Grid-tie system in Florida

 I have made the decision to switch to solar now instead of waiting a
few years thanks to the suggestion I received from my earlier post.
My question today is what should I expect to pay for a 5kw grid tie
system in Florida. I received a quote 2 days again that came out to
$50,800, or 10.16/watt.  I thought I read a 5 kw system installed
should be between $8 and $9/watt.  Is the quote I received too high?
Has anyone here installed a solar system in central florida and if so,
what company did you use and were you satisfied with them?  It
surprising that Florida is the "Sunshine State" yet there are not too
many solar companies that install photovoltaic, most do just solar
thermal.  Thanks again, look forward to the replies.

Dean

  Did he give you a good/better/best choice on panels or just pick
something? Maybe he speced a real hi eff panel... maybe he is a dealer
for only one type of inverter and you could get another brand
inverter  for a little less by shopping around? Maybe you can buy the
stuff and he just installs?

 
Is there a problem with PV surviving hurricanes or severe weather?  Maybe
the installation is different to accommodate high wind loads.

That sounds like a price comparable to my California installation.
Are there rebates or any incentives available?

Proposed May 2005, $44,471 installed, before any rebates or credits.
CA State Rebate @ $ 2.80 per Watt: ($13,974)
7.5% State Tax Credit:  ($2,344)
CEC Rated kilowatt Output: (PTC) 4.991 kW AC
MFG. Minimum Guaranteed kW Output: 5.299 kW AC
MFG. Name Plate Rating (STC): 6.000 kW DC

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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA  GPS: 38.8,-122.5

 As the Florida rebates became available, every PV installer in Florida
raised their installation prices.  As you have found there are not enough
contractors installing PV for there to be any real competition here yet.

I was pretty much quoted a starting ballpark figure of $10,000 per kilowatt
no matter what I wanted installed.

mike

 
So, you think Dean's price is before rebates, and that there are rebates to
be applied?  It sounds like a realistic price, then, but I would be inclined
to get an installer that speaks more clearly in terms of out of pocket
expenses, and the total picture.

My installer assigned the rebate to himself, so I didn't have to pay that
money and wait to get it back.

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Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA  GPS: 38.8,-122.5