We recently received this service request. It serves as a great example of why doing business locally is optimal for solar pv. Not only do you support your community but you support local businesses also.

​ Local Business = Local Service


Hello Tim,
 
We have a customer in La Crosse who’s system appears to be underperforming, and we need someone nearby to schedule a site visit. He has a Kaco blueplanet 5002xl inverter which is running every day, but only reaching a peak production of 4.5 kW, event though his original DC capacity was 5.6 kW. This could be a hardware issue, and it could also be fixed with a firmware update., but it’s hard to say until someone gets there to troubleshoot. The system is still warrantied by us, so you would be invoicing us rather than the system owner. Please let me know if this is something you’d be willing to take on.
 
Thanks,
Another solar PV company from a galaxy far far away....

Now that more solar PV is being installed by many others entering the solar electric field, it is even more important to have a high quality installation and local service utilizing advanced troubleshooting techniques, if needed .  We have recently had our first request by another company's customer to repair another solar installer's system.  The original solar installer refused to repair his system.   The electrical box on the roof had water inside and the metal parts inside were corroding.   A few more years and an electrical failure was immanent.  Also, the stainless steel hardware was installed incorrectly and the only method of removal is to destroy the hardware and replace with new.    Because of this, the repair went from a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand dollars.  Solar PV systems are not too complicated but please seek out competent people with the proper credentials.  Installing it correctly will make it last 25 years plus while keeping it serviceable and safe.  

Ever wonder how much energy on a daily basis is being released from the World's use of fossil fuels?  

The above represents, to scale, the total fossil fuel energy released currently in the form of a forest fire that is burning  24/7/365.  It does not take into account the added insulation effects of the added carbon dioxide which is helping to trap in this additional heat.

Are we contributing to climate change?  Yes.  By how much?  We are not quite sure as this is a very slow process.  The only way we can say no is by completely shutting off this flame.  

All of us must do our part to eliminate fossil fuel use and help preserve our planet for future generations.   Please commit today to do your part to reduce this flame.
​

I just found this website today on the latest CA Solar PV pricing http://gosolar.la/contractors/offers
  
This is from CA where they receive the containers of solar products which arrive there from China, Japan, Korea, etc. The cost for these products is the same between the Midwest and CA except I have higher shipping costs to get these
products to the Midwest.  Also, none of those offers use the safer and more expensive micro inverters.
 
I also received info today about this website http://www.ilsr.org/solar-costs-grid-prices-collision/ which is saying that the solar cost is $4.00 per watt and that at that price it might be too low.
 
I knew I was competitive in my pricing but didn't know by how much, till now.  
 
Also, I heard that module prices are slowly going up due to the tariff the US Gov put on Chinese modules. It now gives all the solar module companies a reason to raise prices.

We will continue to bring you the best quality products at the best possible prices.  We monitor the market (sometimes daily) to bring you the best deals.

Due to the 2013 rebates in our Xcel Energy area we are seeing Cashflow Paybacks as low as 2.7 years with an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) as high as 29.8%. This is on a 39.75kW solar electric business/commercial system. Tax rate is based on 35% Federal and 7% State. Should your tax rate be lower then the payback is stretched out a little more. Tax rate of 25% and 5% respectively will yield a Cashflow Payback of 4.4 years and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 22.8%. Not bad on an investment that is probably the safest investment in the world and is guaranteed/warranted for 25 years!  Yes this seems too good to be true...the good news is that it is true and here now.  The bad news is that it is a first come first serve rebate program which will open in Feb to March of 2013.  Also note, Solar electric rebates have historically been dropping in price so you may want to get them now while they last as they might not be available next year.