As we’ve discussed previously, solar energy is the undisputed future of renewable energy, tapping the Earth’s one true renewable energy source. That’s great news for the environment and for consumers who desire the freedom afforded by an independent, limitless energy alternative to the increasingly expensive power grid.

Unfortunately, along with the booming solar panel industry in Florida come equally innovative new solar panel scams from shady solar retailers looking to make a quick buck off of consumers’ unfamiliarity with this relatively new energy source.

Both door-knockers and, more and more, online vendors propagate exaggerations and outright lies about solar panels to try to move more product (check out our guide to handling solar panel door-knockers).

Here we explore why online solar scams have exploded in recent years and also review a few red flags to look for. Use this information to avoid falling victim to sleazy solar panel scams.

The proliferation of online solar scams during COVID

Journalistic reviews of social media ads have documented a concerning rise in false claims and outright scams, promising the moon in an effort to lure in customers during difficult economic times for the industry.

Insider explains:

“Some of the ads… suggest that certain states are giving away solar panels for free or that utilities will pay customers to put solar panels on their roofs. And nearly all of them stated that there are no out-of-pocket expenses… [During COVID] in-person sales ground to a halt, driving companies to invest in a digital-only sales strategy.”

Let’s survey some of the more outrageous claims made by shady solar vendors.

Solar scam #1: The ‘get paid to go solar’ scam

The hands-down biggest scam out there is the “get paid to go solar” scam, which comes in various iterations and taglines such as:

• “Free solar panels”/”free batteries”
•  “The government/energy company will pay for your solar panels”
•  “No-cost solar”

Predatory scammers play on consumers’ natural human desire to get the most benefit with the least investment in a product. Unfortunately, as we all know, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Just think about it: if there really were solar panel companies paying people to go solar, they wouldn’t need to resort to such deceptive and aggressive marketing tactics.

Reality check #1: you can qualify for big tax breaks with solar panels

No government or company is going to “pay you” to go solar, but they will incentivize you to go solar by offering generous tax breaks. The US government offers significant tax incentives to solar panel owners. Read our fact-based article regarding the tax benefits of solar panels.

Florida’s state government, in addition to the US federal government, has several financial incentive programs regarding solar panels.

Reality check #2: you can sell extra energy from your home system back to the power company

The power company won’t pay you to go solar. But, if you connect your system to the public grid, they will buy your excess power for resale to other Floridians.

The Florida governor recently vetoed a bill that would have limited Floridians’ ability to sell their extra solar-generated energy back to the energy company. That’s great news, because it means that you can still benefit financially from your excess power in the coming years while also providing clean energy to the community.

Learn more about offsetting energy costs with grid-tied solar systems.

Reality check #3: Compass Solar offers 0% financing

You won’t get a free solar panel system, but with Compass Solar you can finance your system with 0% interest rates. So, with modest monthly payments, you can add real, long-term value to your property while shaving significant chunks off your energy bill (or eliminating it entirely).

Learn more about how Compass Solar’s 0% financing program works.

Solar scam #2: The ‘solar stimulus’ lie

You probably got a series of so-called “stimulus” checks from the government during COVID as an emergency measure to mitigate the economic fallout caused by the lockdowns.

Solar scammers took note, and incorporated this talking point into their sales pitches, promising potential customers they would benefit from a non-existent “solar stimulus” program.

Again, Insider explains the scam:

“There are no such programs, said Joshua Buswell-Charkow, deputy director at the California Solar and Storage Association (CALSSA), an industry trade group that helps monitor ads… Before COVID happened, none of the ads were talking about a stimulus program… But now… that’s what they’re referencing.”

To reiterate, there is not and never was a “solar stimulus” program of any kind. When you see or hear this language, take it as your cue to run the other way.

Solar scam #3: Specific promises of savings

If you become a solar panel owner and use your panels instead of power from the grid, you will very likely save substantial amounts of money – but exactly how much money you’ll save is difficult to predict for a variety of reasons:

• Every home or business has unique energy needs
•  Electricity rates vary over time
• Solar panel efficiency begins to lag over time

Therefore, any specific percentage in energy bill savings offered by a solar salesperson is a lie and a massive red flag that they are not being upfront with the facts.

