Hi all,
after doing some research myself, I decided to tap into the vast knowledge of everyone else in here to get some additional opinions/comments/feedback
1. Monitoring & data privacy:
I live in CT, and CT has some nice additional incentives through CT Green bank. The catch is that they make you sign a contract that will allow them to access all the data from the monitoring tool. Period. There is no additional information as to what they are doing with the data or who they might be sharing it with. Since CT Green bank is sort of a state institution they have to abide by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Unfortunately, I could not find out if my data that I would allow them access to would fall under that, but I have to think that it would.
I know that lots of folks don't really care what happens with their data (especially if they get paid for it), but unfortunately for me, I do care and I'd like to know what kind of data they access, how they protect it in their systems and so on. The same obviously holds true for the solar company that I'm gong with. I found it really hard to find out any detailed information about how data is transferred to them, if it's encrypted, how they are sharing it with, general data privacy agreements and so on. Again - I understand that many of you might not be as concerned as I am, but if anyone else likes to put on their "tin hat", please let me know your thoughts and if you have any additional information.
2. Sunpower & customer service:
Now from what I gather, Sunpower panels are really expensive, but from a quality and performance/efficiency point of view they are top notch. Would that be an accurate statement? However, browsing through various company review sites, and solar panel review sites, I keep getting the impressions that Sunpower has the worst customer service ever. Everyone seems to be satisfied as long as it works, but most people seem to have an issue with calling in issues and getting Sunpower to react at all or at least within a decent amount of time. Has anyone had any experience in that regard with Sunpower? Maybe especially people in CT?
3. Contract & Arbitration clause:
The contract I was presented from Sunpower states that I would agree to waive my rights to a traditional court of law, and it would be settled through arbitration. I have never dealt with arbitration, so I don't know if this is an acceptable clause. After doing some research I found out that it is quite common to do that, but I still have a funny feeling about it. Not that I would not believe a big national company *sarcasmoff*, but I am sure there is some agenda behind the fact that they rather go through arbitration than through a court system - and I doubt that they are doing it because they are only looking out for the well being of their customers.
4. Sunpower panels:
As already indicated, I know that Sunpower panels are top dollars. I have to admit that I really like the fact that they are very efficient, which allows me to keep the number of panels down - which is one of my objectives. I am also very much in favor of the design of the X21-335 due to the fact that they are all black with no white backboard, which is very appealing to me. I received a quote for $18,509.00 before any incentives (state + federal) for a 4.36 kW system. Can I get some comments on that as well? Does that seem reasonable?
If anyone has other recommendations that meet the criteria of low number of panels, all black, ~4.40 kW, I appreciate your recommendations.
5. Companies in CT:
If anyone has recommendations for solar companies in CT (general Hartford area / Middlesex county), I'd appreciate any recommendations (I hope that does not interfere with any forum rules, if it does, please disregard). I've already done some shopping around, but since it is a big purchase, I'd rather spend some extra time to look at all my options.
6. Any additional advice for newbies:
If you know of any common pitfalls or have additional advice, let me have it
That's all folks, thanks for your ideas/comments/thoughts in advance, hope that someday I will have more knowledge of solar and can contribute to this forum as well.
Thanks!!
PS: Don't feel obliged to answer them all, if you can contribute to just one of them, I'd greatly appreciate it as well.
after doing some research myself, I decided to tap into the vast knowledge of everyone else in here to get some additional opinions/comments/feedback
1. Monitoring & data privacy:
I live in CT, and CT has some nice additional incentives through CT Green bank. The catch is that they make you sign a contract that will allow them to access all the data from the monitoring tool. Period. There is no additional information as to what they are doing with the data or who they might be sharing it with. Since CT Green bank is sort of a state institution they have to abide by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Unfortunately, I could not find out if my data that I would allow them access to would fall under that, but I have to think that it would.
I know that lots of folks don't really care what happens with their data (especially if they get paid for it), but unfortunately for me, I do care and I'd like to know what kind of data they access, how they protect it in their systems and so on. The same obviously holds true for the solar company that I'm gong with. I found it really hard to find out any detailed information about how data is transferred to them, if it's encrypted, how they are sharing it with, general data privacy agreements and so on. Again - I understand that many of you might not be as concerned as I am, but if anyone else likes to put on their "tin hat", please let me know your thoughts and if you have any additional information.
2. Sunpower & customer service:
Now from what I gather, Sunpower panels are really expensive, but from a quality and performance/efficiency point of view they are top notch. Would that be an accurate statement? However, browsing through various company review sites, and solar panel review sites, I keep getting the impressions that Sunpower has the worst customer service ever. Everyone seems to be satisfied as long as it works, but most people seem to have an issue with calling in issues and getting Sunpower to react at all or at least within a decent amount of time. Has anyone had any experience in that regard with Sunpower? Maybe especially people in CT?
3. Contract & Arbitration clause:
The contract I was presented from Sunpower states that I would agree to waive my rights to a traditional court of law, and it would be settled through arbitration. I have never dealt with arbitration, so I don't know if this is an acceptable clause. After doing some research I found out that it is quite common to do that, but I still have a funny feeling about it. Not that I would not believe a big national company *sarcasmoff*, but I am sure there is some agenda behind the fact that they rather go through arbitration than through a court system - and I doubt that they are doing it because they are only looking out for the well being of their customers.
4. Sunpower panels:
As already indicated, I know that Sunpower panels are top dollars. I have to admit that I really like the fact that they are very efficient, which allows me to keep the number of panels down - which is one of my objectives. I am also very much in favor of the design of the X21-335 due to the fact that they are all black with no white backboard, which is very appealing to me. I received a quote for $18,509.00 before any incentives (state + federal) for a 4.36 kW system. Can I get some comments on that as well? Does that seem reasonable?
If anyone has other recommendations that meet the criteria of low number of panels, all black, ~4.40 kW, I appreciate your recommendations.
5. Companies in CT:
If anyone has recommendations for solar companies in CT (general Hartford area / Middlesex county), I'd appreciate any recommendations (I hope that does not interfere with any forum rules, if it does, please disregard). I've already done some shopping around, but since it is a big purchase, I'd rather spend some extra time to look at all my options.
6. Any additional advice for newbies:
If you know of any common pitfalls or have additional advice, let me have it
That's all folks, thanks for your ideas/comments/thoughts in advance, hope that someday I will have more knowledge of solar and can contribute to this forum as well.
Thanks!!
PS: Don't feel obliged to answer them all, if you can contribute to just one of them, I'd greatly appreciate it as well.
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