Susanne, Newport
December 2020
Installer – IQ Solar
What was installed?
18 panels – $5,300
String inverter
Smart meter
Wifi smartphone app
Selection Process
I arranged 3 quotes for the solar panels. My site is straightforward with no overhanging trees and a good aspect, NE and NW. The installer (Stewart) I selected was referred by a friend in Clareville. He was referred to IQ Solar by other friends. So 4 or 5 Newport-Clareville locals have used IQ Solar.
Reason for Selection
The other two installers who quoted were 'hard-sell’. They were unimpressive, complicated, perhaps deliberately; the quotes not great. The IQ Solar website has a helpful instructive video, and Stewart explained the process and the hardware choices clearly. The price was competitive and acceptable. They thought through the panel orientation well.
Outcome
IQ did a very good job. The wifi app works well from anywhere. The price was within acceptable range: 18 panels for around $5,300 (December 2020). [Note: Subsidies go down a little every January, and apply at date of installation].
In addition I upgraded the heating/cooling system to remove gas as heating fuel. Installed a very efficient Daikin system through Alliance Climate, after obtaining 3 quotes.
What I would do differently
I contacted Stewart about 3 months after the installation to ask about converting instantaneous gas hot water to a heat pump (or other electricity powered method). The gas bill is mostly for hot water. He doesn’t do that work, but he talked me through the criteria nonetheless. Very helpful and knowledgeable. He recommended SolarHart as they do a good quality and competitively priced work.
