Solar Quote - SoCal

[bandit02]

Hello all,

I'm looking to put solar on my house to offset my SCE bill. SCE currently has four tiers: .13/kWh up to 386 kWh; .16; .27; and .31. I'm looking to offset all but the first tier. My current usage is about 8200 kWh/yr, but I'm expecting that to go up to 11,800 kWh/yr., starting this month when I get an EV.

I've received 4 quotes so far, and this is the one I currently like best:

(24) SolarWorld 270 Mono
Enphase Microinverters - M215-60-2LL-S22
System Cost = $26,300
Rebate/Tax Credit = $8,672
Net Cost = $17,628
I could also do a Prepay Lease for $16,880

DC STC Rating = 6.480 kW
1st Year Production = 9,201 kWh

Gross Cost/kW DC = $4.06
Net Cost/kW DC = $2.72

I'm going to ask for a quote for a 5.940 kW system (22 SW 270 panels), producing 8200 kWh - leaving me with 3600 kWh/yr from SCE.

I have also received quotes from REC/Sunrun (3.57 kW system, 26 REC 255 panels, 5144 kWh production) for $11,081 net cost, $3.10 net cost/kW, $4.60 gross cost/kW; Solar City (5.390 kW system, 22 Chinese 245 panels, 9089 production) for $17,846 net cost, $3.31 net cost/kW, $4.73 gross cost/kW; and Verengo/Sunrun (unknown system, Yingli 255 panels, 7012 kWh production) for prepaid lease of $12,299.

I still want to get a quote from a local Sunpower installer - I know they are highly rated with the highest efficiency, but is the difference appreciable versus the Solar World panels?

Any comments would be welcomed - thanks!

[SoCalSwami]

sunpower

[QUOTE=bandit02;81670]I still want to get a quote from a local Sunpower installer - I know they are highly rated with the highest efficiency, but is the difference appreciable versus the Solar World panels?
QUOTE]

I received my first SunPower quote this afternoon:

(18) SunPower x21
(2) SB3000TL inverters
System cost: $35,956
Annual production: 10,262kWh
Cost per Watt: $5.79

Which is quite a bit higher than the quotes for Aleo or Mitsubishi panels ($4.55/Watt and $4.09 respectively)

[vasans]

After much deliberations I am going Solarworld 270 mono panels with SMA SB5000TL (this SMA string inverter comes with a dedicated power outlet to use during grid supply outage: http://www.sma-america.com/en_US/pro...5000tl-us.html)

Here are the quotes from Canadian Solar, Sunpower and Solarworld dealers:- all cost figures are cash price including tax before fed rabate

• Contractor#1: 4.5 KW DC PTC/ (22) Canadian solar CS6P 250W panels/Enphase/Cash price $21,590/ first yr production 6934 KWh/Cost/per KW 4.8
• Contractor#2: 5.2 KW DC PTC/ (16) Sunpower E20 327 with (1) PowerOne5000/Cash price: $29,100/ first yr production 8927 KWh/Cos per KW 5.56
  [**]Same contractor: 5.72 KW DC PTC/ (22) Mitsubishi 260 HC with Enphase/first yr production 9217 KWh/Cash price: $24,370/ Cost per KW 4.26
• Contractor #3: 5.88 KW DC PTC/ (18) Sunpower E20 327 with (1) PowerOne5000/Cash price: $30,536/ first yr production 9362 KWh/ Cost per KW 5.2
• Contractor# 4: 5.4 KW DC PTC/ (20) Solarworld 270 Mono with (1) SMA SB5000TL : $20,800/ first yr production 8595 KWh/Cost per KW 3.85
  [**]Same contractor: 5.4 KW DC PTC/ (20) Solarworld 270 Mono with Enphase 215 : $22,376/ first yr production xxxx/Cost per KW 4.14

[silversaver]

Hi guys,

Is it true that you can only go twice of your sq ft of your house to get the incentive from CSI and Fed in Socal?

Thanks

[vasans]

Fed rebate has no max limit that I know of. http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/i...ive_Code=US37F Wrt CSI, contractors in our area say it ran out all steps and no money.

