Everything Solar Forum

Greetings to community and members,
I am in search with help/similar experience with a residential system that was installed by Sunpower.
We got our system installed last September and since then we are being charged by the utility as well.Upon carefully checking, all data by Sunpower monitor and App  for production and consumption just don't make sense and are not aligned with Edison our local energy utility company.
Numbers just don't add up.
We contacted Sunpower so many times about this issue and even refuse to pay for the finance company till system is working properly.Sunpower keeps sending a technician,from a third party ,who really can't resolve the issue.
I would like to proceed at higher ways.Looking to get help and ideas via this open channel.
Many Thanks:))

------------------------------
YEHUDA GRABLI
------------------------------

WOW!! Humm. Well, as you started with numbers being at the core of your "discomfort", to be obvious, numbers, precise numbers are most likely at the problems solution, or at least its recognition and path forward. 
There is raw production, house load, grid load. Those three do a dance always maintaining a balance except it grid out scenarios. 

What you need is any specific month since system operation began, retrieving precisely the total raw production for the month, the exact KWH pulled or pushed from the grid (As a total function), and as a dessert the load numbers which should be a manipulation of the first two depending on push or pull, or a CT meter energy reporting tool with directional sensitivity.

If that is glazing your eyes over (Sorry), just tell me what you don't understand (If anything) and then we all (ASES people) can proceed....

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-28-2023 06:34 PM
From: YEHUDA GRABLI
Subject: Issues With My solar System Help

Greetings to community and members,
I am in search with help/similar experience with a residential system that was installed by Sunpower.
We got our system installed last September and since then we are being charged by the utility as well.Upon carefully checking, all data by Sunpower monitor and App  for production and consumption just don't make sense and are not aligned with Edison our local energy utility company.
Numbers just don't add up.
We contacted Sunpower so many times about this issue and even refuse to pay for the finance company till system is working properly.Sunpower keeps sending a technician,from a third party ,who really can't resolve the issue.
I would like to proceed at higher ways.Looking to get help and ideas via this open channel.
Many Thanks:))

------------------------------
YEHUDA GRABLI
------------------------------

Hi: I got the email you sent me with the energy graph. You might consider posting it to this thread so others can input. It is straight forward in its appearance and numerics. The question I have to ask is where specifically is the conflict as you perceive it, between the energy report as referenced and any specific data from Edison?
EDIT: I re-read your email response again. 
I will try to explain this. "Edison" does not know WHAT YOU USE!! They only know WHAT YOU TAKE and what you PUSH. I want you to think about those two statements carefully. And the difference between what Edison sees as take and push is not reflective of you load because you produce as well. This can get mind bending a bit.
The answer to the difference in your  month end being grid push by your reporting system VS them at grid take, may lie in how your "setup determines" load. Also as a side thought, do you have batteries in your system? 
Depending on how your system is configured, the differences may lie there. In order to check their numbers, you to need a precise reading of what is pushed to and taken from the grid at meter point, which your CT's (Current transformers) may not be giving you depending on different variables. SO really what you produce is not relevant for them. Only what you take and only what you push.
------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-28-2023 06:34 PM
From: YEHUDA GRABLI
Subject: Issues With My solar System Help

Greetings to community and members,
I am in search with help/similar experience with a residential system that was installed by Sunpower.
We got our system installed last September and since then we are being charged by the utility as well.Upon carefully checking, all data by Sunpower monitor and App  for production and consumption just don't make sense and are not aligned with Edison our local energy utility company.
Numbers just don't add up.
We contacted Sunpower so many times about this issue and even refuse to pay for the finance company till system is working properly.Sunpower keeps sending a technician,from a third party ,who really can't resolve the issue.
I would like to proceed at higher ways.Looking to get help and ideas via this open channel.
Many Thanks:))

------------------------------
YEHUDA GRABLI
------------------------------

Hi Yahuda
Your email is not clear about what 'numbers' don't add up. Solar production, net power consumption, billing charges? I have not seen the data you sent to William, but another thing to compare is what your Electric bill is saying and what the Sunpower system monitor app is saying. They should agree for net power (difference between actual load from the house which neither can measure and the PV production). Pick a sunny cloudless day and compare them, then pick a month (use same dates as in billing cycle). Are they in agreement?

Also, remember that many utilitiies have fixed charges, with some charging PV owners additional fee as well. I dont know where you live but look carefully at your bill. Even if your solar array produced 100% of the electricity you consumed, you could still have $20-50 monthly fixed fees. 

Steve

------------------------------
Steven Hegedus
Professor and Senior Scientist
University of Delaware
Newark Delaware
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-29-2023 09:29 AM
From: william fitch
Subject: Issues With My solar System Help

Hi: I got the email you sent me with the energy graph. You might consider posting it to this thread so others can input. It is straight forward in its appearance and numerics. The question I have to ask is where specifically is the conflict as you perceive it, between the energy report as referenced and any specific data from Edison?
EDIT: I re-read your email response again. 
I will try to explain this. "Edison" does not know WHAT YOU USE!! They only know WHAT YOU TAKE and what you PUSH. I want you to think about those two statements carefully. And the difference between what Edison sees as take and push is not reflective of you load because you produce as well. This can get mind bending a bit.
The answer to the difference in your  month end being grid push by your reporting system VS them at grid take, may lie in how your "setup determines" load. Also as a side thought, do you have batteries in your system? 
Depending on how your system is configured, the differences may lie there. In order to check their numbers, you to need a precise reading of what is pushed to and taken from the grid at meter point, which your CT's (Current transformers) may not be giving you depending on different variables. SO really what you produce is not relevant for them. Only what you take and only what you push.
------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com

