The 12k is pay directly to the builder. I spoke with the SunPower rep went over the system. They told me the builder decides the cost, not them. And they suggest to talk to the builder about the cost as well.
We really like the house, so yes, I think that left us no choice for install them at whatever price they want to charge us.
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Well if I were a GC in CA I would have paid off my politicians big time to get the bill passed to require solar on new home construction. Both politician and GC will get quite rich and can retire comfortable (in another state of course) before CA becomes a state of Mexico after the state chases tax payers, businesses, and home owners off. Needs to be speed up IMO by taking down the fence/wall between San Diego and Tijuana. Mexico does not need a military to take over CA, just occupy it and keep Jerry in office.Last edited by Sunking; 05-16-2018, 07:54 PM.Leave a comment:
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If I'm buying a house for $900K, and it's the house that I want, in the location that I want, with one of the builders that I want, then having to spend $12k on a solar system that is really only worth $8k (or $6k or whatever) may be the logical choice.
It's true that there's always another house.
But it's also true that you're always going to have some tradeoffs for any house you are considering. And this tradeoff may be less of a drawback than (for example) the house down the street that has orange formica countertops in the kitchen that look just like the ones from the Brady Bunch.
Not my life/choice/$$, but from where I sit, the whole thing seems like a con perpetrated on the meek and solar ignorant, particularly using Sunpower stuff. Reads to me like the OP isn't aware of what a poor deal he's walking into, or that there are always alternatives, including some perhaps tough or less than easy negotiating that can save $$ and or future options.
Besides, any system now may limit future choices or cost more from lost/unavailable tax credits in the future if/when more appropriate sizing or different/more cost effective options become obvious.Leave a comment:
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Is it that you'd pay $12k directly to the Sunpower contractor?
Or that you'd pay it to the builder and it'd be itemized out?
My guess is the builder is getting either free labor from the Sunpower contractor or getting an actual payment from them if he has a contract to use them exclusively.
So if you choose not to install with the Sunpower contractor, he probably has $1-2k less profit on the house.
So to get him to not install solar may mean paying him more. (but obviously it should be significantly less than the $12k they'd want for adding solar.)
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It's true that there's always another house.
But it's also true that you're always going to have some tradeoffs for any house you are considering. And this tradeoff may be less of a drawback than (for example) the house down the street that has orange formica countertops in the kitchen that look just like the ones from the Brady Bunch.
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I appreciate everyone's helpful inputs. I think I might just have to negotiate the cost with the builder, although, I don't think they are likely going to give me discount since if they give me discount, builders will risk themselves to give rest the of the new house buyers the same discount.
Our family really likes this house a lot, so might just suck it up and considerate the high price as collateral damage. =/
Or, you can roll over and take it in the shorts from some builder. Paying more for something not sized/designed to be fit for purpose and calling it collateral damage is a new one on me. Maybe call it self inflicted collateral damage. There's always another house you know. Another example of emotion always causing more damage than logic.Leave a comment:
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If the installation itself is mandatory, see if you can get him to reduce the size of the system by claiming you won't use that much power. (i.e. "we've never used A/C.") Then get a cheaper system added later if the numbers work out.Leave a comment:
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San Francisco for one. Here's an article, it doesn't list the 5 cities, but there are 5 cities requiring new construction to have it installed currently. https://projectearth.us/in-typical-f...qui-1798345376
FWIW, I wasn't trying to say that's the situation this individual is in, it sounds like it's what his builder is doing. We've got a number of neighborhoods around here built that way in the past few years, and well, they'll all be required to pretty soon in CA.Leave a comment:
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I appreciate everyone's helpful inputs. I think I might just have to negotiate the cost with the builder, although, I don't think they are likely going to give me discount since if they give me discount, builders will risk themselves to give rest the of the new house buyers the same discount.
Our family really likes this house a lot, so might just suck it up and considerate the high price as collateral damage. =/
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The builder only told me it's model SunPower x21-335, 9 panels, 3kW.
Yes, I did my research and it is $4.13/Watt, but some threads did indicate SunPower panels are expensive like that, so I just wanna see if that's a right price for the brand.
ANYONE ELSE KNOWS HOW MUCH THEY CHARGED OUT THERE?
Got it, thank you, I did my calculation wrong. I asked my tax guy, so basically I will get $3720 back for sure.
It's still a $12400 borrowed amount added to my 30 years fix rate mortgage, just we will get the $3720 back next year. Still gotta pay that interest!
I stayed in Tier 1 about 10 months a year, only July and August I will barely use Tier 2 energy. My bills from SCE is usually $40 in winter, $60 in summer.
That's why I am saying I will never get my investment return in this lifetime. Sadness. Hey, but at least the new house looks nice. Thanks for replying! =)
I'd try to get that $/W down towards $3, 335's aren't ultra expensive panels today.
BTW, what Power Optimizers and Inverters are they planning on installing. You want to make sure these are decent as well.
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But maybe this "required" from the builder is negotiable.
If it isn't negotiable, he needs to figure out if he stays with this builder (costing him ~$5k) - or if he finds another builder.
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Okay. Don't know CA situation but I thought he was stuck in a community where local rules required PV installation and his only choice was to go through the home builder. Sounds like the answer is to not buy solar from the home builder and get more favorable competitive bids.Leave a comment:
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Actually, that would be a state wide mandate, that would go into effect. There are a number of municipalities in CA that require new construction to have Solar PV installed today, most at least require a roof space designed to support solar (i.e. so many Sqft of contiguous roof space based on Sqft of the house, on the same plane and without any vents or other items that would prevent contiguous running of pannels.)Leave a comment:
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Well you are screwed twice. Living in CA and forced to pay a hidden tax. Your calculations look right. At 4200 Kwh per year works out to to 350 Kwh a month, about 1/2 of of what you will likely use. Average monthly is right around 600 Kwh in CA. At $74 month extra means you are paying $74/350 Kwh = 21-cents per Kwh all up front in cash. Of course it will not likely cover and leave you buying about half your power. No problem you got lots of cash to spare.
Or you could move to a different state like TX where electric rates are 7 to 8-cents per Kwh, and if you use more than 2500 Kwh a month , the rate goes even lower. No state income tax either. Wait until Dan hits you with an extra 80-cents per gallon gasoline tax ( in addition to the 60.3 cents you already pay) he wants to impose on you for living in CA so no one can afford to drive.
FWIW you are forced to pay roughly 30% more than your neighbor has to pay for a Solar system. You guys got what you asked for, 4 more years of Jerry Brown. By that time you will be a state of Mexico when Nieto runs for President of CA. No hay coincidencia con todos los ilegales.
I'd really go look at PVWatt.com and put in the information there, and figure out what you're getting at least broken down by the month. And figure what you're power consumption is through throughout the year. The power company may have an average power usage by the month for the size of house, go look at it. Also, look to see if you're actually get moved automatically to a Time of use plan because you're solar. I know PG&E is doing it where I live.
BTW, this may get posted late, as I still do not have posting privileges and will need to be reviewedLeave a comment:
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