In the solar industry, we don’t sell short-term products.

We sell 25-year relationships.

Panels carry 30-year warranties. Microinverters carry 25-year warranties. Production guarantees stretch three decades. When a homeowner installs solar they are entering into a long-term partnership with the company that designs, installs, and services their system.

That kind of relationship must be built on one thing:

Trust.

Unfortunately, after 12 years in the Nova Scotia solar industry running Watts Up Solar, we are seeing more deception than ever before.

Experience You Can’t Fabricate

Recently, a company registered with the Nova Scotia Joint Registry of Stocks in November of last year (just five months ago) launched a website (domain also registered five months ago) claiming:

• Nearly 1,000 solar installations
• Installation of a well-known 1 MW utility-scale solar project

The problem?

The company did not install that 1 MW project. The photo displayed beside the claim is not even the correct solar field, and the company did not exist when the project was built.

Let’s be clear: a new company is not automatically a bad company. Every reputable firm started somewhere.

But claiming large-scale experience that did not occur is not “marketing.”

It’s deception.

Installation Claims vs. Reality

Installing thousands solar systems is not something that happens in a few months. It takes years of consistent operations, permitting, inspections, scheduling, and service work to reach that volume. Many established and reputatble solar companies in Nova Scotia who have been doing good work for nearly a decade have not reached a fleet of 1,000 systems.

Solar installations involve:

• Engineering and system design
• Utility interconnection approvals
• Equipment procurement
• On-site installation crews
• Electrical inspections
• Ongoing monitoring and service

A company incorporated five months ago did not install hundreds of systems. That level of volume requires infrastructure, and comes naturally with a documented track record.

Fake Reviews & “Review Farming” in the Solar Industry

Online reviews matter. They help homeowners choose a solar company with confidence. But not all reviews are created equally.

In recent years, we’ve seen a growing tactic in the solar industry known as “review farming.”

This happens when companies request 5-star reviews from people who never actually purchased a solar system. These reviews often come from individuals who simply had a phone consultation or received a quote.

They typically read something like:

“Chris was very informative and professional.”

While that may reflect a positive conversation, it is not the same as a review from a homeowner who invested $30,000, completed an installation, and has lived with the system for months or years.

A consultation is not an installation. A phone call is not a 25-year customer relationship.

An Even Bigger Red Flag: Fake Accounts

More concerning is the use of entirely fabricated Google accounts to generate artificial 5-star reviews.

Patterns consumers should watch for:

• Reviewers who have only reviewed one or two businesses
• Groups of accounts reviewing the exact same unrelated companies
• Generic wording repeated across multiple reviews
• A high volume of reviews for a very new company

Authentic solar reviews should reflect real installations, real timelines, and real customer experiences.

At Watts Up Solar, every one of our 260+ five-star Google reviews corresponds to a completed solar installation. Every review is tied to a real homeowner with a verifiable system.

That’s what transparency looks like.

Why This Matters: A Recent Nova Scotia Example

If this feels dramatic, it shouldn’t.

Just look at what happened with Sun Kissed Energy in Nova Scotia.

CBC reported how homeowners were left out tens of thousands of dollars when the company shut down. Suppliers were owed hundreds of thousands for equipment. Customers were left without systems, without recourse, and without refunds.

When companies operate without transparency and financial stability, real people get hurt.

Solar projects often involve $25,000–$40,000 investments. This is not a small purchase. It is not something homeowners can afford to “roll the dice” on.

How Consumers Can Protect Themselves

Now more than ever, homeowners should:

1. Check the Joint Registry of Stocks – When was the company incorporated?
2. Verify claimed projects – Ask for references, and proof.
3. Request real customer contacts – Not testimonials. Real people.
4. Examine review profiles – Do they look organic?
5. Ask how many systems were installed in the past 12 months.
6. Ask who services the system 10 years from now.

A reputable company will welcome these questions. A deceptive one will deflect.

New Companies Deserve Opportunity, Not a Free Pass to Mislead

This is not an argument that new companies should never compete. Healthy competition improves the industry.

But “fake it until you make it” has no place in a sector built on 25-year warranties and long-term service commitments.

If a company begins by exaggerating or fabricating experience, it has already violated the most important part of the transaction:

Customer trust.

The Solar Industry Needs Transparency

The future of solar in Nova Scotia depends on integrity. It depends on companies being honest about their experience, their capabilities, and their track record.

Trust is not a marketing tactic. It is the product.

And once it’s lost, the entire industry pays the price.

We Talked About Financing Before… And Something Funny Happened

Last year we published:

“The End of True 0% Solar Loans in Canada (…and the Rise of Some Truly Terrible Replacements)”

In that piece, we broke down:

• The end of the Canada Greener Homes Loan
• The rise of “don’t pay until 2027” teaser financing
• The 6.99% dealer fees buried into system pricing
• The 13.99% interest that follows
• The 20-year “0%” loans with $10,000+ in admin fees and liens

We just explained how the math works. Because math doesn’t care about marketing.

Shortly after publishing that article, our FinanceIt account (which we’ve had since 2016 and never used once) stopped working.

No notice.
No conversation.
No explanation.

