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There are currently more than fifteen firms in Vermont providing design sales and installation services for grid-connected and off-grid PV systems. Renewable Energy Vermont maintains a Renewable Energy Business Directory, (http://www.revermont.org/search_result.php) listing these companies and others offering services for wind, solar hot water, passive solar design and construction, and geothermal systems. The
Renewable Energy Resource Center is maintaining a list of PV contractors
who are partners in Vermont's Solar Roofs Program, a component
of Vermont's commitment to the national Million Solar Roofs Initiative.
Contractors who are Partners in Vermont's Solar Roof Program have
agreed to a set of installation standards and have proven recent
installation experience. The current list of contracting partners
for PV systems is provided below. These contractors are a great
place to start when searching for qualified solar installation
professionals. Please check back frequently for new additions
to the Contractor Partners List. Here is a list of installers (link to Solar and Wind Incentive part of our site)
The first step is to compile a list of prospective PV providers. If you are trying to narrow down the initial possibilities you might want to consider distance, because a contractor's travel costs can add to your system price. Next, contact several providers and find out what products and services they offer. The following questions may give you a good sense of their capabilities: Has
the company installed grid-connected PV systems? If not, has it
installed grid-independent PV systems? How
many years of experience does the company have installing PV systems? Is the company properly
licensed? Should the company
carry insurance? Does the company
have any pending or active judgments against it?
If you have decided to get more than one bid for the installation of your PV system (and it's generally a good idea to do so), you should take steps to ensure that all of the bids you receive are made on the same basis. For example, comparing a bid for a system mounted on the ground against another bid for a rooftop system is like comparing apples to oranges. Similarly, different types and makes of PV modules often generate different amounts of electricity per square foot. Bids should clearly state the maximum generating capacity of the system (measured in watts or kilowatts). Ask for the bids to specify the system output in "AC watts" under standard and/or PVUSA test conditions. You may want to obtain some estimate of the amount of energy that the system will produce on an annual basis (measured in kilowatt-hours). Because the amount of energy depends on the amount of sunlight-which varies by location, season, and year to year-it is unrealistic to expect a specific figure. A range of ±20% is more realistic. Bids also should include the total cost of getting the PV system up and running, including hardware, installation, connection to the grid, permitting, sales tax, and warranty. Your warranty is a very important factor for evaluating bids. A solar rebate program may require that systems be covered by, say, a two-year parts-and-labor written installation warranty, in addition to any manufacturers' warranties on specific components. The installer may offer longer warranties. Also ask yourself, "Will this company stand behind the full-system warranty for the next two years?"
It might not be. Often, you get what you pay for. Remember that a PV company is a business just like any other, with overhead and operating expenses that must be covered. It's always possible that a low price could be a sign of inexperience. Companies that plan to stay in business must charge enough for their products and services to cover their costs, plus a fair profit margin. Therefore, price should not be your only consideration. Warranties are key to ensuring that your PV system will be repaired if something should malfunction during the warranty period. PV systems eligible for some solar rebate programs must carry a full (not "limited") two-year warranty, in addition to any manufacturers' warranties on specific components. This warranty should cover all parts and labor, including the cost of removing any defective component, shipping it to the manufacturer, and reinstalling the component after it is repaired or replaced. Program warranty requirements may supersede any other warranty limitations. In other words, even if the manufacturer's own warranty on a particular component is less than two years, a system vendor may still provide you with a two-year warranty. Similarly, even if the manufacturer's warranty is a limited warranty that does not include the cost of removing, shipping, and reinstalling defective components, the system vendor may offer coverage for these costs. Be sure you know who is responsible for honoring the various warranties associated with your system-the installer, the dealer, or the manufacturer. The vendor should disclose the warranty responsibility of each party. Know the financial arrangements, such as contractor's bonds, that assure the warranty will be honored. Remember, a warranty does not guarantee that the company will remain in business. Get a clear understanding of whom you should contact if there is a problem. To avoid any later misunderstandings, be sure to read the warranty carefully and review the terms and conditions with your retailer.
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Selecting
a PV installer
