Uprise Solar

10/15/2026

Here's something interesting I discovered while doing maintenance on my own flat roof in Mount Pleasant, DC.

When I installed solar panels in 2022, I had my roof recoated first. Four years later, the sections underneath my solar panels were still in nearly perfect condition. Meanwhile, the exposed areas around the panels were starting to crack and deteriorate.

Why? The same sunlight that powers your solar panels also contains UV radiation that slowly breaks down roofing materials.

The good news? You don't always need to remove your solar panels to reseal and extend the life of your flat roof.

At Uprise Solar & Roofing, we can help homeowners maintain their roofs around existing solar systems, potentially avoiding expensive removal and reinstallation.

I took photos of the whole process at my own house!

🏠 Check out our latest blog to see what I found and learn how to protect your roof.

🔗 https://www.uprisesolar.com/blog/flat-roof-maintenance-solar-panels/

Can you reseal a flat roof without removing solar panels? See how Uprise Solar & Roofing helps DC homeowners protect and extend the life of their roofs.

10/08/2026

What happens to your solar panels when you need a new roof?

It’s a question more homeowners should ask before going solar.

Solar panels can last 25+ years, so there’s a good chance your roof may need work during the life of your system. Removing and reinstalling a typical 20-panel system can cost around $4,000 in labor alone.

At Uprise Solar & Roofing, we do things differently. If we replace your roof, we include a one-time solar panel removal and reinstallation at no additional charge.

We also handle the entire process ourselves, from safely removing and storing the panels to replacing the roof and reinstalling the solar system.

Our latest blog explains how roof replacement with solar panels works and what homeowners in DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia should know before going solar.

☀️ Read more:

Need a new roof after going solar? Learn how solar panel removal and reinstallation works and how Uprise covers one removal and reinstall.

10/01/2026

How can solar lower your electric bill if you don’t buy the panels?

That’s what a solar power purchase agreement, or PPA, makes possible. A provider owns the panels, and you use the electricity at an agreed rate.

With a $0-upfront PPA priced below your utility rate, your solar electricity is cheaper as soon as the system starts working. You haven’t paid for the installation, so there’s no upfront solar purchase to earn back.

Our new guide compares $0.00, $0.08, and $0.15 per kWh examples and shows what each could mean for a monthly bill.

We also explain why DC’s zero-cent offers may not be available much longer as federal business tax credit rules change.

Read the guide:

What is a solar PPA? Compare $0, 8-cent, and 15-cent rates, see how savings start with no upfront solar cost, and learn why DC offers may change.

09/24/2026

Thinking about solar? A few good questions can help you feel more confident about your decision.

☀️ Is my roof a good fit?
☀️ Who will actually install the panels?
☀️ What does the warranty cover?
☀️ Who do I call if something needs attention?

Our guide walks through 10 questions to ask before signing a solar agreement, with answers about how we handle things at Uprise.

We’re licensed, bonded, and insured, and our own in-house team handles our solar installations. We’re happy to explain what that means for your project.

Read the guide: https://www.uprisesolar.com/blog/10-questions-to-ask-your-solar-installer/

Have a friend or neighbor comparing solar quotes? Send this their way.

Learn 10 questions to ask your solar company about installation, costs, warranties, and support before going solar in DC, Maryland, or Virginia.

09/10/2026

Going completely off-grid with solar sounds great in theory. But does it actually make sense for a home in Washington, DC?

Usually, no.

Long power outages are relatively uncommon here, DC row homes have limited space for batteries, and most rooftops aren't large enough to produce all the solar energy you would need to reliably recharge a massive battery system year-round.

And going truly off-grid isn't just adding one battery. Depending on the home, you could need five or six batteries and potentially spend $60,000 to $80,000 on battery storage alone.

That doesn't mean we're against batteries. Far from it.

A properly sized battery can be fantastic for keeping your refrigerator, internet, lights, sump pump, and other important loads running during an outage.

