Need help with the solar quote

Location: Illinois west suburbs

I had gotten a few quotes and narrowed it down to Blue Raven Solar and Certasun.

Blue Raven:

  • Panels: QCell 400-watt panels
  • Inverter: EnPhase IQ8 microinverters
  • Total System Size: 4.8 kW
  • Yearly Solar Production: 6096 kWh
  • Total System Cost: $15,716
  • Other Rebates and Credit: $6,457 (IL shine credit, don’t have to wait for a check)
  • Optional Down Payment: $0
  • Total Cash Price: $9,259
  • Federal Tax Credit (30%): $2,778
  • State Tax Rebate: $0
  • Net System Cost: $6,481
  • Annual System Degradation: 0.50 %

Certasun: initially, it was u series 400 panels, but after showing the Blue Rave quote, the salesperson upgraded the panels and provided an additional $1,500 in credit.

  • Panels: Rec 420AA Pure
  • Inverter: not specified, but I think it’s EnPhase IQ8 or IQ7.
  • Total System Size: 4.8 kW
  • Yearly Solar Production: 6,161 kWh T
  • Total System Cost: $20,779
    • $500 Referral credit
  • Federal Tax Credit (30%): $6,048
  • Illinois Shine: $7,872 (I’ll get a check after 6 months)
  • Other credits: $1000
  • Optional Down Payment: $0
  • Total Cash Price: $9,259
  • State Tax Rebate: $0
  • Net System Cost: $5,323

Annual System Degradation: 0.25%

In terms of warranty, they both offer SunPower a 25-year warranty for the panels and inverter and have to go through them if there are any issues.

Both of them offer 10 10-year roof and workmanship warranty.

Blue Rave and Certasun do the in-house installation. Certasun takes an extra step by trying to make the roof pretty.

Blue Rave will actively monitor the system for 2 years, and after that, I will have to watch and contact them for any issues. They guarantee solar production for 25 years, and if it drops, I have to contact them (after 2 years). 1. They will pay the difference of the comed bill or 2. resolve the production issue. There will be a charge for the labor, but I can use the manufacturer's $250 labor credit (not sure how much they charge).

Certasun: If the system doesn’t guarantee production, they will pay 0.124 per kWh.

The salesperson uses scare tactics, always saying that the other guys do this, and Certasun doesn't. Even when I showed him Blue Rave quotes, he had negative things to say about them. But he doesn’t provide information about Certasun.

Example: I asked what is the cancellation policy and fee if I don’t cancel in time. He responds that it’s in the contract (I read the agreement, but it didn't specify). I forced him to say I would lose the $2,500 deposit.

Edit: formatting and update the numbers on certasun.