Combining install with rewiring and how best to approach

[olindacat]

Wife and I have met with and gotten half a dozen rough estimates, from big and small solar companies alike, as well as GCs and lic electricians, to install a grid-tie PV system in our 700 sf cottage, which is undergoing a reno. There are a variety of things that are making us feel like we need to move on this, while at the same time, we wish we could take our sweet time. One is the cottage needs to be completely rewired, roof is being redone, and structure being reinforced. So, getting an installer in now, while this work is easily modified to suit him/her, seems logical. Then there is the idea of combining services, e.g., getting house rewired and getting PV grid-tie done too by same contractor. I've gotten quotes for combining both, doing each separately. But the biggest obstacle we are encountering is the disparity in price from one installer/co to another. Some quote us a price per panel, e.g., $1k installed. Some price a system. Some tell us we can pay for the materials directly from their supplier and pay them for the install. I wish I could do it myself but I am too clumsy and out of shape and busy. Also, there is a question as to whether I can even DIY as Maui seems to require a Lic elect to do the job. Then there is the "design". Everyone wants electric bills but, of course, we have not lived there. We know we use about 750kwh a month, but want to add an EV into the mix, for which we will need about 500kwh/mo. Clearly, with a small 30x20 roof, this seems impossible, but that is where the decision on installer being made now is so important, bc we are considering adding a carport/deck with arbor to hold more panels. I have an electrician who will rewire the cottage, pull all the permits, and install the panels and tie it into grid for $14K labor. He quotes me $14,600 for 30 CS6P 250w mono panels, Enphase M215 microinverters, using Solarmount E Uniracs. I get my own tax credits to apply against this. Seems so appealing I am tempted to toss away all logic (insofar as design, warranty, etc. is concerned). It is very overwhelming.

Wondering if anyone here has any thoughts on if this is the best way to approach this (going with the electrican and cheaping out)?
I respect and appreciate that system design is very important and see sites that will do this for about $600. Is this a smart approach?
I am afraid our electric co, MECO, will stop accepting apps any day now due to limited 'capacity', so I am panicked.
This is exacerbated by the potential change in tax credits that are looming.
Any input is valued.

[Naptown]

That is under 500 a panel for the system. Does that include the equipment or do you buy on your own?

[olindacat]

It includes everything.

That is under 500 a panel for the system. Does that include the equipment or do you buy on your own?

It is almost half the price of what most vendors out here are wanting to charge. The electrician is known here and has been in business over 15 yrs. He is charging me $9k to install, and $5K to rewire cottage. The material (panels, racks, microinverters) he quotes @$14600 for 30 panels. I can get a 40 Canadian Solar panel 10.2 system for $18.5K from several outlets on mainland and have shipped. I don't know that I can handle that many panels though.

[inetdog]

It is almost half the price of what most vendors out here are wanting to charge. The electrician is known here and has been in business over 15 yrs. He is charging me $9k to install, and $5K to rewire cottage. The material (panels, racks, microinverters) he quotes @$14600 for 30 panels. I can get a 40 Canadian Solar panel 10.2 system for $18.5K from several outlets on mainland and have shipped. I don't know that I can handle that many panels though.

One problem you may have, and you will have to get the information from the POwer COmpany (POCO) if you cannot get it from the previous owner, is that POCO may not give rebates for (or even allow) a system which is expected to produce more energy (kWh) per year than the "current" historic usage for your property.
Find out about that before you go for a system which might be too big.

On the mainland prices for a grid tie system vary from place to place but for a full install cost between about $4 and $5 per watt. That includes panels, inverter, wiring, labor, permits and inspections.
The panels alone, not installed, can run from a low of $.75 per watt, not including shipping, which for HI is a big deal, to $2.00 per watt for top of the line panels. Canadian Solar has a very good reputation, as you may have noticed on here.

Given that you have found at least one electrician who will do both the rewire and the PV installation, yes it should be cheapest to go with that and to coordinate it with the roofing. If the structure under the roof is not strong enough to support the wind load on the panels, now would be the time to fix that.

[olindacat]

Very helpful thanks.

One problem you may have, and you will have to get the information from the POwer COmpany (POCO) if you cannot get it from the previous owner, is that POCO may not give rebates for (or even allow) a system which is expected to produce more energy (kWh) per year than the "current" historic usage for your property.
Find out about that before you go for a system which might be too big.

On the mainland prices for a grid tie system vary from place to place but for a full install cost between about $4 and $5 per watt. That includes panels, inverter, wiring, labor, permits and inspections.
The panels alone, not installed, can run from a low of $.75 per watt, not including shipping, which for HI is a big deal, to $2.00 per watt for top of the line panels. Canadian Solar has a very good reputation, as you may have noticed on here.

Given that you have found at least one electrician who will do both the rewire and the PV installation, yes it should be cheapest to go with that and to coordinate it with the roofing. If the structure under the roof is not strong enough to support the wind load on the panels, now would be the time to fix that.

That's very helpful. Yes, I have done a lot of research (almost too much) and know prices here much are higher than on mainland. One GC (who also has his own solar co) would not touch the price I got, and he is a friend of mine. I factor in savings that this installer does not have to carry for overhead, like sales commissions, advertising, website costs, etc. He is also coming off of a vacation and may need the money/job right now.

One thing I know for sure is without any permit approvals and POCO approvals, I am not giving him anything more than the app fees and T&L for that legwork. That is, if I even go that route. It adds up to about $30 and even with tax credits I'm still looking at a lot of $.

[inetdog]

That's very helpful. Yes, I have done a lot of research (almost too much) and know prices here much are higher than on mainland. One GC (who also has his own solar co) would not touch the price I got, and he is a friend of mine. I factor in savings that this installer does not have to carry for overhead, like sales commissions, advertising, website costs, etc. He is also coming off of a vacation and may need the money/job right now.

One thing I know for sure is without any permit approvals and POCO approvals, I am not giving him anything more than the app fees and T&L for that legwork. That is, if I even go that route. It adds up to about $30 and even with tax credits I'm still looking at a lot of $.

One more factor you might want to take into consideration is that some panel or GTI manufacturers will only interact with a dealer for warranty and service issues, even though they may sell to anyone or a dealer in another state may sell stuff to you or your installer. You experience may vary depending on what brands you choose.

[Naptown]

One more factor you might want to take into consideration is that some panel or GTI manufacturers will only interact with a dealer for warranty and service issues, even though they may sell to anyone or a dealer in another state may sell stuff to you or your installer. You experience may vary depending on what brands you choose.

And Canadian solar is not particularly warranty friendly.
Read their warranty