Our neighbors to the north, Atlanta news organization Fox 5, performed an impressive investigation into such types of deceptive sales tactics promising savings that never materialize and, potentially, cost customers thousands of dollars.

Despite the apparent uncertainty, it is possible to calculate how much money you can save with a solar panel investment. To get a realistic estimation of your cost savings over time, check out our authoritative blog article on the topic.

Buyer beware: Do your due diligence before signing on the dotted line

Here are a few golden rules to live by in terms of shopping for solar systems:

·       Do your own research. Don’t take promises from salespeople (who have an incentive to upsell the benefits and downplay the drawbacks/upfront costs) for granted. Ask for references to authoritative sources to back up any claims.

•  If the claims made sound implausible or too good to be true, they might be.
• Look up industry averages for solar panels in your area to make sure you’re getting a fair price quote.  
• Rely on well-established, well-reviewed, local businesses with solid reputations like Compass Solar. Scams are much more common in startup, fly-by-night companies with no long-lasting community ties. Avoid companies that change their names due to poor publicity.

In terms of Compass Solar’s bona fides, we have a 5-star review on EnergySage. Check out our testimonials from Northwest Florida and Alabama customers.

Contact Compass Solar to learn more about protecting yourself from scams

In a world of misinformation proliferating via digital media and other avenues, it’s more important than ever for consumers to seek out the unvarnished facts in order to make informed decisions.

Contact Compass Solar for authoritative, no-nonsense information and facts regarding solar power, its various advantages over grid power, and the cost-savings benefits it offers to property owners.

So you’ve got your brand-new, glimmering Compass Solar solar panels system installed that’s going to power your home for decades and save you thousands on your energy bills in the process.

Now your top priority is keeping your system clean and generating its maximum power output.  

Let’s explore the why and how of solar panel cleaning.

Is regularly cleaning your solar panels necessary?

It depends on a few factors:

• Pollution. In some areas with low pollution, like our home here in Northwest Florida, you likely won’t need to worry much about air pollution caking onto your solar panels. This isn’t as true in other areas, especially large urban centers with high population densities.
• Seasonal changes. Weather conditions play a role in keeping your solar panels clean. For example, in the springtime, you might find pollen caked onto your solar panels. During weather months, rain acts as a natural cleansing agent. Again, luckily for us, Northwest Florida gets plenty of rainfall.
• Solar panel angles. Positioning solar panels at less than a 5-degree angle makes debris accumulation more likely.
• Proximity to airports or large roadways. Oily grime is more likely to accumulate on your solar panels if your property is adjacent to a major source of carbon emissions.

The good news is that you won’t have to break out the cleaning equipment very often. At most, you should plan to clean your solar panels 2-3 times annually.

Why is keeping your solar panels clean important?

You have two main incentives for keeping your solar panel system clean – form and function:

• Form: As a property owner who takes pride in the appearance of your home or business, you want to keep things looking tidy. Grime-covered solar panels don’t fit that bill.
• Function: Our premium solar panels are designed to deliver maximum power in all conditions, but it’s possible that large buildups of debris on your solar panels could impact their performance.

Soap and sponge: the easiest DIY method to clean your solar panels

Soap and sponge is the best way to clean your solar panels on your own without damaging them.

But there are important caveats to keep in mind!

• The key to avoiding damage to your solar panels using this old-fashioned method is to use a minimal amount of soap. Excessive soap will leave a residue that can negatively impact solar panel function.
• Windex is an acceptable soap substitute. Ensure that you are using a soft sponge and not an abrasive brush or other material to avoid scratches. If you live near an airport or highway and have a film of grime that won’t respond to the soap and sponge, a rag and isopropyl alcohol should do the job.
• If your solar panels are hard to reach or you just want a more back-friendly alternative to a sponge, you can opt for a solar panel brush that’s specially designed for sensitive surfaces so as not to damage your expensive equipment.

The two most important things to keep in mind are a.) to take care not to scratch your solar panel glass, as doing so will impair its power production and b.) when rinsing off any excess soapy water, use a bucket of fresh water or a low-pressure garden hose. Never use a pressure washer on your panels.