We’ve never submitted a single loan through it. Not one.

When transparency makes certain financial products harder to sell, reactions can be… revealing. We’re not mad about it. If anything, it reinforces the entire point:

The solar industry works best when financing is clear, experience is verifiable, and companies don’t need smoke machines to close deals.

If speaking plainly about math means losing access to gimmicks? We’ll survive.

Solar is not a discretionary purchase like a vacation. It is not a consumable expense. Solar is an investment asset designed to reduce long-term utility costs and generate financial return over decades. Paying a lot of interest on some products can be justified. A vehicle, for example, provides immediate mobility and utility regardless of financing cost.

Solar is different. Its value proposition is rooted in savings.

When financing reaches 13–14% interest over long amortization periods, the numbers change dramatically. You get one solar system and pay for it two and a half times.

That is not financial optimization. That is erosion of return.

Municipal PACE-style programs in Nova Scotia (including Halifax Solar City and other clean energy financing programs) provide:

• Transparent terms
• Reasonable interest rates
• Transferability upon sale
• Integration into property tax structures
• No artificial “dealer fee” inflation

These programs were available before the Greener Homes Loan, and they remain available now.

Integrity Is the Real Competitive Advantage

Solar does not need exaggeration to sell. It does not require inflated installation counts or borrowed credibility. It does not need 14% interest loans disguised as opportunity. Solar has proven itself, year after year, as one of the most reliable long-term investments available to homeowners.

When installed correctly and financed responsibly a solar system delivers measurable financial return over decades. That is more than enough.

What is disappointing is not competition. Competition is healthy. What is disappointing is watching parts of the industry drift toward short-term tactics in a sector built on 25-year relationships.

But our optimism outweighs our frustration.

Spring is arriving in Nova Scotia 🌷. The days are lengthening. Production numbers are climbing. Homeowners are thinking about the year ahead. We are entering another strong season with exciting projects underway and new technologies coming to market.

The future of solar remains bright because the fundamentals are solid.

Sunlight is predictable.
The math works.
And integrity still matters.

We look forward to another stellar year serving homeowners who value transparency, long-term thinking, and doing things the right way.

What is TOPCon Technology?

Introduced by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in Germany in 2013, TOPCon takes PERC technology to the next level. By adding an ultra-thin tunneling oxide layer to the back of a PERC solar cell, TOPCon significantly reduces recombination losses and increases efficiency. Unlike brand-new manufacturing processes like heterojunction technology (HJT), which require completely different production lines, TOPCon can be integrated into existing PERC production facilities with minimal upgrades.

How Does TOPCon Improve Solar Panels?

• 2021: LONGi achieved 25.21% efficiency with n-type bifacial TOPCon cells. JinkoSolar followed with 25.4%.
• 2022: Trina Solar hit 25.5% efficiency on larger 210-mm cell sizes.

Why Choose TOPCon Over PERC?

1. Higher Efficiency: TOPCon panels deliver more power per unit area. This is especially useful for installations where space is limited.
2. Improved Bifaciality: TOPCon modules achieve an 80% bifaciality rate, compared to PERC’s 70%. This means they can capture more energy from sunlight reflected off the ground, making them ideal for ground-mounted systems.

…and the Rise of Some Truly Terrible Replacements.

For years, Canadian homeowners enjoyed access to something that sounded almost too good to be true… and shockingly wasn’t.
We’re talking about the Canada Greener Homes Loan (CGHL) — the unicorn of financing:

✅ Up to $40,000
✅ 0% interest
✅ Pay back over 10 years
✅ No admin fees
✅ No hidden “surprises”
✅ No penalties for early repayment

A real, honest-to-goodness, government-backed, interest-free loan. Not a financial product wrapped in sparkly marketing. Not a “promo rate gimmick.” Just a genuinely helpful tool.

Alas… that era has ended.
The CGHL portal is now closed to new applications.
Pour one out for the real MVP of solar financing. 🍺

And, as expected, the moment the true-zero-interest train left the station, many solar companies started scrambling.
Some did so ethically…
Others did what you’d expect when the candy bowl disappears — they got desperate.

And now, the financing tactics we’re seeing?
Well… they deserve a spotlight. And maybe a warning siren. 🚨

Let’s talk about it.

🚨 What We’re Seeing — And Why We’re Concerned
❌ “Don’t pay until 2027!”

Sounds great, right?
It’s November 2025. Who doesn’t love the idea of skipping payments for a year?

But here’s the hidden plot twist:
We looked into one of these offers through FinanceIt. Here’s what’s actually happening:

• The contractor pays 6.99% of the loan amount up front to “buy” the 1-year no-payment promo.
• After that year? The homeowner is stuck with 13.99% interest for up to 19 more years.
• And that 6.99% cost? It’s usually buried into the system price… and never mentioned out loud.

So in real terms, the customer:

• Pays more for the solar system (to cover the 6.99%)
• Then pays 13.99% interest for nearly two decades

That “don’t pay for a year” teaser turns into:

The world’s most expensive nap.

This is how you buy a solar system…
and pay for it twice.

