Getting bids for system in the OC

[russ]

He went with someone else. Wanted to PM him, but I have post here 10 times before I can PM someone, so hopefully it's OK to release the vendor's name in on the forum.

A name is fine - it shouldn't sound like an advertisement is all.

[buellwinkle]

He went with someone else. Wanted to PM him, but I have post here 10 times before I can PM someone, so hopefully it's OK to release the vendor's name in on the forum.

[jakewa]

solar panel installer in los angeles

this great list of solar forums,thanks for sharing with us.

Mod note - If you wish to advertise contact user name Jason - repeat attempts like this will cause you to be banned.

[rbintl]

They were in the Costco store when I first talked with them. A quick google search for 'sunrun costco' will take you to their page that lets you fill in your info. It's kind of a stange setup since SunRun is doing the work but you are actually buying the Panels and Inverters through Costco. I'm not willing to upload my contract. I would really suggest getting quotes from some other vendors to get the cost down.

darkhelmet, did you end up closing with Sunrun? I'm trying to grind my rep down and getting other vendors to quote to bring down price on my desired system size. My start point was above $4 for you to bring them down was awesome and inspires me to just keep working it.

[rbintl]

let me know how pitch from Sunrun goes?

What company did you end up going with? Sunrun is giving me the sales pitch tomorrow.

Bruellwinkle, I got the original pitch from Sunrun on Saturday and their initial offer was $4.12. I live in Laguna Hills. She called me back today (Monday) and reminded me they price match. I believe I can work her down but it's going to be a grind. I'm just going to have to find a way to show her a price match and have all the dogs fight it out and bring the price down. My goal is to get her in the low $3's or similar to like others on this thread? Let me know how your pitch with Sunrun goes and we can compare. You may have the same rep as I did? Her name is Kendra.

[buellwinkle]

What company did you end up going with? Sunrun is giving me the sales pitch tomorrow.

[darkhelmet]

Thanks for you inspiration. I've been getting bids in the $5.25/watt range and I told them, at that rate, it's not cost effective. Good to see you got some good bids in the O.C. (I'm in Laguna Niguel). I've filled out the form for Sunrun and see what they say. I'll also check with Costco. Based on what SDG&E tells me, I need a 7KW system, so at $3.25/W I think that will be affordable after tax credits.

How long is the permit process taking? And how long will the install take once started?

Glad to help. Premitting will depend on the city. I think mine is over the counter so it's quick. If you have an HOA that could take a while too. Install shouldn't take more than a couple days since its just one slab of roof that all the panels go on. A more complicated roof could take more time.

[darkhelmet]

hey darkhelmet, im in long beach not far from you I think. you say you were going to buy from Costco. was that Costco services? all I see on their website is some junk called grape solar.

They were in the Costco store when I first talked with them. A quick google search for 'sunrun costco' will take you to their page that lets you fill in your info. It's kind of a stange setup since SunRun is doing the work but you are actually buying the Panels and Inverters through Costco. I'm not willing to upload my contract. I would really suggest getting quotes from some other vendors to get the cost down.

[buellwinkle]

Another thing to keep in mind with Sunrun, and possibly other big installers, is they will probably deal more at the end of a month or quarter to make sure they hit their numbers. Definitely get multiple quotes so they have competition but I would wait until the end of a month and see what else they will give you.

Thanks for you inspiration. I've been getting bids in the $5.25/watt range and I told them, at that rate, it's not cost effective. Good to see you got some good bids in the O.C. (I'm in Laguna Niguel). I've filled out the form for Sunrun and see what they say. I'll also check with Costco. Based on what SDG&E tells me, I need a 7KW system, so at $3.25/W I think that will be affordable after tax credits.

How long is the permit process taking? And how long will the install take once started?

[Ambion]

Hi, first time post. Have been lurking for a week and am also located in the OC and am considering Sunrun as well as others. Not sure if is the appropriate string to ask? When computing the $/watt are you using gross system cost or net cost after incentives?

I am pretty sure most people use the gross system cost because incentives will vary from state to state excluding the federal tax credit. It makes things a bit simpler to compare gross systems without complications from added, variable, incentives. Mods and more experienced members may correct me if I wrong.

[rbintl]

Hell darkhelmet,

I am interested in getting solar. Although nearby in LA county and have been trying to work with Sunrun as well however their quotes are higher at $3.45/watt. Could you please PM? (sorry had to post a reply to this thread since I am new and cannot PM privately myself) I would like to see how/if they can pricematch to the quote you got and who your sales rep was. Thank you.

