DC Homeowners: See If Your Roof Qualifies for $0 Solar

How the $0 Solar PPA Works

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is a contract between you and the system owner. Under Next Gen Solar's $0 PPA structure, you pay nothing for the solar system: no purchase price, no loan, and no per-kWh charge under the agreement. Here is how the five-step process works:

1. 01.

   Roof qualification

   We assess your roof's condition, age, pitch, shading, and orientation. Only roofs that meet our technical and structural criteria qualify. There is no income test.

2. 02.

   System installation at no cost to you

   If your roof qualifies, Next Gen Solar (or the project entity we work with) installs, finances, and owns the solar system. You pay $0 upfront and $0 for installation.

3. 03.

   You receive the electricity it produces

   Under the $0 PPA, you receive the electricity the system generates at no solar charge under the agreement. The system owner retains Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) and any tax incentives tied to system ownership for which it qualifies under current law.

4. 04.

   Roof lease and site-access agreement

   You sign a roof lease or site-access agreement granting the system owner the right to install and operate equipment on your roof for the agreement term. The full terms, including duration and end-of-term options, are disclosed in the contract before you sign.

5. 05.

   Your utility bill

   You remain a Pepco customer. You continue to pay Pepco for distribution, connection charges, and any grid electricity your system does not offset. The solar component is $0 under the PPA. Your Pepco charges are separate and depend on your usage and Pepco's applicable tariffs.

Roof and Energy Assessment

Before any design work begins, we evaluate your roof's condition, age, pitch, shading, and orientation. DC rowhouses often share party walls and have limited southern exposure. We model your actual roof geometry to give you an honest picture of what solar can and cannot produce for your specific address.

We review twelve months of your Pepco bills to size the system against your real consumption rather than national averages. Over-sizing wastes capacity; under-sizing leaves savings on the table. We aim for a match that works within your contract terms.

System Design

DC's mix of slate roofs, low-slope modified bitumen, and clay tile each requires a different mounting approach. We select panel types and racking hardware suited to your roof material: flush-mount low-profile arrays for standard pitched roofs, ballasted systems for flat commercial-style decks on rowhouse additions.

• All-black monocrystalline panels available for historic-district aesthetics
• Microinverter or string-inverter configurations depending on shading profile
• Battery storage options sized to your evening usage and grid-outage goals
• System performance estimate delivered before you sign anything

District Permitting

Solar installations in the District require a building permit from the DC Department of Buildings (DOB) and, in historic districts, a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Review Board. DOB currently offers instant online permits for qualifying one- and two-family residential solar systems up to 15 kW, and states a 10-business-day plan-review target for applicable solar reviews. These are agency targets, not guarantees, and the review timeline for historic properties varies and is outside any contractor's control.

We prepare and file all permit documentation, respond to DOB information requests, and coordinate with your HOA where applicable. We keep you updated at each stage. We do not quote fixed approval timelines because they depend on agency workload and property-specific review requirements.

Pepco Interconnection

Exporting solar energy back to the grid requires Pepco's approval through their interconnection application process. We submit the technical package, handle the utility review queue, and arrange meter upgrades if required. Your system cannot be activated until interconnection approval is in hand. This is a grid-safety requirement, not a bureaucratic delay we can waive.

DC's net metering framework allows qualifying residential customers to receive credit for surplus generation. The specific credit rate and billing structure depend on your Pepco tariff and the terms of your solar contract. We walk through these details during your consultation.

Ownership and Incentives Under the PPA

Under a $0 PPA, the system owner (not the homeowner) owns the panels and claims the associated financial incentives. This is a key distinction from a purchase or solar loan.

DC Solar for All Program

The District runs a separate income-qualified solar program called Solar for All, administered by the Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). That program has its own eligibility criteria and application process, and is distinct from Next Gen Solar's roof-qualification-based $0 PPA offering.

If you are income-qualified, you may be eligible for the Solar for All program in addition to or instead of a PPA structure. We can discuss both options during your consultation. Note that Solar for All participation is subject to program slot availability and DOEE approval.

Important: even under Solar for All, Pepco utility fees (distribution, connection charges) typically remain. See doee.dc.gov/solarforall for current program details.