What solar-ready actually means
Solar-ready is an electrical condition. The serving utility and the inspector care about interconnection: busbar rating, main-breaker size, a reserved space for a backfeed breaker or inverter connection, and finished grounding and labeling.
AJ Long Electric documents those conditions during a panel replacement or service upgrade. AJ Long Electric also installs the residential array. Section 25D ended for new residential expenditures after December 31, 2025. See <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/residential-clean-energy-credit">IRS guidance</a>; AJ Long Electric does not provide tax advice.
What a solar-ready 200-amp upgrade costs
A 200-amp upgrade that includes solar-ready planning stays in the $3,500–$7,500 band. That includes permit, fireman's disconnect, basic surge, and Dominion coordination when they apply to the defined scope; condition-specific extras are documented separately. 400-amp work is quoted per project.
If you also want a Level 2 EV circuit ($1,200–$3,500 typical, with $1,200–$4,500 only for long, detached, outdoor, trenched, or otherwise complex routes and EVSE hardware separate) or a wall-pack battery ($2,500-$6,000 portable; $6,000-$15,000+ whole-home), put those loads in the same calculation so the reserved backfeed space is still there after the charger lands.
| Offer | What you get | Typical public range |
|---|---|---|
| Solar-ready panel | Capacity, backfeed space, grounding | $3,500–$7,500 |
| Level 2 EV circuit | Dedicated 240V charger connection; EVSE hardware separate | $1,200–$3,500 typical; $1,200–$4,500 only for long, detached, outdoor, trenched, or otherwise complex routes |
| Home battery wall pack | Listed backup + panel integration | $2,500-$6,000 portable; $6,000-$15,000+ whole-home |
| Rooftop array | Modules, racking, interconnection | $19,000–$34,000 at $2.40–$2.85/W |
Permit and utility path in the DMV
Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Prince William, and Maryland suburbs all treat a panel change as permitted electrical work. When a future array is interconnected, the utility (usually Dominion Energy or Pepco) has its own application. The solar-ready visit is the electrical half of that later paperwork: a labeled space, a documented bus rating, and a load calculation a second contractor can read.
Northern Virginia Considerations
Code Requirements
Busbar and backfeed limits follow the adopted NEC and listed equipment instructions. Utility interconnection is a separate later step.
Permit Information
Panel upgrades require an electrical permit in Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Prince William, and the Maryland suburbs we serve.
Typical Costs
$3,500–$7,500
Local Tips
Plan EV and battery loads in the same visit. Dominion and Pepco interconnection paperwork comes later, when an array is actually proposed.
Frequently Asked Questions (4)
Does solar-ready include rooftop solar?
Solar-ready is the panel-prep scope. AJ Long Electric also installs the residential array — see /services/solar. A typical 8–12 kW rooftop array plans at $19,000–$34,000 ($2.40–$2.85/W).
How much does a solar-ready 200-amp upgrade cost?
Typically $3,500–$7,500, including permit and Dominion coordination when they apply to the defined scope.
Is the 30% federal solar credit still available?
Section 25D ended for new residential expenditures after December 31, 2025. AJ Long Electric does not provide tax advice.
Can I add an EV charger and still leave room for solar?
Often yes, if the load calculation and busbar math allow it. We design the EV circuit and the reserved backfeed space together.
Authoritative Sources
- NFPA 70: National Electrical Code (NEC)The NEC is the foundational safety standard for electrical wiring and installation in the U.S.
- Fairfax County: Electrical PermitsLocal permitting requirements for electrical work in Fairfax County, VA.
- Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI)Nonprofit dedicated to promoting electrical safety in the home and workplace.
