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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.
How this played out on a Stirling install (spring 2026)
A 4.5kWp system on a 1970s semi in Bridge of Allan — a real timeline from the initial phone call to the first Smart Export Guarantee payment landing in the customer's account:
- Day 0: desktop survey and indicative £8,400 quote emailed within 36 hours.
- Day 8: on-site survey (40 minutes), confirmed the FK9 rear roof, checked consumer unit and Stirling Council conservation area boundary — property just outside it.
- Day 12: formal itemised quote, HIES insurance-backed guarantee documentation, HES loan pre-approval letter attached.
- Day 15: HES loan formal application submitted with the chosen quote.
- Day 42: HES loan approved (within the typical 4–6 week window).
- Day 48: DNO G98 notification lodged with SP Energy Networks; scaffolding booked.
- Day 58: scaffolding erected.
- Day 59–60: install — panels and DC cabling on day one, inverter and battery on day two, commissioning by mid-afternoon.
- Day 63: scaffolding down.
- Day 68: MCS certificate issued.
- Day 72: Octopus Outgoing Fixed application submitted using the MCS certificate and MPAN.
- Day 95: first SEG payment credited (£11.40 for 76 kWh of export in the first month of operation).
Total elapsed time: 13.5 weeks from enquiry to first export payment. If you skip the HES loan and pay cash, expect to shave 4–5 weeks off this timeline.
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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.