New 4.8KW installation in San Diego just finished

[J.P.M.]

RFP? Are you the vendor or the client? Don't you mean RFQ? Your contract?? Maybe I didn't read all of this thread but selecting the proper vendor in the first place eliminates all this work you end-users are doing. Great entertainment though, keep it coming.

I am the buyer and end user. Whatever you may wish to call what I sent to vendors included more than a simple request for a quote based on best price, which is my understanding of what an R.F.Q. is mostly about, and included more details with expectations of more detailed discussions with potential bidders to follow. Hence the use of R.F.P. the way I learned/used the term. No matter to me really. Definitions and opinions about what to call the particulars of a bidding process are not as important to me as the process of clear and complete communication between all parties to the greatest extent possible, whether in a buying situation or a forum such as this.

My prior post was meant for informational purposes and to clear up a poor assumption I made in a prior post to the OP. I'd only suggest you consider taking it for what it's worth and leave what you don't want/like/need as you choose. I encourage constructive comment and criticism, and I enjoy a bit of sharp humor. I can do without the snide sarcasm.

I won't keep it coming so, the last word, should you want it, is yours.

J.P.M.

[control4userguy]

RFP? Are you the vendor or the client? Don't you mean RFQ? Your contract?? Maybe I didn't read all of this thread but selecting the proper vendor in the first place eliminates all this work you end-users are doing. Great entertainment though, keep it coming.

[J.P.M.]

The vendor...They were always polite but their project management style (very hands off with minimal contact) does not fit with my view of how a major project should be handled. They completed the work and the system appears to be working fine but their style does not match with my expectation of project management. Having been a director for over a decade of implementation groups handling both small and multi-million dollar projects, I held my employees and managers to a standard above that of my vendor.

I apologize for being unclear and assuming the vendor was handling all your paperwork.

Similar to you, I expected and made clear to all bidders on my project that they would be held to the same standards I held my depts. to when I was working. I also made sure all bidders understood my R.F.P. particulars before responding and during negotiation(s), including follow through and payment expectations and conditions. Two items in particular which were part of my R.F.P. and later became part of my contract : The successful vendor didn't get paid until system turn on, and, if they missed the completion date, they paid my electric bill until they completed work as a contract deduct. All bidders advertised and stated verbally to me a priori that they handled all paperwork, so I held them to their word. The project completed 8 days shy of schedule (10/03/13). The county inspec. showed up the following week Fri. (10/11/13). I did call SDG & E the following Tues. after inspec. to check paperwork progress/pass through between the county and SDG & E, and to ensure the vendor was following up. Coincidentally perhaps, my approval letter showed up 2 business days later, 10/17/13. I ceremonially fired up the system at solar noon that day, the proj. eng.. initiated the monitor the next day, and the salesperson showed up 10/21/13 and walked away w/ a check.

[thejq]

Sorry for the delay. No net metering was not enabled at that point. We did sign up immediately upon doing our contract at the end of July. Overall from signed contract to the install to the time SDGE finally approved us for netmetering it took about 73 days. We were told the project should run 60 days.

So what are you getting per day out of your system (fed back to SDGE, not produced as losses add up...)?

72 days doesn't sound that bad. You can see the production numbers in my signature. Not sure what you mean by losses. During the peak hours I feed back about 13-15 kWh excess a day these days. But at night I use them all and more to charge my cars.

[karlf]

Folks have had some luck calling them. What does the vendor say ?

The vendor...They were always polite but their project management style (very hands off with minimal contact) does not fit with my view of how a major project should be handled. They completed the work and the system appears to be working fine but their style does not match with my expectation of project management. Having been a director for over a decade of implementation groups handling both small and multi-million dollar projects, I held my employees and managers to a standard above that of my vendor.

[karlf]

What stage are you in? Have you gotten net metering enabled? Did you sign up your account online? -- it helps to speed up things using email. SDGE may or may not come at all, in fact they don't need to.

Sorry for the delay. No net metering was not enabled at that point. We did sign up immediately upon doing our contract at the end of July. Overall from signed contract to the install to the time SDGE finally approved us for netmetering it took about 73 days. We were told the project should run 60 days.

So what are you getting per day out of your system (fed back to SDGE, not produced as losses add up...)?

[sensij]

deleted - moved to a new thread

[inetdog]

Considering SDGE charges one of highest utility rates in the country (if not THE highest),

I am pretty sure that Hawaii has them beat. And probably parts of Alaska.

