Determining actual costs of doing a residential solar system

behappy123

I broke down the costs below (here in the mid-west), and I feel like I have covered pretty much all of it, however, a few electric companies I have talked to see to state their costs are almost a full dollar per watt higher(they are saying their costs are more like $2.60, which is a lot more than $1.60 I arrived to below), I am trying to find out what I'm missing, if you know, I appreciate your help!

Here's what I have:

(For a 10kw system)

-panels- ~50-85c a watt (Depending on type of panel) - $5000-8500
-inverters- ~30c a watt (mid range inverter)- $3000
-other equipment (balance of system) - Est no more than $1000 a system (wires, grounds, etc)
-site survey - ~$100
-cad design - $20 (2 hours of work, at $10/hr)
-permitting- ~$1000 or less
-administrative- cost of administrative employees to do background permitting, customer service, and related- ~$500 or less
-installation - ~$1000 (~$200 per installer per job)
-racking - ~$1000 or less
-misc avg per account- around $1000

Total: ~$1.60 per watt or roughly $16,000

*Note this is for a house with a Shingle roof and a relatively easy install.

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I know I didnt include overhead costs (like brick and mortar business), but I am looking for actual core costs of doing a solar system. If you can see I'm missing anything or off significantly on anything please let me know.
Thank you in advance for your help!

Photowhit

While I don't expect installers to pay retail, the prices you are quoting are somewhat less than wholesale, I think current wholesale is running around 70 cents up for panels made by someone who is still in business and you must add delivery to that....

Cad design - $20 (2 hours of work, at $10/hr) It costs more per hour to have some one wash your car! NO chance!

Insurance!!!!!!!

Liability!!!!!!!!!

Profit!!!!!!!!

JoshK

You might want to ask if batteries will be involved. Large ones are spendy.

solarix

Listen to the current Energy Show by Barry Cinnamon and you'll hear why solar costs twice as much in the US as in Germany.
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2015/04/listen-up-paperwork-makes-solar-much-more-expensive?cmpid=SolarNL-Tuesday-April28-2015

SkiDoo55

I throw out these numbers cost for materials only full code compliance systems. after Fed TaxCredit & State (PG&E)
4600W (20 230W) panels racking, wiring, GT inverter etc cost after fed & state $2.6358/Watt 2010 install
5000W (20 250W) panels racking, wiring, GT inverter etc cost after fed no state $1.4599/Watt 2013 install
1500w (6 250W) panels racking, wiring, XW4024 Hybrid inverter 4 6 VDC Duracell L-16 size batteries fed credit no state $3.3208/Watt 2014 install
New 50 year architectual shingles installed not included in costs.