--- title: "A&R Blog" description: "Solar Blog Search Search Let’s Talk Solar Get honest answers and a no-pressure quote from A&R Solar’s team of experts. Get a Free Solar Quote" url: "https://www.a-rsolar.com/blog/" date_modified: "2026-09-30T22:32:17-07:00" --- ![Light blue abstract shapes on white](https://env-arsolarcom-testing.kinsta.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/rays-02.svg) # Solar Blog ![Light blue abstract curved lines](https://env-arsolarcom-testing.kinsta.cloud/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/rays-03.svg) --- - [Beware of Solar Door Knockers: Verify the Story Before You Sign](https://www.a-rsolar.com/solar-scams/beware-solar-door-knockers/) — Avoid solar door‑knocking scams with tips on contracts, pricing, and spotting trustworthy installers before you sign anything. - [Seattle City Light Is Planning Changes to Net Metering. Here’s What Solar Homeowners Should Know.](https://www.a-rsolar.com/residential-solar-home-energy/seattle-city-light-is-planning-changes-to-net-metering-heres-what-solar-homeowners-should-know/) — Seattle City Light has quietly signaled that change is coming to net metering — the program that credits solar homeowners at the full retail rate for the extra electricity they send back to the grid. In a recent website update, City Light confirmed it's planning "the next phase" of the program and will give at least six months' notice before anything changes. No new rate or structure has been announced yet, but for anyone weighing solar, it's a signal worth watching: if export credits shrink in the future, the value of a system built today could shift, and batteries may become a more important part of the equation. The current program is still in effect — which makes now a good time to understand what solar looks like under today's rules. - [PSE Is Proposing Nearly 30% in Electric Rate Increases Over 3 Years](https://www.a-rsolar.com/residential-solar-home-energy/pse-electric-rate-increase-solar/) — If you’re a Puget Sound Energy customer, this is worth paying attention to. PSE has asked Washington regulators to approve electric rate increases of: 15.15% in 2027 3.74% in 2028 8.70% in 2029 If approved as proposed, that’s a cumulative increase of nearly 30% in three years. The electricity you buy from the grid is \[…\] - [Solar leasing: another way to go solar](https://www.a-rsolar.com/incentives-financing-policy/solar-leasing-another-way-to-go-solar/) — Available in Oregon for qualifying homeowners in eligible utility areas. (Live in Washington? Learn about leasing options in WA State.) Buying solar isn’t the only way to put solar on your home. With a solar lease, A&R Solar designs and installs your system, while a third-party provider owns the equipment. Instead of purchasing the system, \[…\] - [Northwest Wildfires and Smoke: What They Mean for Your Solar](https://www.a-rsolar.com/education-guides-how-to/northwest-wildfire-smoke-what-they-mean-for-your-solar/) — Summer in the Pacific Northwest now brings not just sun, but also the possibility of intense wildfire smoke. - [Tired of Gig Harbor Power Outages? Solar + Battery Storage Helps](https://www.a-rsolar.com/battery-storage-backup-power/tired-of-gig-harbor-power-outages-solar-battery-storage-helps/) — Gig Harbor homeowners: solar + battery storage keeps your lights on when storms knock out power. Honest answers from A&R Solar, installing since 2007. - [Is Solar Worth It If You Have Puget Sound Energy?](https://www.a-rsolar.com/residential-solar-home-energy/is-solar-worth-it-if-you-have-puget-sound-energy/) — PSE rates are up 30%+ since 2023 — and more increases are filed. Here's what Washington homeowners need to know before going solar. - [Electric Bill Savings With Solar: A PNW Homeowner Guide](https://www.a-rsolar.com/education-guides-how-to/electric-bill-solar-savings-pnw-homeowner-guide/) — Washington and Oregon homeowners: learn how to read your electric bill and see exactly where solar reduces your costs — before you get a quote. - [Energy Saving Tips for 2026: Cut Bills Without Overcomplicating Your Home](https://www.a-rsolar.com/education-guides-how-to/energy-saving-tips-2026-cut-bills-and-carbon-fast/) — Use these practical energy saving tips to reduce utility bills in 2026. Learn how thermostat settings, phantom loads, insulation, smart plugs, and solar can help Washington and Oregon homeowners save energy. - [How Solar Power Fuels the Future for Bellevue’s Youth](https://www.a-rsolar.com/education-guides-how-to/how-solar-power-fuels-the-future-for-bellevues-youth/) — Boys & Girls Club solar array TL;DR The Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue partnered with A&R Solar to install a 94 kW solar array at their 100th Ave NE fac... ## Let's Talk Solar Get honest answers and a no-pressure quote from A&R Solar’s team of experts. [Get a Free Solar Quote](https://www.a-rsolar.com/contact/)