I have been lurking and reading up lots over the last 3 weeks and appreciate much of the information provided on the forum. Great thanks!
After much reading, I brought Baker Electric, Horizon, Peterson Dean and Sullivan Solar to the house to provide a bid. My own homework suggested a 5.1kw system. Yearly usage is ~8600 last year, which is the highest it has ever been, but have a newborn at home and expect that to remain unchanged. I have generally been looking for a 95-100% offset.
Quotes in no particular order (multiple quotes from some installers):
5.12kw @ $3.50/w
LG320 & SolarEdge Inverter
5.18kw @ $4.49/w
SP345 & SP microinverters
5.32kw @ $3.69/w
Canadian 280 & Enphase Inverters
5.7kw @$4.17/w
Solar World 285 & Enphase Inverters
4.48kw @ $4.35/w
SP320 & SMA Sunny Boy Inverter
I felt 2 of the vendors shined on their focus on quality workmanship and general interest in maintaining the aesthetics of the system against the house. Others added it as an "add on" charge and one suggested external was just fine as long as it was hidden/painted as best as possible. I also felt these 2 vendors were the most educated and had more questions and specifics to offer than the other two.
I have asked the vendor supplying the last quote to provide a bid on a 5.1kw system. I am generally kind of surprised at the wide range of sizing I am getting. It seems some vendors quote on existing customer rates vs. NEM rates and others quote extremely conservative vs. aggressive/realistic? with many variables considered. I have some reservations about Enphase based on some of the reading about the company recently. Also, all the vendors suggested slightly different mounting locations, varying from South only, combo South & West, and West only. A small amount of 2 story shading is anticipated on the west facing roof area and was considered in the initial proposal.
The purchase will be all cash, and pay back looks to be between 5.5-7 years. I particularly like the first and last quotes but I don't think their pricing is very negotiable, which is OK. $1-2k will not sway me from one vendor to another, but am interested in whether or not these are high to begin with and need a push or are acceptable. I do think that the 2 vendors I anticipated leading the pack followed through with those expectations and will likely only deal with them.
What are your thoughts about these quotes? Anyone else I should seriously consider in North County, San Diego? I am very patient and am willing to do some more research and am willing to wait as long as January to make a decision. Tax Rebate turn around time is of no priority.
Thanks in advance!
After much reading, I brought Baker Electric, Horizon, Peterson Dean and Sullivan Solar to the house to provide a bid. My own homework suggested a 5.1kw system. Yearly usage is ~8600 last year, which is the highest it has ever been, but have a newborn at home and expect that to remain unchanged. I have generally been looking for a 95-100% offset.
Quotes in no particular order (multiple quotes from some installers):
5.12kw @ $3.50/w
LG320 & SolarEdge Inverter
5.18kw @ $4.49/w
SP345 & SP microinverters
5.32kw @ $3.69/w
Canadian 280 & Enphase Inverters
5.7kw @$4.17/w
Solar World 285 & Enphase Inverters
4.48kw @ $4.35/w
SP320 & SMA Sunny Boy Inverter
I felt 2 of the vendors shined on their focus on quality workmanship and general interest in maintaining the aesthetics of the system against the house. Others added it as an "add on" charge and one suggested external was just fine as long as it was hidden/painted as best as possible. I also felt these 2 vendors were the most educated and had more questions and specifics to offer than the other two.
I have asked the vendor supplying the last quote to provide a bid on a 5.1kw system. I am generally kind of surprised at the wide range of sizing I am getting. It seems some vendors quote on existing customer rates vs. NEM rates and others quote extremely conservative vs. aggressive/realistic? with many variables considered. I have some reservations about Enphase based on some of the reading about the company recently. Also, all the vendors suggested slightly different mounting locations, varying from South only, combo South & West, and West only. A small amount of 2 story shading is anticipated on the west facing roof area and was considered in the initial proposal.
The purchase will be all cash, and pay back looks to be between 5.5-7 years. I particularly like the first and last quotes but I don't think their pricing is very negotiable, which is OK. $1-2k will not sway me from one vendor to another, but am interested in whether or not these are high to begin with and need a push or are acceptable. I do think that the 2 vendors I anticipated leading the pack followed through with those expectations and will likely only deal with them.
What are your thoughts about these quotes? Anyone else I should seriously consider in North County, San Diego? I am very patient and am willing to do some more research and am willing to wait as long as January to make a decision. Tax Rebate turn around time is of no priority.
Thanks in advance!
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