Who wins?
✅ FinanceIt
✅ Any installer willing to play along

Who loses?
❌ Homeowners

This is the opposite of what made CGHL special.
This is marketing glitter at payday-loan prices.

And unfortunately, it gets worse…

🚨 Even Worse: Fake “0%” Loans With $10,000+ in Fees

We’re also seeing a separate in-house financing model floating around Nova Scotia. This one has been here for a while folks.
It loudly advertises:

“0% FINANCING — 20 YEARS!”

Sounds like the CGHL reincarnated, right?
Not so fast…

Here’s how it works:

• 20-year repayment term
• A lien on your home
• “Admin fees” over the term that often exceed $10,000+

That’s right:
They didn’t remove the borrowing cost — they just renamed it.

If you pay $10,000 to borrow money, it doesn’t matter whether you call it:

• “Interest”
• “Admin fees”
• “Unicorn glitter handling charges”

It’s still money you’re losing.

At least a traditional bank tells you the interest rate.
Here, the true cost is camouflaged.

This structure can:

• Reduce home-sale flexibility
• Interfere with refinancing
• Lock you into long-term debt

Frankly, we consider this model more misleading than high-interest loans — because it hides the cost behind friendlier words.

“0% interest” should mean…
0% interest.
Not “just kidding, here’s a $10,000 service fee and a lien.”

Big yikes. 🙃

We get it — business is business.
But business must still be ethical.

Anyone who understands solar economics knows that too much interest destroys the financial value of a solar system.
Financing should help homeowners — not sabotage their ROI.

✅ There’s Good News: Municipal PACE-Style Loans Still Exist

Before you lose hope — there are still responsible financing pathways in Nova Scotia.
The unsung hero: Municipal PACE programs.

Programs like:

Halifax Solar City

Various Clean Energy Financing programs

SwitchPACE

These have been around for years — long before the CGHL boom — and they’re run by municipalities, not private loan sharks.

They offer benefits like:
✅ Fair interest rates
✅ Good term lengths
✅ Added to your property tax bill
✅ Transferable on sale
✅ No gimmicks
✅ Transparent pricing

And best of all:
They don’t rely on “buy now, panic later” marketing tricks.

You can browse every NS municipal program on our financing page:

👉 https://wattsupsolar.ca/solar-financing

We recommend them.
Happily.
Enthusiastically.

Labour and Workmanship - 10 Years

Wattsup Solar LTD maintains a 10 year labour and workmanship warranty. This covers leaks in the roof or any equipment that fails under it's manufacturer's warranty.

Wattsup Solar LTD has been around since 2014 and so we feel a 10 year labour warranty is justified even if it is unusual for the construction industry.
The Efficiency Nova Scotia preferred partner standard is 2 years.
The failure rates of our equipment choices (Enphase microinverters) and the ease of maintenance make this an achievable promise to make, even with 1500+ installations across Nova Scotia.

The caveat is that an installer warranty is just a promise, unlike manufacturer's warranties, installer warranties aren't backed by 3rd party insurance.
Caution: We've noticed a trend of smaller installers or out-of-province marketing companies over-promising on labour warranties despite not having the physical resources to follow through. We take the position that it's unethical to promise a labour warranty longer than your company has existed for, and over-promising is an unethical sales tactic.

Solar Panel (Module) Warranties 

Solar panels have 2 types of warranties, most installers only mention the first type;

Production or Linear Output Warranty - Solar panels degrade over time, typically by 15% over 25 years. A production warranty allows you to replace the panel if it degrades faster than it's expected to. Regardless of the brand of solar panel, you can expect to see at least a 25 year production warranty on solar panels.

Our current panel offerings offer a 30 year production warranty. This information can be found in the equipment specification sheets, often in the form of a graph like the image below.

Caution: Without the ability to monitor each panels production independently, using microinverters or DC Optimizers, it is nearly impossible to know if a panel has degraded faster than it's supposed to. The only method is using an infrared camera, or physically testing the voltage of each panel. String inverters without DC optimizers are sometimes favoured by solar installers because they cannot track individual panel production.

Inverter Warranty - 25 Years

• Enphase micro-inverters have a standard warranty of 25 years. They are the only inverter manufacturer to offer that warranty out of the gate. All other brands are between 10 and 12 years, often with the option to extend the warranty to 20 or 25 years - basically buying it twice. 
• Enphase warranties are not pro-rated, which means if it's been 24 years and an inverter fails, you get a brand new one, not a percentage cost of a new one. 
• Enphase Warranties are transferable to the new owner. 

Check out our guide on the Enphase Warranty in more detail.
https://wattsupsolar.ca/insights/enphase-microinverters-built-for-the-long-haul-backed-by-real-warranties

Caution: Be aware that extended warranties often require the installer to submit paperwork to the manufacturer within a short time period, often 3 months. You don't want to find out on year 13 that your installer did not file the paperwork.

Racking Warranty - 25 Years

 All racking we use has a 25 year warranty, we typically use several different brands but there aren't any clear outliers in this department. Common brands of racking are Clenergy, Fastrack, or Pion. 