Hi, first time post. Have been lurking for a week and am also located in the OC and am considering Sunrun as well as others. Not sure if is the appropriate string to ask? When computing the $/watt are you using gross system cost or net cost after incentives?

[Ambion]

Quick update..

About to sign with Sunrun, they sweetened the deal to $3.15 per kw but ran into some language in the contract I didn't like. The first thing is they don't paint the conduit, which I would like them to do.

The second thing was more of a problem. Throughout the process they've been saying they cover all repairs and labor for 10 years, which sounds good to me. The problem is their contract seems to contradict this.

Case in point. Here is the section about the warranty:

8.10.1 LIMITED WARRANTIES. We provide a limited warranty of ten (10) years (the “Warranty Period”) counted from the date the permit is signed by the building inspector. We warrant that the electrical generation output of the System will not be less than 85% of the output measured upon completion of our installation as a result of defects in material we supplied or work we performed to install the System (the “Limited Warranty”). We also warrant that seals we make on any roofing penetrations will not fail during the Warranty Period (the “Limited Roofing Warranty”). Further, we warrant correct workmanship in installing panel upgrades for a period of one year after installation. Collectively, the foregoing are the “Limited Warranties”.
During the Warranty Period, we will at our expense repair or replace any material or workmanship covered by the Limited Warranties. The modules and inverters installed as part of the System are covered by separate manufacturer warranties. We will provide you reasonable assistance in contacting manufacturers. If a manufacturer fails to pay us for services to correct the deficiency, we will bill you for that service at our standard rate for time and materials.

I bolded the relevant parts. Two problems with this. 1. I am buying the Panels, inverter and optimizers directly through Coscto as part of this deal. 2. Based on my reading of Solaredge's warranty, they do not cover labor to replace their failed equipment.

This next section of the warranty is another problem for me:

8.10.3 WARRANTY EXCEPTIONS AND EXCLUSIONS. The Limited Warranties do not apply to (1) work performed with materials not purchased by us;

Again, I am purchasing the Panels, inverter and optimizers directly through Costco. Since Sunrun didn't purchase the equipment it sounds like it is excluded from warranty.


Anyone have any experience with Sunrun warranty claims? I've sent an email saying they will need to modify the contract to specifically cover labor to repair the Panels, Inverter and Optimizers so we will see what they say.

Am I being to paranoid?

Hello Darkhelmet,

Thank you for the information in the PM. I was wondering if you could forward me the Sunrun contract offer please? I want to show that to my Sunrun sales rep to pricematch. Thanks a bunch!

I have been getting quotes from several companies, including Sunpower installer, Petersen Dean, a Solarworld installer (who I initially went with and after signing contract...but their engineers came back saying it would another $1500 to upgrade my electric panel, which is already a 200 amp panel ??!!???. None of the other installers suggested I needed a new panel for a 6.5-7.0 kw system). SunRun has come by once already and already gave a system proposal without a new panel upgrade. So I thought that was weird of Solarworld installer, and they are a major nationwide installer. Asked the sales rep and he said, nope it's required and what the engineer said...don't know what to say to that.

[inetdog]

all I see on their website is some junk called grape solar.

Grape Solar is not necessarily junk, although they are also not considered a first tier panel manufacturer.
Several years ago some Grape panel models required installation in a positive ground system (that is the silicon substrate in all panels had to be at least slightly negative with respect to the grounded frame and backing.)
If you tried to use them in the more common at the time negative ground system, or the now common "ungrounded" system for use with a GTI, they would deteriorate in performance over the course of a few weeks. Fortunately the decline was reversible by reconnecting as positive ground and letting them sit in the sun for awhile.

Anyway, the company has been in business for many years.

[thejq]

hey darkhelmet, im in long beach not far from you I think. you say you were going to buy from Costco. was that Costco services? all I see on their website is some junk called grape solar.

Just to be clear, even though Sunrun have sales person in Costco store, they are not related in any way. If you have problem with Sunrun, Costco won't help you. Also Sunrun sells Rec Solar panels exclusively so you can't really compare prices with others.

[Dumbcluck]

costco?

hey darkhelmet, im in long beach not far from you I think. you say you were going to buy from Costco. was that Costco services? all I see on their website is some junk called grape solar.