Tale of Two Ground Mounts
It could save you money or it could cost you more. It could be easy or it could be hard.
Do it yourself solar is more than just strapping on a tool belt and swinging a hammer. There’s technical paper work that often gets overlooked in the excitement of building your own solar power system, which can be more arduous a task than the physical labor.
When roofing contractor Ray Ragsdale decided to take his energy destiny into his own hands and build a 9.3kW solar ground mount at his home, he quickly discovered that the most challenging part of the project was getting the system approved for interconnection with PG&E’s energy grid.
Ragsdale was surprised to discover that his neighbor, who purchased a similar system from GoGreenSolar, already had his system fully up and running even though Ray installed his system first. The neighbor informed us of Ray’s challenges and we stepped in to lend a hand with what many consider to be the most complicated part of the job — the paperwork.
“If it wasn’t for GoGreen I’d probably still be battling PG&E to get everything approved,” said Ragsdale.
There is a lot more to solar than just the hardware. Many DIYers underestimate the amount of paperwork needed, which GoGreenSolar can handle as a service.
An experienced roofing contractor, Ragsdale had installed solar power systems before. Much like his neighbor, his property was in a rural area and more suited for a ground mount install. The appeal of not having to climb around on a roof made the project appear easier. Ragsdale would soon learn that the paperwork for ground mount units would be an unexpected hurdle to surmount.
“I’ve pulled plenty of permits as a contractor, but this was more complicated than I initially thought,” Mr. Ragsdale recalled.
Purchasing 32 290W Solarworld panels with Enphase Microinverters from a “wholesale” solar company seemed like a good deal to Ragsdale on the surface. A freight truck delivered the items to his door on time, dropping everything off on a pallet rack. For Ragsdale, the plans and install were paint-by-the-numbers. When it came time to connect the system to PG&E’s grid to get his net metering rebate, the real challenge began.
“PG&E rejected my application if there were any minor mistakes in the paperwork,” Ragsdale said. “For example, a missing dash in a part number didn’t match what was in their system so I got rejected and had to wait for their delayed response.”
The vendor he had purchased the system off was a one and done deal, so he contacted the experts at GoGreenSolar to help interconnect his system to the grid. Details such as the proper signature, annual electrical usage, and a proper list of dated modifications were all squared away properly and submitted by GoGreen, allowing Ragsdale to turn on and benefit from his ground mount solar system before the winter months set in.
“If I had known it was this complicated I would have purchased from a company with an interconnection package — no brainer,” Ragsdale said.
With many states having ever more complicated net-metering policies, GoGreenSolar has had a rise of DIY solar power installers reach out for help ensuring they get the financial incentives they deserve. Don’t get stuck with a box of parts or system that you can’t turn on! Call GoGreenSolar at 866-798-4435 and speak with an expert today.
