10 Common Questions About Commercial Rooftop Solar

01 Sep.,2025

 

10 Common Questions About Commercial Rooftop Solar

For commercial solar projects, solar technology choices are critical. For example, using a tracker mount for your solar panels can produce more energy than any other mounting system. These trackers follow the sun all day, ensuring you get the most out of your solar array and allowing you to make more accurate predictions about your solar energy production. If you have a flat rooftop on your commercial building, Point Load Power offers PV Booster , a tracking mount meant for rooftop installation that can produce significantly more energy with your solar panels than a fixed tilt rack.

JM are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

Bifacial solar panels are another solar technology factor that can help you make the most out of a snowy day. Bifacial solar panels produce energy from both sides of the solar panel and generate energy from sunlight reflected off the backside panel. If using bifacial solar panels, weather events like snow can be a benefit and can help reflect more sunlight onto your solar panels.

If interested in learning more about how climate and weather affect solar energy production, check out Energy Information Administration’s website.

Do I have to go off the grid when I switch to solar? 

Unless you’re utilizing solar batteries, which store your excess solar energy, it is unlikely you will be able to go entirely off the grid when you install your commercial solar energy system. In fact, almost all commercial buildings using solar energy still utilize the grid but with significantly reduced energy costs.

Solar energy systems for commercial buildings are not meant to completely eliminate your need for the grid, but to replace the majority of your electricity usage with renewable sources, creating a more sustainable energy solution and allowing you to take advantage of the solar tax incentives in your state.

As a commercial building owner, how do I bill my tenants for their solar energy usage? 

Now more than ever, commercial building owners are profiting off their solar energy systems. As a building owner utilizing a solar energy solution, you will need to sell solar power to your tenants. This is simpler than it sounds. By using an electric meter, you can record how much solar energy your tenant is using and bill them accordingly. To learn more about your options as a building owner for billing your tenant for solar energy, see Energy Sage’s Solar for Landlords Guide.

Installing solar on your commercial building will also allow you to take advantage of net metering (NEM), a solar incentive that allows you to store excess solar energy on the grid. It is unlikely that you will use all the solar energy produced by your solar panels on a daily basis, so net metering sends excess energy back to the grid, and in return, your utility company will give you credits that further lower your electricity bill. To learn more about net metering in your state and how it can help you see a faster return on your solar investment see DSIRE Clean Energy’s website.

How much will I save on my electricity bills every month after switching to solar? 

For commercial building owners, going solar is a strategic decision that almost guarantees a significant financial return for your business. EnergySage market data shows the average commercial building owner in the U.S can reduce their electricity bill by up to 75% after switching to solar power. Switching to solar energy will also lock you into a low electricity rate for the life of your solar panels, usually 25-30 years.

There are many tools that can be used for estimating how much you stand to save from switching to solar. Check out our webinar, Unlocking Idle Assets , to see a demonstration of our favorite energy bill estimator, Energy Toolbase. This demonstration uses PV Booster , Point Load Power’s rooftop tracker, to show how building owners can generate up to 70% more revenue per panel when using a rooftop tracking mount on their commercial building.

What tax credits, rebates, or incentives help to lower the cost of switching to solar? 

The cost of solar energy has dropped by about 90% in the last decade, and prices are continuing to drop. This is due to a combination of consumer preference for corporate sustainability and government mandates meant to reduce the effects of climate change. 

On top of already historically low costs, commercial building owners can further increase their return on investment by taking advantage of government incentives in their states. Check out DSIRE database to see what incentives are available in your state. 

When do I see the ROI for my solar panel investment? 

The amount of money you save by investing in a commercial solar energy system varies based on multiple factors including: 

  1. The solar incentives you utilize 

  2. The type of solar technology you use

  3. Your solar energy usage/the number of solar panels you choose to install

Solar panels have low maintenance costs and can last up to 30 years. Most commercial buildings have significant rooftop space and will profit the most from solar panels. We call this rooftop space your biggest idle asset, which is potential revenue generating square footage that commercial property owners should put into use. In our experience, commercial building owners usually see their ROI in 5 years or less. To determine you’re ROI for a commercial solar power system , contact your preferred solar panel contractor and check out Renewable Energy Hub’s Business and Commercial Solar Panel ROI .

What solar solutions are available to me as a commercial building owner? 

For commercial building owners looking to install solar panels, you have a few options. Solar panels built on top of parking lots, carports, or mounted on poles or building facades send a great message but may not significantly reduces your electricity bills. These solutions do somewhat reduce energy costs but mostly are a great way to let your customers know you support renewable energy. For more information on these solar power options check out Lets Go Solar’s page .

If you have a large flat rooftop or ground space near your commercial building, you can install larger solar power systems that will greatly reduce your energy costs and increase the value of your property. Using a tracker mount for your solar panels, as opposed to fixed solar panels, will ensure your panels face the sun all day, making your solar energy production more predictable. 70% of ground mount projects use tracking panels and that technology is starting to take over the rooftops of commercial buildings too. Point Load Power offers PV Booster, a rooftop tracking mount designed for commercial buildings that increase energy production significantly.