Hi guys,
Is it true that you can only go twice of your sq ft of your house to get the incentive from CSI and Fed in Socal?
Thanks

[KRenn]

[QUOTE=SoCalSwami;81675]

I still want to get a quote from a local Sunpower installer - I know they are highly rated with the highest efficiency, but is the difference appreciable versus the Solar World panels?
QUOTE]

I received my first SunPower quote this afternoon:

(18) SunPower x21
(2) SB3000TL inverters
System cost: $35,956
Annual production: 10,262kWh
Cost per Watt: $5.79

Which is quite a bit higher than the quotes for Aleo or Mitsubishi panels ($4.55/Watt and $4.09 respectively)

Get a quote from a different SunPower dealer, that one seems to be desiring to take you to the cleaners. Around $5.00-$5.20 a watt is a far more fair price.


The Mitsubishi price is a fair one for a solid quality module.

[KRenn]

After much deliberations I am going Solarworld 270 mono panels with SMA SB5000TL (this SMA string inverter comes with a dedicated power outlet to use during grid supply outage: http://www.sma-america.com/en_US/pro...5000tl-us.html)

Here are the quotes from Canadian Solar, Sunpower and Solarworld dealers:- all cost figures are cash price including tax before fed rabate

• Contractor#1: 4.5 KW DC PTC/ (22) Canadian solar CS6P 250W panels/Enphase/Cash price $21,590/ first yr production 6934 KWh/Cost/per KW 4.8
• Contractor#2: 5.2 KW DC PTC/ (16) Sunpower E20 327 with (1) PowerOne5000/Cash price: $29,100/ first yr production 8927 KWh/Cos per KW 5.56
  [**]Same contractor: 5.72 KW DC PTC/ (22) Mitsubishi 260 HC with Enphase/first yr production 9217 KWh/Cash price: $24,370/ Cost per KW 4.26
• Contractor #3: 5.88 KW DC PTC/ (18) Sunpower E20 327 with (1) PowerOne5000/Cash price: $30,536/ first yr production 9362 KWh/ Cost per KW 5.2
• Contractor# 4: 5.4 KW DC PTC/ (20) Solarworld 270 Mono with (1) SMA SB5000TL : $20,800/ first yr production 8595 KWh/Cost per KW 3.85
  [**]Same contractor: 5.4 KW DC PTC/ (20) Solarworld 270 Mono with Enphase 215 : $22,376/ first yr production xxxx/Cost per KW 4.14

For California, $3.85 a watt is a pretty good price, you did well in that deal. I'm a huge fan of SunPower, but over a $1.40 per watt difference really isn't justifiable IMO. In Arizona its more like $0.80 a watt which is far more reasonable.

[KRenn]

Hello all,

I'm looking to put solar on my house to offset my SCE bill. SCE currently has four tiers: .13/kWh up to 386 kWh; .16; .27; and .31. I'm looking to offset all but the first tier. My current usage is about 8200 kWh/yr, but I'm expecting that to go up to 11,800 kWh/yr., starting this month when I get an EV.

I've received 4 quotes so far, and this is the one I currently like best:

(24) SolarWorld 270 Mono
Enphase Microinverters - M215-60-2LL-S22
System Cost = $26,300
Rebate/Tax Credit = $8,672
Net Cost = $17,628
I could also do a Prepay Lease for $16,880

DC STC Rating = 6.480 kW
1st Year Production = 9,201 kWh

Gross Cost/kW DC = $4.06
Net Cost/kW DC = $2.72

I'm going to ask for a quote for a 5.940 kW system (22 SW 270 panels), producing 8200 kWh - leaving me with 3600 kWh/yr from SCE.

I have also received quotes from REC/Sunrun (3.57 kW system, 26 REC 255 panels, 5144 kWh production) for $11,081 net cost, $3.10 net cost/kW, $4.60 gross cost/kW; Solar City (5.390 kW system, 22 Chinese 245 panels, 9089 production) for $17,846 net cost, $3.31 net cost/kW, $4.73 gross cost/kW; and Verengo/Sunrun (unknown system, Yingli 255 panels, 7012 kWh production) for prepaid lease of $12,299.

I still want to get a quote from a local Sunpower installer - I know they are highly rated with the highest efficiency, but is the difference appreciable versus the Solar World panels?

Any comments would be welcomed - thanks!

Absurdly over-priced net cost for the brand of modules utilized. SolarCity especially happens to be ridiculously priced on any purchase.

[PenguinSolar]

Hi guys,

Is it true that you can only go twice of your sq ft of your house to get the incentive from CSI and Fed in Socal?

Thanks

The 2watt max per house sqft is only for new houses or remodeling. If you have 12mo history that will be your max for the CA Solar Initiative program.

