Rooftop solar and smart home tech — sub-limits, exclusions, and Coverage C gaps
By Severance Calculator Editorial · Updated
The problem
A 2010-era HO-3 form did not contemplate $30,000 solar arrays, $15,000 home battery systems, $2,000 EV chargers, or $5,000 smart-home ecosystems. Carriers have responded with patchwork endorsements and exclusions: some treat rooftop solar as part of Coverage A (covered as part of the dwelling); others treat it as Coverage B (Other Structures, with the 10% sub-limit); a growing number exclude solar from wind/hail entirely or impose a separate higher deductible. Ground-mounted solar is almost always Coverage B. EV chargers, smart thermostats, security systems, and connected appliances are typically Coverage C personal property, where ACV settlement and sub-limits for electronics ($1,500-$3,000) can leave large gaps.
The data
A typical 8 kW residential solar system installed in 2024 cost $20,000-$30,000 net of federal tax credit. The full system is at risk from hail (the dominant peril for solar), wind, and fire. Carriers in TX, CO, and OK increasingly carve out solar from standard wind/hail coverage post-2020 hail seasons. EV chargers — Level 2, $1,500-$3,000 hardware plus $500-$3,000 install — are personal property and may exceed standard electronics sub-limits. Home battery systems (Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ Battery) at $10,000-$20,000 installed often need scheduled-property treatment.
What to do
Before installing solar, ask your carrier in writing: (1) Is rooftop solar covered under Coverage A or Coverage B? (2) Is solar subject to a separate wind/hail deductible? (3) What is the maximum coverage limit on solar? Get the answers in writing on letterhead, not verbally from a call center. If solar is excluded from wind/hail, shop a stand-alone solar insurance policy (a small but growing market). Schedule high-value smart-home and EV charging hardware as personal property with appraisal where total value exceeds $5,000. Verify that battery storage is explicitly included or scheduled.