Silverton, OR Home Connected and Metering in FIT Pilot Program

From: Happy Solarized Silvertonians
To: John Harley, VP of Production
September 28, 2010

Subject: We are connected and metering!

Hi John,

Fantastic news! PGE was out this afternoon and installed two new meters (both identical). We threw the circuit breaker switch and turned the inverter on and after a few minutes the inverter was showing power being generated. Went out and watched the PGE power meters and both were showing zero kwh. Finally, the solar meter registered 1 kwh while the utility input meter was still showing zero.

We are ahead!

Thanks for all of your help. Your crew is fantastic! It is great to have individuals that enjoy their work so much. They really appear to be having fun while they work. Was sorry for John Sparks whose smart phone jumped out of his hand while he was on the roof and fell over 8 feet to the concrete pavement below. It surprised me when he turned it on and the screen still lit up. However, it was giving a message that the sim card was missing. If it was just loose, I will have to find out what brand of phone he has. It can really take a beating.

It was surprising that the entire installation was done so quickly. I think it only took about six hours from start to finish. The installation of the solar panels is very precise and attractive. Brandon Krueger's work was very meticulous. The electrical conduits that he formed for the inverter connections are exact fits.

We are very pleased with the way the work was done and with the finished product.

Thanks again.

 


 

Jeff and Sandra Ramp, Salem/Brooks, OR

Dated Sept. 2nd, 2010

Dear National Solar,

It was a great pleasure working with your entire crew on what was one of the first projects of the new Feed-In-Tariff pilot program for the area serviced by PGE.

We especially want to thank Kim Berhorst (who was our initial contact) and the production manager John Harley. Kim encouraged us greatly with her knowledge and her enthusiasm for "going solar" and continued helping long after the project was completed. John arranged the construction of the project in a very timely and professional manner and was a pleasure to deal with at every stage as he too encouraged us long after the installation. We would also like to thank John "Sparky" Sparks and the electricians of Pro-Stat Electric (Brandon Krueger and his team) for the very professional manner in which they completed the install.

The electrons have been pouring out of the system for over one week now and is churning out kWhs at a better than expected rate after some red-tape was worked out with PGE which took a bit longer because this was a new pilot program with new requirements. I am sure future enrollees will have an equal or greater experience because of the kinks that were worked out with this initial phase of the program. We will highly recommend this program and National Solar to all our friends, relatives and neighbors!

Sincerely,

Jeff and Sandy Ramp

On the onion farm near Brooks, Oregon

Robert & Betty Bass

Dear National Solar (and ProStat Services!)

Robert and I would like you to know how happy we are with all your crew did on our solar panels. Your work was so well done. Everyone was so go great and we enjoyed you so much. We thank you for your kindness with all our questions as we went through the material telling how to care for our solar panels [and system]. Everyone was so professional and we had not had that kind of [positive] experience with a crew for a long, long time.

Sincerely,
Robert & Betty Bass
Salem, OR

Thank You National Solar

Hello,

Just to let you know I had an installation done on 5-4-10 and it went very well. From the first contact from National Solar to the men installing the solar panels it was first rate service, very professional work from National Solar and Ross Electric people and I am very pleased wiuth the product as well with the people involved. I would recommend National Solar and Ross Electric for an job in solar energy installation whether it was commercial or resitdential as they set the standard very high for this industry. Thank you for a job well done.

Best Regards,

Gary L. Kranz

Portland, OR

Suetos-McConnell Update

April 6, 2010

To [National Solar]:

Just thought I would send a note as I'm working on our taxes for 2009 and enjoying our Energy Tax Credit!!! Yea! At the end of the day we paid 35% of the system cost (or a 65% discount). And it just sits up there printing money, even on a partly sunny day...

Regards,
Sherry McConnell

Larry & Sally Haberly

January 31, 2010

Dear National Solar,

We just had your product installed at our place. The process has been a pleasant experience.

The [representatives] were easy to talk to and easy to understand. They were able to answer the questions we had for them.