Roof Penetration Warranty - 25 Years

We use Roof Tech Mini II attachments for our racking systems. These are "feet" with an EPDM backstrip, and they carry their own manufacturer's 25 year roof penetration warranty. - Check out this video of them being installed underwater. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gFHpO5UfSo

Increased Yield With Bi-facial Panels

How Bi-facial Panels Work

• Surface reflectivity (albedo): Lighter-colored or reflective surfaces (e.g., concrete, white roofing, or even snow) can bounce a greater portion of sunlight back up to the underside of the panels.
  
  
• Panel height & tilt: Elevating the panels further above the ground and adjusting the tilt angle can increase the rear-side irradiance, which translates into higher energy yields.
  
  
• Row spacing and layout: Allowing proper space between rows of panels helps reduce shading on the backside and enables more light to reach the ground.
  
  

Why Ground-Mount Installations Benefit

Real-World Results

1. Higher Daily Output
   The additional sunlight captured by the backside of bi-facial panels can extend peak production time. When the sun is at a lower angle—morning or late afternoon—a portion of the solar rays that might otherwise miss the front side are reflected by the ground and caught by the rear.
   
   
2. Performance in Diffused Light
   Bi-facial modules also perform well under overcast or cloudy conditions. Because overcast skies scatter light more evenly, some of that diffuse light reaches beneath the panels, providing a noticeable bump in energy collection compared to monofacial panels on similar cloudy days.
   
   
3. Long-term Return on Investment
   While bi-facial panels can be marginally more expensive than their monofacial counterparts, the increased energy yield often makes up for that cost difference in a relatively short time. Factors like local electricity prices, available space, and installation costs all play a role, but many system owners find that the improved performance translates into a more attractive payback period.
   
   

Case Study

Take a look at these two ground mount isntallations. The first uses 500W Bauer panels (mono-facial):
System: 5592858

The second uses 520W Bauer panels (bi-facial):
System: 5419604

The smaller system produces more power with two fewer panels. The kWh per kW DC measure shows that the system with bi-facial panels was 26% more efficient than the mono-facial panels in the 30 day time period from February 21st 2025 to March 21st 2025. 

This difference in production was more than we expected to see and came as quite a surprise. Although bi-facial panels come at a higher cost per watt than standard mono-facial panels we highly encourage this selection for ground mounts. 

Conclusion

Check out our panel options ➡️

1. Financial Criteria:
   
   
   • The "Tier-1" label is based on financial criteria, not on audits of manufacturing facilities or product quality. As such, the list of "Tier-1" solar panel manufacturers can change every quarter.
2. Not a Lifelong Guarantee:
   
   
   • The "Tier-1" label isn't a lifelong guarantee. It's not a quality guideline, and Bloomberg isn't a testing institute.
3. Quality Audits:
   
   
   • Some audits have found that solar panels from "Tier-1" manufacturers didn't meet their nameplate value under Standard Test Conditions right out of the box.
4. Product Defects:
   
   
   • Manufacturers rated as "Tier-1" due to high volume production have been found to have more product defects.
5. Misleading Assurance:
   
   
   • While "Tier-1" might sound impressive, it's not a reliable gauge of quality. It's often used to give buyers confidence in a less expensive product. However, the reality can be an underperforming product that doesn't live up to expectations.

"Sign Now before "X" Changes"

• "If you sign our contract now, you'll be grandfathered in to Net Metering which gives a 1-1 rate on power you export."

• "If you sign our contract now, you'll be able to get 100% offset of your power bill, whereas if you wait until February, March, April, you'll only be able to offset 75% of your bill." 

"The Canada Greener Homes Loan or "X" Rebate is ending soon so "Sign Up Now""

"We have our own in-house rebate"

"We will submit your Loan application on your behalf"

“We’re matching the rebate!”

“We were pocketing it all along.”

• While the rebate existed, you paid full price and the government subsidized the company’s inflated margin.
  
  
• Now that the rebate is gone, the company “matches” it with a $3,000 discount… but the product hasn’t changed.
  
  

1. Disconnect the PV System from the Grid:
   
   
   • Turn off the PV disconnect (if installed) and your PV breaker(s). This will help protect your PV System against voltage surges coming from the grid.
2. Post-Storm Actions:
   
   
   • Enphase Microinverters: Remember that Enphase microinverters will not produce energy if the power grid is down. Microinverters will wait five minutes after the grid is back to normal before producing power.
   • Reconnecting Your System: Once the high winds and heavy rains have passed, you may turn the PV system back on.
     • If there is visible wind damage to your property or area: Call your installer to check the integrity of the system before reconnecting your PV System to the grid. If you find damage to the PV panels, inverters, or wires, DO NOT touch the paneling or wiring due to the risk of electric shock or electrocution.
     • If there is no visible wind damage in your area: You may reconnect your system once the storm has passed and the grid power has been restored. Please reconnect your system in the late afternoon, during the evening, or in the early morning hours to help minimize disruption to the utility grid during the critical period when restoration activities are ongoing.
3. Completing the Reconnection Process:
   
   
   • Close the PV disconnect switch and PV circuit breaker(s). If any circuit breakers trip after turning the system ON, turn the system OFF again immediately and contact your PV System installer.

