Metro Services in Chattanooga: Residential Solar Installation with Financing Built In
Metro Services is a residential solar installer operating across the Chattanooga area that handles design, permitting, installation, and financing on a single contract. The company focuses on homeowners with 20+ years of roof life remaining and works with third-party lenders to offer solar-plus-loan packages, meaning customers don't need to qualify separately for panels and financing.
What Metro Services actually does
Metro Services designs and installs grid-tied solar photovoltaic systems on residential rooftops in Chattanooga and surrounding Hamilton County. The company pulls permits through the local utility (EPB or TVA-served areas) and handles interconnection applications. Installation includes equipment procurement, roof assessment, electrical work, and a final POU (point of use) inspection by the city or county. Systems are sized to offset 80 to 100 percent of a home's annual electricity use, depending on roof space and homeowner preference.
The business model differs from some competitors by bundling a financing option. Metro Services partners with third-party lenders (typically through Sunlight, Mosaic, or regional banks) to offer loans with rates currently ranging from 4.9 to 7.5 percent over 10 to 25 years, depending on credit profile and down payment. Customers can also pay cash or lease, though leasing is less common in Chattanooga's market where tax credits favor ownership.
System sizes, equipment, and pricing
A typical Chattanooga home (3,000 to 4,500 square feet, average electricity use of 1,200 to 1,600 kWh per month) qualifies for a 6 to 10 kilowatt system. Installed cost before incentives runs $2.80 to $3.20 per watt, putting a 7.5 kW system at approximately $21,000 to $24,000. After the federal Investment Tax Credit (currently 30 percent through 2032), net cost drops to $14,700 to $16,800. Monthly loan payments on a 25-year term at 6 percent are typically $90 to $110.
Metro Services installs either Enphase or SolarEdge inverter systems (microinverter vs. string inverter, respectively) and offers both monocrystalline panels from Silfab, Canadian Solar, or JA Solar. Equipment warranties are 25 years on panels and 12 to 15 years on inverters. The company charges no hidden permitting or documentation fees; all permit costs are included in the system price quoted.
Verify current rates and equipment availability when requesting a quote, as equipment costs and loan terms fluctuate monthly.
How Metro Services compares to other Chattanooga installers
Chattanooga solar installers fall into three categories: national franchises (Sunrun, Vivint Solar), regional companies (Metro Services, two or three others), and independent contractors. National franchises typically require 20 percent down and offer lease-heavy packages that reduce the tax credit benefit; they charge $3.20 to $3.60 per watt installed. Metro Services undercuts that by financing systems with 10 percent down and passing the full tax credit to the homeowner. Regional competitors in Chattanooga (check the Tennessee Solar Industries Association directory for current lists) vary widely on financing options and often require cash or cash-out refinancing.
Choose Metro Services if you want a single point of contact for design, permitting, installation, and financing, and you plan to stay in your home at least seven years (the break-even point under current economics). Choose a national franchise if you prefer the stability of a national warranty or want to avoid loan paperwork. Choose an independent installer if you are paying all cash and want to negotiate per-job pricing.
Who Metro Services suits and does not suit
Metro Services is appropriate for homeowners with a FICO score of 660 or higher (required for financing partners), a roof with 20+ years of remaining life, and an annual electricity bill of at least $1,500. The company works in both EPB and TVA service territories. Systems work best on south-facing roofs with minimal shade; homes with heavy tree cover over the solar array are less suitable.
Metro Services does not install battery backup systems; systems are grid-tied only and will not power the home during an outage unless you add a battery separately (a separate engagement). The company also does not retrofit existing solar systems from other installers.
First visit and design process
An initial consultation is free and takes 30 to 45 minutes. A Metro Services representative inspects the roof, checks for structural soundness, measures or estimates remaining roof life, and photographs the property to run a satellite shade analysis. The company then produces a written system design showing layout, estimated annual production (in kWh), projected first-year electricity bill, and a 25-year performance estimate. A financing pre-qualification letter follows, showing available loan terms based on the applicant's credit report (pulled with permission). You can review and approve the design before permitting begins.
Permitting and installation typically begin within two to four weeks of final approval. Actual installation is one to two days and requires a clear attic or crawl space for electrical runs from the roof to the main electrical panel.
Hours, location, and how to start
Metro Services operates Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an office in East Brainerd. Quotes and follow-up calls happen during business hours; emergency support for existing systems is available during standard hours only. To request a free consultation, call or fill out the online intake form on the company website; a representative will contact you within one business day to schedule.
Metro Services fills a gap for Chattanooga homeowners who want local accountability, included financing, and no lease entanglement, making it a practical choice for most owner-occupants in the area.
