UPDATE: We’ve got the answers here.
As demand for solar increases among households and businesses in Hawaii so too do your choices for PV contractors. With input from the Hawaii Photovoltaic Coalition, here is a list of questions to help you prequalify potential solar contractors/installers. Among other things, these questions help you find out what services they offer at the time of install and in the future as it relates to post sale support and warranties, and evaluate whether the company will be around to assist you, service your system and honor manufacturers’ warranties down the road.
- Do you have a contractor’s license?
- Is it a C-13 (Electrical Contractors) license? If not, what type is it?
- Does your company sub-contract out work to a C-13 license holder?
- Under the latter scenario, who provides the warranty on the system? For
example, is the warranty on the system provided by the C-61a (Solar Hot Water
Systems Contractor) license holder that sold you the system or the C-13 license
holder that signed for it but did only a partial installation? - How many PV systems has your company sold/installed (excluding solar hot
water systems)? - Can I get references from a few of your past customers? In addition, are you
registered with the Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs (DCCA), the
Better Business Bureau and the Professional and Licensing Division of the
DCCA? Has anyone filed complaints against you with these entities? - What is the contractor’s warranty on labor? The State of Hawaii mandates 1
year. - Can you provide me with a cost broken down into both DC and AC Watts?
- Can you provide me with an equipment list, breaking out the cost of labor from
the cost of materials? - What formula do you use to calculate in kWh (kilowatthours) the production of the
PV system?
As always, Sunetric’s Energy Consultants are available to answer any questions you may have and help you choose the best solar system for your needs. Call us today at 808-262-6600.
