HELP - SolarCity vs. SunPower Quotes

[KRenn]

SO i asked to quote with the Power One and Sun Power price came down.

Now I have 2 solid options:

SunPower 16x327 5.23 System
SolarCity 19x260 4.94 System

Both with Power One 5000 Inverter

Zero Down - Zero Escelator

SunPower is $4 higher - Seems like the winner.

As a side not Sungevity same system as SolarCity was $33 more expensive per month. Apples to Apples.

In that case, I pretty much see it as a no-brainer, better equipment, bigger system, better production, all for $4 a month more.

[kbaillie]

My Bay Area Quote

This is all very interesting. I've been weighing the SunPower vs Solar City decision myself, and decided on SunPower for the same reasons. Higher production, better quality, all for $4 a month more than SC. Here's the catch though: my lease numbers are way higher than yours!

SunPower Lease
Year 1 Estimated Production: 7,182 kWh
4.58 kW (DC), 4.05 kW (AC) SunPower System 14 x SunPower E20/327 Solar Panel
Solar Mount Mounting System
1 x SPR-4200p-TL (240) 4.2kW
Initial Payment $0
Monthly Lease Payment $111
New Utility Bill $5
Total Monthly Cost of Electricity $116
SunPower Cost per kWh1 $0.19
Utility Cost per kWh $0.19
Annual Increase to Monthly Payment 2.9%
Net Savings Over 20 Years $19,454
The Planet’s Most Powerful Solar® valued at $23,941

I'm wondering why? I've got an 800+ credit score, so I can't imagine credit is the issue. I know solar rebates and permits are a mess - does my San Francsico Bay Area (Marin County) location really result in $40-50/mo more per month in payments? Sounds pretty steep to me! Am I just getting jacked because I didn't negotiate?

As a point of reference, SC offered a $107/mo lease (including a main panel upgrade and Tesla High Powered Wall Connector upgrade) and Sungevity was $126/mo.

Maybe I should search the forums for related topics. But either way, hope these numbers (and this specific situation) might help as a direct comparison for other Bay Area solar wannabes...

[Naptown]

Get a quote from another SPR dealer pricing can vary widely.

[bonaire]

Kballie, you mentioned tesla wall upgrade. Do you have a Tesla in the garage? If the installer saw that, they would add a couple cents per kWh because you appear to have funds. Don't show your hand in terms of assets owned.

The .19 kWh price is shown with a 2.9% annual increase. That is wht the lease will do even if your local utility lowers their price. You may want to find a good installer willing to do a similar system where you own it and they install it at a fair, about $5/watt, price turnkey. Prices for solar are cheaper in other states compared to Cal. Your utilities higher prices and permit fees are why you have the higher solar prices now.

It's a problem when a solar lease company starts with an equal price to the utility. They should start with .16 to make it attractive and fair.

[gabrielrat]

This is all very interesting. I've been weighing the SunPower vs Solar City decision myself, and decided on SunPower for the same reasons. Higher production, better quality, all for $4 a month more than SC. Here's the catch though: my lease numbers are way higher than yours!

SunPower Lease
Year 1 Estimated Production: 7,182 kWh
4.58 kW (DC), 4.05 kW (AC) SunPower System 14 x SunPower E20/327 Solar Panel
Solar Mount Mounting System
1 x SPR-4200p-TL (240) 4.2kW
Initial Payment $0
Monthly Lease Payment $111
New Utility Bill $5
Total Monthly Cost of Electricity $116
SunPower Cost per kWh1 $0.19
Utility Cost per kWh $0.19
Annual Increase to Monthly Payment 2.9%
Net Savings Over 20 Years $19,454
The Planet’s Most Powerful Solar® valued at $23,941

I'm wondering why? I've got an 800+ credit score, so I can't imagine credit is the issue. I know solar rebates and permits are a mess - does my San Francsico Bay Area (Marin County) location really result in $40-50/mo more per month in payments? Sounds pretty steep to me! Am I just getting jacked because I didn't negotiate?

As a point of reference, SC offered a $107/mo lease (including a main panel upgrade and Tesla High Powered Wall Connector upgrade) and Sungevity was $126/mo.

Maybe I should search the forums for related topics. But either way, hope these numbers (and this specific situation) might help as a direct comparison for other Bay Area solar wannabes...

I would ask them to quote with the Power One Inverter. That dropped the price significantly for me.

[SoCalsolar]

If I remember correctly

If I remember correctly Gabe is in LADWP territory. They have a higher rebate $1.05 if memory is correct and are flirting with a FIT. The bay area is more than likely PG&E whose rebate is gone? Upfront money is everything with leases. Well not everything but it has a very large impact on your payment. That being said LADWP has much lower rates than PG&E. I suspect this is more so the cause than any type of car in the garage. Going from utility to utility in CA is like going state to state in price comparison. We have electricity generating fiefdoms here and we hardly ever get eaten by sharks when we surf.

[gabrielrat]

If I remember correctly Gabe is in LADWP territory. They have a higher rebate $1.05 if memory is correct and are flirting with a FIT. The bay area is more than likely PG&E whose rebate is gone? Upfront money is everything with leases. Well not everything but it has a very large impact on your payment. That being said LADWP has much lower rates than PG&E. I suspect this is more so the cause than any type of car in the garage. Going from utility to utility in CA is like going state to state in price comparison. We have electricity generating fiefdoms here and we hardly ever get eaten by sharks when we surf.

Yes LADWP

[SolarQuadrant]

I know solar rebates and permits are a mess - does my San Francisco Bay Area (Marin County) location really result in $40-50/mo more per month in payments? Sounds pretty steep to me! Am I just getting jacked because I didn't negotiate?

The permit fees are pretty reasonable at least in the east bay; it is around around $300-$400 and depending on the valuation of the project provided by the with the application. The norm is for up to 2 local inspections; then the PG&E request once local inspectors have signed-off for the net meter install. The PG&E process is straightforward too - with compete and accurate submission of the required documentation.