4Call for estimates from three companies. Expect o spend an hour with each estimator.
5Does the company have access to an expert roofer? Any roofing issues should be addressed before the in-
staller begins to drill holes through shingles.
6 Check with your homeowner’s insurance agent o find out whether there will be an extra charge to
cover a new array against hail or wind damage.
Where to find
an “approved”
installer, state-
by-state
estimating the Job
Even before providing an estimate, an installer’s repre-
sentative will want to sit down with you to review your util-
ity bills. Then there’ll be a discussion of how much you can
expect to save on monthly bills and a rough estimate of in-
California
stallation costs. The estimator will be knowledgeable about
bit.ly/goSolar
your local utility rate structure and net-metering regula-
tions, and may suggest ways to reduce energy use and thus
Pennsylvania Sunshine
the size of the photovoltaic or solar water-heating system.
Program
The estimator will want to climb up on the roof to
bit.ly/PAsolar
gauge the amount of sun it gets and what kind of shade
New York NYSERDA
to expect as the sun moves across the sky, summer and
programs
winter. A critical issue is the condition of the roof itself.
bit.ly/NYsolar
The solar array components carry a warranty of 20 years or
more, and you probably don’t want to bolt it onto roofing
tiles that will need to be replaced in five or 10 years.
Ask about subcontractors. Is the installer going to bring
in a licensed electrician or roofer? If so, who is responsible
SolarTodayExpoDPWMay11 hr.pdf 1 4/13/11 11:46 AM
for the quality of their work? Who, for instance, will be re-
sponsible for roof leaks?
Ask about leasing programs and financial terms, of
course. The estimator will have a good grasp of local incentives and grant programs and should be able to reel off a list
of banks offering “green” loans for home energy projects
(banks and leasing companies often have their own lists
of approved components and installers). The estimator
should also explain the tax implications of local incentives
and how they affect your federal tax credit.
Once the estimates are in, compare them carefully.
Make sure that all the bases are covered: Are the estimates
all for the same size system? Are there performance warranties? Who handles the permitting and inspection fees,
and are all applicable taxes accounted for? What are the
warranty and service-visit policies? What about cost overruns — if fees or charges rise unexpectedly, who pays?
Scheduling and installation
Once you’ve settled on an installer, negotiate firm dates
for installation and commissioning (that’s when the completed system has been inspected and is actually connected to the grid and running). A post-commissioning visit
from the installer should validate system performance, and
the rep can explain the inverter’s monitor display so you
can track power production. Be sure to get the equipment
manuals and warranties and file them safely. GS
FIELD PROVEN & TIME TESTED SOLAR MOUNTING SOLUTIONS
Since 1993, DPW Solar has engineered and manufactured the industry’s strongest and easiest to assemble
line of solar mounting hardware.
You can always count on the reliability of our products and the support from our people.
So, whatever your application demands, partner with a trusted company.
®
The POWER-FAB Product Line of Mounting
solutions includes:
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Made in the USA