Original Message:
Sent: 01-28-2023 06:34 PM
From: YEHUDA GRABLI
Subject: Issues With My solar System Help

Greetings to community and members,
I am in search with help/similar experience with a residential system that was installed by Sunpower.
We got our system installed last September and since then we are being charged by the utility as well.Upon carefully checking, all data by Sunpower monitor and App  for production and consumption just don't make sense and are not aligned with Edison our local energy utility company.
Numbers just don't add up.
We contacted Sunpower so many times about this issue and even refuse to pay for the finance company till system is working properly.Sunpower keeps sending a technician,from a third party ,who really can't resolve the issue.
I would like to proceed at higher ways.Looking to get help and ideas via this open channel.
Many Thanks:))

------------------------------
YEHUDA GRABLI
------------------------------

We also have a Sun Power system. It is a 19.8 kW panels and 26 kW battery backup. It took over a full year for the complete installation to be completed. Our EMC says they are sending more kW into the house than what Sun Powers app shows. As they just finished the battery installation of 2 13 kW units, we thought we would wait a month or two and see if anything improves. We have never seen our panels produce close to the 19.8 kW even though we are in the south and get full sun during the spring thru early fall. They say we need to send them all the information they were supposed to have done before selling the system. Angle of the sun, angle of the roof, etc. We are trying to work with them on getting our system optimized for best economy and they are helping. They are going to remove our HVAC from the batteries and see if they will last a little longer at night. As things are right now, I would not recommend a similar solar system to anyone and I have had many people ask about our experience. Over 1 full year filled with excuses and still not supplying all the power it should.

------------------------------
Barry Rosenberg
British Car Service
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-28-2023 06:34 PM
From: YEHUDA GRABLI
Subject: Issues With My solar System Help

Greetings to community and members,
I am in search with help/similar experience with a residential system that was installed by Sunpower.
We got our system installed last September and since then we are being charged by the utility as well.Upon carefully checking, all data by Sunpower monitor and App  for production and consumption just don't make sense and are not aligned with Edison our local energy utility company.
Numbers just don't add up.
We contacted Sunpower so many times about this issue and even refuse to pay for the finance company till system is working properly.Sunpower keeps sending a technician,from a third party ,who really can't resolve the issue.
I would like to proceed at higher ways.Looking to get help and ideas via this open channel.
Many Thanks:))

------------------------------
YEHUDA GRABLI
------------------------------

Yes, ongoing issues. As a connected thought, I would absolutely say that EVERY PV SYSTEM should have a 100,000 KWH mechanical meter connected at the main string inverter output. If you have micro inverters, then it should be placed where the small feeds come together (Maybe combiner box), BUT BEFORE any wires "split off"  to satisfy loads or battery interfaces. And I don't care what smartphones, wi-fi, CT's etc., etc. you have. This meter will provide you with an unarguable production output even if the inverter(S) are down or any other system part. Call me old fashioned if you like. I don't care. it should be present.
Sunpower, at least pre the split off, made the best or at least among the very best solar panels in the world! I have them! They are engineering superior and fantastic. However, the panels are one part of an engineered system. And for the owner, all parts must function and information should be available and readable in a way that they can have confidence in.

------------------------------
william fitch
Owner
www.WeAreSolar.com
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 01-30-2023 11:46 AM
From: Barry Rosenberg
Subject: Issues With My solar System Help

We also have a Sun Power system. It is a 19.8 kW panels and 26 kW battery backup. It took over a full year for the complete installation to be completed. Our EMC says they are sending more kW into the house than what Sun Powers app shows. As they just finished the battery installation of 2 13 kW units, we thought we would wait a month or two and see if anything improves. We have never seen our panels produce close to the 19.8 kW even though we are in the south and get full sun during the spring thru early fall. They say we need to send them all the information they were supposed to have done before selling the system. Angle of the sun, angle of the roof, etc. We are trying to work with them on getting our system optimized for best economy and they are helping. They are going to remove our HVAC from the batteries and see if they will last a little longer at night. As things are right now, I would not recommend a similar solar system to anyone and I have had many people ask about our experience. Over 1 full year filled with excuses and still not supplying all the power it should.

------------------------------
Barry Rosenberg
British Car Service

Original Message:
Sent: 01-28-2023 06:34 PM
From: YEHUDA GRABLI
Subject: Issues With My solar System Help

Greetings to community and members,
I am in search with help/similar experience with a residential system that was installed by Sunpower.
We got our system installed last September and since then we are being charged by the utility as well.Upon carefully checking, all data by Sunpower monitor and App  for production and consumption just don't make sense and are not aligned with Edison our local energy utility company.
Numbers just don't add up.
We contacted Sunpower so many times about this issue and even refuse to pay for the finance company till system is working properly.Sunpower keeps sending a technician,from a third party ,who really can't resolve the issue.
I would like to proceed at higher ways.Looking to get help and ideas via this open channel.
Many Thanks:))

------------------------------
YEHUDA GRABLI
------------------------------