You signed. A handshake, the deposit paid, and that mix of excitement with a question that grows as the days pass without news: so what's happening now?
This is the least-discussed part of the process, and that silence creates unnecessary anxiety: weeks where "nothing is happening" visibly while several things happen invisibly. Here's the full map, with honest timings for each stage.
Stage 1: the equipment
The first thing triggered after signing is the materials order. If the installer has the equipment in stock, this stage is short. If something is made to order (which happens with specific inverters, batteries or special structures), weeks go here, and in some cases the wait depends on imports, with the timings and variability that implies in Argentina.
The right question before signing was "do you have the equipment or do you order it?". If you didn't ask, ask now: it sets your expectations straight. Knowing what's in stock and what's on its way tells you how much of the date is already secured and how much depends on a shipping container.
Stage 2: the physical installation
The visible part and, against all intuition, the shortest. A typical residential installation is done in two to five working days depending on size and roof: one day for the structure, one or two for panels and cabling, one for the board, protections and finishing.
What to expect from those days: people on the roof, some noise, and the supply cut at moments while work is done on the board. Announced in advance, not discovered via a blinking microwave.
At the end of this stage the system is mounted and tested. And here comes the clarification that prevents the most common misunderstanding in the whole process: when the installation finishes, the system still can't be left generating at full capacity. The permit is missing. Read on.
Stage 3: the utility paperwork
To feed energy into the grid and be credited for it, the utility has to authorise the connection and, in most cases, replace your meter with a bidirectional one, which measures what you consume and what you feed in separately.
The process has formal steps: submission of technical documentation, approval, and the visit to change the meter. Timings here don't depend on the installer: they depend on the utility, and vary a lot according to which one it is and its workload. It can be a matter of weeks or stretch considerably longer. This is the real variable in the whole schedule.
Stage 4: commissioning
With the meter changed and the authorisation issued, the good day arrives: the system switches on for real. Full operation is verified, monitoring is configured on your phone, and they explain what you need to live with your system. We've given that day a whole article of its own, because it deserves you arriving knowing what to ask for.
The honest schedule, in summary
| Stage | Depends on | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | Stock / imports | Days to several weeks |
| Installation | The installer | Days |
| Paperwork and meter | The utility | The big variable |
| Commissioning | Final coordination | One day |
Two readings of the table. First: the physical installation, what you picture as "the project", is the shortest of the four stages. Second: the longest and least predictable stage isn't managed by the installer. What is in the installer's hands at that stage is submitting everything complete first time and keeping you informed of the real status, which is what makes the wait bearable.
Your follow-up checklist
- Before signing: equipment in stock or made to order, and with what wait?
- Who handles the paperwork with the utility?
- How and how often do they update you on progress?
- Does the promised date distinguish installation from authorisation?
- Do you know how the paperwork is running at your utility right now?
The relationship with your installer will last years, and clear communication at this stage is the best indication of how the rest will go.