Many people want to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and achieve greater energy independence. Installing a solar energy system on your property is a great way to take advantage of the free energy that is falling on your property every day.

Solar energy is a safe, low-risk investment. Sundog Solar uses quality equipment with long warranties to protect your investment. Our solar systems typically pay for themselves through savings in less than ten years, yet reliably produce clean energy for 30 years. As power rates increase, the value of the savings increases.

The federal tax credit reduces the net cost of a solar panel system by 26%. This valuable incentive will expire at the end of 2022, making now a great time to go solar! Businesses can also take advantage of accelerated depreciation or bonus depreciation.

Solar energy customers that are connected to the power grid can be credited for the surplus solar electricity that they feed to the power grid. This is called net metering or net energy metering and it is must adhere to Maine Public Utility Commission (PUC) rules.

Many solar households generate more solar electricity than they consume on sunny days. If the system doesn’t have batteries, any surplus electricity goes to the power grid and you will receive credits on your electric bill. If you supply 5 kWh of electricity to the grid during a sunny day, then you use 5 kWh of electricity at night, then you will owe no money for the nighttime power that you consumed.

Unfortunately, these credits expire after one year, so proper solar system sizing is important in maximizing the value of your system from your investment. Sundog Solar is skilled in sizing solar systems and uses your energy usage history for the most accurate solar system sizing possible.

Many Sundog Solar customers pay only the monthly connection fee to the electric company. Such homes are net zero which means that the solar panels generate all the electricity the household consumes over the course of a year.

When Sundog Solar installs a solar system, we also apply for interconnection with your utility provider (Central Maine Power, Versant Power, etc). Sundog Solar pays the interconnection fee as part of our installation service. Our goal is to make the process simple and easy for our customers by taking care of these crucial details.

Installing a solar energy system on your house can significantly increase your home’s value. Solar houses are cheaper to operate because the electric bills are dramatically lower. In fact, under net metering, many Sundog Solar customers pay only the delivery fee that is required by all electric utility customers and do not pay for grid power consumption.

A study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab titled “Selling into the sun: Price premium analysis of a multi-state dataset of solar homes“ found that solar homes sell for far more than homes without solar energy systems. Home buyers are willing to pay a premium for homes with solar PV systems.

Most of the solar systems that we install are less than $3 per watt. On average, solar houses sell for $3 more per watt of installed solar energy capacity. A home with a 5,000 W (5 kW) system would, therefore, sell for roughly $15,000 more than a comparable home without solar energy.

There is now indisputable evidence that human activities are a major factor in changing our climate. The electric power industry is one of the top producers of greenhouse gases globally due to its reliance on coal, natural gas, and petroleum. In Maine, a lot of power is generated by burning fossil fuels. The State of Maine is actively encouraging residents and business owners to utilize solar energy.

Home and business owners have a choice in where their power comes from and using solar energy combined with energy efficiency improvements is a great way to dramatically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Unless we collectively take action to switch to clean energy sources, climate change will continue unmitigated and may surpass a tipping point. Sundog Solar was founded to help make solar energy available and affordable throughout Maine.

The cost savings from installing a solar energy system depends on the production of your solar system and the cost of the electricity it is replacing. Currently, Central Maine Power (CMP) charges $0.174 per kWh, and Versant Power charges $0.185. This takes into account the recent electricity rate hikes. A 6-kilowatt solar array with minimal shading will save about $100 or more each month. 

Installing a solar system will reduce or eliminate the supply charges on an electric bill. Thus, utility savings are slightly higher for customers in Versant Power territory because its electricity rates are slightly higher.

Imagine having no or virtually no electric bills! Install a solar system on your home and you can almost eliminate your electricity expenses while helping the environment.

Solar panels transform sunlight into clean electricity. To use this technology for your home or business, you need a basic solar panel system comprised of:

• Solar panels, which generate DC (direct current) electricity
• A solar inverter, which changes DC to AC (alternating current) power

AC power is what is used in most homes and businesses. Once the electricity is converted by the solar inverter, it can then be used by appliances, lights, and electrical devices.

