PPM Solar is the top solar energy installer in Gainesville
Why more homeowners choose PPM to install their solar panels
PPM was recognized three times as the world’s fastest-growing UF alumni-led business. At PPM Solar, we understand the value of collective effort and are proud of our team. This team has created an impact right here at home that cannot go unnoticed, resulting in multiple local awards, including the nomination for the Business of the Year by the Gainesville Chamber of Commerce in 2022.
Verifiable and Trustworthy
3 simple steps to installation
2023 – a year of solar in Gainesville!
With the highest-ever federal solar tax credit now extended, most circuits in Gainesville still having the full net metering program offered by GRU, and the cost of solar installation at an all-time low, there’s no better time than now to switch to solar energy in Gainesville.
Gainesville has a significant history with solar energy, rooted deeply in the community. Notably, in 2011, a feed-in tariff policy led to an explosion of solar installations, earning Gainesville the highest solar per capita rate in the United States, surpassing California. Today, Gainesville and Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) territory is one of the remaining places in the state where homeowners and businesses can benefit from Solar Net Metering, allowing for more attractive returns on their solar investment.
Gainesville also commands an excellent solar resource, providing for 4 average daily peak hours of sun per day, making it one of the best places in the country to go solar.
Testimonials tell the story
Biljana Horn2024-04-04One of our solar panels was not functioning. This happened a couple of years after the solar installation. We called PPM Solar - they diagnosed the problem virtually and then came and fixed it. All costs were covered through the warranty. We are extremely happy with our solar system which covers most of our energy use. I highly recommend it for people who have to run air conditioner in summer, like we do.
Philip2024-01-16It is a good company. highly recommended.
liz stubbs2024-01-11From start to finish the team at PPM Solar excelled in all aspects of the process and experience. As a first-time solar customer, I had lots of questions about the best setup for my specific needs. I am in the country where power outages can be more frequent and prolonged. I wanted a system that could also provide backup power during prolonged outages. From sales through final inspection, PPM Solar team understood my situation and goals, designed a fabulous solution and worked with me on timeframe so we could do panels first, then battery storage in a later phase. For every question I had, they were super helpful in getting me answers... they even encouraged my questions ???? Their install team was super professional and efficient. Their project coordinator was amazing, making my part of the process easy and efficient, and kept me informed every step of the way. At the final walkthrough, I appreciated all the expertise and recommendations they shared on my system's operation and best practices to keep the panels clean, etc. It is clear to me that this team is both expert in solar, but also they love solar. They bring that great energy to all their client interactions and are happy to educate us as we learn our new systems. I am thrilled they are my solar team! Exciting to be moving forward with them on battery storage. I am delighted to give them 5 stars on expertise, client relations and ease of the entire process. LOVE my system, and grateful to PPM Solar!
Jorge Milanes2023-12-27I can’t recommend PPM Solar enough for your solar panel needs. They were clear about how many panels were needed and where they would be the most efficient. They did the install along with adding a Tesla wall charger (which they are certified to do) all in one day. Their crew has clearly worked together for a good while as evidenced by how efficiently they worked together. Their entire staff from the installers to the electricians, production manager, administrative staff etc are all great and seem to really enjoy their work. They are a local company that has been working in the area and I would select them again and have recommended them to my friends.
Lyzzy Dismang2023-12-06PPM Solar was great. It took a little longer than expected but working with Gabby was easy and she kept me informed. We had some issues with the county and power company but it all got handled. Everyone I encountered was professional and friendly. The install went smooth, the panels look great and the app is easy to use. Now I am not worried about the power going off at any time.
Jeffrey Pitts2023-11-28PPM was able to correct the problem with our system and we have been back online ever since. Producing power again!!!
Arno Loeffler2023-11-19Our experience with PPM was great. Even when we went through a major design change they were exceptionally accommodating and just changed gears along with us without comment. From our first discussions, throughout the design and configuration process, installation, and post activation support, Alex and the team have been tremendous! Our system performs as expected and PPM’s estimates of solar power production are spot on. We are for all intents and purposes “off the grid” with our battery storage capabilities which is very important to us as it provides power for the well which supplies water for not only us, but especially our livestock! I highly recommend them without reservation.
Go solar today. Contact us to get a free estimate!
Get solar-inspired with our customers’ video testimonials!
Which brands are most optimal for Gainesville solar installations?
In Gainesville, considerations often include mitigating partial shading, accommodating multiple roof surfaces, and at times, requiring highly efficient solar modules to maximize capacity on the most suitable roofs.
PPM’s team has been trained and certified with a range of industry-leading companies, such as Tesla, SMA, Enphase, Tigo, and Fronius for inverters and storage; REC Solar, VSUN, QCell, LG, and Canadian Solar for modules; and Snap-n-Rack, Ironridge, Aerocompact, and Nuance for mounting structures. This comprehensive expertise allows PPM Solar to deliver the most value to every client.
Which solar financing options are available for Gainesville homeowners?
The sales and Finance process has been somewhat problematic in the solar industry. Unfortunately, Predatory sales organizations, redlining, overpriced financing, telemarketing, and doorknocking have become very common. Transparency is in our DNA. We offer fair and transparent pricing from a unified pricelist that we adjust occasionally to ensure that we remain competitive while assuring business continuity and growth.