Contact Compass Solar to learn more about solar panel maintenance

Our work serving our Northwest Florida neighbors doesn’t stop once we’ve installed your solar panel system. We’re here to help you keep your solar panel spic and span and humming along at full capacity.

Contact Compass Solar for the hottest tips to ensure your Compass Solar panels are fully functional and clean all year round. 

No one likes pushy salespeople showing up at their home to sell this or that. At Compass Solar, we don’t engage in such kinds of aggressive and, often, misleading ad campaigns.

On the other hand, fly-by-night solar panel startups do, in fact, often rely on these kinds of marketing campaigns to try to bolster their sales. In their efforts, they often fail to accurately and fully explain all of the important aspects of solar panel systems that homeowners and business owners need to understand.

Here’s why you should greet door knockers with a healthy dose of skepticism and how to handle them when they turn up at your front door.

Why should you be skeptical of solar panel door knockers?

First, the volume-based, immediate-payoff door-knocking business model requires that these businesses sign new customers immediately. Their goal isn’t building long-term, stable roots in a community for decades of repeat business but rather short-term profits through quick sales.

Second, it’s important to understand that door knockers are, in general, not solar panel experts. Think about it: could companies afford to hire real, bona fide experts to pound the pavement door-to-door to sell their products? They couldn’t.

Instead, door knockers are often minimum-wage recruits from the ad pages of Craigslist whose only education in the industry is a flash course in flashy talking points.

These solar panel startups specifically train door knockers to upsell potential customers on all of the benefits of solar panel system ownership while leaving out any of the potential drawbacks or considerations that property owners should weigh carefully before making such a large financial investment.

Questions to ask solar panel door knockers to avoid scams

Of course, the easiest way to avoid door-knocking solar panel scams is to not answer the door in the first place – a totally understandable tact to take if they show up while you’re enjoying a family meal or relaxing on a weekend.  

But, if you must engage with them, probe them with these questions to suss out a scam before you become a victim.

Question #1: How does the solar panel tax incentive program work?

One of the common misleading sales pitches that door knockers use is to suggest that the government will reimburse customers with a direct check to compensate for their investment after getting their panels installed.

That is not true. The federal government does offer a residential investment tax credit (ITC) which, as the name indicates, is a tax credit and not a rebate. It’ll reimburse you for about a quarter of your money back in the form of a shaved tax bill.

In addition to the federal tax break, Florida residents also qualify for Residential Solar System Tax Exemption which will allow you to retain the 6% sales tax you would otherwise have to pay.

The bottom line is that you’ll get plenty of tax incentives, but you’re not going to get any government checks for your solar panel system.

To get real information about how the government’s tax incentive program works, check out our informative blog post.

Question #2: How does net metering work?

Another favorite deception of door knockers is to try to convince you that the utility company will pay you to install your solar panel system.

They won’t.

If a door knocker tries to convince you otherwise – that, for example, Florida Power & Light (FPL), which recently acquired Gulf Power, will pay for your system – that is flatly untrue. It should serve as a red flag that whatever company this door knocker represents is not being upfront.

What utility companies will do is buy back your excess energy if you are willing to sell it. This is called “net metering.” Thanks to the organizing efforts of local solar power proponents, we recently defeated legislation that would have limited Floridians’ ability to sell their solar-generated power back to the utilities at full price.

So, with that legal victory under our belts, you still have full incentive to make your own independent power supply and sell what you don’t need at a fair market cost to the public.

That’s good news for property owners, the environment, and the whole community given that electricity prices for Floridians have skyrocketed.

Of course, if you so choose, in most places in Florida going off-grid is fully legal. You can keep your energy for yourself and your family – a popular option for many who value full independence over other considerations.

Question #3: Is there a solar ‘stimulus’ program?

Latching onto the popular parlance surrounding the “COVID-19 stimulus,” many opportunistic solar startups have begun using these same talking points to try to lure potential customers into signing on the dotted line.

There is no such thing as a “solar stimulus” program from any level of government.

In addition to being a common tactic used by door knockers, the “solar stimulus” lie has also proliferated across social media. After all, we live in the disinformation age. COVID-19 put a temporary halt to door-to-door sales, so pioneering startups took to the internet to disseminate their deceptive marketing campaigns instead.

If, at any point, the term “solar stimulus” pops up in the sales pitch, you can rest assured you’re dealing with a dishonest vendor.