The engineer was pleasant and upbeat to work with also. His crew was here at the scheduled time and the results are Amazing. We are very pleased with the installation and the appearance of the panels and other equipment. It all has a very professional look.

The customer relations gal Kim was cheerful and professonal. She promises to visit us in a few months for a follow up evaluation. At that time we will be able to give an experienced rating of your product. We are looking forward to years of savings!

Sincerely,

Larry and Sally Haberly

The Cohen Family

November 24, 2009

Dear National Solar:

I am satisfied with a high quality solar system installed by National Solar. It is important to me that the components were manufactured by U.S. companies that must comply with environmental controls. National Solar employees were professional in every way. They completed the project within the time frame promised, kept in touch with me during the process, and followed up with me after completion to confirm my satisfation.

Emily Cohen
Portland, Oregon

The Kreag & Fox Family

October 28, 2009

Dear Folks at National Solar,

Just wanted to let you know again how happy we are with the solar system you installed. It has been doing its thing cranking out power all summer and even now a little bit. We especially appreciated working with John Harley who made special efforts in making the panel placement and wiring be the most efficient and least intrusive. The electrician also worked with us to get the inverter and meters placed for least impact on our garage storage cabinets.


We really are happy with the system.
Thank you for the good work.

The Kreag & Fox Family
West Slope, Oregon

Dennis & Daphne Rice

October 28, 2009

Dear Folks at National Solar,

Thank you so much for the marvelous job you and your staff did installing our solar panels. The Production Manager, John Harley, was professional, cordial, and a mine of information. We appreciate having the installation, approval, and "green light" completed in such a timely manner.

Everyone we met, from the information lady at the Clackamas Co. Fair, to the salesperson, production manager, and workers was terrific to work with. We've already received many compliments from folks who've seen our panels - from the exercise room at 24 Hour Fitness. The panels blend in so well with our lifetime roof that it looks like part of the original roof installation!

Sincerely,
Daphne & Dennis Rice
Portland, Oregon

Steven & Shelly Furness

October 2009

Dear National Solar,

The whole gang was wonderful. Starting with Kim, our salesperson, she helped convince us of what we'd already known, that we could afford the solar. Now was the ideal time to do it. So we did.

She kept in touch through the short waiting period, which was very helpful. Whenever we had any questions she got right back with answers. We asked for a little twist in payment methods and she was great.

John and the gang were great [installers]. They kept me informed through the install, explaining what they would be doing and handling any questions I had. They were very fast and efficient. I highly recommend the entire outfit.

Steven Furness
Portland, Oregon

Dale & Jack Goucher

October 2009

Dear National Solar,

I'm very pleased and surprised with the efficiency of my system. But moreover, we are very impressed with the installers - they were very respectful, knowledgeable and courteous. and they cleaned up the job-related debris and didn't leave a mess.

As the #705th licensed journeyman electrician in the state of Oregon, I was very familiar with the principles of solar electricity and so have a special admiration for the efforts of the installation crew and their ability to do it right. The solar system is generating more electricity than I expected.


I'd like to give a special thanks to Kim for helping me to figure out what type of installation I wanted. Her knowledge and friendly attitude was very refreshing.

One of the things I want to say is that between Kim's help and John's experience - John's engineering expertise - they made it a very pleasant experience.
The followup by Kim and John has been appreciated.

We are proud to recommend National Solar for other projects to anyone.

Sincerely,
Dale & Jack Goucher
Scio, Oregon

Suzanne & Roger Ragsdale

October 2009

Dear National Solar,

John and his crew were very professional and fast. The panels look great on my garage. Highlights include:

- Courtesy with the salespeople.
- Professional Installation.
- Good quality products.
- Added equity in home.

I love it when my meter is going backwards!
Roger Ragsdale

David Atack

October 2009

Dear National Solar,

Many thanks for doing a GREAT job on my solar panel planning and installation. The sales folks, Kim & Tom, explained the system to me very well. Then John came and we examined the best location on the roof. John was most informative in his details and planning. He communicated very well and did the job efficiently and effectively...and his crew cleaned up afterwards. I have already recommended National Solar and will again.


