You will be credited for everything except the flat rate distribution fee. You will be credited back for delivery, regulatory, debt retirement and any other charges that are based on how many kWh’s you use.

Almost but not quite. There is a small part of your bill usually referred to as the “flat rate distribution fee” or something similar which you will have to pay regardless if you use any power or not. This is an administration fee for being connected to the hydro companies network.

Absolutely, in fact we can show you installations where we have panels on four sides or even more. Depending on the slope, a roof plane facing due West or due East will only lose 13% power over one that is facing due South. We have real-world examples of panels facing North that only lose about 25% of their power over a South facing roof. In some situations, an East/West can yield more output than a South facing roof.

There is no real limit on the total kWh’s that you can generate.

Think of your solar array as a 25-year investment. Solar panels will produce electricity for at least 25 years. Panels will continue to generate electricity after 25 years, but at a decreasing rate. 

Several factors dictate the price of your system, not just the cost of the panels themselves. Other factors include the price of the inverter, racking equipment, and engineering time as well as design, labour, and permitting. Many of these components are soft costs that are not based on the price of physical equipment. Maritime Solar aims to reduce these costs so home and business owners can see more savings when going solar.

Every system we sell comes with performance monitoring through the manufacturers app, this allows you to see your production in real time!

Trick question – there are no batteries for a typical Grid-tied Solar PV system. A bidirectional meter will be installed to measure excess energy generated during the day for credits from the utility.

During an outage your solar panels will no longer work due to the need to provide the Inverter with an AC. However, if you decide to go with a hybrid system your power will still work.

Prices typically range from roughly $25,000 to $45,000 for a residential system, depending on how many panels you need, how complex your roof is, and the type of equipment you select. We help our clients tap into available incentives (provincial Efficiency Nova Scotia rebates and the federal Greener Homes Loan) to lower that cost, so your final out-of-pocket investment often ends up much more manageable.

Absolutely. With net metering (NSP credits you for surplus energy generation) and rising electricity rates, most homeowners see a payback period of about 8 to 12 years. After that, you’re essentially generating free power for the rest of your panels’ lifespan—often well beyond 25 years.

You must own a home in the province, have up-to-date Home Energy Assessment (completed within the past year), and choose a Efficiency NS certified installer. Specific program rules can vary, but we’ll help ensure you meet all the requirements so that you receive any rebates or zero-interest loans you’re entitled to.

Homeowners can utilize the SolarHomes program from Efficiency Nova Scotia which currently offers a set amount per watt of installed solar panels (up to a $3,000). There’s also a federal 0% interest loan through the Canada Greener Homes Loan initiative that pairs nicely with provincial rebates. We guide our clients through each step, from paperwork to final inspection, so you can get the maximum incentives available.

Businesses often qualify for specific tax credits such as the Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit (CTITC) or the Atlantic Investment Tax Credit in certain regions. For residential systems, the big federal incentives are usually the Greener Homes Loan and a grant rather than direct tax credits.

A typical residential system can run anywhere from $25,000 to $45,000, influenced by factors like the size of your home, roof complexity, and your energy goals. We can walk you through different equipment options, custom designs, and available incentives to help bring that initial cost down. With net metering and rebates, the long-term savings often make solar a worthwhile investment for Nova Scotia homeowners.

Very likely. The weight of the solar panels and mounting system adds less than 3 pounds per square foot, which is pretty low when you think about it. A good quality layer of asphalt shingles weighs 2.75 pounds per square foot. If your roof is still standing after the ice storms of the past winters than you roof will be fine with solar panels.

This is a great question and one that more people need to ask when considering a solar installation. It is a critical part of your system but since it is out of site under the panels, few people give much thought to it. A full-size system can mean up to 90 roof penetrations and it is imperative that every one of them be leak-free for the life of your system. An inexpensive system like butyl tape which can be seen in this video does not meet the requirements of the building code, will invalidate your roof warranty and will eventually leak. At the other end of the scale is the PV Quickmount system. It is probably the most expensive mounting system out there but it is also the best. It is all aluminium and stainless steel and even though it costs $1,500 more than the cheaper ones, we feel it is money well spent. We are in business for the long term and we simply cannot afford the risk of a leak in your roof.

 
Get them replaced first. Remember that these systems will last 30 years. If we have to pull them off so that you can replace your shingles, it will be at your expense. If you can’t afford to re-do your entire roof right now, then see if you can just do the area where the panels will sit.

It certainly makes our job more challenging but we can usually find a layout that will work with most rooftops. A small older home often has more room for panels than a newer larger one does. A simple roof will be cheaper to have panels installed then a complicated one.

Solar is a simple, minimum-maintenance technology. Unlike other energy technologies, solar PV contains no moving parts. This means it’s not likely your equipment will fail. You should not have to replace your panels at all during their lifetime.

Even though solar is low maintenance, upon request we are able to inspect your array every 3 to 5 years to make sure things remain in good operating order. We will do a visual inspection of all equipment, check for things like wire damage from critters, and make sure your system is performing properly.

It typically takes one to two months for an installer to design your solar array and secure initial permits (from your municipal government) and interconnection agreements (from your electric utility). Depending on your exact solar permitting office and utility interconnection team, this could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Once initial permits and interconnection agreements are in hand, your installer will typically need only one to two days to physically install your array (panels, inverter, racking system, and wiring). The installer will then need to get final approval from the municipal permitting office and secure final interconnection approval from the utility. This can take an additional one to three months depending on the jurisdiction.

System costs are full turnkey, which means we include everything from equipment, labor, warranty and paperwork required for you to start generating solar power. We always conduct a site visit prior to finalizing a quotation to give you cost certainty on a project.

We are a team of passionate solar professionals that have completed hundreds of projects across Nova Scotia, large and small. We have the experience to ensure your project is designed correctly and built to last.

Our pion racking is rated for 250 miles per hour wind. All our systems have engineering stamps to back up the load on your house due to added weight ensuring the structure is capable.

Maritime Solar provides a 3-year warranty on all workmanship provided by Maritime Renewable Solutions Inc.

All panels that we use provides a 25-year warranty performance guarantee and 12 year product warranty on all solar panels

Solis provides a 10-year warranty on inverter + extended warranty (If selected)

TIGO provides a 25-year manufacturer warranty on DC optimizers.

We are confident that we do some of the best work around, but we encourage you to gather quotes from a few installers and compare. Key things to look for are in-house electricians, strong customer reviews, and transparent warranties. When you’re confident in their track record and trust what they’re offering, you’ve likely found a good fit.

The main provincial rebate for residential systems is offered through Efficiency Nova Scotia. You’ll earn a set amount per installed watt of solar panels, up to a certain cap ($3,000). After a registered installer completes your project, they submit the paperwork and proof of installation, and then you receive your rebate. We handle this process for our customers to make it simple.

Most people go through a professional installation company. While you might find panels online, the installation requires an inverter, as well as other equipment for mounting, railing, and wiring. Working with an experienced installer means they handle design, permits, and proper wiring—so everything meets local codes and works smoothly for decades. We are happy to provide that end-to-end service, from planning to final inspection.

Savings vary by home. Everyone can reduce their bills, but eliminating power bills 100% isn’t guaranteed. Luckily, we are able to show our clients an estimate of how much they will be able to cover before they make any financial commitments.

Having less-than-ideal credit doesn’t automatically disqualify you. Some financing options—like the 0% interest federal loan—do still consider credit history, but there are local programs (like PACE financing) that are more flexible. Talking to us about your specific situation is the best way to explore a range of possible solutions.

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