The basic rule of thumb: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is

The best guiding principle when handling door knockers is to use your best judgment – what your parents probably called “common sense.” Solar panels cost money and the government or the utility company aren’t going to pay that cost.

However, if you choose the right, respected firm to install and help you maintain your system over years, and you demand top-of-the-line gear like Tesla’s solar batteries, your solar panels will generate reliable electricity for years to come. While the cost might seem intimidating, bear in mind that data proves that a solar panel system, like any solid investment, pays for itself and then some over time.

And, with our financing options, your new solar panel system can be affordable – just not free.

Plus, solar panel systems increase your property value.

Contact Compass Solar for the unvarnished truth about solar panels

We don’t do high-pressure sales campaigns. Instead, we build our business brick by brick on our word-of-mouth reputation among our Northwest Florida neighbors.

We respect our customers enough to tell them the truth. Contact Compass Solar to learn more about solar panels.

You can count on us to deliver the unvarnished truth about solar panels – how much you can save, which tax incentives you qualify for, and what benefits you can realistically expect from your system in terms of energy independence and return on investment. 

As we have experienced firsthand in Northwest Florida, hurricanes making landfall on the gulf coast have become increasingly intense and destructive.

Hurricanes have always been a safety concern for Floridians, but they’ve become deadlier, more frequent, and more destructive with time. The Statistical analysis bears out what we see anecdotally on the ground.

Via the Environmental Defense Fund:

“Researchers suggest that the most damaging U.S. hurricanes are three times more frequent than 100 years ago, and that the proportion of major hurricanes (Category 3 or above) in the Atlantic Ocean has doubled since 1980.”

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season saw a record 30 named tropical storms, surpassing the previous record set in 2005. More prolific hurricane seasons are surely on the horizon.

The question, then is, could 2022 be another above-average year for hurricanes?

And what does that mean for property owners with solar panel systems?

Understandably, smart customers want to know that the solar panels they buy can survive extreme weather events. Let’s explore how Compass Solar panels perform during hurricanes and hailstorms.

Will my solar panels work during hurricanes?

One of the main benefits of solar panels is the energy independence they provide; even when the grid goes down (as it often does during tropical storms), our customers want to know that their systems will stay online.

The short answer is that your solar panels will generate power if there’s any daylight present — even under cloudy and/or rainy skies. Their output will be diminished in the absence of direct sunlight, but if there’s UV light out there, the panels will grab it and turn it into usable energy.

The other consideration is that a solar battery allows you to store your electricity for use during times of diminished sunlight, such as during a hurricane.

The importance of a high-capacity battery during hurricanes

The unique challenges posed by inclement weather, such as a tropical storm, justify investing in a top-rated battery system.

Times like these are when a high-quality battery can really come through to save the day. The Tesla Powerwall now available through Compass solar has an industry-leading storage capacity of around 10 kWh.

The Powerwall also offers a 9.6 kW continuous power output to power all your major appliances, even energy-intensive refrigerators, when off-grid compared to the industry average of 5kW.

So, while others struggle through the darkness, you’ll keep your lights on.  

Tesla’s unique Storm Watch feature prevents storm-induced power outages

The Powerwall has a slew of advantages over other solar panel batteries, but when it comes to navigating through extreme weather, its Storm Watch tops the list.

Storm Watch automatically and continuously monitors the National Weather Service to detect oncoming storms. When it does, it goes into maximum power-saving mode to ensure your battery is fully charged once the storm hits.

Will high winds damage my solar panels?

Solar panels are designed to withstand wind, even at high velocities. Our products’ sturdy engineering allows them to survive in winds as high as 140 mph (2,400 pascals).

For reference, a major category 3 hurricane, per the National Hurricane Center, has a maximum velocity of 129 mph. Most hurricanes have much lesser velocity after they make landfall, after which they tend to slow down.

Solar panels have also survived larger, rarer storms such as 2021’s Hurricane Ida that devastated New Orleans. While residents there whose homes and businesses were connected to the power grid languished for days or weeks with no power, those outfitted with solar panels rode out the storm in relative material comfort:“When Ida crippled a major Entergy electricity tower and transmission lines, it sentenced much of southeast Louisiana to a week or more of heat and darkness. But the Hazlett family’s 37 rooftop solar panels made the blackout bearable, channeling the sun’s energy down to two thin white lithium batteries that kept portions of the house powered.”