The biggest factor in deciding to purchase from National Solar was using renewable energy and reducing my electric bill. [They] are very nice, friendly people who say what they do and do what they say.

Thank You,
David Atack
Hillsboro, Oregon

Philip & Susannah Greenburg

October 2009

To National Solar,

Thanks so much for our great panels. You were all so helpful from the first step of the project. Tom came out and detailed everything we could have wanted to know within a week of us putting in our name...[He] was really thoughtful and clear. We felt very comfortable making a decision with him. John was a great installer with his team. He was receptive to our special requests with wiring and the outward appearance of [the] conduit. He changed our layout plan at the last minute to optimize our solar efficiency. He and his crew were friendly and professional. We can't wait to see the meter running backward!


Good communication of project timelines and where we were at in the process. Friendly Staff. Helps us reduce our reliance on fossil fuels - Looks cool!

Thanks,
The Greenburg Family
Portland, Oregon

Wendy Brewton & Samuel Krumholz

September 2009

Dear National Solar:
Ref: Solar Panel Installation at out Farm in Gaston, OR

John and his crew did an excellent job installing our system. The panels look perfect as does the electrical installation. The entire crew worked together as a team and were friendly and professional. Please let John and all the others involved know that I really appreciate the great job they did.

I would highly recommend National Solar to anyone who is considering an alternative to "store bought" electricity.

Thank You,
Sam Krumholz
Gaston, Oregon

Sheryl McConnell & Vincent Suetos

September 27, 2009

National Solar:

We are very pleased with the solar equipment installed on our home by your team. Our first power bill was 1/2 of the one the month before with solar "on" only 25 of 30 billing days.

The system is worry-free and does not detract from the look of our home. We would freely recommend your company to anyone interested in solar energy.

Thank you,
Vincent S. Suetos & Sheryl S. McConnell
Sheridan, Oregon

Diana & Chuck Pearcy

September 2009

Dear National Solar,

The crew that installed my solar system was professional, courteous, explained everything to us clearly, and kept us informed every step of the way.

Working with National Solar was first-class. The system looks perfect. There was care taken in all aspects of the process. From the initial consultation to communicating with company personnel, the process was first-class.

As a contractor myself, my wife and I truly appreciated the professionalism with which National Solar, John Harley, and his crew handled our project.

We feel really happy about being part of the solution, not part of the problem for future energy demand. It's just common sense to go solar if one can afford to do it, and it is so much more affordable than ever before.

My only complaint is that the 2 x 4 John carries with him made a big dent in my head (I ran into it but he needs to install solar flashing lights on it to warn people like myself).

Sincerely,
Diana & Chuck Pearcy
Albany, Oregon

Randall & Marjorie Sharp

September 2009

Dear National Solar,

I've enjoyed being the owner of the solar power system on my home. Not only does it lower my electric bill, it also pays at the end of the year for the power we've generated from our electric company. Plus, the equity in the house has outpaced the given appraisal prices of other homes in the area due to our house having the solar system on it. With low maintenance and ease of care, the system is worth many times the initial investment.

Everything went clean and smooth, and National Solar did everything they said they were going to do. It has been a pleasure working with National solar.

Sincerely,
Randall Sharp
Salem, Oregon

Barbara and Ronald Rector

September 9, 2009

Dear National Solar,

I would like to thank you for the wonderful people you have working for you selling and installing solar panels. They are all so very friendly. The panels look great on the house and it was thrilling to see my meter run backwards. I am really looking forward to this winter as a more "green" way to keep warm. Keep up the good work.

Barbara Rector
Salem, Oregon

Sandy and Larry Smith

August, 2009

We are the proud owners of a Solar Power System. We discovered National Solar at a local event and learned that a PV system will produce power in Oregon. The sales representative was very informative and the process was seamless. We established the size of our system, ordered the materials and National Solar completed the installation without problems.

To our delight, when PGE turned it on, we are producing power every day even when the clouds are present. It is nice to know that we are using power that leaves a small carbon footprint and increases the value of our home as well. Thank you National Solar for the great job.

Sincerely,
Sandy and Larry Smith
Sheridan, Oregon