Questions to ask a prospective renewable generation system vendor.
If you are considering installing or investing in renewable generation technology, ask prospective vendors these questions before signing on the dotted line. And if you have further questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to talk to the some at the cooperative.
1. What is the total installed (turnkey) cost of the system?
2. How much money is due upfront, and what is the schedule of payments?
3. If my energy usage changes, will I be able to add more panels later?
4. Do I need a new roof now in order to install? Is my roof suitable to carry the additional live, dead and uplift load forces that the solar array will exert?
5. When was your company established and how much solar has it installed to date?
6. Can your company provide a list of the projects and references for them?
7. Is your company affiliated with other parties to deliver the installation and who are they?
8. Does your company have a Standard Insurance Certificate with adequate General Liability coverage of $1 million or more? (Ask for a copy and keep it with your records.)
9. Does your company have Professional Liability Insurance? (Ask for a copy and keep it with your records.)
10. Does your company carry Workers Compensation? (Ask for a copy and keep it with your records.)
11. Do you have the ability to cover me as an “Additional Insured”?
12. Are your solar installers North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Electric trained and certified?
13. Do you have a licensed engineer on staff to review and approve drawings for submission to city/county building code and fi re department officials?
14. Are you accredited with the Better Business Bureau? If so, what is your rating?
15. In which country are the solar panels and inverters you are selling made?
16. Will the company honor your manufacturer’s multiyear performance warranty?
17. Does the company have a Master Electrician on staff to obtain the required electrical permits and to supervise the electrical work for your project? (Ask for a copy and keep it with your records.)
18. Is your solar installer company a Licensed Electrical Contractor which is required to install Solar Electric Systems? May I see your company’s license?
19. Who will be working on my roof, and how much experience do they personally have installing solar?
20. How does your company handle projects during busy times? Do you work with sub-contractors?
21. How long will the installation take?
22. Will the age or type of my roof affect the cost of installation?
23. How will installation affect my roof? Will it create leaks? What if it does create leaks, are you then responsible for repairs?
24. If I’m planning on re-doing my roof, should I install panels before or after?
25. How much of my energy usage would my solar system cover?
26. How much would my monthly energy bills be after installation? From you and from my utility?
27. How long will my payback period be on my solar system? What are the key assumptions associated with my payback that may impact that result? (Ask for a copy of the calculations and keep the data with your records.)
28. How will solar affect my homeowner’s insurance?
29. Will you complete all of the paperwork associated with getting the permits and financing?
Prepared by Niobrara Valley Electric Membership Corporation with the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.
If you are considering installing or investing in renewable generation technology, ask prospective vendors these questions before signing on the dotted line. And if you have further questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to talk to the some at the cooperative.
1. What is the total installed (turnkey) cost of the system?
2. How much money is due upfront, and what is the schedule of payments?
3. If my energy usage changes, will I be able to add more panels later?
4. Do I need a new roof now in order to install? Is my roof suitable to carry the additional live, dead and uplift load forces that the solar array will exert?
5. When was your company established and how much solar has it installed to date?
6. Can your company provide a list of the projects and references for them?
7. Is your company affiliated with other parties to deliver the installation and who are they?
8. Does your company have a Standard Insurance Certificate with adequate General Liability coverage of $1 million or more? (Ask for a copy and keep it with your records.)
9. Does your company have Professional Liability Insurance? (Ask for a copy and keep it with your records.)
10. Does your company carry Workers Compensation? (Ask for a copy and keep it with your records.)
11. Do you have the ability to cover me as an “Additional Insured”?
12. Are your solar installers North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Electric trained and certified?
13. Do you have a licensed engineer on staff to review and approve drawings for submission to city/county building code and fi re department officials?
14. Are you accredited with the Better Business Bureau? If so, what is your rating?
15. In which country are the solar panels and inverters you are selling made?
16. Will the company honor your manufacturer’s multiyear performance warranty?
17. Does the company have a Master Electrician on staff to obtain the required electrical permits and to supervise the electrical work for your project? (Ask for a copy and keep it with your records.)
18. Is your solar installer company a Licensed Electrical Contractor which is required to install Solar Electric Systems? May I see your company’s license?
19. Who will be working on my roof, and how much experience do they personally have installing solar?
20. How does your company handle projects during busy times? Do you work with sub-contractors?
21. How long will the installation take?
22. Will the age or type of my roof affect the cost of installation?
23. How will installation affect my roof? Will it create leaks? What if it does create leaks, are you then responsible for repairs?
24. If I’m planning on re-doing my roof, should I install panels before or after?
25. How much of my energy usage would my solar system cover?
26. How much would my monthly energy bills be after installation? From you and from my utility?
27. How long will my payback period be on my solar system? What are the key assumptions associated with my payback that may impact that result? (Ask for a copy of the calculations and keep the data with your records.)
28. How will solar affect my homeowner’s insurance?
29. Will you complete all of the paperwork associated with getting the permits and financing?
Prepared by Niobrara Valley Electric Membership Corporation with the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.