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The standard process is as follows:
Initial contact and identification of customer requirements
Site evaluation & in-person meeting
System proposal(s) and summary level system cost estimates
Customer paid system design & utility coordination retainer
Engineering site evaluation, detailed line item system estimate, utility rebate reservation and deposit
System installation (Design & Engineering thru Inspection)
System commissioning, system monitoring and customer walk through
But first, let's answer the most basic question:
What size system do you need?
There are three main factors that help us design a system to fit your needs. If you can accurately estimate for these, you are ready to give us a call (step one above). Otherwise, the following will help you get accurate estimates.
Your electrical usage (see below)
Available unshaded space (during the peak sunlight hours of the day) for the array of solar panels (see FAQ)
Your budget (see PRICES)
Your electric bills contain the detail about your building's electrical usage, which is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Of note, solar electric power systems generate kWh's of power and this is the basic method to determine what percentage of your usage a system will be capable of offsetting.
To size a system accurately, we like to take a year's history of your usage, which can be obtained by reviewing your past bills or directly contacting the utility company. In addition, most Arizona utility websites also feature functionality for you to review your account usage directly and this information is generally accessed by setting up a password for your account and navigating thru whatever method of online bill analysis has been setup.
If you do not have past usage for your business (perhaps you just obtained the property) American Solar Electric, with your input, can forecast a general range of potential utility supplied power usage.
Once you have determined some of the basic parameters of your building's usage and suitability for a solar electric power system, the standard process is as follows:
Initial contact and identification of customer requirements:
Give us a call or send an email and we will discuss your expectations, and what size and type of system will best meet your wants and needs. We will discuss price, mounting location and technique, utility rebates and incentives, what to expect from a solar electric system, and address any other questions you may have.
Site evaluation & in-person meeting:
If you are interested in pursuing a system, one of American Solar Electric's Solutions Associates will visit your business to identify suitable solar array locations, take measurements, evaluate your electrical setup, and review a history of your electric usage (if available).
There is no charge for this service for customers within in the Phoenix and Tucson Metro Areas.
System proposal(s) and summary level system cost estimates:
If you are interested in pursuing a system, American Solar Electric will develop a system proposal, and provide a summary level system cost estimate. The proposal will detail tax incentives and utility credit purchase payments (rebates) that may apply in addition to providing information about the system components, operation, monitoring that we have selected to meet your requirements.
Customer paid system design & utility coordination retainer:
When you have decided to formally pursue the design and installation of the system, American Solar Electric requires a customer paid retainer (refundable) in order to initiate the next phase of the process:
Engineering site evaluation, detailed line item system estimate and utility rebate reservation:
Upon reception of the retainer amount, American Solar Electric will perform a second site visit to finalize the engineering details and utility tie-in requirements of the installation. It is at this juncture that American Solar Electric will formally coordinate the planning of the system install with your servicing utility. A system deposit (a % of the total project cost) is due at this time.
System installation (Design & Engineering thru Inspection):
System installation encompasses the primary design, installation and inspection phases of the project. During these phases, all municipal and utility requirements are met, including permitting, technical documentation and scheduled inspections. The actual system components are installed, tested and data monitoring devices integrated.
System commissioning, system monitoring and customer walk through:
A full walk through of the system is conducted after commissioning (System activation by the servicing utility). System operation guidelines, data monitoring and maintenance issues are addressed with client. The System Operations Manual is presented and an optional maintenance contract is offered to the client.
If you have any questions or comments regarding our commercial Design / Build Process or would like to make an appointment to discuss a project with American Solar Electric, please e-mail us at sales@americanpv.com or call our sales office at (480) 994-1440.
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