With these basic components, you can generate electricity and feed it to your household circuits. Any surplus electricity is sent to the grid power grid and you get credits on your account. Some systems also have solar battery banks for backup power during grid outages. 

Electricity is measured using watts. A kilowatt is 1,000 watts and is the measurement of electricity that appears on your residential electricity bills. Appliances, lights, and electronics consume a certain amount of power to operate and have the wattage required to operate on the label. If a light fixture has ten 100-watt bulbs, it would use 1,000 watt-hours or 1 kWh of electricity to run for one hour.

The Sundog Solar team uses historical electricity usage data to size your solar system, taking into account special factors. It is helpful to have a year or two of electricity bills available to determine your past usage.

In Midcoast or Central Maine, a 6 kW solar system generates about 7,600 kWh of clean energy. This is worth about $1,300 to $1,400 depending on the electric utility company rates.

If you are planning on switching fuel loads to electric alternatives, please let us know. For example, some of our customers are switching from a propane to an electric hot water heater, purchasing an electric vehicle, or installing heat pumps. We can then estimate these additional loads to accurately size your solar system. Sundog Solar installs solar systems, heat pumps, solar batteries, and electric vehicle charging stations.

With no moving parts, solar energy systems are designed to require little or no maintenance. The systems we install include solar system monitoring, making it simple and easy to know your system is running at its full potential. If something does happen, solar equipment warranties help protect your investment and warranty terms depend on the manufacturer. Sundog Solar warranties cover all aspects of a solar system for five years with most installations.

Sundog Solar was founded in 2009 to make affordable solar energy available in Maine. We have since installed hundreds of solar energy systems throughout Central and Midcoast Maine. Sundog Solar has earned credentials that demonstrate our dedication to customer service.

The team includes NABCEP-certified solar experts and licensed electricians.

Our extensive knowledge and experience help streamline the installation process from start to finish. In fact, our dedication to customers has earned us an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

With years of solar energy experience, the Sundog Solar team can design and install complex solar systems for a variety of applications. We have the sophistication to handle large, complicated projects with the personal touch of a smaller, locally-owned company. Our satisfied customers include homeowners, farmers, municipalities, schools, churches, and business owners that want to save with solar energy and help the environment.

Sundog Solar installs the highest quality solar panels and components. Our solar systems reliably produce clean energy for decades. We stand behind our work and provide excellent warranties to protect your investment.

Sundog Solar installs a variety of different equipment. In fact, we customize each system for the property, your goals, and project budget. All of the solar panels we install have a high-reliability rating and include excellent product warranties.

Our team can install high-efficiency solar panels that produce more electricity in a smaller space. When a sleek appearance is preferred, we install premium, all black solar panels. When long-term reliability is a top priority, we install panels with a 25-year warranty. When the project budget is limited, we can install economy solar panels. Our solar design specialists work with every customer to find the best products for the property and budget.

Sundog Solar has a team of fully qualified solar energy experts, including licensed electricians and NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) licensed installers. Every installation meets or exceeds guidelines set by the National Electric Code and is 100% satisfaction guaranteed. We stand behind our work with excellent warranties.

Every system we install includes solar system monitoring so you will know how much power your solar system is producing. This web-based solution allows you to have a wealth of solar system output data at your fingertips. Our solar monitoring systems deliver real-time and historical system output data from anywhere. The information can be formatted in different ways, including graphs and charts. The system monitoring is associated with the inverter. Two of the most common inverters we use for residential projects are SolarEdge and SMA.

Yes! Since Maine has a net metering policy, the utilities are required to provide you with a credit for every extra kilowatt your system produces. You can add multiple accounts to your electric bill so your solar system can provide power for more than one account.

