# Pennstar Solar

Last updated: 2026-10-07

> Local solar panel installation and battery storage company in Southeastern Pennsylvania, installing solar since 2013.

## Company Overview

Pennstar Solar is a locally owned and operated solar installation company based in Lower Merion Township, PA. Founded by Mike Schiffman, a builder with 25+ years of construction and electrical development experience, Pennstar Solar specializes in residential and commercial solar panel systems, battery storage (whole-home backup), EV charger installations, and bi-directional V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) systems across Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, and Chester counties, Philadelphia, and the South Jersey shore.

## Contact

- Phone: 610-900-6405
- Email: hello@pennstarsolar.com
- Location: Lower Merion Township, PA 19066
- Website: https://www.pennstarsolar.com
- Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm; Weekends by appointment

## Why Choose Pennstar Solar

- Locally owned and operated — the owner is on-site for installations
- 25+ years of electrical construction experience
- Serves Southeastern Pennsylvania and the South Jersey shore — deep local knowledge of PECO rates, PA and NJ SREC programs, permitting, and township regulations
- 5.0-star rating from 27 five-star Google reviews
- 100% financing available with $0 down
- Free, no-commitment savings analysis for every prospective customer
- Not a national franchise — a local company that stakes its reputation on every job

## Services

### Rooftop Solar Installation
Custom-designed rooftop solar systems that can offset 80-100% of PECO electric bills. Systems typically pay for themselves in 8-10 years with PA SREC income and PECO 1:1 net metering. All-black Tier 1 panels with 25-year manufacturer warranties. 100% financing available with $0 down.

### Ground Mount Solar Systems
Ground-mounted solar arrays using Sinclair racking systems, producing 10-15% more energy than typical roof mounts through optimal tilt and orientation. Ideal for properties with large yards, farms, or limited roof space.

### Battery Storage & Whole-Home Backup
We install leading battery systems including:
- Sigenergy SigenStor: 6+9 kWh modular blocks, 11.5 kW inverter, LFP chemistry, V2X capable
- Tesla Powerwall 3: 13.5 kWh, 11.5 kW continuous, LFP chemistry
- Enphase IQ Battery 10C: 10 kWh blocks, 7.08 kVA, LFP chemistry
Battery backup provides automatic, instant switchover during grid outages. Solar-recharged daily for potentially unlimited backup duration.

### Commercial & Industrial Solar
Lower operating costs and boost Net Operating Income (NOI) with commercial solar. MACRS accelerated depreciation and federal tax incentives. Scalable designs for rooftop, carport, or ground mount.

### Solar Repair & Maintenance (Orphaned / Abandoned Systems)
Repair and maintenance for solar systems installed by any company — including "orphaned" or "abandoned" systems whose original installer went out of business. Services include full system health inspections, inverter and optimizer repair or replacement (SolarEdge, Enphase, SMA, Fronius, Generac, and more), monitoring restoration, storm and critter damage repair, SREC recovery and PJM-GATS re-registration, and annual maintenance plans. Written diagnosis and fixed quote before any repair.

### EV Charger & Electrical Panel Upgrades
Level 2 EV charger installation, bi-directional V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) systems that allow your EV to power your home during outages, and 200A/400A electrical panel upgrades for solar-ready homes.

## Service Areas

Pennstar Solar serves Southeastern Pennsylvania and the South Jersey shore:
- Montgomery County: Lower Merion, Narberth, Ardmore, Bryn Mawr, Conshohocken, King of Prussia, Norristown, Lansdale, Ambler, Jenkintown, Cheltenham, Abington
- Delaware County: Media, Haverford, Swarthmore, Springfield, Drexel Hill, Wayne, Radnor, Newtown Square, Ridley Park, Broomall
- Bucks County: Doylestown, New Hope, Yardley, Newtown, Warminster, Warrington, Chalfont, Langhorne
- Chester County: West Chester, Malvern, Exton, Downingtown, Phoenixville, Paoli, Devon
- Philadelphia: All neighborhoods including Center City, Chestnut Hill, Manayunk, Roxborough, Mount Airy, Germantown, Northeast Philadelphia
- Jersey Shore (South Jersey): Margate, Ventnor, Longport, Brigantine, Ocean City, Avalon, Sea Isle City, and Long Beach Island (LBI)

## Key Facts

- PECO electricity rate: approximately $0.22/kWh and rising (3-5% annually)
- Typical payback period: 8-10 years
- Target PECO bill after solar: as low as $12/month (the grid minimum)
- PA SREC income: $200-$300/year for a typical 10 kW system (SRECs currently trading around $22 each, generally $15-$25)
- PECO 1:1 net metering: Full retail credit for excess energy sent to the grid
- Warranty: Pennstar 5-year workmanship warranty. Manufacturer warranties: 25 years on panels and microinverters; 10-15 years on batteries depending on brand (Tesla Powerwall 3 and Sigenergy 10 years; Enphase and FranklinWH 15 years). Optional paid 30-year Solar Insure upgrade for eligible new solar installations.
- Financing: 100% financing available with $0 down
- Typical system cost: $2.30-$2.95 per watt before incentives
- Founded: 2013 by Mike Schiffman

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How much does solar cost in Southeastern Pennsylvania?
In SE PA, solar panel installation typically costs between $2.30 and $2.95 per watt before incentives. A small 5 kW system costs approximately $14,000, and a more typical 10 kW residential system averages about $26,500 before incentives. 100% financing is available with $0 down.

