YellowLite

• Installation Process
• Loan Options 
• SREC Financing 
• Equipment Brands
• Solar Warranty 
• Online Monitoring

Installation Process

To get started, all you have to do is contact YellowLite and request a free quote. The company will then schedule your free site evaluation and will deliver your proposal to you via email or in person.  

Your proposal will include the initial system design, any green energy rebates, and tax credits, as well as the total cost of your new system and more.  

After you've signed the contract YellowLite will take care of everything from there, including the photovoltaic design, permitting, system construction, all inspections, the utility interconnection and the green energy rebate collection.

The installation process will vary depending on the size and complexity of your install.  However, a typical residential solar install should take approximately three to four business days.  Then, once the installation is complete, your PV system will be inspected by the governing municipality and your utility company, in which YellowLite will schedule and attend personally so you will not have to be present.

After the inspections have been completed, YellowLite will give you all the electrical and structural drawings of your new system, along with all owner's manuals, warranties, and instructions on how to monitor your solar system's performance.

Loan Options

Yellowlite provides some attractive financing options so if you qualify for one of its preferred payment options, this might be the perfect solar company for your needs of up to $55,000.

Keep in mind that all of these require a FICO score of at least 650.

YellowLite's website provides customers with three different financing options.There is a great infographic that shows you all the terms and requirements side by side for traditional bank financing using Green Sky Credit or through Admirals Bank.

Traditional Banks

With this option, you can select the bank of your choice and opt for either secured or unsecured financing. Additionally, you can use the Ecolink Rate Reduction, which is 3%.  This type of financing offers you a range of loan terms, which are generally, 5, 7, 10 or 12-year options.

Green Sky Credit

With this option you can place the federal tax credit on a same-as-cash 12 months, no interest, no payment plan, which will allow you to take advantage of the 30% federal tax credit now. 

This will help if you want to pay off your solar system quickly and there are no equity or mortgage requirements. 

This is 100 percent unsecured financing, up to $50,000, the application process is easy and secure, with no paperwork, application fees, closing costs, or prepayment penalties required.  

Plus, you will receive a fast approval, usually within minutes.  Your payments will begin five months after you sign.

Admirals Bank

With this option, you might be eligible if you are making any of the following home improvements: 

• Residential solar panels
• Roof installation
• Solar water heating
• Installing energy efficient windows and doors
• Residential geothermal heating and cooling
• Insulation
• Metal roofing

Additional loans

You also might be able to apply for a Solar Stepdown Loan independently, or apply to the SolarPlus Loan as a supplementary option.  If you are unfamiliar with how the Solar Stepdown Loan and the SolarPlus Loans work, these are explained in detail on the YellowLite website.  

As always, contact the solar company directly for more information and a more detailed explanation.

SREC Financing

The solar renewable energy credits (SREC's) are tradable credits that when each time your system generates 1,000 kWh of electricity, you will receive an SREC that can then be sold or traded independently from the power. The value of SRECs in any given state is measured by three different factors, all of which are explained in detail on the Yellowlite website:

1. RPS compliance fee schedules
2. SREC supply
3. SREC demand

You can easily monetize your SRECs by using an SREC aggregator, which YellowLite has already partnered with: Sol Systems.  

Sol Systems is the largest SREC aggregator in the country and can provide you with reliable financing options customized to fit your needs. Sol Systems also offers utility-backed contracts, competitive pricing, quarterly payments, a streamlined registration process, and top-notch customer service. 

Sol Systems has three different offerings that can help reduce your solar project costs anywhere from 20-40%.

Sol Annuity

This is a long-term solution that provides you with guaranteed prices for your SRECs even when the spot market prices fall. You get fixed quarterly payments for every SREC you produce over a three or five-year term.

Sol Upfront

This option helps you reduce your out-of-pocket expenses by providing you a lump-sum payment based on the size (kW) of your solar system. After you sign-up, Sol Systems will lock the amount of your upfront payment. Then after your system has been properly registered, you will get a check sometime within 10 business days.

Sol Brokerage 

This option is a flexible SREC solution that will let you benefit from the risk-reward of spot-market rates with no effort on your part. Sol Systems will monitor the SREC trading platforms and any legislative changes and will then use their market experience to establish a target price for your particular SRECs.  

Every quarter you will receive a payment for every SREC that was produced by your solar system. This payment will reflect the weighted average of SREC sales for the quarter minus the higher of $5 or a 5% brokerage fee.

Equipment Brands

YellowLite does not offer a one-size-fits-all equipment solution, which is great because every home and roof is different.

That being said, the company only uses NABCEP-certified installers, who will, at no charge, come out and look at your roof while taking into account your personal solar goals then will customize a system specifically to meet your particular needs.

The company offers a variety of different solar modules, which are SunPower, MAGE, LG, SolarWorld and Canadian Solar, as well as a variety of different inverters, which are SMA, Fronius, and Enphase.  

When using YellowLite, you will get the benefit of SunPower's patented Maxeon solar cell technology that has 21 percent module efficiency and are the most efficient panels that are commercially available to help you save on your electric bills. 

Solar Warranty 

YellowLite installations are guaranteed for ten years; however, the solar equipment that was installed on your home carries its own product warranty as well and will be backed by the manufacturing company.  

Yellowlite’s 10-year workmanship warranty encompasses system repairs, damaged solar panels, replacement parts, system diagnostics, and energy monitoring. That being said, make sure the details of each of these components are duly noted in your contract. 

Most solar manufacturer warranties are usually around 25 years.  

Online Monitoring

According to YellowLite, it provides an online monitoring system for all solar PV systems.  This is a great feature as it will help the company determine when your system requires any maintenance or repairs, such as when any of the panels or the inverter is producing less than they should.  

YellowLite's engineering staff continually analyzes reports and troubleshoots any issues to make sure you are getting the production that's expected. If something should happen, YellowLite will contact you immediately and schedule a time to resolve the issue.

Additionally, an online monitoring system allows you as the homeowner to view your system's performance and view any of the many reports remotely. Reports tell you exactly how much power you are producing every day, month and year throughout the life of the system.  

• No Solar Leasing or PPA 
• Needs Customer Reviews 
• Transferability Unknown 

No Solar Leasing or PPA

YellowLite only offers two types of payment options, which are financing and the SREC program.  Unlike many competitors,

Yellowlite doesn’t appear to offer any type of leasing programs.  

While we generally recommend a solar purchase over a solar lease, leasing programs and PPAs (power purchase agreements) allow renters and homeowners who can’t afford a solar purchase to experience and contribute to the environmental benefits of solar. 

Therefore, we like to see companies provide solar leasing for these cases. 

Needs Customer Reviews

We have a handful of Yellowlite reviews on our site, but we need more to sufficiently determine where Yellowlite stands against competing solar companies. Our expert review can only get you so far. Verified customer reviews can provide insight into a company’s customer service, quality of installation, turnaround times, and other factors. 

If Yellowlite has done a solar project for you, please consider leaving a review below. 

Transferability Unknown 

You may need to inquire as to whether or not your solar financing contract is transferrable to the new owner should you decide to sell your home. Many solar contracts are transferrable to the new owner, although the new owner might have to qualify to take over your contract. Make sure all of this is thoroughly documented in your contract, or be prepared to pay off your solar loan before you sell your house.