05/17/2015
Anonymous
Do your homework… Not all solar companies are the same. <br /><br />My review of SolarGains:<br /><br />The person who came to my house for the estimate (Colin Gload) was very knowledgeable in every aspect of the equipment, the tax benefits and the Pros/Cons of purchase vs lease. <br />There was no hard sell. <br />SolarGains used highly rated 275w panels that were made in the USA and adds a SolarEdge Power Optimizer to each panel. <br />SolarGains' estimate ---with better panels, and solar optimizers—was still several thousand dollars cheaper than SolarCity.<br />The install was fast and they cleaned everything up. <br />The office staff helped process all the state and federal grants, and the tax paperwork. The company did a great job.<br /><br /><br />I had to edit it---to make it fit so my review might be choppy. <br /><br /><br />Background:<br />I decided to install a solar array and researched everything ahead of time so I could ask intelligent questions. I narrowed it down to 3 companies who were the biggest and had the best reviews in the area. I told all three that I was getting estimates from the other two. <br /> <br />I saved SolarCity for last---expecting Elon Musk's company to beat out the other two hands down (they didn't). They had a professional presentation, but once that was done, I felt like I was at a used car dealership---hard sell. <br /> <br />I was installing a pretty large 14kW array. I made it clear that I was looking for the biggest bang for my buck---not the BEST money can buy. The Return on Investment (ROI) would take forever if you get the very best money can buy. SolarCity tried hard to sell me their premium panels. The difference of about 10watts/panel prohibitively increased the cost and the time to ROI. I guess if you have unlimited funds, and you are only doing this to Save the Planet—you might go for the very best money can buy--- I wanted to Save my budget—not the world.<br />I asked SolarCity about was Solar Optimizers. I did not know about Solar Optimizers until my Estimate from SolarGaines.<br />SolarCity does not use them! They made up an excuse that they decreased output of the panel. Once I researched them I decided they are very important. <br />What do Solar Optimizers do---and Why should you want them? It is simple, each panel is guaranteed to deliver the watt output or more for what you paid for (ex 275watt). They are warrantied to have no more than a certain small percentage decrease over time. <br />Simple Example: I have 50 panels on my house. If 49 of them are working at Spec and 1 panel is only delivering 50% of what it should, that 50% decrease in 1 panel would be averaged over the 50-panels—(if you were only able to measure total output for the array). This is what SolarCity promotes. Averaged over 50-panels, you would never know that 1 panel is failing or not up to spec. Keeping the math simple---Each panel is about 2% of your output, so I lost 1%. That 1% averaged over the remaining 49 panels does not appear significant. A panel could have no output and you would not see it. But you PAID for it.<br />The Solar Optimizer is a box that is attached to each panel and measures the output of that panel. The Output of each panel shows up on a Webpage. I already benefited from the optimizer. One of my panels was underperforming by 33%--it was identified and SolarGaines fixed it. <br /><br />Next on the list of questions to SolarCity-- Battery Backup. I will not go into too much detail on this, because when I was shopping in Nov 2014--- the Musk Battery was not available. They marketed it like it was, but it wasn't. I cannot say anything about the current battery, but I was quoted $14k for a battery system that could run “most of my household needs†for 1 day. Considering a Whole House Generator can run ALL of my house hold needs for as long as the power is out and cost less than $14k—that was not a great option. FIGURE out if the battery is worth it to you, it was not for me. <br /><br /><br />Other Thoughts and Comments:<br />If you can take advantage of the Tax Credit--- you are much better off buying the system than leasing it. If you lease it for 20-years and need to sell your house before the lease is up--- you have to convince the buyer to assume your lease. That might cost you the sale of your house if the buyer is nervous about the lease. <br />SolarCity started off with a hard sell for the premium panels and leasing it. If you lease it, SolarCity takes the 30% tax credit, not you. I could use the tax credit—so buying was the best option for me.<br />Hope this review helps….