Question 1

Is my home a good fit for solar?

Accepted Answer

Many homes in Nova Scotia can work for solar, but a few factors really matter: roof age and condition, orientation (south-facing is ideal but east/west works too), shade from trees and neighbouring structures, and how much electricity you actually use. Our free assessment checks all of this. If solar doesn't make sense for your home, we'll tell you.

Question 2

How much will solar save me?

Accepted Answer

Savings depend on your roof, system size, electricity usage, and how you finance it. How much of your bill solar can offset depends on your roof and usage. We don't quote vague savings. We model your specific home using your real NS Power usage and show you 30-year math.

Question 3

How long does the assessment take?

Accepted Answer

About 30 to 45 minutes. We review your roof using satellite imagery, look at 12 months of NS Power usage, walk through financing options that apply to your address, and answer your questions. By the end, you'll know whether solar makes sense for your home.

Question 4

How do solar credits work in Nova Scotia?

Accepted Answer

Your system generates electricity that powers your home first. Any extra goes to the grid and becomes credits on your NS Power account. You use those credits later when your system isn't producing enough, helping to lower your bill.

Question 5

Do credits roll over month to month?

Accepted Answer

Yes. NS Power banks excess generation as a kWh credit on your account and applies it to later bills. You typically build credits in spring and summer and use them in fall and winter. On January 1, any credits left are applied to energy you paid for earlier that year. Anything beyond what you used in the year isn't paid out.

Question 6

What happens if I overproduce for the year?

Accepted Answer

On January 1, any credits left are applied to energy you paid for earlier that year. Anything beyond what you used in the year isn't paid out, so we size systems to your usage to avoid building up credits you can't use.

Question 7

What financing options are available?

Accepted Answer

Three main paths: Halifax Solar City (HRM only, 4.75% over 10 years on a separate Local Improvement Charge), municipal PACE programs (offered by some towns; see our Financing page for the full list with rates), and cash or private financing through your own bank or credit union. We compare all three for your specific address.

Question 8

Do you offer in-house financing?

Accepted Answer

We don't lend ourselves. We help you choose between municipal PACE programs (when available), Halifax Solar City (in HRM), or your own private financing. Going through the right program usually beats vendor-specific loans on rate and terms.

Question 9

Are there still federal rebates?

Accepted Answer

The Canada Greener Homes Grant is closed, and its companion loan stopped taking new applications in October 2025. Efficiency NS's SolarHomes rebate closed to new homeowner applications in April 2025 (it's still open to registered non-profits). The federal Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit (30%) is real, but it's limited to taxable corporations, partnerships with corporate partners, and certain trusts, not individual homeowners. For most Nova Scotia homeowners, the paths open today are Halifax Solar City, municipal PACE where your town offers it, or cash and private financing. We'll show you which applies to your address.

Question 10

How long does installation take?

Accepted Answer

It varies with the system, the permit, and NS Power's inspection and meter swap. The steps run in order: design and permits, the install itself, then NS Power's inspection and meter swap before power-on. We'll talk through the expected timeline for your home during the assessment.

Question 11

Will my roof get damaged?

Accepted Answer

Protecting the roof is part of the design. Each roof attachment is sealed to the roof with a butyl pad, and roof condition is checked before quoting. If your roof has less than 5 years of useful life left, we'll recommend re-roofing first.

Question 12

Do I need a permit?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the electrical work is reviewed and inspected. For a system of 27 kW or less there's no NS Power program to apply for: as the installer, we send the electrical plans to NS Power's Inspection Services team for review and acceptance, and arrange the electrical inspections before the system is turned on. Systems over 27 kW, homes included, apply through NS Power's Commercial Net Metering Program.

Question 13

What happens during winter?

Accepted Answer

Production drops in winter: for a south-facing Halifax roof, NREL's PVWatts model puts about 18% of a year's output in December through February. That's expected. Under NS Power net metering, credits banked in sunnier months are applied to later bills. Batteries are still a useful add-on when backup power or resilience matters.

Question 14

What about salt air on coastal homes?

Accepted Answer

Coastal installs call for racking, fasteners, and panel frames suited to salt-air exposure. We look at salt exposure before quoting, and corrosion-resistant hardware adds some cost depending on the site.

Question 15

Does solar work in a power outage?

Accepted Answer

Standard grid-tied solar shuts down during a NS Power outage. That's a safety requirement to protect line workers. If you want backup power during outages, you need a home battery configured for off-grid operation. We quote batteries around your backup goals, such as keeping critical loads running.

Question 16

What warranties come with a system?

Accepted Answer

Panels and inverters carry manufacturer warranties, and the terms depend on the brand and model. The equipment page lists each product's datasheet warranty. Warranty terms for your system are set out in your installation agreement.

Question 17

Does the system need maintenance?

Accepted Answer

Very little. Snow often slides off panels on its own, and rain handles most dust. Coastal homes can benefit from an occasional rinse to remove salt buildup. Inverter status lights and the monitoring app show you if anything's wrong.

Question 18

What if I sell my home?

Accepted Answer

Keep your system's production and warranty paperwork handy, since buyers and appraisers may ask for it. PACE-financed systems transfer with the property: the new owner takes over payments tied to the property's municipal account. Cash-financed systems just convey with the sale. Halifax Solar City stays with the property.

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