At PPM Solar, our cash price is our financed price. We don’t bake hidden fees or interest buydown payments into the project’s cost. We offer every client the same price based on their site conditions. Every client gets the same price based on their site conditions. We will only quote what’s needed and never upsell. We have in-house solar sales consultants who have worked here for many years.
Furthermore, we have been vetted and built relationships with banks and credit unions that share this philosophy and deliver fairly priced financing products to our clients. We believe solar energy should not be an additional expense and that solar energy financing payments should be low and competitive with the existing utility bill.
Additionally, a 30% Federal Tax Credit is available for those who qualify and can further accelerate the ROI while lowering the initial solar panel cost.
How does solar energy serve Gainesville homeowners?
Solar energy is hard at work for every solar homeowner in Gainesville every day as soon as the sun comes up (and even at night with energy storage). Solar energy is transformative in many ways and moves individuals, families, or businesses to become a part of the solution by reducing pollution and making a better choice for the planet.
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Questions our customers ask us – answered!
You will put holes in my roof when installing solar panels. Will my roof leak?
We have performed over 50,000 roof penetrations over 15+ years and had less than 20 roof leak service calls that we immediately addressed. Those roof leaks after installing solar panels have resulted from earlier generations of roof penetration hardware and methodology that have since become more robust, resulting in an even lesser chance of ever having a roof leak event. Remember that we cover you with our ten-year workmanship warranty.
How does Net Metering work, and can I sell power back to my utility?
Net Metering availability and terms vary by utility. Investor-Owned Utilities (IOU’s) all offer net metering in the state of Florida. They include Duke Energy, FPL, TECO, and FPUC. Additionally several municipal utilities offer net metering process, but the terms may vary. PPM Solar operates a comprehensive rate schedule analysis tool that will take all of those variables into account and present an accurate solar offset rate schedule and the resulting payback calculation.
Yes, you can sell your power back to the utility, but not beyond what you would typically use on an annual basis. In other words, the solar system size is typically limited to match the consumption profile. However, excess energy generated on a daily and monthly basis is either purchased at the point of production or credited forward, and that is what the terms of the interconnection agreement will dictate. This makes solar system right-sizing that much more important because you cannot monetize excess energy at full rate, as you will not have the option to sell excess energy that you don’t use on an annual basis.
Can I use my solar panels when the grid is down?
Whether or not you can use your solar panels when the grid is down depends on whether your solar installation has batteries; if your solar panels are connected to a battery storage system, you can still access the electricity generated by your panels even when the grid is down. This is because the batteries store excess energy produced by the panels, allowing you to utilize it during power outages. However, suppose your solar panels are not connected to a battery storage system. In that case, you will not be able to use them when the grid is down since the electricity generated by the panels is directly fed into the grid and can cause damage or injury during repair by the utility company. The system will automatically turn off and come back on with the grid; no action is required by the homeowner.
There are newer technologies that allow EVs to be used for home backup, but very few are commercially available at this time. Additionally, the Enphase Sunlight system does allow solar panels to be used without batteries, but there are nuances to every situation; please contact us for full information.
How long does it take for a solar system to pay for itself?
Financed: The payback may be immediate if the solar payment approximately matches the utility bill, a so-called “Bill swapout.” In this case, the solar finance payment will remain the same, and the utility rates keep going up and up, resulting in ever-increasing monthly savings for the life of the solar system. It is not possible to estimate a payback on a cash-flow-positive asset, as technically, there was never an initial investment.
Cash Purchase: In the event that a 30% solar tax credit can be monetized, the net initial investment is 70% of the cost. The remaining amount is typically paid for within 6-9 years in a residential application and 2-5 years in a commercial one. It is important to recognize utility inflation as an important part of the ROI analysis. The cumulative nature of electric bills is often overlooked, and a person paying $250/month may not realize that they will pay $116,000 over 25 years under just 3.5% utility inflation or $143,000 with a 5% inflation rate. Solar offers a solution to a problem that we are very used to and is served to us in small doses, making it less noticeable; however, if addressed, solar carries a tremendous financial potential, and that doesn’t include the property value increase (without increasing the property tax), and other tangible and non-tangible benefits.
How many solar panels will I need? How is the solar system sized?
There are three main criteria to consider:
Consumption and consumption trends: Establishing consumption accurately can sometimes be challenging and requires careful consideration for the future. Will people be moving in or out of the home? Is purchasing an EV planned in the near future? Are you considering energy storage? Addressing these and many other questions is essential, in addition to evaluating historical usage.
Site Conditions: Based on the site-specific conditions, the efficiency of the solar panels will vary. Those conditions include The efficiency of the solar panels will vary based on site-specific conditions, including shading, azimuth, orientation, tilt, and other site considerations. It’s critical to ensure an accurate design to achieve all the project’s goals while avoiding oversizing due to the inability to monetize excess power.
Utility considerations and maximizing the payback:
The energy use profile and self-consumption frequently influence the feasibility and ROI, requiring consideration when sizing a system. PPM has advanced tools designed to solve this problem and tweak the sizing to achieve the best financial/production/autonomy ratio for the project.