02/06/2016
Anonymous
The process was rather lengthy, but in the end I got my solar panel and I'm happy.<br />I contacted PSS in July and within a week I was able to get some basic info from Michael Rehder and we scheduled a site visit. Michael was awesome to work with. We spent about 90 min and he taught me a lot about solar, explaining the bid and giving me my options. I didn't feel like he was pushing any one option vs another and there were some big tradeoffs.<br />1) Number of panels to instal (I had a choice)<br />2) Manufacturer of pannels / efficiency of panels<br />3) rebate incentives<br />All these variables impacted cost, and payoff timeframe. It was all graphed out and explained clearly.<br />In the end I went with the less efficient Washington Panels (285W vs 345W) as the incentives were much greater and this meant a payback timeframe of 6 years (to break even) vs 11-13 years. <br />However, right as I was getting panels installed, Seattle City Light announced they were going to restrict the incentive by 30% next year as a result of too many people getting solar and the funding being exhausted. Still, even with this I will come out ahead of the out of state panels.<br />Once we locked on my options, I signed the contract and handed over a deposit and got on the schedule 6 weeks later.<br />6 weeks turned more into 10 weeks as my date moved out. Of all the issues I had my only complaint was that communication about this was not clear. I didn't get a call and no one explained to me why my date moved out from Sep to October. Anyway, minor issue considering the cost and job that was going to be done.<br />A few weeks before my install date I met with Jacob Hanson. He inspected the site, and we talked bout options for conduit and such. We also went over final details and the start date, length of install and then what was needed to get permitted and turned on.<br />It turns out, as a result of the kind of meter I had (electronic, but old generation, does not spin backwards) once the system was installed and permitted I could not go forward till I got a new meter. This process was also a bit bumpy as the Seattle City Light screwed up my paperwork and was waiting for me to do something that I had already done. This took a few calls and Jacob stepped in and helped expedite things.<br />All in all, I'd say the following:<br />1. Communications 9/10.<br />2. Professionalism 10/10.<br />3. Installers 10/10.<br />There is a lot of paper work and I feel that PSS did a good job, but I had to double check things to make sure it was all correct. Once they included the wrong info on one packet. Corrected quickly. Once some of the paperwork was incorrect (they listed the wrong inverters). And once a page that I needed to sign was not highlighted and I missed signing it (but also wasn't being detail oriented at the time). <br />Anyway, the point is, getting Solar isn't a sit back and everything happens perfectly. You are dealing with a contractor, the state, the city and your house. Things happen. You need to be an active participant.<br />As part of the install we opted for the eGauge which gives us real time info on energy usage and consumption. It's incredible. You can see what is going on in your house. It costs and extra few hundred dollars but it's well worth it. I would go for this and think it's a must have. <br />I'm very happy with the results. In the month of November, with the system running for 2 weeks we have generated 119 kWh and used 665 kWh. So solar cuts back energy usage by 18%. Not bad.<br />There is really no reason to not get solar at this point. With a 6 year payback and then another 20 years of life on the panels and roof the system will be generating cash for a long time.