How hard is the CWL pre-approval paperwork for homeowners?

For the homeowner, the paperwork load is effectively zero. Solar Assure files the pre-project application, the interconnection agreement, the post-install inspection request, and the final rebate submission with Columbia Water & Light. The homeowner signs two forms, one upfront before install and one after completion. Missing any of the required steps forfeits the rebate, which is why full-service filing is part of every Solar Assure Columbia quote.

How long does the Columbia solar install process take start to finish?

From signed proposal to energized system, a typical Columbia residential solar install runs 8 to 12 weeks. Breakdown: design and engineering (1 to 2 weeks), CWL pre-approval (2 to 3 weeks), Boone County permitting (1 to 2 weeks), physical install (1 day), and CWL interconnection inspection (1 to 2 weeks). The on-roof work itself is a single day, and the bulk of the timeline is utility and municipal paperwork.

Is the 30 percent federal solar tax credit still available in 2026?

No. The 30 percent federal residential solar tax credit expired on December 31, 2025 for cash and loan purchases under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law in July 2025. A separate federal provision still applies to third-party-owned leases and PPAs through 2027.

What if my home is outside the Columbia Water & Light service territory?

Solar Assure still installs for homes outside the CWL boundary, such as Boone Electric Cooperative customers and other mid-Missouri utilities. $0 down financing is not dependent on CWL. Homes outside CWL will not receive the $500 per kW rebate, but the remaining economics, including net metering where applicable and 25-year equipment warranties, typically still result in a positive 25-year return.

For Columbia Water & Light customers

Get your CWL rebate. Pay $0 down.

Columbia Water & Light pays $500 per kW for residential solar, up to $6,750 or more for a typical home system. We handle every piece of the CWL paperwork. You just get the rebate.

$500/kW CWL rebate. We file the pre-project approval and the post-install paperwork so you don't have to.
$0 down financing. Monthly payment typically comes in below your current CWL bill.
Family-run. When you call, you talk to Josh or Tori, not a call center.

Licensed & insured in MO

See your CWL rebate total

Free · 60 sec

Josh or Tori personally replies · usually same day. Custom savings breakdown for your Columbia home. No credit pull. No pressure.

The Columbia solar math

One rebate. One install.

Here's what makes Columbia different from the rest of Missouri: CWL pays a flat $500 per kilowatt on every residential solar system. These numbers are for a typical 8 kW system on a south-facing roof at 20 to 30 degree tilt, the most common setup in Columbia.

$4,000+Paid by Columbia Water & Light$500 per kW flat rebate, paid directly to you by CWL after install. South-facing systems at optimal tilt can earn up to $1.10/W in premium rebates for peak-time performance, which is where systems push past $5,000.

Rebate potential: up to $5,500

Real savings from the CWL rebate, stacked on top of $0 down financing. Exact numbers depend on your roof, system size, and how the CWL peak premium calculates on your orientation. That's what the free quote figures out for you.

How we handle it

The CWL rebate process, done for you.

CWL's rebate process has specific steps: pre-project approval, interconnection paperwork, post-install inspection, rebate submission. Miss a step and you lose the money. We file every piece of it on your behalf.

Free analysisWe design a system optimized for your roof's tilt and azimuth, maximizing the CWL peak premium where possible. You see the projected rebate, monthly payment, and 25-year savings before you commit to anything.

CWL pre-approvalWe submit the pre-project approval paperwork to Columbia Water & Light. This is required before install. Miss it and you forfeit the rebate. Approval typically takes 2 to 3 weeks.

Install in 1 dayLocal crews, Enphase microinverters, optional Franklin battery. Physical install typically completes in a single day. From signed proposal to energized system usually runs 8 to 12 weeks including permits and interconnection.

You get paidAfter install, we submit the CWL rebate paperwork and you receive payment from them. No chasing rebates.

CWL paid us $4,600 a few weeks after install. I kept waiting for the catch. There wasn't one. Columbia homeowner · 8.2 kW system installed spring 2026

What we install

Premium hardware. Real warranties.

Solar is only as good as the equipment behind it. We use tier-1 components backed by actual manufacturer warranties you can call and enforce, not budget parts that disappear when the company changes names in three years.

The battery

Franklin aPower 2

15 kWh usable capacity. 10 kW continuous output. Whisper-quiet. Keeps essential circuits running when the Columbia grid drops, whether it's ice storms, summer thunderstorms, or whatever else hits.

15-year warranty on the battery itself
Stackable. Add a second unit later if needs grow.
Indoor or outdoor rated. Garage, basement, exterior wall.

The inverters

Enphase microinverters

Panel-level optimization. If one panel gets shaded by a tree, only that panel drops while the rest keep producing. Monitor every single panel from your phone in real time.

25-year warranty on every microinverter
Panel-level monitoring. See exactly what each panel produces.
No single point of failure. One panel issue doesn't kill the system.

Common questions

The real answers.

Does Columbia Water & Light actually pay the rebate?

Yes. Columbia Water & Light runs a real, funded rebate program that pays $500 per kW on the residential rate, with an additional premium of up to $1.10 per watt for south-facing systems at optimal tilt that deliver peak-time performance. Payment is made directly to the homeowner (not to us) a few weeks after the post-install inspection clears. Columbia customers have typically received between $3,800 and $5,500 depending on system size and orientation premium.

How hard is the CWL pre-approval paperwork?

For you, zero. We file the pre-project application, the interconnection agreement, the post-install inspection request, and the rebate submission with Columbia Water & Light. You sign two forms, one upfront and one after install. Missing any of the required steps forfeits the rebate, which is why full-service filing is part of every Solar Assure Columbia quote.

How long does the Columbia install process take?

From signed proposal to energized system, typically 8 to 12 weeks. Breakdown: design and engineering (1 to 2 weeks), CWL pre-approval (2 to 3 weeks), Boone County permitting (1 to 2 weeks), install day (1 day), and CWL interconnection inspection (1 to 2 weeks). The physical install is just one day. The rest is utility and municipal paperwork.

Is the federal tax credit still available for new installs?

The 30% federal residential solar tax credit expired December 31, 2025 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for cash and loan purchases. Lease and PPA arrangements still qualify under a separate federal program through 2027, and we can walk through both paths during your quote.

What if I'm outside CWL's service territory?

We still install for you. $0 down financing doesn't depend on CWL. If you're on Boone Electric Cooperative or another utility outside CWL's boundary, you won't get the $500/kW rebate, but the rest of the economics still work. Put your address in the form and we'll tell you exactly which programs apply to your home.

Josh founded Solar Assure in Lake Saint Louis to bring residential solar to Missouri families without the high-pressure tactics of national sales organizations. He personally handles system design and the initial quote for every customer, including Columbia installs that use the Columbia Water & Light rebate. The founders personally handle every project from first quote to interconnection.

Written by

Joshua Hayeslip

Founder and CEO, Solar Assure LLC · Licensed in Missouri and Kansas

Last updated September 10, 2026

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