Prior to entering into a contract, a representative of Energy by Choice, LTD. will visit your property and evaluate your potential for taking advantage of the free energy of the sun. Energy by Choice, LTD. will consider your roof areas, their slope and orientation to the sun, issues of shading, the age of your roof, the structural capacity of your roof, the path the wiring will need to follow to get to the meter, the voltage, age and location of your electric panel and your annual electric consumption. We will ask that you provide copies of at least twelve months of you electric bills. This is the only real work you will be expected to perform when you select Energy by Choice.

After the site evaluation, Energy by Choice, LTD. will prepare a detailed proposal that will include options of system size, cost, aesthetics and power generating expectations. We will provide financial analysis to aid your decision making process. We will meet with you to ensure that you understand every detail of our proposal. When you elect to hire Energy by Choice, LTD. a signed contract and a small deposit are all that it takes to get started. Sit back and enjoy the attention.

First step will be the submission of the LIPA Rebate/Preapproval application and Utility Intertie Agreement. Energy by Choice, LTD will prepare this application for your signature. Typically this will be done within the same time period as the building permit process.

Simultaneously Energy by Choice will meet with the Structural Engineer/Architect on site to determine the issues and solutions that the Engineer needs to design and submit to the local building department for a building permit. Energy by Choice will monitor the engineers activities, as well as prepare and deliver the building permit application to the building department. Depending on the local building department, this whole process should take about four to six weeks.

Upon pre approval by LIPA and issuance of a building permit, Energy by Choice will release the order for materials. Depending on the availability of materials, it a delivery will be made to your address anywhere from two to six weeks after release of the order for materials. Installation is scheduled as soon as practical after that and installation will take a couple of days.

Upon completion of the installation, an electrical inspection is necessary by the Board of Fire Underwriters. Several days after satisfactory inspection, a certificate will be issued, which Energy by Choice will forward to LIPA along with photos, equipment serial numbers, copies of invoices, drawings, etc. Upon receipt of the acceptable paperwork, LIPA will schedule a field verification (usually tow to three weeks later) to confirm an acceptable installation, in accordance with all the paperwork filed. They will also evaluate the systems ability to produce power and will verify orientation as well as any shading issues. When LIPA is satisfied that the installation meets their expectations and technical criteria, they will change the meter to a “net meter” and you will be free to make grid connected power and enjoy years of trouble free electricity production.

LIPA’s policy is to issue the rebate check within sixty days of accepting the system.