### What is the payback period for solar in Pennsylvania?
The typical payback period for a grid-tied solar system in Southeastern PA is 8 to 10 years. This factors in PA SREC income and PECO's 1:1 net metering program, which credits you at the full retail rate for excess electricity. After payback, your solar system generates savings for another 15-20+ years.

### How much can I save with solar on my PECO bill?
Most homeowners in SE PA can offset 80-100% of their PECO electric bill with a properly sized solar system. With PECO rates at $0.22/kWh and rising, a typical 10 kW system saves $2,500-$3,500+ per year on electricity alone. The target monthly PECO bill after solar is as low as $12 (the grid minimum).

### What battery brands does Pennstar Solar install?
Pennstar Solar installs Sigenergy SigenStor (modular, V2X capable), Tesla Powerwall 3, and Enphase IQ Battery 10C. All use LFP (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry for safety and longevity. Battery backup provides automatic switchover during power outages and recharges from solar daily.

### What is the PA SREC program?
Pennsylvania's Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) program pays solar system owners for every 1,000 kWh of electricity their system produces. SRECs currently trade at approximately $22 each, generally in the $15-$25 range. A typical 10 kW system earns $200-$300 per year in SREC income on top of electricity bill savings.

### Does Pennstar Solar offer financing?
Yes. 100% financing is available with $0 down, allowing homeowners to go solar with no upfront cost. Monthly loan payments are typically less than current PECO bills, so savings start from day one.

### What areas does Pennstar Solar serve?
Pennstar Solar serves Southeastern Pennsylvania — Montgomery County, Delaware County, Bucks County, Chester County, and Philadelphia — as well as the South Jersey shore, including Margate, Ventnor, Longport, Brigantine, Ocean City, Avalon, Sea Isle City, and Long Beach Island (LBI). The company is based in Lower Merion Township, PA.

### Does Pennstar install commercial solar?
Yes. Commercial solar lowers operating costs, boosts Net Operating Income (NOI), and qualifies for MACRS accelerated depreciation and federal tax incentives. Scalable designs are available for rooftop, carport, or ground mount installations.

### My solar installer went out of business. Can Pennstar service my system?
Yes. Any licensed solar contractor can service a system installed by another company. Pennstar Solar regularly takes over orphaned and abandoned solar systems in Southeastern PA — diagnosing problems, replacing failed inverters and optimizers, restoring monitoring, filing manufacturer warranty claims (panel warranties typically survive installer bankruptcy), and re-registering systems for PA SREC income.

### How much does solar panel repair cost?
A diagnostic inspection identifies the exact problem with a fixed quote before work begins. Simple fixes like a failed optimizer or chewed wiring are often a few hundred dollars; a full string inverter replacement typically runs $2,000–$4,000 installed if no warranty applies. If equipment is under manufacturer warranty, homeowners often pay only labor.

### What is V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything)?
V2X is bi-directional charging technology that allows your electric vehicle to power your home during grid outages. The Sigenergy SigenStor battery system supports V2X, turning your EV into an additional backup power source. As of October 2026, Tesla Powershare Home Backup also works with Model 3 and Model Y vehicles ordered on or after October 1, 2026 (plus Cybertruck) when paired with a Powerwall 3 and a Tesla Wall Connector; Model 3/Y cannot export to the grid. Pennstar Solar installs both. Details: https://www.pennstarsolar.com/v2x

## Key Pages

- [Home](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/)
- [Services](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/services)
- [Solar Repair & Maintenance — Orphaned Systems](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/solar-repair)
- [Pricing & ROI](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/pricing)
- [Service Areas](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/areas)
- [About](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/about)
- [Contact](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/contact)
- [News & Guides](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/news)

## Service Area Pages

- [Montgomery County Solar](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/areas/montgomery-county)
- [Delaware County Solar](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/areas/delaware-county)
- [Bucks County Solar](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/areas/bucks-county)
- [Chester County Solar](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/areas/chester-county)
- [Philadelphia Solar](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/areas/philadelphia)
- [Jersey Shore Solar](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/areas/jersey-shore)

## Guides & Resources

- [PECO Net Metering Explained](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/peco-net-metering)
- [Pennsylvania SRECs Explained](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/pa-srec)
- [Battery Comparison: Tesla vs. Sigenergy vs. Enphase](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/battery-comparison)
- [Sigenergy SigenStor — Certified Installer](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/sigenergy)
- [V2X EV Home Backup: Tesla Powershare & Sigenergy](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/v2x)

## Tools

- [Instant Solar Estimate](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/instant-estimate)
- [Battery Sizing Tool](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/battery-sizing-tool)

## Featured Articles

- [Four Days Without Power — Unless You Had Solar and a Battery](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/news/four-days-without-power-unless-you-had-solar-and-a-battery)
- [Is Solar Still Worth It in Pennsylvania in 2026?](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/news/is-solar-still-worth-it-in-pennsylvania-2026)
- [PECO's Time-of-Use Pricing: How Solar Owners Save](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/news/peco-time-of-use-pricing-how-solar-owners-save)
- [What Is 1:1 Net Metering in PA?](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/news/what-is-1-to-1-net-metering-pennsylvania)
- [How to Calculate Solar Payback & ROI](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/news/how-to-calculate-solar-payback-roi)
- [Tesla Powerwall 3 Home Battery Backup](https://www.pennstarsolar.com/news/tesla-powerwall-3-home-battery-backup)