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01
Initial enquiry & desktop survey
Installer reviews your roof on satellite imagery, sizes a system to your annual consumption (kWh/year from your latest bill) and provides an indicative quote within 24–72 hours.
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02
On-site survey
30–60 minute visit covering roof structure, pitch, orientation, shading analysis (Solmetric/Solar Pathfinder), consumer unit capacity, cable routing and inverter location.
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03
Formal quote & contract
Itemised quote including panels, inverter, battery (if chosen), scaffolding, MCS certification and DNO notification. 14-day Consumer Contracts Regulations cooling-off period.
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04
DNO notification
G98 (for systems ≤3.68kW per phase) submitted by installer; G99 for larger or 3-phase systems requires DNO approval before install (4–8 weeks).
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05
Scaffolding
Erected 1–2 days before roof work. Highway licences required if scaffolding overhangs the pavement (3–7 day council lead time).
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06
Installation
Day 1: roof hooks, rails, panels, DC cabling. Day 2: inverter, AC cabling, isolators, battery, generation meter, commissioning.
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07
Commissioning & handover
Inverter commissioned, app set up, customer walked through monitoring. MCS certificate issued within 10 working days; required for SEG registration.
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08
SEG registration
Apply with your chosen export-tariff supplier (Octopus, E.ON Next, OVO etc.) using the MCS certificate. Payments typically start within 4–6 weeks.
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Frequently asked questions
01.How long does a solar installation take?
A typical 4kWp residential install takes 1–2 days on the roof, with scaffolding up for 3–4 days. From signed quote to commissioning is usually 4–8 weeks including DNO notification.
02.Do I need to be home for the install?
Yes for at least part of the commissioning day, when the installer commissions the inverter, walks you through the monitoring app and provides handover paperwork.
03.Will the installer notify my DNO?
Yes — a reputable installer files G98 (for systems ≤3.68kW per phase) or G99 (larger systems) on your behalf. Insist on a copy of the notification confirmation.