The cost of a solar energy system varies by the system size, type of solar panels, and the location of the solar installation. For example, ground-mounted systems or arrays with solar batteries cost more.

4-kilowatt solar system cost

A basic 4-kilowatt solar system produces about 5,060 kW of electricity, saving about $910 in electricity bills annually. The system costs about $12,230, and the tax credit is worth about $3,180. The total cost of this system is about $9,050 after the solar tax credit.

6-kilowatt solar system cost

A basic 6 kW solar system produces about 7,600 kW of electricity or about $1,300 or $1,400 worth of power each year. The solar system costs about $17,200 and is eligible for a tax credit of 26% or about $4,477. Thus, the total solar system cost after the tax credit is about $12,720.

Solar electricity and electric vehicles go together like wine and cheese. Charging your car with a solar system enables you to both power your home and your vehicle with renewable energy. It is essential to size your solar system properly to get the most value out of it.

The average family needs roughly 5 to 12 solar panels to charge an EV throughout the year in Maine. The exact amount of power your solar system will need to produce to charge your EV depends on several variables. 

How far do you drive each year? How efficient is your vehicle? Do you always charge at home or do you sometimes charge on the road or at work?

The efficiency of electric cars varies, and the average car needs about 30 kWh to drive 100 miles. The average EV owner drives about 5,300 miles per year. Let’s assume that you only charge at home and not on the go. Thus, you would consume about 1,600 kWh annually to charge your car. That means your need about 5 solar panels in Maine. 

If you drive 10,000 miles annually and only charge at home, you would need about 10 solar panels to charge your vehicle each year. Likewise, if you do about half your charging on the go, five solar panels for charging your car at home might be sufficient.

Sundog Solar design specialists can review your electric bills to determine your total household energy consumption. This is the most accurate way to size a solar system unless you expect your household electricity use to change significantly. 

Sundog Solar can install solar systems with Level 2 electric vehicle chargers. This allows you to charge your car with the sun and to seamlessly integrate the two systems. Level 2 chargers also allow for faster charging, saving you time.

The Sundog Solar team handles all aspects of the solar system installation, including designing the solar system, obtaining interconnection permits, and making the final connection. We typically start with a phone consultation to discuss your property’s solar potential, ballpark prices, and answer any questions you may have. We then conduct a free site survey and provide a customized solar system proposal.

A typical residential solar installation takes a couple of days. Much of the work is performed outside and involves mounting the solar panels on the roof. Some inside work also needs to be done to install the inverter and connect the solar panels to the load center in your home. Our solar installation team consists of NABCEP-certified solar technicians and licensed electricians.

South-facing roofs with little or no shade are ideal for solar panels. When our solar design specialists conduct solar site surveys, they can determine if your roof is shaded and has a good orientation for solar energy. If your roof is unshaded, it will produce more solar electricity. It is especially important to have unobstructed sunshine during the middle of the day. In some cases, trimming a tree can have a big impact.

Whenever possible, the Sundog Solar team installs the solar panels facing south. If the panels are installed facing east or west, it will decrease your solar energy output. If the roof on your house isn’t ideal for solar, we can also install panels on a garage or as a ground-mounted system.

Yes! The sooner you install a solar system, the sooner you start enjoying the savings and clean energy production. The federal tax credit will also scale down to 22% in 2023, thus the solar incentives will be less in future years.

Although the cost of a solar system has declined significantly in recent years, the rate of decline has tapered off quite a bit. You might pay a bit less to install a solar system in a year or two but then you miss out on a year or two of solar energy savings. Now is a great time to go solar!

Go solar for $0 and 2.99% APR for 12 years! Our solar financing program allows you to install solar panels now and pay for your solar system with your utility savings. In many cases, the loan payments are less than the cost savings on your electric bill for instant savings. Once your solar system is paid off, enjoy free energy for many years. Some of our customers have also used home equity loans through the bank to pay for their solar systems.

