Getting bids for system in the OC

[darkhelmet]

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.

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.

[darkhelmet]

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 Ambion,

I think I need a couple more posts to PM too... I will send the info shortly.

[Ambion]

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.

[zhyue2003]

Quick Update.

I ended up going with the smaller local installer using the Suniva Panels and Enphase Inverters. Got them down to $17030 for a 5.4kw system and they cover labor for 25 years. Not sure I expect them to be around for 25 years but SunRun wouldn't amend their contract to cover labor so even if I get 5 or 10 years out of the local guy it's better than nothing.

Will keep updating as the install progresses.

Thanks for all the help so far.

congratulations! I wish I can score such a low price as you did. Most of the installers around here that I have contacted so far are offering around $4 per watt. Did most of the initial quotes you received also start at around $4 per watt? I have a couple of installers from neighboring counties who did offer $3.25-3.35 per watt, but for various reasons I would prefer local companies if possible. Wonder what is the likelihood that I can have local installers to price match.

[darkhelmet]

Quick Update.

I ended up going with the smaller local installer using the Suniva Panels and Enphase Inverters. Got them down to $17030 for a 5.4kw system and they cover labor for 25 years. Not sure I expect them to be around for 25 years but SunRun wouldn't amend their contract to cover labor so even if I get 5 or 10 years out of the local guy it's better than nothing.

Will keep updating as the install progresses.

Thanks for all the help so far.

[J.P.M.]

They will send a team of 2 guys and charge you $125+ per hour per man, and that will be 2 X $125 @ $250 min. per hour. You will see them play around and charges you over $1000 just for labor. I have been dealing with a well known Socal Solar Company with A rating, and they still play this damn game.

Why do most installers using PVWatt with 0.77 factor? Not just they can sell you a larger system AND they can also decline your warranty since your estimated annual production were low and your production has to be -12% than that low number. For example, if your estimate annual production were 10,000kWh and your actual production has to be lower than 8800kWh to be considered having problem. In real life, your system probably can generate more than 11,000kWh per year. Great trick from this solar company.

A great trick that most vendors use, made worse in more than a few cases by vendors and their worker bees who use the default .77 and do not understand its implications.

[silversaver]

They will send a team of 2 guys and charge you $125+ per hour per man, and that will be 2 X $125 @ $250 min. per hour. You will see them play around and charges you over $1000 just for labor. I have been dealing with a well known Socal Solar Company with A rating, and they still play this damn game.

Why do most installers using PVWatt with 0.77 factor? Not just they can sell you a larger system AND they can also decline your warranty since your estimated annual production were low and your production has to be -12% than that low number. For example, if your estimate annual production were 10,000kWh and your actual production has to be lower than 8800kWh to be considered having problem. In real life, your system probably can generate more than 11,000kWh per year. Great trick from this solar company.

[russ]

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?

You are not being paranoid at all - the salesman is blowing smoke at you. They are not offering you much except telling you they will be billing you for most.

[J.P.M.]

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?

As always, absolutely regardless of what someone tells you, IF IT ISN'T IN WRITING, IT DOES NOT EXIST. If you do not get WRITTEN clarification to your satisfaction, don't sign. If you still have doubts, you can seek legal advice.

[darkhelmet]

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?

[silversaver]

Both systems are comparable. If you pick system 1, it's better to get the M250 since M215 will clip once a while. If system 2, it's better to get SE6000, since the price difference is only about $50. SE5000 max'd out at 5.4KW which is really close to your output. $50 for some safety margin is well worth it. Unless the local company is very diversified and financially stable, I'd go with REC solar. Don't forget Costco rebates if you pay through Costco.

That is a good suggestion, but I'll add some inputs. It will leave room for you to expand, but you must expand from original installer if you want to keep your warranty. When you expand at later time, it will cost you $$$$$$ and lots of them. I just recently add 2 more panels to my solar array and they are EXPENSIVE. You don't have any chance to negotiate the deal.

If you want to go larger, do it NOW.

[thejq]

Quick update:

I went back to a previous quote and they have agreed to price match the $3.25 per kw. This company is a large private installer working with Costco.

Here are the specifics:

5.2 kw system
20 REC Solar 260 Panels
20 Solaredge optimizers
Solaredge SE5000 inverter
$16900

They claim to cover labor and parts for 10 years but I am trying to get very specific wording to make sure they will replace those optimizers for free for 10 years.

Now the question is do I go with Suniva Panels/Enphase Microinverters from the smaller local company or Rec Solar/Solaredge from the large company?

Both systems are comparable. If you pick system 1, it's better to get the M250 since M215 will clip once a while. If system 2, it's better to get SE6000, since the price difference is only about $50. SE5000 max'd out at 5.4KW which is really close to your output. $50 for some safety margin is well worth it. Unless the local company is very diversified and financially stable, I'd go with REC solar. Don't forget Costco rebates if you pay through Costco.

[darkhelmet]

Quick update:

I went back to a previous quote and they have agreed to price match the $3.25 per kw. This company is a large private installer working with Costco.

Here are the specifics:

5.2 kw system
20 REC Solar 260 Panels
20 Solaredge optimizers
Solaredge SE5000 inverter
$16900

They claim to cover labor and parts for 10 years but I am trying to get very specific wording to make sure they will replace those optimizers for free for 10 years.

Now the question is do I go with Suniva Panels/Enphase Microinverters from the smaller local company or Rec Solar/Solaredge from the large company?

[russ]

That's why I said 5 bolts instead of 1. Look, I already said I didn't want to take this thread off course, and you, the moderator, are the one escalating it.

Get real and stop whining.

[CraziFuzzy]

Get real - it is not that easy in most cases and 6" above the roof normally - the inverter being under the panel.

That's why I said 5 bolts instead of 1. Look, I already said I didn't want to take this thread off course, and you, the moderator, are the one escalating it.