Reconnecting Your Gateway to Wi-Fi

Has your system stopped reporting data? Has your Internet Wi-Fi password or provider changed? Start here to get your system back up and running.

1. Open the Enphase App on your iOS or Android mobile device and tap on the ‘Menu’ tab at the bottom of the screen.

   

   
   
   
2. Tap on the bell icon at the top right of the screen.

   

3. Click the link on the 'Gateway Not Reporting' notice.

   

4. Bring your phone into the Wi-Fi range of Gateway and follow the steps mentioned on the ‘Reconnect to Gateway’ page in the Enphase App. For your reference, the steps to follow have also been elaborated below:
   
   
   • Step 4a: Press the AP mode button:
     
     
   • Do not hold, but just briefly press and release the Gateway menu button. This will enable AP mode (access point mode) on your Gateway which creates a wireless network you can join with your smartphone. 

1. If the AP mode LED next to the cell phone icon flashes green, it means WPS pairing has been initiated, which we do not want at this time. Please wait for the WPS pairing to timeout in two minutes and then repeat step 1.
   
   
2. Step 4b: Turn off mobile data:
   
   
3. Navigate to your phone settings without closing the Enphase App. Turn off the mobile data (cellular data) from your mobile device settings. Go to Settings > Mobile Data and switch it off.
   
   
4. Step 4c: Join Gateway’s network:
   
   
5. Join the Gateway’s network using your phone's Wi-Fi settings. Navigate to the Wi-Fi settings and look for the Gateway’s wireless network. The network name will include the last six digits of your Gateway’s serial number. In this case: Envoy_029655 is the name of the network.

   

   
   
   
6. Step 4d: Connect Gateway to home Wi-Fi:
   
   
7. After you have joined the Gateway’s network, return to the Enphase App’s “Reconnect to Gateway” screen. Scroll down to see the "Configure home Wi-Fi" option and tap on it.
   
   
8. Note that the “Configure Home Wi-Fi" box may appear grey initially; wait for a few seconds and when it turns blue, tap on it.

   

   
   
   
9. Select your home network from the list of available networks on the pop-up that appears.

   

   
   
   
10. Enter your Wi-Fi password and tap on Connect.

    

    
    
    
11. Wait for the connection between the Gateway and the Home Wi-Fi to establish. This may take a few minutes.

    

    
    
    
12. Connection established: Once the connection is established you will see a message “Gateway is connected to Wi-Fi successfully”. You may now connect your mobile device to your Wi-Fi or enable your mobile data.

    

    
    
    
13. Final Step: Tap on “OK, got it”. Your Gateway has been successfully connected to your Wi-Fi network. You may still see “Gateway is Not Reporting” status under Notices; please note it may take up to 30 minutes for the status to get updated.
    
    

• Residential and Small Commercial Customers: Anyone with a valid Nova Scotia Power residential or small commercial rate code.
• Enphase IQ Battery Owners: Your Enphase IQ Battery must be installed, interconnected to the grid, and have permission to operate.
• Internet Connection: Your battery must be connected to the internet to respond to demand response events.

1. Demand Response Events
   When Nova Scotia Power anticipates a high-demand period, it will request (or “call”) a demand response event. Participating Enphase IQ Batteries will automatically discharge energy back to the grid for a few hours to help reduce peak demand.
   
   
2. Automatic Adjustments
   Your battery’s settings will temporarily shift to Full Backup mode starting 12 hours before an event to ensure there’s energy to discharge when the event begins. Once the event is over, your battery returns to its previous settings.
   
   
3. Opt-Out Flexibility
   If you need to reserve battery power for backup or simply don’t want to participate in a specific event, you’re free to opt out. However, opting out does reduce your potential performance incentive.
   
   

• Immediate Enrollment Incentive: You’ll receive $500 once your application is accepted and your device is enrolled in the program.
• Performance-Based Incentives: Earn an additional $300 per kW (average) delivered each season (December–February). Performance is measured by how much power your battery contributes during the total event hours.

1. Install and Commission Your Enphase IQ Battery
   Make sure it’s fully set up with all required permissions to operate (PTO).
   
   
2. Enroll Online
   Head to the Efficiency Nova Scotia Enrollment Portal to complete the program application. You’ll need:
   
   
   • Name, email, address, phone number
   • Nova Scotia Power account number
   • Agreement to the Program Terms & Conditions and the Enphase Participant Agreement
3. Approval
   Efficiency Nova Scotia typically processes applications within 2–3 weeks. You’ll receive an email with next steps or a denial notice if you’re found ineligible.
   
   

• Enrollment Payment: Issued within 10 business days after your enrollment is confirmed.
• Performance Payments: Each season runs December through February. Efficiency Nova Scotia will calculate how much energy your battery contributed to demand response events and issue incentive payments in the spring.

• Opting Out of a Single Event: You can opt out through the event notification email or via the Enphase App. There’s no penalty, but opting out lowers your performance incentive.
• Leaving the Program: You can unenroll at any time by contacting Efficiency Nova Scotia’s Energy Solution Advisors at 1-877-999-6035 or emailing ecoshift@efficiencyns.ca.