[russ]

Considering SDGE charges one of highest utility rates in the country (if not THE highest), and the abundant sunlight we get in SoCal, I'm not surprised at all that many San Diegans have come to the same conclusion as we. With net metering projected to close sometime in 2015 (for SDGE) and Fed 30% tax credit in 2016 (if not extended again), don't wait for too long before jumping the fence. Otherwise you might find yourself having to compete with a rush of procrastinator.

For the higher tiers maybe - 95% of the public have little interest or no chance if you step back and look at the solar PV concept clearly.

[thejq]

Considering SDGE charges one of highest utility rates in the country (if not THE highest), and the abundant sunlight we get in SoCal, I'm not surprised at all that many San Diegans have come to the same conclusion as we. With net metering projected to close sometime in 2015 (for SDGE) and Fed 30% tax credit in 2016 (if not extended again), don't wait for too long before jumping the fence. Otherwise you might find yourself having to compete with a rush of procrastinator.

[nomadh]

Thanks. I read many threads but never saw a "standard" way to rate $/watt. Sorry to threadjump a bit. I think I just got a bit excited to see a cluster of Sd people doing solar. I'll calm down now Looking forward to your further posts.

[thejq]

Hello San Dieagans. I'm still looking at my options for solar. A year ago I was considering a lease but got too busy to peruse the idea. Was almost sold on ppa just recently with solarcity but want more flexibility and not be paying for 20 years. Got a couple local contractors to look at it and one was offering enphase at a good price I thought. About 5.7 kw AC for $16k after 30% tax off. So about $2.8/kw I guess. Everyone throws around $/kw but never mentions AC or DC or pre or post incentives. Is there a standard? Anyway I'm still working on it and I ran across the Sunnyboy string inverter with emergency power of 1.5 kw during grid outage. I'm actually now considering 1/2 enphase for the shade part and 1/2 sunnyboy so I can have emergency power. solarelectricsupply consultant so far thinks its a money saving and very compatible compromise. Just wondering if any of you have done something like this or see any problems with it.
I look forward to seeing details on your installs and comparing notes in the future.

The convention is to quote pre-incentive $$$ per rated DC watt. It's because different region has different rebate. DC to AC efficiency is not standard either. In SD, a good starting point is $3.5/watt. Most good negotiator on a good day (installer is not back logged) can get it lower by $0.1-$0.2. Any lower, I'd question the bankability and integrity of the installer.

[sensij]

Got a couple local contractors to look at it and one was offering enphase at a good price I thought. About 5.7 kw AC for $16k after 30% tax off. So about $2.8/kw I guess. Everyone throws around $/kw but never mentions AC or DC or pre or post incentives. Is there a standard?

As described by J.P.M. and others in several other threads:

Example: system cost paid to vendor : $25,000. System size = 5,000 nameplate (D.C.) Watts. Cost/Watt = $25,000/5,000 Watts = $5.00/Watt.

Starting with total costs puts all on the same footing and helps avoid pricing confusion when others are offering (usually) informed opinions. Knowledgeable folks are giving you free advice, yours to take/leave as you wish. Helping them out seems a considerate thing to do in my book.

In other words, use the nameplate rating (DC) and the pre-incentive costs to calculate the $ / W. It would be better to start a new thread to discuss your system.

[nomadh]

Hello San Dieagans. I'm still looking at my options for solar. A year ago I was considering a lease but got too busy to peruse the idea. Was almost sold on ppa just recently with solarcity but want more flexibility and not be paying for 20 years. Got a couple local contractors to look at it and one was offering enphase at a good price I thought. About 5.7 kw AC for $16k after 30% tax off. So about $2.8/kw I guess. Everyone throws around $/kw but never mentions AC or DC or pre or post incentives. Is there a standard? Anyway I'm still working on it and I ran across the Sunnyboy string inverter with emergency power of 1.5 kw during grid outage. I'm actually now considering 1/2 enphase for the shade part and 1/2 sunnyboy so I can have emergency power. solarelectricsupply consultant so far thinks its a money saving and very compatible compromise. Just wondering if any of you have done something like this or see any problems with it.
I look forward to seeing details on your installs and comparing notes in the future.

[thejq]

Really? I've been waiting 8 days for SDGE to come out. The whole process has dragged forever...

What stage are you in? Have you gotten net metering enabled? Did you sign up your account online? -- it helps to speed up things using email. SDGE may or may not come at all, in fact they don't need to.