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Yes, we see that. I'm a big fan of S.P. quality, but the price is usually > $4.50/Watt or so, knocking out of the common sense range for long term cost effectiveness. At that $3.90 price point, Sunpower is a lot more competitive and actually be cost effective, or closer to it for some applications as long as it's a purchase.
Who's the vendor so others in your area can potentially get the same deal ? It would be a service to all in your area..Comment
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That's all i'm willing to share at this point
Sorry, my vendor is upset with me for sharing my deal to others. They said i got too good of a deal. I'm going to keep quiet until my system is installed and functional. At that point i will write a vendor review on Solarreviews.com and post a link on this thread. Thanks everyone for understanding this is a significant investment in my home that i don't want to jeopardize. I also think it is more appropriate to provide a vendor recommendation after the work is done and i can fully evaluate their performance. Good luck to everyone.Comment
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New to the forum from SoCal
Hi all, been reading for 15 pages and still haven't figured out the answer...
I got two quotes for a Sunpower 327 x 16 panel + Sunnyboy 5000 system: Company one is at $4.75/Kw and the other is $4.76, prior to negotiating.
I need some input as to what is a good/realistic deal in southern California (without the friends and family discount).
Thanks in advance, good people.Comment
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A good deal in terms of most bang for the buck is not with Sunpower equipment. Quality equipment and systems, fit for purpose and about equal to S.P. in terms of annual output for as long as you're likely to own it can usually be had for about a buck a Watt less, or ~ $3.50/Watt. If your heart's set on S.,P., some claim A $4.00/Watt or so. The best price for S.P. I've seen on a proposal or contract was $4.50/Watt.Comment
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only thing why some ppl use SP is because their panels are smaller so they can fit less on their roof if they are limited on space and has greater output at 345 compare to most other panels.
that's the situation i'm in...i'm limited on roof space so i can only get the most output if i go S.P...unless there are other options?Comment
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I'm aware of Sunpower's power density advantage. You should do what you feel is best. I'm of the opinion that, while some folks buy S.P. for the reason you cite, most people buy S.P stuff for the wrong reasons, based in incomplete and or erroneous information, a lot of it hype from S.P. That hype, and people's solar ignorance coupled with their gullibility were also some of the reasons why Sunpower was a very good stock to own for a few years.
In spite of all the save the planet talk, IMO, the real moving force behind residential solar PV is to save money by reducing an electric bill. Solar companies go to great lengths to sell equipment by touting savings, with some nod to the environment. If it were sold on environmental attributes alone, solar would be dead by now, just like solar thermal in the past when those tax credits ended.
What is not mentioned (understandably so) by the solar companies, is that in most applications where reducing an electric bill is the goal, throwing PV at a roof is about the least cost effective method among all the possible measures for cost effective bill reduction. As such, it often takes some real imaginative economic analysis before solar can make economic sense, and when it does (make economic sense), because it's usually the least cost effective, it's usually about the last thing done - not the first.
So, options: Within your lifestyle constraints, reduce your load doing the most cost effective stuff first, i.e, turn stuff off, as in turn off lights before changing out to LED's - not everyone's cup of tea, but the most cost effective. Change thermostat settings. The cost is zero. Insulate and seal the dwelling. Lower the DHW thermostat and add insulation to the tank and hot water lines. The list goes on.
One other option: It's entirely within the realm of possibility to not replace as much of your electrical load with solar. An example (with a LOT of simplification): Say you're electric usage is 12,500 kWh/yr., for which you currently pay, say, $3,600/yr. and you estimate it will take about an 8.28 kW system (24*345) to replace your entire usage (not a recommendation, but it makes the example easier for me to work). Now, say your roof is such that you need Sunpower due to space constraints. At $4.50/watt and 30% ITC, that system will cost you $26,100 out of pocket. Now, IF you replace those 24 S.P. 345's w/ say, 24 LG 300's, you can only fit an LG system of about 7.2 kW (300*24) in the same space, but it will only cost you $3.50/Watt, less 30%, for an out of pocket of $17,640, or $8,442 less than the S.P. system after ITC. But, you will have a higher electric bill as a consequence of the smaller (electrical) size array of the LG system (but about the same annual output/kW of, say, 1,600 kWh/yr. per installed kW). How much higher will the bill be ? A VERY oversimplified SWAG might be something like : (8.28-7.2) kW * (1,600 kWh/yr./kW) * ($3,600/12,500 kWh/yr.) = ~~ $500/yr.
So, given that the #'s are all back of envelope type, saving, or having the use of $8,460 at the expense of $500/yr. for as long as you are intending to own the system, may or may not be something that you see as an option, but it is one way of looking at it. So instead of $3,600/yr. your electric bill is $500/yr. and you've got about $8,400 to spend/invest in other things.
There's usually lots of options between all and nothing. Just sayin'.
As usual, take what you want of the above. Scrap the rest.Comment
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I would too. I tried as have others. I truly wish it were so as that would exert more downward pressure on prices. So far, I've not seen it on a contract.
S.P. pricing may be headed for something approaching $4.00+/Watt as prices generally drop and some additional reductions in selling price may happen if/as the ITC expires/changes, but my experience is that except in some what seem to be very unusual circumstances, at this time, or in the recent past of maybe 6 months or so, anything much less than $4.35/Watt selling price without after sale shenanigans like post sale rebates, or some employee or other type of added discount is not possible.Comment
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