Florida Contractor Don’t Buy ASP Panels. I usually like to title our posts with catchy headlines or newsworthy sound bites. But today’s topic is important enough that I can cut straight to the chase.
Hope I got your attention.
In an earlier post, we discussed the importance of selecting the right solar panel packages – and warranties. This is not only a big issue for property owners. Contractors and installers must also devote considerable thought when selecting vendors. Because when a solar panel manufacturer goes under, so goes the warranty.
It’s very difficult to collect from bankrupt organizations.
As a Florida resident, President of USSolar Institute, and CEO of Florida Solar One – I can speak about the importance of PV panel warranties from firsthand experience – both as a property owner and licensed solar PV contractor.
You’ll recall in the earlier post that we discussed ASP (a.k.a. BlueChip Energy). Just to recap, the company has been cutting corners, to put it mildly. Due to listings violations, Underwriters Laboratories asked ASP to recall a number of its panels that failed to meet their stated efficiency ratings. In fact, ASP has already had to shut down a few factories until further notice.
Well, I was one of many solar property owners duped into buying ASP panels. We have about 100 of them on our rooftop at USSolar Institute, and not once have these panels ever met their stated standard test condition (STC) promises. On most days, we’re lucky to even reach 65% of the rated capacity.
And keep in mind that we’re talking about our solar PV training campus in Florida – the Sunshine State. I can only imagine ASP solar power output in more overcast states like Washington or Oregon.
Underperformance in and of itself is not the main issue. American consumers buy products all the time that don’t work properly. But ours is a market system where you can call, complain, exchange, and move on. Fairly standard practice.
Any company committed to longevity would honor its warranty. If not because it’s the decent thing to do, then certainly out of self-preservation.
It seems that ASP has already decided that quick profits are more important than a lasting and durable future.
Let me explain.
Despite months of phone calls and emails, the company has essentially been dragging their feet with my repeated requests for assistance. ASP either evades my questions altogether or flat-out refuses to fulfill its legal obligation. In recent weeks, the new excuses center around the fact that the company can’t honor its warranty because UL has forced its plant to shut down temporarily.
Strictly as a consumer, this entire ordeal has been unacceptable. But as a licensed solar contractor and certified PV instructor, I’m even more concerned by ASP’s continued efforts to push products that it knows are not up to spec.
Just the other day, I saw some ASP panels that claimed to be UL-listed, when in fact, I know for certain that they aren’t. Worse still, these panels were selling for $0.65 a watt – a price so low that you wouldn’t even see it during a fire sale on the eve of the next OPEC embargo.
The situation has been maddening beyond end. But in truth, I consider myself lucky.
Yes. ASP took money out of my pocket. But because we rarely promoted its technology to our clients, the damage was limited. Many of my colleagues in the industry were not so lucky.
Although we’re direct competitors vying for solar contracting market share, we’re still part of a larger community committed to a cleaner and more sustainable economy powered by the sun. And I don’t ever want to see another installer’s business suffer because he or she was knowingly deceived by unscrupulous solar panel manufacturers.
Unfortunately, this is happening with increasingly regularity.
My heart goes out to contractors who have already taken the plunge. For you newer installers out there, let mine be a cautionary tale. Before you buy, install, or promote panels from ASP (or any untested manufacturer), just remember that a warranty is only as good as the company’s letterhead.
Stay tuned for the next installment in how ASP is singlehandedly blotting out the sun.