quote.