A&R Solar

A&R Solar A&R Solar designs and installs residential, commercial, and utility solar energy and battery backup. We serve Washington and Oregon states.
(1)

A&R Solar is a leading solar installation company in the Pacific Northwest. We use 100 percent in-house labor and have an unyielding commitment to high-quality craftsmanship and customer service.

In 2018, Seattle City Light charged $0.115/kWh. In 2026, it's $0.17. That's a 48% increase in 8 years — and the trajecto...
05/19/2026

In 2018, Seattle City Light charged $0.115/kWh. In 2026, it's $0.17. That's a 48% increase in 8 years — and the trajectory isn't slowing down.

After 8 years with solar, one of our residential customers paid off 65% of their system cost and only have electricity bills about 4 months of the year. Their break-even timeline has actually accelerated because rates are climbing faster than projected.

The part that stuck with us? "If we can do that in rainy Seattle with trees that block about 40% of our day, you can probably do solar too."

Solar isn't about perfect conditions. It's about whether the math works — and increasingly, it does.

This week we covered everything on your electric bill that matters for solar — annual kWh, rate per kWh, fixed charges, ...
05/17/2026

This week we covered everything on your electric bill that matters for solar — annual kWh, rate per kWh, fixed charges, and seasonal patterns. The short version: solar is most impactful when you know your own numbers. Not PNW averages. Not estimates. Your bill. This week, take 15 minutes: grab 12 months of statements, add up your kWh, and note which months hit hardest.

That one exercise makes any solar proposal more accurate and any savings estimate more trustworthy. Questions about what you find? Drop them below — we'll answer every one.

Questions about your bill or your rate structure? Ask us below 👇

In Washington and Oregon, most homes use the most electricity in winter — electric heat, more lighting, shorter days. Bu...
05/15/2026

In Washington and Oregon, most homes use the most electricity in winter — electric heat, more lighting, shorter days. But solar produces the least in winter. Sounds like a problem. It's not. During spring and summer, your system overproduces. Those extra kWh get credited. In December, those credits come off your bill. The annual math works — even in a cloudy climate. The key is understanding your seasonal usage before you size your system.

Full guide →












Here's the 15-minute exercise that makes every solar conversation better: 1. Pull out your last 12 electric bills 2. Add...
05/14/2026

Here's the 15-minute exercise that makes every solar conversation better: 1. Pull out your last 12 electric bills 2. Add up your total kWh usage 3. Note your highest-usage months 4. Find your rate per kWh 5. Identify any fixed monthly charges That's it. Those five things give any solar designer everything they need to build an accurate proposal — not a ballpark. Most homeowners skip this. The ones who do it walk into solar conversations with real leverage.

Want a proposal built around your actual bill? We'll build one free.













Solar won't make your electric bill zero.Here's what it actually does:✅ Reduces the energy portion of your bill (the kWh...
05/13/2026

Solar won't make your electric bill zero.

Here's what it actually does:
✅ Reduces the energy portion of your bill (the kWh-based part)
❌ Does NOT eliminate fixed charges like basic service fees
✅ Can credit surplus production toward future months

The goal isn't zero — it's eliminating the variable part. Knowing the difference sets realistic expectations from day one.

One number on your electric bill matters more than any other when evaluating solar: your annual kWh. Add up 12 months of...
05/12/2026

One number on your electric bill matters more than any other when evaluating solar: your annual kWh. Add up 12 months of usage. That's what solar designers use to size your system. A small home might use 6,000–8,000 kWh/year. A home with electric heat? Much more. Know your number before you talk to anyone.

05/07/2026

Solar as an operating expense hedge (small business)

For small offices and retail spaces, solar tends to show up on the bill as a reduction in the energy (kWh) portion of charges during operating hours.

When the sun is shining and the business is open, the building simply draws less from the grid.

Depending on the utility and rate structure, demand charges may or may not be significantly affected. If the highest demand spikes occur during sunny hours and the system is large enough, solar can sometimes trim peaks.

In other cases, demand is driven by short-lived events or off-hours loads that solar doesn’t fully capture.

Solar bill impact: kWh down, demand depends
05/06/2026

Solar bill impact: kWh down, demand depends

Big sun. Good food. Great company. From all of us at A&R Solar — Happy Cinco de Mayo! 🌮☀️
05/05/2026

Big sun. Good food. Great company. From all of us at A&R Solar — Happy Cinco de Mayo! 🌮☀️

Small offices + retail often match solar best (daytime load)If you run a small office, clinic, or retail space, solar ca...
05/05/2026

Small offices + retail often match solar best (daytime load)

If you run a small office, clinic, or retail space, solar can be a better fit than you might think.

Many small commercial buildings use a lot of electricity during the day. Lights are on. HVAC is running. Computers and point-of-sale systems are active. That is also when solar produces.

A well-sized system can offset part of that daytime kWh directly, which usually shows up on the bill as lower energy charges during operating hours.

The details still matter. Roof size, shading, and demand charges can change the math. That is why the first step is simple: pull 12 months of utility bills and note your operating hours.

The blog post walks through what to expect for small offices and retail in Washington and Oregon.

Read more below!




















05/04/2026

Chewie doesn’t skip his warm‑up before loading the Falcon. Neither do we.

Address

9700 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S
Seattle, WA
98118

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12067079937

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when A&R Solar posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to A&R Solar:

Shortcuts

Share

Category