We are in the middle of purchasing decisions. i have been inspired by this thread and fabled “sense of urgency” because of NEM change.
So we had a guy here yesterday who is an independent broker. He steered us toward a company that is big, out of SoCal, because they guaranteed if we apply by 3/23 we’d get the NEM in time.”
He proposed and we actually signed up for (then cancelled late last night) with ESP for:
10 440 DNA-14 Aptos panels
SolarEdge1 inverter and accompanying optimizers.”
$18, 390. Phony credit price $12,873
It’s something like a 6 kWh or 4.4 total system (I am confused by my own notes).
We are not big electric users. Two retirees, 67 and 72, and not really sure if we stay in this house but not loving any relocation place. Gas heater and water heater and no plans to convert. No AC. Last northern hill of Berkeley hills, foggy and windy much of summer. Good exposure on our roof, no tree effects.
The problem was that I sat and read every Better Business Bureau complaint then looked around at Yelp etc and read the detailed complaints against this company. Their main M/O is slapping panels on houses then not having them function or ever get going to begin with. Their specialty seems to be damaging peoples roofs so they have multiple leaks because apparently the installers fish for studs then leave the holes open or inadequately caulk the holes. Or they damage roof tiles and leave garbage on people’s roofs. The complaint is then answered by company (on BBB) in generic responses that they are sorry and will attempt to rectify. A lot of the responses are refused by the complainants. Some have been at this for over a year and still don’t have actual service. Some have faulty installations and thought they were getting their big break but didn’t. Some had damaged panels or faulty inverters.
So we bailed. At the time of sign-up, he said he knew local companies but couldn’t guarantee the NEM process in time with them.
SO this morning in inbox is a note that he found somebody local for a whole $100 less that could do it and I should call.
The guy was as smooth as the day is long, kept repeating he didn’t want us to feel uncomfortable about any of it and that he could intervene on our behalf with ESP. But all of the complaints uniformly point to terrible if not non-existent communication from the company .
One of the biggest complications is that we are in year 21 of a 30 year asphalt shingle roof. It was put on in 2002 for $10800. The guy ballparked that it would cost $24000 now. I have an extreme simple roof with fairly shallow angle. It’s basiclally one long pitch with a side arm at front for garage. The thing is, if we replace the roof along with solar installation, we get a 30% credit similar to installation itself on federal taxes. “
But it’s still probably something like $40K out of pocket. We are both retired and would be drawing money out of non-renewing 401Ks. If we finance, it would be at about 7% interest rates so the APR would eventually add up to more, unless we buy down the rate.
The dilemma is that I might end up losing a few more years of roof to make the NEM deadline, as opposed to waiting out the roof and being stuck with new agreement but superior battery function in imagined future.
I understand the multiple moving parts and delay. But i don’t want to go with a shitshow installation and spend hours and hours trying to reach company. I grew up poor and lived with leaky roofs and to be honest, the thought of unnecessary damage leading to bad Sheetrock triggers me, so to speak. Been there done that. In last house, I had six five-gallon buckets in the attic and was constantly bailing during the big wet years of early 80s.
The guy pointed out that a bigger company in business longer is more likely to back up their installations in the future compared to small timers who go out of business.
I think that all of us should sober up about the fake adjusted price. That credit amount reduces your taxable income by the amount then your actual taxes paid are somewhat less, but nothing close to the stated difference.
I guess the biggest thing is the time restriction. I think I should get an independent roofer and try Ryan or somebody else.
That’s were it sits. The inertia to do nothing is very strong. Because I’m retired, I can’t just work this debt out any more.
Adding in: I just read the same kind of info for SunPower (I couldn’t find SunPower Direct) as per Gaj. Unbelievable how many problems. They have way more complaints than ESP but I have no idea of total jobs performed so no idea of ratio.
It appears that this entire industry is rotten to the core at least with the big installers. So different than our BARFer retired installer. It seems impossible but the complaints are very uniform. And the monitoring systems fail and a lot of people never see their fabled Even-Up. Maybe it’s just too complex at this point. I know that people themselves are stupid and have impractical expectations. Roofs are a problem because they are dynamic not stable. I am dazed by reading dozens of complaints and it just sounds like, as a smaller consumer of electricity, it’s not worth it. Like buying a Soviet-era car and expecting it run like a Toyota. Something…….(he babbled on)….