1. Already Have an Enphase IQ Battery?
   Get in touch with Efficiency Nova Scotia to start your enrollment.
2. Considering Installing One?
   Reach out for a detailed quote and to learn how the Eco Shift Battery Program can offset your costs.
3. Stay Connected
   Keep your battery and internet connection up and running to ensure seamless participation and to maximize your incentive earnings.

• With Enphase: Divide the wattage of the panel by the wattage of the inverter (one inverter per panel).
• Other Inverter Types: Take the total DC system size and divide it by the total AC system size.

• Peimar 400W with IQ8+ (295W) gives a DC
  ratio of 1.35
• Bauer 450W with IQ8A (366W) gives a DC
  ratio of 1.23
• Bauer 500W with IQ8H (384W) gives a DC
  ratio of 1.30

• Real-world Performance: Panels only produce their wattage rating under laboratory conditions. A 500W panel may produce 480-490W in real life except under ideal conditions (very cold and sunny).
• Energy Yield: Higher panel wattage increases energy yield on cloudy days or during morning/evening sun. The more "potential" energy you capture, the better the performance on bad weather days.
• Degradation Over Time: Panels degrade over time, typically by 15% over 25 years. A 500W panel will produce a maximum of 425W after 25 years, which is still sufficient for the 384W inverter.

• Oversizing Panels: Sizing a panel too high for the inverter can lead to diminishing returns. For instance, a 500W panel with an Enphase IQ8+ inverter (295W peak) gives a DC
  ratio of 1.69, which is not recommended.
• Provincial Regulations: In Ontario, systems larger than 10 kW AC are not allowed, leading to DC
  ratios of 1.4-1.5.

"Clipping" occurs when a panel produces more power than the inverter can capture. Below is a chart from an Enphase technical brief:

• A DC:AC ratio of 1.31 has an annual clipping loss of 0.3% in year one.
• A DC:AC ratio of 1.68 has an annual clipping loss of 5.1%.

Excessive oversizing can negatively affect the inverter’s power production. Inverters are designed to generate AC output power up to a defined maximum, which cannot be exceeded. The inverter limits or clips the power output when the actual produced DC power is higher than the inverter’s allowed maximum output, resulting in energy loss. Oversizing the inverter can cause it to operate at high power for longer periods, affecting its lifetime. Operating at high power increases inverter internal heating and might heat its surroundings. Inverters reduce their peak power generation when overheating.

• SolarEdge Inverters: Maximum DC
  ratio of 1.50 (may void warranty if exceeded).
• Fronius Inverters: Maximum DC
  ratio of 1.55 (will void warranty if exceeded).
• SMA Inverters: Maximum DC
  ratio of 1.50 (may void warranty if exceeded).

1. Log into MyEnlighten.
2. Access the Overview tab.
3. Locate Your System Site ID:
   • Your system Site ID is the number in the URL in the address bar of your browser.

• If you have purchased a home with an existing Enphase system, you can assume ownership of the system by completing the Change of Ownership form here.

• Import-Only Mode for batteries that only draw from solar or the grid (never export to the grid).
• Export-Only Mode for batteries that only send power to the home or grid (never import from the grid).

1. Measurement with CTs
   
   
   • Production CTs measure the solar generation.
   • Consumption CTs measure the net power flow at the main panel or IQ System Controller.
   • Battery CT measures battery output or charge current (where applicable).
2. Real-Time Control
   
   
   • The IQ Gateway or IQ Combiner constantly receives these measurements.
   • Based on your configured settings (e.g., maximum feeder rating, export limit), the system automatically adjusts how much power the microinverters and battery are allowed to deliver to the panel.
3. Seamless User Experience
   
   
   • Because these adjustments happen in microseconds, you’ll never notice the difference in everyday operation. Your home remains powered, your batteries get charged, and your solar production is fully utilized—just kept within safe parameters for your electrical system.

• Install a larger solar system or add more battery storage than you might otherwise be able to.
• Avoid unnecessary and expensive main panel or service upgrades.
• Maintain a safe and code-compliant setup, thanks to real-time current monitoring and automated regulation.

Evaluating solar quotes can be a daunting process filled with graphs, figures, return on investment calculations, miscellaneous photos, and marketing material. Here we'll break down and explain each section commonly found in solar proposals and why they're included.

Here you'll find your information along with very basic information such as the size of the system in DC. Quickly check the address and see if your solar salesperson has a name. If you run into any problems you need to know who to talk to.

• DC System Size: This is the wattage of each panel added up. To get this, take the wattage of each panel and multiply it by the number of panels. For example, 24 Bauer 500W panels make 12.0 kW DC.
  
  
• AC System Size: This is the wattage of each inverter(s) added up. Your quote may have one inverter per panel, or it may have one inverter for all the panels, or somewhere in between. The AC system size will always be lower than the DC system size typically by 20-35%. 
• For a more detailed explanation of DC:AC ratio, click here,
• First Year Production: This is what the system is expected to produce in its first year. A well-designed system should produce roughly the same each year for 25 years. This measurement is always in kWhs.
  
