Frequently Asked Questions

Solar panels are built for the long haul. OPS, Inc. installs systems with a 25-year warranty on panels and inverters, and with proper maintenance those systems are designed to remain productive for up to 50 years — making solar one of the longest-lasting home or business improvements available.

Illinois Shines can cover up to 30% of your solar system's total cost through Solar Renewable Energy Credits paid by Illinois utilities. Stack that with the 30% federal investment tax credit and you can have more than half your system's cost covered before you factor in ongoing energy savings.

It depends on your property. Rooftop systems are common in residential settings, but ground-mount installations — popular on farms and rural properties in the Illiana area — often produce more per panel because they can be angled and oriented for maximum sun exposure without roof constraints.

Solar panels generate electricity only during daylight hours, but pairing your system with a battery like the Tesla Powerwall 3 or Enphase IQ Battery stores excess daytime energy for use at night. Without storage, a grid-tied system uses net metering credits to offset your nighttime consumption.

System size, roof complexity, equipment choice, and whether battery storage is included are the main cost factors. The federal 30% investment tax credit applies to qualifying residential and commercial installations, and Illinois residents can layer additional state incentives on top to further reduce out-of-pocket costs.

Solar systems require very little ongoing maintenance — routine cleaning and occasional inspections are typically all that's needed. OPS, Inc. monitors every installed system 365 days per year, so performance issues are caught and corrected early rather than discovered years later on a utility bill.

Commercial solar reduces operating expenses and improves your building's long-term value. OPS, Inc. has installed systems for universities, farms, government facilities, and park recreation centers in the Terre Haute and Paris, IL areas — and commercial customers may also qualify for bonus depreciation in addition to the federal tax credit.

Net metering credits you for excess electricity your solar system sends back to the grid during peak production hours. Those credits offset the power you draw from the grid at night or on cloudy days, effectively making your meter run in reverse when your panels generate more than you use.

Enphase microinverters optimize output panel by panel, so partial shading from a tree or structure only affects one panel rather than the whole array. They also include built-in monitoring so you can track each panel's performance individually — a meaningful advantage on properties with any shading.

Spring installations are popular in the Wabash Valley and Illiana region because your system is fully operational before summer energy demand peaks. Earlier in the year also means more time to take advantage of Illinois Shines incentives, which are allocated on a first-come basis and can fill up.