More governments in areas typically impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, are looking to solar to keep critical infrastructure running during outages.

“Lives depend upon having medical equipment running, food storage systems need to be in place to avoid spoilage, and rescue teams need lighting…

Solar systems can… provide large amounts of power in mere hours. It can save lives with the added bonus of providing an environmentally friendly and safe alternative to gas generators.”

For example, thanks to rooftop solar panels, the Veterans Affairs medical facility in San Juan, Puerto Rico kept power during the devastating 2017 Hurricane Maria while millions of islanders remained without.

If solar power can save an enormous medical facility, it can also save your family home or business during a hurricane.

Will hail damage my solar panels?

As they are with hurricanes and the punishing winds that accompany them, solar panels are also engineered to survive hailstorms.

Depending on the size of the hail, however, it’s possible that your panels might sustain damage. Quality factors into the equation as well. Cheaper solar panels are likelier to break due to hail. As with most things in life, you get what you pay for.

The high-quality solar panels we install for our customers at Compass Solar are battle-tested against all weather conditions, including hail.

Our panels, per the industry standard, are rated to stand up to hailstone up to 25 mm (1 inch) in diameter falling from the sky at speeds of 50 miles per hour.

Climate change drives extreme weather events, solar panels are part of the solution

Climate change is responsible for the rise in all forms of extreme weather events, and hurricanes are no exception.

Here’s how fossil fuels like coal and gasoline warm the planet through carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and fuel extreme weather events:

“ Hurricanes are growing more powerful as global temperatures rise because these storm systems draw their energy from warm ocean water.”

The United Nations explains that solar panel systems reduce CO2 emissions and, in turn, combat climate change:

“Solar power produces no emissions during generation itself, and life-cycle assessments clearly demonstrate that it has a smaller carbon footprint from ‘cradle-to-grave’ than fossil fuels.”

In addition to providing off-grid energy during storms, owning your own independent energy-generating solar panel system also contributes to greening the planet and reducing overall dependence on carbon dioxide-spewing fossil fuels.

Contact Compass Solar to learn more about solar panel durability

We know what kind of extreme Northwest Florida weather our solar panels can stand up to. And we’re always available to share our knowledge with your neighbors.

Contact Compass Solar to learn more about how solar panels fare in hurricanes and other types of extreme weather conditions and the many benefits of going green with solar panels. 

As summer approaches and Florida weather gets even steamier, air conditioners work harder, and power bills get higher.

The sun hits harder here in the Sun Belt than in other regions. So, naturally, Florida has grown into one of the largest consumers of solar power in the US while also employing thousands of workers statewide who install and maintain solar panels.

The state has been situated for some time to surpass North Carolina as the state with the most solar power by 2024. 

Then came Florida State Bill HB-741.

What was Florida State Bill HB-741?

The bill’s advocates argued that solar energy subsidies would be unfairly passed onto fossil fuel energy customers. However, clean energy advocates argued that the current solar power subsidies serve as a boon to the Florida economy and that the bill would gut the growth of clean energy in Florida.

The Florida House of Representatives approved the bill, then the Florida Senate followed suit. Governor Ron DeSantis was expected to sign it into law. Hundreds of protesters gathered at the state capitol calling for an end to the bill. After the public outcry — to the surprise and relief of many — DeSantis vetoed the bill.

Why was this net metering bill important and how would it have affected you?

Let’s take a look.

Solar panels, especially in sunny states like Florida, frequently generate more electricity than an individual customer needs. Net metering is the practice of selling that excess solar energy back to the electric company.

Florida utility companies have credited solar customers more than $4.6 million due to net metering since 2016, according to the Florida Public Service Commission.

How would the bill affect solar power consumers?

For the most part, existing customers would remain largely unaffected for the next two decades. However, the bill would have gradually decreased benefits for customers who sell their excess energy back to their local power companies.

Power companies would pay these customers “the full avoided cost” or the minimum amount they could legally pay. The current rate is higher than the retail rate. For many customers, net metering is a crucial return on their initial investment in solar panels.

