At ESP, we take pride in our seamless process, specifically designed to handle every aspect of a project's journey. At each step of the way, our dedicated teams are highly committed to providing an efficient and smooth experience for our homeowners and sales representatives.
We encourage you to visit the respective pages to learn more about each step in the process.
Carports
Once the lead is in QuickBase, the sales representative must ensure that all the essential documents are collected and uploaded to their corresponding sections in QuickBase. These requirements include:
Once the sales rep has secured the above documents, they can convert the lead into a job.
If, for any reason, the sales representative encounters difficulties in converting the lead into a job, they may contact the Project Management team via phone or chat. A Project Manager will then review the lead and convert the job on their behalf.
Once the job is successfully converted and available in QuickBase, the sales representative can proceed with the site survey process.
During the acceptance stage of a project, our primary goal is to ensure the project is fully prepared to move forward. ESP's Acceptance team conducts a thorough review of all requirements, finance documents, contract information, and adders. By following this process, we can ensure smooth project execution, meeting our customers' expectations while adhering to all necessary guidelines and safety protocols.
Below are some of the key items the ESP Acceptance Team reviews. A project will typically sit in the acceptance stage for 3 business days.
During a site survey, our Site Surveyors will spend a maximum of 90 minutes evaluating the job site, focusing on the condition of the roof, the home's structural integrity, and the electrical system. As a Sales Representative, your role is vital in initiating the site survey scheduling process. To get started, ensure you have all the necessary information by asking the homeowner specific questions listed below. It is essential to have the homeowner present during the survey whenever possible.
Once the Sales Rep has collected the required information from the homeowner, please use our chat feature to reach out to an ESP Project Manager to proceed with scheduling the site survey. The Project Manager will ask the series of questions listed above. They will proceed to schedule the site survey, making every effort to accommodate the preferred date and time-based on our schedule availability. ESP provides three appointment windows - AM, Afternoon, and All Day - with an all-day availability preference for the fastest accommodations.
Both the Sales Representative and the homeowner will receive a notification when the site survey has been scheduled. A reminder notification will be sent to the homeowner the night before the survey, followed by a notification on the day of the appointment to inform them that the Site Surveyors are on their way
For more information on Site Surveys, check out this video!
The ESP design team's task is to transform the sold contract, Scope of Work, and adders into a permit-ready plan set. Once the design process is finished, the homeowner and sales representative will be provided with an email containing the solar and battery (if applicable) layout. It is crucial for the sales representative to ensure that ESP is provided with all of the customer's layout expectations.
The average design turnaround time is 3 business days
If the design needs to be modified, a redraw of the plan set will take an average of 3 business days to complete.
For more information on Designs & Redraws, check out this video!
The ESP Permitting Team is dedicated to submitting plans to the local jurisdiction promptly, averaging a 2-business day turnaround from the time the design was completed. After submission, the permitting team follows up and retrieves the permit as soon as it becomes available.
The processing time for permits varies depending on the Scope of Work and the jurisdiction they are submitted to. On average, most permits are expected to be ready within 2-3 weeks.
To access the most current timelines for permit processing, we have prepared a comprehensive report that outlines the average timeframes for permit receipt, categorized by jurisdiction.
ESP utilizes SolarAPP+, a federal initiative designed to expedite solar permits. For a list of jurisdictions that currently adopt SolarAPP+, please use this link.
A meter spot refers to the utility company's inspection of a job that involves a Main Panel Upgrade (MPU). During this inspection, the utility will assess the Main Panel's location and determine if it needs to be relocated. They will also inform us if the power needs to be disconnected while we carry out the work.
ESP will submit the plans to the utility company and request a meter spot for the inspection process.
Due to its nature, the timeframe of a meter spot is subject to the utility company's availability. Generally, it will take at least a month, potentially longer, to get the meter spot results back.
The utility company will typically coordinate scheduling directly with the homeowner. It is crucial for the homeowner to provide clear working access to the meter, meaning no locked gates, dogs, or foliage near the meter. If the homeowner fails to provide easy access to the meter, it can lead to a rescheduling of the meter spot
Once the meter spot results are determined by the utility, ESP can proceed with scheduling the work required to perform the Main Panel Upgrade.
It is essential to ensure that the main panel can adequately support the electrical load of the entire system. If a large solar system is connected to a small meter, it may overload it, leading to potential safety hazards. If it is determined the size of the system is too large for the main panel to handle, an MPU will be added to the project.
