With renewable energy and sustainability trending these days, “solar *cough cough* professionals” are coming out of the wood works to jump on the bandwagon to try and capitalize on your investment. Like any industry there are true professionals and unfortunately there are some with shady business practices. In this article, we will discuss how to weed through and choose the best solar contractor for your project. 

 There is so much that goes into deciding if a solar photovoltaic system (PV) is right for you:

• Is my home solar ready?
• How much Solar can fit on my roof/property?
• Is solar the right investment for me?
• How much does Solar cost?

But, the biggest question of all is:

 What should I consider when hiring a solar contractor? 

Choose a reputable contractor:

Choosing a contractor with a trained eye for solar will also mean they are accredited. If you are in Manitoba, or taking advantage of any rebate programs in the country, your contractor should be registered with the governing body and listed on their website. Not only does this bolster their profile, it also means they have been vetted and are able to remit any paperwork necessary for you to access any rebates/grants,etc. 

Vibes Energy is a registered supplier with Efficiency Manitoba, registered contractor with the city of Winnipeg and the owner is a Journeyman, Electrician. 

Red flag: The company has no track record of being registered with local energy programs and does not appear on the registered list of city of Winnipeg electrical contractors. 

Don’t price shop:

With many solar contractors popping up a major sales tactic is low ball pricing. While this is an enticing option for the consumer, it’s often dangerous. Most companies who choose to underbid are often using lower value products, products that generally don’t come with standard manufacturers warranties and potentially shotty labour. Your proposal should include:

-strong manufacturer warranties, industry standard is 25 years on solar panels, 10-15 years on inverters with option to purchase more and 5 year workmanship warranties.

-If you are doing a roof mount system: A reputable engineering firm should be hired to provide an stamped engineering report. 

-A site visit from the contractor should be done before you accept your quote

-A proposed design using a satellite or street imagery. 

-A list of system components

-The size, location, cost and potential savings of the system. 

-The energy offset and environmental impacts of the system. 

Red flag: A company is willing to low ball any other company to the point it’s no longer competitive pricing just to get your business. 

A professional assessment:

With satellite technology and advanced programming, reputable contractors are able to provide preliminary designs with your address, consumption and understanding of your overall needs. That being said it is imperative contractors do SITE VISITS. Why? Despite the advances of technology, during your site visit your contractor can ensure they have accounted for all obstacles, or potential shading on your future system. If these obstacles aren’t accounted for, your system won’t live up to its full potential. 

Red Flag: The contractor doesn’t suggest a site visit before you accept a proposal or isn’t able to clear your property as viable for solar. This could lead to unforeseen costs to the client down the line. 

A resume of work:

Research your contractor and their past projects. Most reputable companies will have past case studies, galleries and customer testimonials on their website and social media channels. They should also be able to produce references upon request.

Red flag: If a company is only using stock images on their websites, galleries and social media channels, has no google reviews/client reviews it often means they don’t have references of real world experience to share. 

Choose a local company: 

This may seem menial on your search for a contractor however, choosing a local contractor means you have access to them for years to come after your installation is complete. 

Red Flag: While large companies from abroad are generally attractive, if they don’t have a physical presence in the city, when the work dries up they tend to disappear and leave the customer high and dry if they need help in the future. This scenario actually happened during the last solar boom in Manitoba, many companies came from outside of the province, and when the rebate expired and the work was finished, they pulled their workers out of Manitoba and left their customers without points of contact. Meaning their warranties were essentially non actionable. 

Referrals: 

As the old saying goes, there is no better referral than word of mouth. If you have friends, family or neighbors who have installed solar, whether off grid or grid tied, Some questions to ask:

How was the entire process? 

Are they satisfied with the workmanship and the timeliness of their project from start to finish?

How was communication with the solar contractor?

Red Flag: If you approach someone and you feel like they are selling you rather than giving you a genuine recommendation. 

Written contract:

It is highly recommended that once a proposal is accepted, the contractor provides their client with a written contract that lays out the terms and conditions of the proposed project. This ensures the client and contractor are on the same page and have a clear understanding of what the scope of work that will be happening on the clients property. 

Red Flag: This is a legally binding contract between the client and contractor, it should be unique to that contractor and be prepared with clear understanding of all clauses. If you do not understand this document and can not get a clear understanding from the contractor, do not sign it.

Insurance:

Your contractor should be fully insured. They should be able to provide proof of insurance upon request. 

Red Flag: The contractor cannot provide insurance. Solar is a big investment and it’s being installed on your home, one of the biggest investments you’ve made thus far in your life. Let’s make sure you are protected. 

Key takeaway

Trust your gut, do your research and don’t rush this decision. While we are all excited about adding solar PV systems to our home, it’s a big investment and you want to make sure you are picking the right company to secure your best interest. Don’t be scared to ask questions before you accept the proposal or sign the contract.