How to Choose a Solar Installer in Kelowna

A solar array is a long-term investment that gets bolted to your roof and wired into your electrical panel, so the installer matters as much as the hardware. This guide covers how to define the project, how to compare written quotes, what permits and utility steps apply to grid-tied solar in British Columbia, and the warning signs worth pausing for.

Define the project before anyone visits

Quotes are only comparable when every installer prices the same job. Before booking site visits, settle the basics, including whether the array goes on your roof or on a ground mount, which some properties suit better.

• Roof age and condition: panels stay in place for decades, so a roof that will soon need replacing should usually be dealt with first.
• Your energy goals: whether you want to offset part or most of your annual electricity usage.
• A rough budget, including how you will pay for the system.
• Shading from trees, chimneys, and neighbouring buildings at your site.
• Roof orientation and usable area, which limit how much sun the array can capture.

Get two or three written quotes you can compare

Ask two or three local installers for written quotes on the same project, and ask each for proof of liability insurance, since the work happens on your roof and inside your electrical panel. Solar hardware varies in quality and price, so a quote that skips details is impossible to compare.

1. Send every installer the same written project brief.
2. Check that each quote states the system size in kilowatts and names the panel and inverter makes and models.
3. Ask for the first-year production estimate and how it was calculated; the assumptions about shading, roof orientation, and local weather should be explained, not just the total.
4. Confirm what mounting and racking will be used, how the roof will be penetrated and flashed, and how the installation interacts with your roof's warranty.
5. Ask who handles the electrical permit, the BC Hydro interconnection application, and system monitoring, and what each costs.
6. Compare warranties side by side: panels, inverter, and workmanship are usually covered by separate documents.

Permits, interconnection, and electrical work

Grid-tied solar is regulated electrical work. Technical Safety BC requires an electrical installation permit for installing electrical equipment, whether it is done by a licensed contractor or a homeowner, and a certified Field Safety Representative must be named on the permit before the work is declared ready for inspection; skipping a permit can lead to penalties. Ask your installer who pulls the permit, and confirm with the relevant authority whether your project also needs a building permit for the roof work. Connecting to the grid runs through BC Hydro, which closed its old net metering rate to new customers — new connections have been under a self-generation service rate since July 1, 2026. Because export terms affect what your system earns, have the installer walk you through the current BC Hydro program before you sign.

Red flags worth pausing for

• A promise that the system will eliminate your electricity bill, with no written production estimate showing its assumptions.
• A quote with no named panel or inverter models, no system size in kilowatts, and no itemised price.
• Pressure to sign on the spot: door-to-door pitches and today-only discounts are not how reputable installers sell.
• No clear answer on who pulls the electrical permit or handles the BC Hydro interconnection application.
• Vague or missing warranties; a good installer can state the panel, inverter, and workmanship coverage without hesitating.

Where to start in Kelowna

Browse the solar and renewables businesses in this directory, compare what each says about equipment, warranties, insurance, and permit handling, and send the same project brief to the ones that look like a good fit. A few extra questions up front cost far less than a system that underperforms.