Utility companies were also expected to charge some customers additional fees and fixed charges. The bill would have not only made solar power more expensive but saved customers who invested in solar power less money for their efforts.

Who qualifies for net metering?

With the bill vetoed, existing solar panel customers and new customers can still take advantage of net metering. In order to qualify, a customer must have a solar panel system connected to the local power grid.

Any excess power generated by the solar panel that the customer does not use will be sent back to the local power company. Then, the power company will pay the solar panel owner for that energy, giving the customer a larger return on their investment in solar.

How else can solar power benefit you?

Solar panel customers are protected from power grid failures since they receive power from their panels instead of a power company. Customers who use critical medical devices or who live on the outskirts of the power grid can benefit greatly from this.

Using solar energy will also allow you to save money on power bills. You will no longer rely on power companies for energy. Current power utility customers continue seeing higher bills.

If you apply for financing, you will probably pay smaller monthly bills than you currently pay. This is especially true for customers who use a lot of energy in their homes or businesses. Check out Compass Solar financing options to see if you might qualify.

Net metering = less pollution

Selling energy back to the power company enables all customers to use less energy from fossil fuels. That means less pollution from coal and gas power plants and less waste from nuclear power.

In other words, solar power customers get some extra money in their pockets while helping to save the environment.

Additionally, solar panel advocates argue, net metering empowers customers to help create a more stable power grid for everyone.

What about tax credits?

Federal and state governments provide tax credits to customers installing new solar panels.

Customers will need to file in order to receive their tax credits.

If you file for the 2022 residential investment tax credit (ITC), you will be credited 26% of the cost of your solar system on your income taxes. The 2023 ITC will credit you 22% of the cost of your system.

In order to qualify, you would need to have placed your solar system into service before December 31, 2021 for the 2022 tax credit or before December 31, 2022 for the 2023 tax credit.

Please note: The ITC is currently set to end after 2023 so act soon.

Florida’s state government also offers some financial incentives for solar power.

Your power company may even offer additional rebates for using solar power.

Note: Some incentives may affect your federal tax credit.

Solar panels can increase your property value

As we’ve discussed in previous blog posts, solar panels can increase your property value.

Because of the growing popularity of solar panels and the rising costs of fossil fuel energy, buyers will pay more for properties with solar panel installations.

This means you can sell your property at a much higher rate. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, your home’s value increases by $20 for every $1 saved in energy bills from your panels.

Several factors may affect how much value solar panels add to your home:

• Where your home is located and the demand for solar energy  
• The number of solar panels you have installed   
• The size of your home
• The quality of the solar panels

Compass Solar will install your own cost-saving solar panel system

With the continuing rise of inflation, rate increases, and rising fuel prices, now is the perfect time to take advantage of Florida’s current solar power laws. If you need help getting started with your own system, you can contact Compass Solar today to find out more. Your wallet and the planet will thank you.

Also, consider getting engaged in local politics to ensure no new legislation like the recent defeated net metering bill pops up – as the saying goes, be the change you wish to see in the world!

Compass Solar is proud and excited to announce that we are now fully certified to sell the Powerwall, an exclusive branded Tesla backup battery, to complement your solar power system in your home or business.

Here, we’ll introduce the Tesla Powerwall, how it works, its cost-saving benefits, and how Compass Solar can help you, as a homeowner or business owner, easily integrate the Powerwall into your existing solar power system.

We’ll also explore why — given the surge in energy prices for Northwest Florida residents since the Florida Power & Light/Gulf Power merge — now is the time to act to shave money off of your monthly energy bill.

You’ll do your part to protect the environment with a high-powered solar panel system from Compass Solar.

What is the Tesla Powerwall and what are its standout features?

Tesla’s Powerwall is a rechargeable battery that stores and distributes energy gathered from your solar panel system for maximum energy usage efficiency and constant energy on demand.