Contrary to popular belief, solar panels can produce a lot of electricity during the winter months. Although the days are shorter, the temperatures are lower. Solar panel efficiency is actually higher in the winter months than it is during the dog days of summer.

Solar cells lose some efficiency when it is too hot, reducing output. When the temperature increases beyond the optimum level, solar panel efficiency decreases. In fact, hot summer days are not necessarily the best for solar energy production. An hour during a bright but cool winter day can have greater solar energy output than an hour during a hot summer day.

Another important consideration of winter solar electricity production is the weather. In Maine, there is a lot of sunny weather in the winter. On average, December, January, February, and March are some of the sunnier months.

Many solar enthusiasts are also concerned about the impact of snow on solar electricity production. Unfortunately, when solar panels are covered with snow, they produce little if any electricity.

The good news is that Sundog Solar has nine years of experience installing solar panels in Maine and takes snow into account when calculating the projected electricity output of a solar system. Whenever possible, we install solar panels facing south and at an angle. This means that snow can more easily slide off of the panels, especially once the sun comes out and starts to warm the panels. Because of their dark color, the temperature of the solar panels increases relatively easily when the sun is out.

Sundog Solar installs solar systems throughout Maine, especially in the Midcoast and Central Maine. We serve the towns of Augusta, Gardiner, Chelsea, Litchfield, Desden, Bangor, Hampden, Orono, Old Town, Ellsworth, Bucksport, Orland, Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, Tremont, Surry, Blue Hill, Waterville, Pittsfield, Unity, Liberty, Montville, Freedom, Union, Knox, Washington, Jefferson, Whitefield, Appleton, Hope, Warren, Searsmont, Belfast, Camden, Rockport, Rockland, and surrounding areas. For larger projects, we serve the entire state, including Portland, Calais, Scarborough, etc.

Our address is 222 E Main Street in Searsport, Maine. Sundog Solar is located on Route 1, east of downtown Searsport and west of Stockton Springs, Maine. Our office and shop are across from Angler’s Restaurant (Searsport) and the Baits Motel, near the road to Sears Island. We are approximately 10 minutes east of Belfast, 40 minutes west of Ellsworth via Route 1, 40 minutes south of Bangor using Route 1A, and an hour east of Augusta taking Route 3 and Route 1.

No, especially if you are connected to the power grid. Whether or not to install a solar system with energy storage depends on your goals and budget. Adding batteries does boost the cost of the system, but in some cases, the emergency power is worth the extra expense.

If your solar system is connected to the power grid and it doesn’t have batteries, it will not work during power outages. Your solar system will shut off as a safety feature to prevent power from going into the lines and potentially injuring line repair workers. If your solar system has batteries, it can power critical loads during an outage.

Yes, Sundog Solar has extensive experience installing solar energy systems with batteries.

Sundog Solar team installs several highly-quality batteries from LG Chem, Blue Planet, Rolls Surrette, and Sonnenbatterie for emergency backup and off-grid solar applications.

We tailor each solar battery solution for the energy storage needs of your home or business. Sundog Solar installs two types of innovative lithium battery technologies throughout Maine: lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt (NMC). Our team also installs Rolls Surrette AGM solar batteries.

There have been significant advances in battery technology in recent years. Battery capabilities are increasing while prices are falling. Unfortunately, lithium-ion technology is still relatively expensive at this time. Some homeowners customers are willing to pay for battery storage, especially if grid outages are particularly troublesome or costly. Other Sundog Solar customers are preparing by installing a solar system with future storage capabilities.

Lithium-ion batteries have fallen dramatically in price and increased in capabilities, and this trend is likely to continue. If the solar system we design is storage ready, batteries can be added later more easily in the future.

If the solar system isn’t designed to be battery ready, it is more costly to add battery storage in the future. This is because the existing solar panels can be used but the system requires replacing or adding additional components. If you are going solar now and want the option of future battery storage, it is helpful to install a solar system that can accommodate a battery in the future.