You really don't want to size too much cause your excess only gets sold back at 3c/4c based on the spot market at the end of the year. Yeah it's the same KWh SCE sell to YOU at 12c-31c.

You aim should be to get to zero w/o too much excess or just enough to get our of tier 3 and tier 4.

Fed rebate has no max limit that I know of. http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/i...ive_Code=US37F Wrt CSI, contractors in our area say it ran out all steps and no money.

Yeah in San Diego and NorCal (PG&E) all the funds are out. But in SCE service area (LA/OC) there is still funds: 30MW out of 50MW (as of right now) so it's somewhat of land rush right now in LA/OC to claim the remaining CSI rebates . http://www.csi-trigger.com/

It's at .20/watt so not like a huge windfall but yeah every bit counts. The Fed Credits go all the way till end of 2016, so still time for those!

[bandit02]

Absurdly over-priced net cost for the brand of modules utilized. SolarCity especially happens to be ridiculously priced on any purchase.

What is your opinion of the REC panels? I understand that Sunpower are generally at the top, but I thought that REC made quality panels as well. Do you think $3.10/kW net cost is too much for REC?
My SolarWorld quote ($2.72/kW net cost) seems unbeatable - I will get a Sunpower quote this week, but I'd be surprised if they were in the ballpark, based on other quotes I have seen.

[silversaver]

Have any of you heard about Centrosolar panel? I got a quote that installerwere using 250W Centrosolar panel from Germany. I wonder how's the quality on these panels. I have never heard of Centrosolar before...

[silversaver]

Vasans,

Maybe you can share the installer info with me. I am ready and your setup looks really good. I'll go with 6kw and SMA 6000TL-US inverter. What license does the installers has? Does the wiring goes in attic? Are you plan on install the inverter inside or outside of garage?

Thanks

After much deliberations I am going Solarworld 270 mono panels with SMA SB5000TL (this SMA string inverter comes with a dedicated power outlet to use during grid supply outage: http://www.sma-america.com/en_US/pro...5000tl-us.html)

Here are the quotes from Canadian Solar, Sunpower and Solarworld dealers:- all cost figures are cash price including tax before fed rabate

• Contractor#1: 4.5 KW DC PTC/ (22) Canadian solar CS6P 250W panels/Enphase/Cash price $21,590/ first yr production 6934 KWh/Cost/per KW 4.8
• Contractor#2: 5.2 KW DC PTC/ (16) Sunpower E20 327 with (1) PowerOne5000/Cash price: $29,100/ first yr production 8927 KWh/Cos per KW 5.56
  [**]Same contractor: 5.72 KW DC PTC/ (22) Mitsubishi 260 HC with Enphase/first yr production 9217 KWh/Cash price: $24,370/ Cost per KW 4.26
• Contractor #3: 5.88 KW DC PTC/ (18) Sunpower E20 327 with (1) PowerOne5000/Cash price: $30,536/ first yr production 9362 KWh/ Cost per KW 5.2
• Contractor# 4: 5.4 KW DC PTC/ (20) Solarworld 270 Mono with (1) SMA SB5000TL : $20,800/ first yr production 8595 KWh/Cost per KW 3.85
  [**]Same contractor: 5.4 KW DC PTC/ (20) Solarworld 270 Mono with Enphase 215 : $22,376/ first yr production xxxx/Cost per KW 4.14

[vasans]

Yes he has full C-10 license and I will IM you shortly. We spoke about the wiring and it can be either way - in the attic or outside but aesthetically hidden etc (HOA mandates how outside wiring should be hidden). I am placing the inverter inside the garage. Pl note 6000TL us transformerless so lightweight and not so clunky.

Vasans,

Maybe you can share the installer info with me. I am ready and your setup looks really good. I'll go with 6kw and SMA 6000TL-US inverter. What license does the installers has? Does the wiring goes in attic? Are you plan on install the inverter inside or outside of garage?

Thanks

[silversaver]

Thanks vasnas for the referral.

Is there a limitation on size of solar system? Doe Socal Ed allow to go larger system than your pass 12 months usuage?

[vasans]

I don't think so. In fact I was considering 5.88 KW (10% above my annual use) and the contractor said folks tend to do that considering future increase - for example buying EV, future pool etc.

Thanks vasnas for the referral.

Is there a limitation on size of solar system? Doe Socal Ed allow to go larger system than your pass 12 months usuage?