"cheap and fairly easy to install" (was ground fault) [RE-wrenches]

[matthew tritt]

Joel,

Jeez-O-Pete, Joel! Have you checked-out the module pricing from some of the
McSolar outfits lately?
How can we, as people attempting to remain in business, lower our prices to
the end-user any further?
When those guys are selling to the public at just over our wholesale prices,
where is the wiggle room coming from? I already sell modules at well below
list, and our labor isn't going to be buying us any new trucks any time
soon!

Ever since about 1979, the PV manufacturers have been touting "revolutionary
manufacturing innovations and drastic pricing reductions" are just around
the corner. Wow! What a big corner it's been. Short of some kind of
technological revolution, what can be done to bring down our module costs
enough to actually make a difference? In reality, our product will only be
truly affordable to buyers with higher than average incomes until government
decides to subsidize it nationally (don't look for this any time soon), or
the manufacturers
really do have a major breakthrough. Or?

Matt----- Original Message -----
From: "Joel Davidson" <joeldavidson at earthlink.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 7:46 AM
Subject: "cheap and fairly easy to install" (was ground fault) [RE-wrenches]


> I like what Chris says about ground fault protection. I also want PV
> systems that are "cheap and fairly easy to install." Make PV systems
> better and faster to install and cheaper. Ask yourself, "What can I do
> to lower PV system costs?" Then do it like your livelihood depends on it
> because the CEC is asking why PV system prices have not come down since
> the rebate program started in 1998. You can list the reasons, but
> reasons sound like excuses to politicians who control rebate program
> budgets and to customers. Set a goal to reduce your installed price by
> 20% by December 2003 AND to increase your net profit. Then apply
> pressure to your suppliers or buy from someone else. Tell PV module
> manufacturers to add value AND lower prices so that you can give your
> customers better, faster to install and cheaper PV systems.
>
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