FAQs for Property Owners
Below are frequently asked questions regarding the Solar Rooftop Program. If you have any additional questions that were not answered below, please contact Lorena Muñoz at solar.landlord@sce.com.
- Who is responsible for maintenance?
- How long does construction take and how disruptive will it be to the tenants?
- What equipment and personnel will be used during construction?
- Will installing the solar panels damage the building's roof?
- Won't I incur higher maintenance costs on the roof membrane?
- What happens when I need to re-roof my building?
- Why can't my tenant use the electricity generated on the roof?
- How will the installation affect the aesthetics of the building?
- What happens at the end of the lease? What do I do with the solar arrays?
- What type of Solar Panel System do you use?
- My building is being designed now. What changes, if any, should I make to my plans to accommodate the solar facilities?
- What other Solar Programs does SCE offer?
- Who is responsible for maintenance?
Southern California Edison will be responsible for inspecting and maintaining the solar facility. Routine inspections will occur once a year while maintenance will consist of washing the solar panels one to two times a year. Access will be needed to the roof for maintenance and repairs. Adequate notice will be given to the landlord prior to these activities. The landlord remains responsible for the maintenance of the roof membrane.
- How long does construction take and how disruptive will it be to the tenants?
Your tenants are as important to Southern California Edison as they are to you. Every precaution is taken to ensure the construction process is smooth for your tenants. Typically, construction takes approximately 45 days per MW being installed. In the preplanning stage, Southern California Edison works closely with the landlord and building tenants to minimize disruption. A comprehensive construction management plan is jointly developed between SCE, the landlord and the building's tenants. This plan includes the location of all construction equipment and the time, dates and locations of necessary parking lot closures as well as planning the additional work required to maintain the aesthetics of the building. Small portions of the parking lot may be closed for 3-4 days at a time.
- What equipment and personnel will be used during construction?
During construction the following equipment will be used at an average site:
For the entire Construction Period:
- An average of 60-80 laborers
- A construction trailer
- An external stairway
For the Majority of the Construction Period:
- 1-3 Scissor lifts
- 1 crane that might be placed in more than one location of the building
- 1-2 dumpsters
- Will installing the solar panels damage the building's roof?
Southern California Edison understands your most important concern is for your asset. Great care is taken to ensure your building's long-term value is not adversely affected due to your participation in the program. Whenever possible the installation will include no penetrations in the roof membrane and instead ballasting material in the form of pavers will be used to secure the solar array. The solar array is strategically glued to the roof with a compound that will not invalidate your roof warranty. Alternative anchoring systems might need to be considered in areas of high winds (in excess of 100 mph). In such a case, alternative anchoring options will be discussed with individual landlords.
- Won't I incur higher maintenance costs on the roof membrane?
Because most of the roof area will now be covered by solar panels, your roof maintenance costs might actually go down as a large portion of your roof will not be damaged by the sun's UV rays. The solar system is engineered so that there are no roof penetrations and the glue that holds the array onto the roof will be approved by the holder of your roof warranty. Lastly, the panels themselves will not transfer any extra heat onto your roof.
- What happens when I need to re-roof my building?
Moving the solar equipment from the rooftop is very expensive. SCE will move the solar equipment for the landlord if needed but it will reserve the right to cancel the lease or extend the lease to recapture the additional expenses.
- Why can't my tenant use the electricity generated on the roof?
The Solar Rooftop Leasing Program is designed specifically for buildings with low electrical usage. SCE has a number of other programs for users interested in renewable energy.
- How will the installation affect the aesthetics of the building?
The maximum height for the roof mounted solar arrays is only 10 inches and will not be visible from the ground. Inverters and transformers will be installed at ground level next to the building. The area required for this equipment depends on number of Megawatts being installed. 900 square feet is required for the first Megawatt with an additional 600 square feet required for each additional megawatt. The equipment will be housed behind a fence for safety and may be monitored by a camera for security. Southern California Edison will landscape around these fenced in units to minimize their visual impact on the building's appearance.
- What happens at the end of the lease? What do I do with the solar arrays?
Southern California Edison will remove all of the solar equipment at the end of the lease at its sole cost.
- What type of Solar Panel System do you use?
Currently, there are many different kinds of photovoltaic systems available and technology is changing rapidly. SCE's goal is to minimize the cost of installing the equipment while maintaining the integrity of the roof membrane.
- My building is being designed now. What changes, if any, should I make to my plans to accommodate the solar facilities?
Please contact SCE if you are in the process of designing a building. In general, it is helpful to plan for skylights that are not offset from each other. Also, consider a roofing system such as foam that can be patched and not require the entire roof to be replaced in the future.
- What other Solar Programs does SCE offer?
Please check Southern California Edison's website for information on other alternative energy programs including:
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