Solar panels are becoming more and more affordable with more installers and manufacturers competing for residential customers. There are also a wealth of incentives available to homeowners depending on the state that you live in. Federal tax rebates and incentives have opened up solar power consultancy services to all audiences. In order to get started with solar power you need to take the following steps: Obtain a Free Consultation: Some solar installation companies will even guide you through the rebates procedure. Be sure to ask a lot of questions at this stage about equipment, service contracts, or additional financing. The installers will go over your electric bills and usage patterns to give you an accurate estimate. The initial estimate will show you how much you can save with solar and what the expected payback period will be. Proposal: This is where the company will prepare a written request for proposal or (RFP) which includes the system size, services, locat...