DIY solar

DIY Solar: What You Can Do and What Needs a Pro

DIY can work for small projects and careful homeowners. Roof solar tied to the grid usually still needs permits, safe wiring, and a licensed pro.

Check DIY Fit

Check permits before buying partsUse equipment your utility allowsPlan safety labels and inspectionsHire licensed help for grid-tied workPut safety before savings

DIY and small-project guides

Custom illustration of a Midwest home and solar panels protected by a cost guardrail from a large data center power line

Ohio Put New Guardrails on Data-Center Power Costs. What Home Bills Still Need.

Ohio regulators ordered new steps meant to stop AEP Ohio data-center costs from landing on other customers. It is a useful guardrail, not a promise that a home bill will drop right away.

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Realistic homeowner in a Phoenix-area kitchen checking a plain power bill while rooftop solar is visible outside

SRP's Summer Price Cut Ends Soon. Do Not Size Solar From One Easy Bill.

SRP's temporary summer price cut lasts only through October bills. Phoenix-area solar buyers should use a full year of real power use and the regular rate plan before they decide how many panels or batteries to buy.

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Custom illustration of a Seattle-area home, a power bill, rooftop solar, and a simple hourly use chart

Seattle-Area Power Bills Are Rising. Start With Your Bill Before You Price Solar.

Seattle-area power bills are in the news again. For a home thinking about solar or a battery, the first job is simple: learn what your own power bill says before you trust a savings promise.

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Realistic photo of a homeowner reviewing solar paperwork beside a home battery, with rooftop solar visible outside a garage

Cook County Solar Page Says August 31. The Program Manager Says Waitlist Only.

Cook County's solar page still lists an August 31 end date. But the program manager now says it is no longer reviewing new applications and is using remaining money for people already on the waitlist. Homeowners should check the live program status before sharing documents or signing a solar contract.

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