Hi Benn, In my area this depends on the city permitting office, and they are very particular about it. A few cities (Minneapolis, for one) had an administrative agreement to help support solar by requiring the 'total value of the project' be that of everything but the modules and inverter, thus lowering the cost of the permit quite a bit. Since many require me to drop off the permit application to a receptionist and will not allow me to have the conversation with someone directly, I usually add a line so I can include both cost options. My success in having the lower cost used was about 50/50 a year ago, but almost without exception I am now finding the permit offices are adding fees and require the full installed cost be used for the permit. I've even had them require additional mid-job inspections so they can charge the additional inspection fees. Hopefully as more solar is installed a more standardized policy/process will be put into place, and we won't have so many unknowns in the bidding process.
Keep Shining! Rebecca Lundberg Powerfully Green, Minnesota Wrenches, > I have been hearing differences in opinions/interpretations when it comes > to filling out electrical permit applications for grid-tie PV systems and > you come to the line that asks for <direct quote> "Cost of Installation > (Labor plus Material)", which determines the cost of the permit. > I have been including the cost of labor and all material including modules, > inverter, racking (the big ticket items) as well as the 'materials' such as > wire, conduit, straps, screws, boxes, etc. > It has come to my attention that some companies do not include the more > expensive 'equipment' (mods, inverter) in the "Cost of Installation", which > can reduce the cost of the permit by a couple/few hundred dollars, thus > saving the homeowner a bit of money on the permit fee. > What are your thoughts or interpretations on this? > cheers,benn > >
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