Solar Panel System Disposal

[rsilvers]

You should tell us the racking, panels, and inverters used for each. Then details like if the inverters will be indoors or outdoors, and where the conduit will be run.

[rsilvers]

Yes. $3.40.

[Lexnice]

so 6.270kw = 6,270, right? then take the price ($21,318) and divide by watts (6,270) to get $3.40/watt?

[Lexnice]

Why did you pick one over the other? Who did you choose? All are less money than Solar City, but None seem to have the better warranties that Solar City offers.

[J.P.M.]

I am also considering a 6.270kw system for $21,318.00. How do I calculate how much that system is per watt?
I like their price, but their guarantees are not nearly as good as Solar City's. Anyone else have this dilemma before?

You divide the system size in Watts, by he system price in dollars to get dollars per Watt.

[Lexnice]

Amy, how did you arrive at the figure of $4.10 a watt?
Also, can you teach me about SREC's? Does everyone sell all of their SREC's for cash? How do you do that?
Thank you in advance.

[rsilvers]

Having just got 7 solar quotes, I see nothing that he said that makes me think $4.10 is too high without knowing more. He didn't even say what kind of panels they offered, so how can you say it is too high? What if they are 345 watt SunPower panels?

Nor do you know what kind of system was bought for $3.40 per watt. What if they are silver 240 watt polycrystalline panels with a string inverter and using L-feet without flashing and with 12 foot spreads between footings?

Dollar per watt are not comparable without knowing all of the details of the install.

SolarCity quoted me $6.40 per watt two years ago for SunPower.

[brewbeer]

Lexnice, did you say you were in Pittsfield? I live outside Springfield and just installed solar on my house. I solicited quotes from 4 locally owned companies, as keeping my business with a local company was important to me. I recommend you check out the Solar Store in Greenfield, Northeast Solar in Hatfield, PV Squared in Greenfield, and Beyond Green in Easthampton. They were all excellent and gave competitive quotes.

[mpkelley20]

I have no clue how installers get added there. If it's through user reviews, I guess I should probably write one! I know several others on here have used them as we all discussed it through PM when that was still active.

My installer has been doing solar since 2005. Originally he did commercial installs as residential was not exactly popular back then. When residential started to grow, he started doing it and was even hired by certain national companies as a contractor for a bit. He stopped doing that when they tried to force him to use cheaper components like racking. So now he only does installs for his own company and has his own crews. No sub contracting. I found him, as I mentioned, on the mass clean energy website which published every solar install in the state when they ran their rebate program.

[Lexnice]

I am also considering a 6.270kw system for $21,318.00. How do I calculate how much that system is per watt?
I like their price, but their guarantees are not nearly as good as Solar City's. Anyone else have this dilemma before?

[Lexnice]

How come your installer isn't listed in the SolarPanel Installer's reviews?

[Amy@altE]

Exactly. You ended up at $3.40 a watt, much better than $4.10. You actually got a terrific deal, I don't see many at that price. And again, SolarCity quoted much higher than every one else.

[mpkelley20]

And looks like we can name installers now. I see farokhboston listed his and I know he paid about the same as me (from a different thread). My installer was Acushnet Alternative Heating out of Acushnet, MA. They deal with solar, gas/wood/pellet stoves, heat pump heating/cooling systems and basically anything "alternative" to normal heating needs. Luke is the owner and knows more about MA solar than any of the big companies I spoke to. Most either told me blatant lies or had no clue. And it helped that my electric company (National Grid) and my town knew Luke so the process was easy.

[mpkelley20]

Get an installation quote from an installer other than SolarCity. They are notorious for high quotes for purchased systems to push people to their crappy lease. $4.10 a watt is too high, you can do better. There are some great installers here in MA, there's a reason SolarCity isn't on the MA approved list. Run away from them.

Way too high??!! When I did my pricing last year (system was installed in November), $4.10 was considered very low. I was getting ranges from $4 to $5.50 per watt (high was Solar City). I ended up paying $3.40 per watt through an installer I found on the mass clean energy website and NO ONE could touch those prices. I know prices are coming down but are they really that much lower today than they were a few months ago? I had installers tell me they would be losing money if they came in under $4 per watt.....

[farokhboston]

I live in Massachusetts, and am considering having a Solar Panel System installed on my home, by Solar City. I am weighing all of their options. They propose a 6.24 KWH system with 25 panels. Right now I am paying .21/kwh to Eversource. Average monthly bill is $105. 20 year costs (if there are zero rate increases for next 20 years) would be $25,200.
#1)Purchasing the system would cost $25,594, credits would be $7678 Fed, $1000 State, $7097 SREC, then tax on incentives would be $1890 Fed, and $297 State. Bottom line would be (ideally) $12006. My worries are that I'd have to finance the entire amount, wait for tax return next year to recoup tax credits, wait to recoup SREC sale through a broker, and also how will I dispose of the solar panels and system after 20 years or so? The only other costs would be minimal monthly charges to Eversource for having an account.
#2) Full Pre Pay would cost $11,285. The only other costs would be minimal monthly charges to Eversource for having an account.
I am thinking that Full Pre Pay is the best way to go.
Any thoughts or ideas about this choice?
Thank you

Lexnice,

There are many good installers. I personally went with SolarFlair, out of Ashland. You can look them up here.

They do good, quality work. They provided me with the lowest quote I could get (last year) and have been good with their processes.