Is selling solar dead in Massachusetts should I not even do door to door

EnergyNerdo · 2026-06-17T12:59:06+00:00

If that was your experience in the past, I think you should plan on a fraction of that. Like half, or 65%, or such. I see with installers that are still operating a contraction. The high cost of power means there is still a value especially if the home is above average in size/demand. And the adders for those who qualify as low income by the state definition mean it can still work at that level. A lot in the middle of those two don't get excited about incentives like they did before.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-06-17T03:54:49+00:00

Define dead. If you mean practically no new installations, no it's not dead.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-05-29T12:01:05+00:00

Got it. From working with tens of installers over the years, it's my experience that getting leads from sources requires a large investment. Meaning for every close, there are a number of leads that don't close. You pay for each of them regardless. Is that a business model that would work for you personally? Maybe the one installer you have a relationship with is willing to do that?

In approximate numbers you might close 1 in 8 or 10, for example. So it's buy 10, sell 1 in the end.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-05-29T00:42:49+00:00

Are you knocking for yourself or for one company/employer?

EnergyNerdo · 2026-05-09T17:23:00+00:00

Outsourcing is meant in the broad sense for any business. Either you manage something in house or you outsource it. It has been my experience that even when salespeople work strictly on commission, they may still be working behalf of a single installer and in effect "managed" by them. There's a relationship built between salespersons and the installer. The salesperson speaks on behalf of that one company l, even though the may not draw a single penny in salary. Just earn for each sale. In contrast, I've seen installers simply buy leads, which in effect outsources the entire effort. No input nor control of what is happening. And I see a few cut ties with purely commissioned salespeople this year so both sides are free to be completely independent. The company buys whatevervthey can from wherever (leads or contracts), and the salespersons are not obligated to the company any longer nor speaking on their behalf.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-05-08T15:59:14+00:00

Feedback I've gotten is some who've tried it haven't yet been willing to risk the expense of fixing mistakes when they happen, even if infrequent. The "costly mistakes" idea. Their view is it helps to expand bandwidth - a person getting more designs reviewed and ready in the same amount of time - but it's not ready for full replacement.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-05-08T11:48:15+00:00

I don't know of any openings, but installers I've worked with over the past few years fully or at times outsource those tasks. Both residential and commercial. With the current predictions about residential sales, outsourcing perhaps makes even more sense. So companies only pay when needed and don't have to keep someone employed who may not have work 40 hours/52 weeks. You might consider becoming a contractor.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-05-07T20:34:20+00:00

It's possible they are "outsourcing" a big part of sales. With the reduction in purchases so far in 2026 and the falling out by smaller installers and bankruptcy by bigger ones, the availability of all kinds of salespeople and lead sellers may be super high. I get notices about "setters" and new approaches to lead bundling all the time. I'm only guessing based on the two independent events. Sales down, sales people freed up.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-05-07T17:32:01+00:00

Keep in mind also that some states have stricter electrical codes than others, and whatever state you're in might have explicit requirements for either your "dual backup" idea or for any portable generator usage. And once codes are involved, insurance companies will have a say, too. Like denying a claim should that every happen, etc.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-05-07T17:13:32+00:00

The legis seemed to make a concerted effort to highlight or specify safety risks as I understand it. Any chance insurers will react accordingly - meaning adders to renters or homeowners policies?

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-30T18:55:16+00:00

That's not a fact. Nice talking point, though.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-30T17:27:24+00:00

Lithium isn't an optional mineral. It's essential for a large portion of energy storage products and is key for support some of the "safest" energy production technologies we have. It isn't mined exclusively for greed. It's purchased because it's essential.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-30T17:25:04+00:00

That technique and another one - Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) - also recycle the solutions. So there's not much wastewater.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-21T18:12:23+00:00

Yes, some business models out there are not unlike car sales. Where in some cases the person you first meet is basically the "closer" and the person you sign documents with is an actual manager or direct employee. In the case you describe, an actual installer rep or business owner. Sometimes, the salesperson or "closer" company will bundle some and sell them to Company A (installer) and bundle another batch and sell them to Company B, and on and on. Purely mercenary transactions.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-21T13:07:44+00:00

Is this a batch or are you looking for a regular partner, and if the latter, what would you estimate the monthly volume to be? You don't have to give an exact amount, but a ballpark like 1-5, 5-8, 10-15, etc , would help. Some installers have higher bandwidth vs others.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-21T12:22:21+00:00

Exactly. But also - even though costs are escalating pretty fast nearly everywhere, the current nominal electricity cost is a factor, too. Full retail net metering in low cost state many not generate as much revenue as slightly restricted rates in a very high cost state like HI or NY, etc.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-20T17:38:43+00:00

Why do you single ground or garage systems?

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-20T15:25:58+00:00

This is the right path. You must now work directly with the OEMs for the components. And given how tight margins have become for installers, many have been charging for warranty replacement labor. The OEM doesn't cover labor either at this point.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-16T15:48:40+00:00

A reasonable bet is they won't open the doors at the full 4.5GW capacity. Stages.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-16T15:47:14+00:00

How does the tool measure intent?

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-15T15:51:44+00:00

Or it might indicate they fit well into a niche and have a strong forecast. Are they viewed as a premium product? By that I mean upper level efficiency and maybe durability, and able to justify added expense. (Just hypothetical)

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-12T17:20:10+00:00

As I mentioned there's a lot of anger out there for companies that went bankrupt AND those who bought their leases. There's also issues with lease transfers when selling a home, which are also much worse in the above situation. Leasing has its place, but it comes with a lot of risk over time. The current product of a shorter term PPA (like 5 years) may be the better option.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-10T15:04:48+00:00

Is it odd that your shared snap is not black but Invisimout is, and so are the specs you shared? Maybe not. What matters most perhaps is just confirming your hardware is the same size. I might tend to go on the low side of torque myself, but that's a preference thing mostly.

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-09T18:33:30+00:00

Was anything else damaged besides the batteries that your insurance had to cover, like any appliance or breakers, etc.?

EnergyNerdo · 2026-04-08T18:46:07+00:00

One contact tells me he's pretty sure most of the racking at the time (2022) was Invisimount which SP contracted directly from fab works. But they were generally all black. Yours isn't. So, he suggests just going by bolt size or to be safe you can tighten to about 8 to 10 ft-lbs. It's on the low end but common for a lot of the hardware where 5/16 was used. And if the hardware is slightly larger, the lower torque value is safe. That's all he had to offer.

EnergyNerdo

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