Here are the standout features of the Tesla Powerwall that should inform your decision

• 13.5 kWh storage capacity. This storage capacity is superior to the industry average of around 10 kWh and is generally enough to power the typical family home for half of a day.
• Up to 9.6 kW continuous power output (when off-grid). That means that when the power goes out – for example, due to a hurricane or other natural disaster – the Powerwall has the capacity to power appliances like your refrigerator and potentially bigger ones like an air conditioning unit. For the purposes of comparison, most solar power batteries have a significantly lower continuous power output rating at 5 kW.
• Multiple, versatile, and easily adjustable operating mode options (Solar Self-Consumption, Backup Only, and Time-Based Control Mode. Backup Reserve, Self-Powered, Time-Based Control, Self-Consumption Only, Preconditioning). Depending on the environmental conditions and your current power usage, you can toggle between various modes to keep your home powered day and night and save maximally on your power bill.
• Excellent mobile app for monitoring energy usage and flow in your property digitally in real-time. Use your Tesla account credentials to download and access the Tesla mobile application.
• The Storm Watch feature. The Powerwall monitors National Weather Service messages and automatically powers the battery fully when an alert for extreme weather is issued – so you don’t need to scramble to adjust your settings when a hurricane is approaching.
• Performs even in low temperatures with the “preconditioning” setting to preheat the cells before firing up.
• Lithium battery cells are produced in the United States at the Gigafactory Tesla facility in Nevada.

Competitive pricing compared to other AC-coupled battery systems.

• Solid 10-year Tesla warranty

Tesla Powerwall is inverter agnostic (and why that’s a big benefit for homeowners)

One of the biggest benefits to property owners who already have a solar power system installed in their home or business is that Tesla’s Powerwall is inverter agnostic – meaning that, because it is coupled with AC, it can be connected to any inverter without the need for extra materials.

For total protection during power outages, homeowners should install one Powerwall unit for each 7.6 kW AC of solar in the backup circuit.

You don’t need to get a new solar panel system or re-install any of the major component parts to integrate a Tesla Powerwall into your home solar panel system.

Our experts at Solar Compass are trained in the smooth installment of Tesla backup batteries, so you don’t need to worry about any extra technological hassles.

Power bills for Northwest Floridians surge after FLP/Gulf Power merger

If you live in Northwest Florida, you’ve surely noticed a surge in your monthly energy bills.

Florida Power & Light purchased Gulf Power in 2019 and then merged the two into a unified electrical utility at the start of  2022:

“A new year means new changes when it comes to how residents of Northwest Florida will handle their power bills. On January 1st, Gulf Power is transitioning to Florida Power and Light. This means that all communication and customer bills will now be coming from FPL.”

Despite initial promises that the merge would result in “lower costs for customers,” the opposite has happened: power bills for Northwest Floridians have surged:

“January was the first month former Gulf Power customers in the Panhandle made payments to FPL after the companies merged last year. It also was the first month a rate increase took hold for FPL customers… [Mary] Brewster, who has lived in DeFuniak Springs for four years, said her bill went from $184 in December to $291 in January. Her February bill is projected to be $394.”

That’s a more than doubling in rates in just a few short months!

The surge in energy costs will likely continue. Without any recourse or daylight at the end of the tunnel, the only viable option for Northwest Floridians to ensure that there is to take their energy needs into their own hands.

A solar panel system from Compass Solar lends citizens full independence from the grid – so no matter how high FLP hikes the rates, you will continue to reap inexpensive and boundless energy from the Earth’s one true renewable resource.

Can you go off-grid in Florida?

As we’ve explored in previous blog posts, going off-grid in Florida is fully feasible and totally legal – with the rare exception of a handful of cities and counties that require residents within their jurisdictions to jack into the grid.

Here are some key points to consider:

•  Rural areas outside of incorporated cities are generally friendlier to off-grid living than urban areas.
• You might be required to stay connected, depending on where you live, to the grid, but that doesn’t mean you have to use the public utilities for your power. Solar power systems in both residential and commercial purposes are fully legal in Florida.
• Before you install a solar panel system, local law may require that you jump through some regulatory hoops before you can install your system. Compass Solar is available to advise customers on the relevant regulations in their particular jurisdictions.

Contact Compass Solar

We’re always available to help our Northwest Florida neighbors with any and all questions related to Earth-friendly, money-saving solar panels and the various components that make them work.

Contact Compass Solar for more details on the Tesla Powerwall system and how to get your own installed in your home or business. If you’ve been considering getting a solar backup battery from a trusted provider, there has never been a better time than now.