How will solar panels affect my business' property value?

Installing solar panels on your commercial building will undoubtedly increase your building’s value. Having a solar energy system could improve your company image as a green company, ensures low energy costs, and updates a building’s physical appearance. These factors increase your profits margin and the value of your building.

How do I know if my building is a good candidate for solar panels? 

The best buildings for commercial solar are buildings with large, flat rooftops in good condition. Solar projects will last many decades and it is best that you make sure your rooftop lasts just as long. At Point Load Power we call these rooftops “idle assets” because of the lost opportunity commercial building owners face by not investing in a solar power system. Technologies, like rooftop tracking systems, provide additional solar production with a smaller overall investment, freeing up additional capital for rooftop replacement or refurbishment.

Check out our webinar, Unlocking Idle Assets with Highly Profitable Solar Projects to see what kinds of rooftops are best for tracking solar panels.

What are the benefits of using solar over standard electricity? 

1.      Save money every year

2.      Increase your property value

3.      Lock in your electricity rate

4.      Earn big tax incentives

5.      Double Digit ROI quickly

For more Solar Panels For Businessinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

6.      Demonstrate commitment to sustainability and social responsibility

To learn more about how solar can financially benefit your commercial building, see Benefits of Commercial Solar for Business.

Getting and installing solar panels at your business - SRP

Benefits of solar for your business

By installing a solar electric system, you can power your business using clean, renewable energy, reducing your carbon footprint and doing your part to help protect the environment in the process.

Depending on which design you choose, you may be able to achieve kilowatt-hour (kWh) cost savings and reduce your peak demand. Costs and benefits will vary depending on your unique energy needs and system attributes.

How a solar electric system works with the grid

As long as your business remains connected to the energy grid, your business will still be billed for energy from SRP – just as it did before you installed a solar energy system.

This is because your business will pull energy from the grid at times when there is no sunlight or when your solar electric system does not generate enough energy to meet your energy usage.

An interconnection agreement will detail the terms and conditions governing self-generation and interconnection to the SRP electric system. This is required for all customers who connect their solar electric system, or any system that serves all or part of the customer's retail load with electric energy, to SRP's electrical distribution system.

Finding energy solutions for your business

SRP’s team of experts is here to work with you to develop a strategic, personalized action plan that meets your energy goals. Contact your SRP Strategic Energy Manager or the Business Customer Center at (602) 236-(602) 236- weekdays, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., for a complimentary energy consultation.

Ready to purchase solar? Start the process here.

Download and review resources for a range of commercial solar projects, including inverter or non-inverter-based projects.

  • Process checklist - Learn how to apply for and obtain a solar interconnection.

  • Interconnection requirements - See eligibility, installation, equipment and leasing requirements.

  • Sample Distribution Interconnection Agreement (less than 1 MW) - This agreement is for inverter-based generators less than 1 megawatt (MW) and must be completed before interconnecting to the energy grid.

  • Sample Distribution Interconnection Agreement (1 MW and greater)- This agreement is for inverter-based generators 1 MW and greater and must be completed before interconnecting to the energy grid.

Interconnection costs and timeline for inverter-based projects

The timing and steps involved in interconnection will vary based on your project and construction timelines. Here’s the general process for completing an inverter-based project after you apply online.

Billing, payment and price plans

At SRP you may either stay on your current rate or choose another in your size category. Find information on price plans for business, how your bill will be impacted, and what tax credits are available to you. 

Available price plans for solar customers

SRP offers price plan options for commercial customers, either standard or time of use. Contact your account manager to determine which is best for you.

Energy production and how it affects your bill

Typically, solar electric systems produce 1,700 kWh per year, per kW rating of the system. For example, a 50 kW system can produce up to 85,000 kWh per year.

Your system’s output ultimately depends on the type of components installed and the system's orientation in relation to the sun. You may want to consider reducing total output for other benefits, such as power factor correction or offsetting peak power use.

Available tax credits

State and federal tax credits may be available. To learn more, explore these third-party websites:

Please note that SRP does not provide tax advice, nor do we endorse or guarantee tax information provided by a third party. We recommend that you contact a tax professional with any questions and to confirm your eligibility for any available tax credits.

How solar or distributed generation affects your power factor

You may see power factor decline after your equipment is connected to the grid. Learn more and find out what to do in our Power Factor Guide.

Tracking your energy and buying it back

SRP will monitor energy production from your solar electric system. Customers who sell excess energy back to SRP will fall under the SRP Buyback Service Rider, and customers with solar systems with a nameplate capacity of 100 kW AC or less may opt in to the SRP Renewable Export Program. Click here to learn more.

Under the Buyback Service Rider, if the energy produced by the system is greater than the energy used by the customer in a given period, the value of the excess energy produced is credited to the customer.

The amount credited to your account is determined by taking the hourly indexed energy price and subtracting SRP's costs related to scheduling, system control and dispatch services.

I’m still deciding whether to purchase solar. What should I consider?

For customers who haven’t yet decided to purchase a system, here’s what you should keep in mind:

The company is the world’s best Solar Panels For Commercial Buildings supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.