Inheriting a system

[batesmarshall]

Please provide backup with that kind of assertion - otherwise it falls into the category of salesman's BS. The contract holder has no requirement or legal reason to get into the contract.

Hello Russ,

The attribution for my statement is as follows. It was described from the podium at the Sunshine Bonds confererence in New York City on May 13, 2013 by Kent Williams, COO of Lease Dimensions. Lease Dimensions is a backup servicing company that handles customer relations, billing management, etc. with several of the TPO companies in the market. Mr. Williams reported that over 500 leases under his company's management have been transferred, and a few have been renegotiated.

I'm a bit taken aback at the language and the tone you're using. Perhaps there is no added value to my contributions and I shouldn't participate? I have no "skin in the game" when describing TPO behavior, just describing what I've heard in the market.

Cheers,

Bates

[russ]

Hello Russ,I'm a bit taken aback at the language and the tone you're using. Perhaps there is no added value to my contributions and I shouldn't participate? I have no "skin in the game" when describing TPO behavior, just describing what I've heard in the market.

Cheers,

Bates

Cheers - Earlier I said in a private email thanks for your contributions and future contributions so don't get your knickers in a knot in public - I also said that I didn't agree on one point.

I see no legal reason why the party holding the paper would renegotiate a valid contract? Words at a conference are nice to hear about but I wouldn't give those words too much credence.

All parties dealing in solar goods have "skin in the game" actually.

Russ

[batesmarshall]

I see no legal reason why the party holding the paper would renegotiate a valid contract? Words at a conference are nice to hear about but I wouldn't give those words too much credence.

It's not a legal reason but rather a practical one. I ascribe it to the same behavior as polysilicon manufacturers agreeing to renegotiate long-term supply agreements in 2008-2009 as the price of poly fell from $400/kg to $40/kg on the spot market. Sometimes a paying customer at a new price is better than a customer who has stopped paying forcing a protracted legal fight.

Again, your mileage might vary...

All parties dealing in solar goods have "skin in the game" actually.

Fair enough.

Cheers,

Bates

[yelloguy]

Thanks to this forum I was able to have a conversation with a Sunrun rep yesterday and argue that the contract terms were not very homeowner friendly. He tried to feed me the "low rate" line and I told him that it is a measly 10% discount in the first year and it keeps going up when the utility rates have been steady for the last 10 years. He said I would be saving 3-5 pennies and I told him the savings were closer to a penny. In fact, he pretty much agreed to everything I brought up and in the end hit me on the head with the "you don't have a choice" line. Which is something I agree with.

So I would be sending him the necessary documents and take over the contract. Even though I know it is loaded against the homeowner.

The only choice the rep gave me on removing the "stairstep clause" (1.5% rate hike every year) was with "prepayment." And I told him that the way I see it is that instead of paying you in the future I will be paying you now. Which is not much a choice at all. He agreed with that too.

I will get the state AG's office look into their business practices. But otherwise I can't do anything about it.

[Ian S]

Thanks to this forum I was able to have a conversation with a Sunrun rep yesterday and argue that the contract terms were not very homeowner friendly. He tried to feed me the "low rate" line and I told him that it is a measly 10% discount in the first year and it keeps going up when the utility rates have been steady for the last 10 years. He said I would be saving 3-5 pennies and I told him the savings were closer to a penny. In fact, he pretty much agreed to everything I brought up and in the end hit me on the head with the "you don't have a choice" line. Which is something I agree with.

So I would be sending him the necessary documents and take over the contract. Even though I know it is loaded against the homeowner.

The only choice the rep gave me on removing the "stairstep clause" (1.5% rate hike every year) was with "prepayment." And I told him that the way I see it is that instead of paying you in the future I will be paying you now. Which is not much a choice at all. He agreed with that too.

I will get the state AG's office look into their business practices. But otherwise I can't do anything about it.

Worth a try anyway. I hope you made it clear to the rep that when folks ask you about your system, you'll be telling them to avoid Sunrun. Frankly, I think those escalator clauses are unconscionable ripoffs.

[HBJoe3]

Take it off my roof!

Yelloguy,

When I talked to a PPA provider they said having it removed from roof and the roof restored was an option on a transfer. I take it that is not the case here?

[russ]

Yelloguy,

When I talked to a PPA provider they said having it removed from roof and the roof restored was an option on a transfer. I take it that is not the case here?

Most likely an option you would have to pay for.

[HBJoe3]

Take it off my roof

Most likely an option you would have to pay for.

I believe you are right, but that is not what the sales guy said. The sales guy was 25 at best and his assistant was still living at home with his parents. The big Solar companies love doing leases and PPAs, is there really any value to those deals for small residentials systems?

I think Walmart would love a PPA for the known electricity costs over the next 20 years. I doubt they are paying an escalator.

[yelloguy]

HBJoe, removal is only an option after a "buyout" which is about 20k cost. Prepay is another option which pays all obligations for the next 20 years at about 10k.

Everyone, here is what I found out about the system:

24 panel array of Trina Solar panels, model number TSM-245PA05 with a STC DC rating of 245W. The inverter is a Power-One, model number PVI-5000-OUTD-US (240V) with an efficiency of 0.965. The systems STC DC (Standard Test Condition Direct Current) in kWh is 5.880 and the CEC AC (Alternating Current) in kWh is 5.162

Is this a good, bad or average system. I don't have much idea about how to read this except the total capacity. My contract promises 5300W generation every year. I sort of see that the system is rated at about 5880W. So I guess I am getting about 5880W and paying for the 5300W a year. That would give me a little "discount" in a sense, wouldn't it?