  
• Consumption Offset: This number represents the percentage of your power bill you can offset with solar power. It is a common misconception that a higher offset number is automatically a better quote. If the DC and AC size of the system is the same, and the layout is the same, then the two systems will produce the same amount regardless of the brand or type of equipment used. It is highly recommended that you check the first year production and consumption offset percentage against your existing power bill.
  
  

Check Your Power Bill
On the bottom right-hand side of your NSP power bill is your past 7 bi-monthly bills. If you add up the last 6 of them in the energy used column, you'll get your annual kWh consumption. In this case, you get 18,122 kWhs per year. You can then check the "first year production" against your historical annual consumption and make sure the consumption offset is accurate. In this example, 12,881 kWhs divided by 18,122 kWhs gives 71% offset.
Unless all of your solar contractors are using the same annual kWh usage, you can't compare the consumption offset. Even if you told two contractors that your bill is "about $200 per month," one may add the grid connection fee (currently $19.17 per month), and one might subtract it.
Estimated Annual Efficiency
This one isn't commonly seen on solar proposals, but it's useful to measure if a company is being accurate with their estimates. The measurement is kWhs per kW DC per year. You can work out this number even if it isn't explicitly stated by dividing the First Year Production by the System Size in DC.

• A particularly inefficient system (a due east facing roof, for example) would be around 900 kWhs per kW DC.
• An extremely efficient system (due south at 45 degrees) would be around 1,250 kWhs per kW DC.
• The average in Halifax is 1,150 kWhs per kW DC.

Graphs and Figures
Here we get to all the graphs and figures. This is also where you'll see the widest range of numbers in your proposals, and to be honest, they're mostly meaningless.
Grid Tied Solar as an Investment Assumes:

1. Your electrical consumption won't decrease.
2. Your utility will raise the rate on power over the next 25-35 years.
3. The system will be in perfect working order for the next 25-35 years.
4. Excess summer production can be used in the winter at a 1-1 rate - i.e., the utility pays you the same amount for your power as you pay them for their power.

1. Under the Self-Generation Offset Program (LINK), which is provincial law, if you produce more power than you use annually, the excess is not credited. Therefore it's quite important that your electrical consumption won't decrease drastically, or you'll be giving power away for free.
2. Historically, the rate has increased 3.5% per year for the last 10 years. However, the rate increase for the past 2 years has been 7%. We have no idea if this trend will continue, but the higher you put the "escalation rate" the better the proposals will look.
3. This is by far the biggest assumption and probably the only thing that can "go wrong" with a solar investment. The choice of equipment regarding panels, inverters, racking, and the company that installs it is what makes this assumption accurate or not. Check out our "Solar Tricks and Traps" guide where we break down the various marketing and sales tactics that are harmful to the customer.
4. Again, under the Self-Generation Offset Program, this assumption is protected by law (check out bill 145 for more information). If the law were to change in a negative way, it would likely grandfather in existing systems, but with Nova Scotia's culture for green energy and the heavy investment at all levels (municipal, residential, commercial, non-profits), as well as investment by the provincial and federal government, we don't anticipate this changing any time soon.

Payback Period
This section can sometimes be confusing. A typical solar system takes somewhere between 9 and 12 years to produce enough power to pay for itself. This inflection point is called the "payback period," but it's different from a loan term length. This number can vary quite a bit. Things like battery storage, ground mount racking, or loan interest can increase the payback period. Rebates and incentives will decrease it.
Wattsup Solar does not offer in-house financing as we think it's a conflict of interest, especially as the current Greener Homes Loan program offers 0% interest with a 10-year term.
If you're financing through the CGHL program, you're swapping a power bill for a loan payment that will be slightly higher ($40-50/month) than what you were paying before. The only way to swap a power bill for a loan payment that is the same or less is by having a term length of 15 years or more. It is nearly impossible to get an unsecured loan with a term length greater than 10 years.

Equipment Details
This section should always be on a solar proposal. It should clearly state both the brand and model number of the equipment (both panels and inverters) you're being proposed. If a proposal leaves out this information, or makes it ambiguous as to which equipment you're buying, it's probably for a good reason—i.e., they don't want you to know.

• Solar Photovoltaics (PV): Generates electricity. Solar panels produce DC (Direct Current) power which then needs to be inverted to AC (Alternating Current) to be used by your house and the grid, or fed directly to a battery bank in the case of an off-grid system. Solar PV is the dominant form of solar technology and most of these questions are geared towards Solar PV.
  
  
• Solar Hot Water: Uses heat from the sun to heat up and circulate water.
  
  
• Passive Solar: A building practice that utilizes the sun in passive ways. Skylights and sun tunnels are examples of passive solar design. Another example would be large south-facing windows with an overhanging roof such that the house is heated by the sun when it's lower in the sky in the winter and cooled by the overhang when the sun is higher in the sky in the summer.
  
  

• Solar Panels: Solar Panels have two types of warranty. Linear Output (a.k.a production warranty) and Product Warranty. Solar Panels degrade over time as they get damaged by the sun and as they degrade, their output decreases. A typical degradation rate is 15% over 25 years. A linear output warranty allows for a replacement panel if the panel starts producing less than it's expected to - most linear output warranties are 25 years. Although rare, a panel ceasing to function entirely would be covered by product warranty, which are typically 10+ years. Although panels degrade over time, a system's performance should not noticeably decrease over 25 years if the panels are a higher wattage than the inverter(s) which is a fairly standard practice.
  