In some cases, an MPU will be added to a project, whose main panel does not meet our project acceptance criteria. For the full list of types of panels that require an automatic MPU, please refer to our Qualified Projects article.
A Main Panel Upgrade involves removing the old meter and replacing it with a larger meter. Once the meter spot results are received, ESP can perform the work. Please note, If the utility determines a disconnect is required to upgrade the main panel, the schedule will depend on the utility company's schedule which is typically at least a week but potentially over a month out.
An MPU will usually take 1-2 days to complete. After the new meter is installed, most utilities will require a rough inspection of the new meter. During this inspection, the utility will inspect the electrical work on the open panel.
Some things to note:
Once all required prior steps are complete, the project is ready to be scheduled for installation. The ESP Installation Scheduling team will coordinate with the homeowner to arrange the installation date. Generally, the installation will be scheduled about a week ahead, though the exact timeframe may vary depending on the location of the project. Both the homeowner and the sales representative will receive notifications once the installation date is set.
The scope of work will involve the installation of solar panels, inverters, and batteries, if applicable. Typically, the installation process can be completed within a day, but larger systems may require additional time. If a battery is included in the project, an extra day will be needed.
After everything is installed according to the plan set, an in-person inspection will be carried out by the AHJ and a representative from ESP. The inspector will be checking the panels, inverter, wiring, and disconnects to ensure they were installed correctly, and according to plan.
ESP's Inspection Scheduling team will coordinate a date and time with the city.
Although the homeowner's presence is not mandatory during the inspection, the ESP project manager will contact the homeowner to confirm the inspection date and emphasize the importance of providing clear access to the home.
In certain cases, the homeowner might need to sign a Smoke Detector / Carbon Monoxide form prior to the inspection.
Depending on the jurisdiction, the inspection appointment will typically be scheduled anywhere from the next day to a few weeks out. The appointment time also varies by jurisdiction but will typically be an AM, PM, or all-day inspection timeframe.
ESP will be on-site and prepared for the inspector's arrival, making sure all pre-inspection tasks, such as placing placards, painting the conduit, and commissioning the system, are completed. Additionally, ESP will set up a ladder in the event the inspector needs to get on the roof.
Once the inspector has arrived, the inspection itself can last anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. As soon as ESP is notified that the project has passed inspection, it will be passed to the Utilities Team to begin the PTO process.
ESP will send the NEM documents to the utility after receiving the plans. NEM approval usually takes around 2-6 weeks on average, but it might extend to 3 months in some cases. ESP will be eligible to apply for PTO only after receiving NEM approval from the utility.
After NEM is approved and ESP has passed the inspection, ESP will initiate the PTO (Permission to Operate) process, which involves obtaining permission from the utility company to activate the newly installed system. ESP will submit the passed inspection card to the utility company and await their approval. On average, the PTO submission takes approximately 1-2 days, but approval from the utility company may take around 2-6 weeks.
It's important to be aware that timelines for NEM & PTO may be affected by changes in California's NEM regulations.
Once we have received PTO, ESP can turn the system on! An ESP activations specialist will set up the optimizer map in the system monitoring portal. Once this step is complete they will remotely activate the system. The activation process typically occurs within a day of receiving the PTO from the utility company.
The homeowner will be notified of the system activation and will receive a link to the monitoring portal where they can see how their system is producing from the app or webpage. We encourage homeowners to monitor their systems regularly.
Having a seamless warranty process plays a crucial role in providing peace of mind to customers when they have system or installation concerns. At ESP we understand the significance of these requests and the importance of addressing them promptly and effectively.
ESP provides a 25-year limited warranty on workmanship and a 10-year limited roof work warranty. Please refer to the signed Customer Agreement for detailed Warranty information.
When a problem arises with a system, the homeowners must submit their warranty requests to ESP directly using the Warranty Request Form. This process ensures that we have accurate and complete information coming directly from the source. However, we understand that some homeowners may require assistance in filling out the form. In such cases, we encourage the sales representative to offer their support in completing and submitting the form, but the submitted form must come from the homeowner.
Once the Warranty Request Form is submitted, the homeowner will get a call back from a Warranty Specialist within 48 hours. Given the diverse range of potential issues that may arise, certain warranty matters can be addressed immediately, while others may take longer due to factors outside of ESP's control. Please note that ESP is committed to providing the swiftest resolution to any problem.
Throughout the process, homeowners will be informed and updated about any developments or changes related to their warranty issues.
If the Warranty Issue is an emergency, please call ESP at (866) 865-4559 and a Project Manager will assist you.