We think the more interesting future for DC is solar + batteries + microgrids working together with the electrical grid, rather than every homeowner trying to build their own miniature power plant.

We broke down the economics, space requirements, HVAC loads, battery backup, and why microgrids could be a much smarter approach for cities like DC in our latest blog.

**The future of energy in Washington, DC probably isn't off-grid. It's a smarter grid.**

Read the full article: https://www.uprisesolar.com/blog/going-off-grid-solar-washington-dc/

09/03/2026

Would you turn down 50% off your grocery bill because the groceries were not completely free?

Of course not. Yet homeowners sometimes reject solar because their roof can only support enough panels to offset 50% or 60% of their electricity use.

Not every home can reach 100%. Roof size, shade, vents, chimneys, and fire-code setbacks all affect how many panels will fit. That does not mean a smaller system has no value.

Partial savings are still savings. The real question is whether the system and financial terms make sense for your home.

Read our latest blog:

If solar covers half your bill, is it still worth it? Learn why a 50% or 60% solar offset can still create meaningful long-term savings.

08/27/2026

Why are Pepco bills so high, even when your electricity use has stayed about the same?

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, DC’s average residential electricity price increased approximately 24% between May 2025 and May 2026. Since January 2020, the price has increased approximately 105%.

Regional data centers are part of the reason, but they are not the whole story. Power plant retirements, limited new generation, transmission expenses, and infrastructure investments are also driving prices higher.

We broke down what is happening, why data centers in Northern Virginia affect DC customers, and what homeowners can do to reduce their exposure to future rate increases.

Read the full article:
https://www.uprisesolar.com/blog/dc-electricity-bills-up-40-percent-what-really-changed/

Qualifying DC homeowners can also still access Uprise’s $0 solar program for a limited time. We can review your roof and Pepco usage to show you whether it makes sense for your home.

08/20/2026

What does “breezy” mean to someone who went through three general contractors while renovating a house?

For Giang Nguyen, it describes her experience working with Uprise Solar.

Giang bought her Takoma, DC, home at auction and took on a major renovation filled with unexpected problems, constant decisions, and a few final surprises. By comparison, she said going solar was the easy part.

Her story also spans Vietnam, Germany, Northwestern University, WTOP News, and eventually a historic home in one of DC’s most beautiful neighborhoods.

Read the latest Humans of Uprise story:

After buying and renovating a home in historic Takoma, D.C., WTOP journalist Giang Nguyen found Uprise Solar through a neighborhood Facebook group. She described the experience in one word: breezy.

08/13/2026

🎉 Five years ago, Uprise Solar started with one simple belief: homeowners deserve a better experience.

What began with one customer has grown into a team of 35 people serving more than 700 homeowners across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Along the way we've installed more than 7 megawatts of solar, expanded into roofing, battery storage, EV charging, and home electrification, and earned the trust of our customers through thousands of conversations and hundreds of referrals.

We're especially proud of the people behind the work. From team members who started with no solar experience and grew into industry leaders, to the installers and electricians who make every project possible, this company has always been about people first.

Thank you to every homeowner, employee, partner, and friend who has been part of our journey.

Here's to the next five years. ☀️

👉 Read our story: https://www.uprisesolar.com/blog/five-years-of-uprise-solar/

08/06/2026

Your solar panels do not send all their electricity directly to the power company.

Your home uses the solar energy first. Only the extra electricity gets sent to the grid.

We broke down a real Pepco bill and solar monitoring report from my house to show exactly how it works:

☀️ 644.6 kWh produced
🏠 340.6 kWh used directly by the home
⚡ 304 kWh sent to Pepco
📉 387 kWh left as the net utility balance

This is also why the production shown in your solar app will not match the excess generation on your electric bill. Nothing is missing. Your house used part of the solar energy before it ever reached the utility meter.

Read the full explanation here: https://www.uprisesolar.com/blog/how-solar-energy-and-net-metering-work/