Remember so many months back how excited we were to get Solar panels installed – oh the joy of a new karma-positive addition to our home? Well, within a couple of weeks, we found that some duffer with an overpriced driver (no-one by that description here) had managed to break one of the panels with an extremely poorly aimed slice from the tee.
This was quite a surprise to us given that we had just invested in something that we were supposed to maintain for 20 years per our agreement with XCel Energy who was subsidising the system substanitally so they could meet their renewable energy goals as mandated by the state. First of all, we were fairly shocked that a golf ball would break the panels given we were continually assured that the panels hold up to “golf ball sized hail” whenever we expressed concern. Of course, we all know that the reason we pay up to $5 per golf ball is that in theory it should go considerably further and faster than an equivalent sized piece of hail if we hit it just right (and also not explode on impact). So shame on us for not delving into that piece of sales magic!
We expressed this concern to the vendor REC Solar as we felt we had been mislead into thinking the panels would withstand our occasional golf ball hits we get and they claimed to feel awful . Actually I should say I expressed this: I have found through this process that my wife can sometimes exhibit a temper that borders on the incredible hulk. If you add sleazy sales practices, considerable financial outlay, and destruction of property together, she would poke a guy’s eye out if you’re not careful. So I took ownership over a relatively genial email and phone discussion that over the course of several weeks we went from a “gee, I don’t know what we can do” to an agreement that they would replace the broken panel and the next 6 for free and all subsequent ones at cost. Still not ideal, but the best we can hope for.
We’re all crossing our fingers in the hope that that truly was a freak shot… and if it wasn’t and we’re down 2 more panels this time next year, then we’ll look at removing the panels and figuring out what to do next. But for now, we’re back to full capacity (over 5kW at peak production today) and feeling good.
October 9, 2007 at 1:49 pm
First off, kudos on that graphic–that is some quality work. I also think you negotiated a pretty impressive deal given my experience with vendors.
It seems from your drawing that it is probably a reasonably low angled slice that hits your panels. Meaning that anything that would actually hit them from above would be an impossibly long sky ball. Given this is it possible or reasonable to just shield a small area in front of the panels that would block light, but would dramatically reduce the chance of breakage? (Seems like even a taught net might be enough to slow the ball.) Or plant some kind of tall tree in the line to the tee box that might also slow down shanked projectiles?
Alternatively, you could go aggressive at the golf course, threaten to sue them, and force them to put up a wooden wall next to the tee box on the right side. This could be a win for the golfers as well as it deflects the balls back out onto the fairway! You could be heroes! 😉
October 9, 2007 at 7:21 pm
My favorite part of this blog entry is your description of a “mad” Mandy. I LOVE it!!!!! So glad that they came around. I know this has been bothering you both for a while.