  
• Inverters: Inverters take DC power produced by the solar panels and convert it to AC power to be used by your house and the grid. There are different types (string or central inverters and micro-inverters), each with their pros and cons, and varying costs and warranty lengths. Efficiency Nova Scotia recommends an inverter warranty of at least 10 years.
  
  
• Racking: Roof Mounted racking is typically aluminum and most types carry at least a 20-year warranty. Ground-mounted frames are typically galvanized steel or concrete ballast. Generally speaking, roof-mounted racking is rated for higher wind loads than ground-mounted frames because most roof-mounted racking is not tilted up at an angle away from the roof.
  
  

Solar Power is a Wonderful Resource

It's one of the cheapest ways to generate power, it's clean and good for the environment, and with all the rebates and incentives it may sound like a "no-brainer". But when it comes to solar installers, you shouldn't turn off your brain. In this article we're going to cover every trick, trap, sales tactic or misdirect in the book. We'll be using real life examples taken from solar quotes in Nova Scotia within the past year, with all identifying information removed. If you spot some of these things in the wild, remember that everyone has off days sometimes and it's difficult to tell what's intentional and what's the new guy phoning it in.  The goal of this article is to provide enough background knowledge to the consumer to keep their installer honest. 

Working Backwards from the $40,000 Interest Free Loan

• North facing panels are a bad idea in general, North East and North West facing roofs at a shallow pitch can be okay, but any panels on the North side are going to produce around 30% less than the south facing ones. This alone could be justified, but not when we look at the choice of equipment.

• Adding North facing panels without at least putting a DC optimizers under the North facing ones is bad system design, and it means the entire system performs at whatever the North facing panels are producing in that moment. The entire system would perform better without those panels. 

Gaming the $40k Loan

This is another example of working backwards from $40k. This is a 22 panel system, it's not a ground mount, it's not got batteries, it's just a standard roof mounted system.

Abusing Production Estimates

• A particularly inefficient system (due east at 45 degrees) would be around ~900 kWhs per kW DC.
• An extremely efficient system (due south at 45 degrees) would be around ~1,250 kWhs per kW DC.
• The average in Halifax is ~1,100 kWhs per kW DC.

Below we have a good example of Abusing production estimates
The estimated annual efficiency often isn't specified, because if it was it'd be obvious that there's a mistake.
10,638 kWhs divided by 7.65 kW DC gives 1,390 kWhs per kW DC. This number is absurdly high.
We keep a database of all of our systems.
https://wattsupsolar.ca/systems?backup=0&sort=last+year+production+efficiency
Sorted by last year's annual efficiency, not a single system was that efficient. We have seen efficiency slightly above 1,300 kWhs but it's rare, inconsistent, and not the basis to make a large investment. Getting well above 1,300 kWhs per kW DC is approaching physically impossible.

*Note: Proposal software tends to default to higher efficiency numbers, as the default loss factors are often set slightly low. In this case however, it's clear someone manipulated the loss factors to produce this result.*

Excessive DC Over-sizing of Solar Equipment

400+% Markup of Solar Equipment

Wattsup Solar Example

17 x LR4-72HPH-460 = $4,534

(If you're wondering why there's even this much markup, bear in mind we offer consumption monitoring and SolaTrim for free with our installations in 2025).

• Look for a sticker on the front of your power meter. This sticker will have a blue strip at the top.

• On the blue strip, you should see the code C2SR. This indicates the specific type of meter you have.

• Below the blue strip, there will be a 7-digit number. Ensure that this number ends in 569 (e.g., 3450569).

What to Do Next

• If the Meter Ends in 569: Great news! Your meter is fine to be close to the propane tanks. No further action is needed.
  
  
• If the Meter Does Not End in 569: The meter will need to be changed to ensure safety. Follow the instructions below for this process.
  
  

1. Contact Nova Scotia Power:
   
   
   • If your meter needs to be changed, the customer (property owner) must make the call to Nova Scotia Power.
2. Call the Provided Number:
   
   
   • Dial 1-800-428-6230 to reach Nova Scotia Power.
3. Navigate the Phone Menu:
   
   
   • When the recording begins:
     • Press 2
     • Then Press 4
     • Finally, Press 2
4. This sequence will direct you to the correct division to handle your request.
   
   

• Check Energy Production: Use the Enphase App to monitor and compare the month-to-month or year-to-year performance of your system.
  • Example: Use the Enphase App energy grid or generate a report and compare the energy production for one month to the same month in the previous year. If it is lower, consider factors such as cloud cover. If cloud cover is not a factor, perform a visual inspection of your array for debris.

• Inspection Tips:
  • An inspection from the ground, with binoculars if needed, is usually sufficient.
  • Check the array for dust, debris, leaves, and other soiling. Clean solar modules generate maximum energy harvest.
  • Some geographic regions do not have much dust, debris, and pollution, so solar modules remain relatively clean and maintain optimum energy performance.
  • In other areas, rain and snow naturally clean modules and help maintain performance.