May 20, 2010
ProVision Technologies, Inc.
69 Railroad Avenue, Suite A-7
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
RE: Satisfied Photovoltaic System Customers!
We are very pleased with the SunPower photovoltaic system that ProVision installed at our residence in Paukaa, Hawaii (Phase 1 -March 2009 / Phase 2 -April 2010). The system has more than met our expectations and we feel confident in recommending ProVision to prospective customers.
Prior to selecting ProVision, we did a thorough study of the photovoltaic market in the Hilo area. We contacted several prominent installers and people who have actually installed PV systems. After this research, we choose ProVision because of the following major factors:
• Excellent customer references
• Obvious in-depth photovoltaic technical expertise
• Proven track record installing PV systems in Hilo, on the Big Island, statewide
• Complete installation and ongoing technical support & service available in the Hilo area
• State-of-the-art product line from a highly-rated manufacturer (SunPower)
• Long-term warranty periods that are provided by the PV system manufacturer
• Competitive pricing and easy-to-work-with payment terms and conditions
• One-stop handling of all the required approvals, permitting, and installation.
In addition to the above important factors, we found the entire staff at ProVision to be very knowledgeable and helpful. Marco Mangelsdorf, the company president, was patient and thorough in explaining and configuring possible systems, including performing a pre-site visit. The office manager, Jessica Schweig, was always friendly and accommodating and particularly thoughtful in sending us the appropriate federal and state tax forms and instructions needed to file for our tax credits. Keaka Nelson, Installation Manager, not only did a good job coordinating the permitting and installation, but also providing a complete printable electronic copy of supporting paperwork that thoroughly documents our PV system characteristics, operation, and warranties. The installation crews under Derek Fieldsoe, Project Manager, worked efficiently and in a cooperative manner accommodating specific install parameters applicable to our home to the best of their abilities.
What is PV system satisfaction like?
• It’s opening your monthly HELCO electric bill and seeing a mere $22.16 minimal amount due.
• It’s watching your HELCO electric meter spin “backwards” as more power is put pack into the
island electric grid than is being taken out. • It’s have a virtually maintenance-free PV system that has no moving parts other than a small cooling fan on the Inverter.
• It’s knowing that if problems ever do arise, ProVision will be on hand to deal with them.
• It’s knowing that in addition to reducing your electric bill, you are also making a long-term commitment to renewable energy sources and reducing the need to burn fossil fuels for power.
Thank you ProVision Technologies, Inc. for a great PV System !
The Rock Family
Paukaa, Hawaii
We have been very happy with the design, installation, and performance of the
solar system and even the MECO meter reader was impressed with our monthly
electrical usage.
Michael Cone
Being a first time buyer, We didn't know what to expect. Having called two companies for quotes, yours
was the first to respond. Yours, three days. theirs two weeks! that is the biggest factor for our decision
on choosing your company. The second was the quality product that you display. And last but not the
leased of which was the price. very comparable to the other but with a better product and faster
response, not to mention the longer guarantees of product service and hawaiian miles credits. These are
just a few of the large deciding factors that played out in the role of our decision.
Ryan Nelson
I am writing to let you know how pleased I am with the Provision solar photo-voltaic system you and I
worked on last year.
As of this writing, some 18 months after your installation team set-up my rooftop system, it is
performing exactly as expected. I have reduced my “commercial” (HECO) electricity use as expected. I
am particularly pleased with this because, as you know, I believe that individual actions such as this
represent our best way to combat global climate change. Less commercial electricity usage translates
directly into a decrease in the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere.
I am also pleased with the resulting reduction in my monthly HECO bill. My monthly savings add up to a
tidy sum and the thought of these savings continuing, no matter what happens with oil prices, is quite
comforting.
Thanks again for all your help.
Jeff Stark
We recieved four different proposals for our solar electrical system. We chose ProVison because of the quality of the Sun Power panels and the willingness to work with us to maximize our tax credits. The installation crew were very professional and knowledgeable. The system is performing beyond our expectations. We would recommend ProVison to anyone contemplating installing a solar electrical system.
Roger Krom - Kula, Maui
We had 22 Sun Power panels installed in two phases in late 2009 and early 2010 to take full advantage of the available tax credits. The installation crews were pleasant to work with and particularly professional in preserving the integrity of the roof and maintaining a clean and safe job site. While we understood that Sun Power panels were very efficient, we are even more impressed by their actual performance and are confident that the system will provide for virtually all of our electrical needs. We would recommend Pro Vision to anyone contemplating installing a PV system.
John Hirashima - Kula, Maui.
Marco it has been over a year since I first contacted you about solar energy. I got you company name from Sun Power who had installed a 42 panel system on my house in California. The system worked so well I decided to get some info from you about both solar electric and water. I soon found out that you only did electric but you were very helpful in putting me in touch with a company in Kona that does solar water. They did an excellent job—thanks so much for getting me in touch with them.
As we talked via E-mail about Solar electric you sent me a quote based on my electric bills for a year and came to an agreement for system size. Before the system was installed you informed me of a new style panel from Sun Power that would generate more power with fewer panels.
We signed a contract and set a date, as I’m off island it was very important to me to keep this date. I arrived on island and the day arrived, and of coarse it was raining we talked and you arrived and worked under cover until the weather cleared. The system was installed, with some added panels by my choice late in the game—no problems. Helco was called, inspection made and system turned on. All is well system is working just fine. All I’m paying is the taxes and a connect fee, about $22.00 a month.
No the great stuff, you and your staff, office personnel, workers on site, etc all preformed very well. They clean up and in general a very excellent job by all hands. Your company arrived when they said they would, were professional in there looks and job knowledge. The job was finished in the time stated and final inspection was handled in a professional manner. As mention earlier I asked for additional panels which were installed in the same manner by your team.
I’m a service engineer for a large machine tool company and have been for 40 plus years so I know a little about customer expectations when going out on a job. These expectations were met.
Marco many thanks for a job well done. Fell free to use me as a reference.
Paul Wilson
Our Photovoltaic System 02/18/2009
by Bob Hunter
Back in 2006, we decided to look into purchasing a photovoltaic system. Our goals were to reduce our electricity bill, to reduce our carbon footprint and to contribute to the sustainability of our community. Our grandkids on the Mainland had reached fun ages and we were beginning to travel to visit them more. So, we also needed some offsets for the bad karma we were creating by causing a lot more pollution and global warming with our travel. (The amount of carbon dioxide generated by a roundtrip flight from Hawaii to the middle of America is an eye-opening 4,000 pounds per person.)
At that point, the only company that would return our calls was ProVision Technologies, Inc. out of Hilo (969-3281). After investigating the situation, it looked like a net-metering photovoltaic system that would be connected to the HELCO grid might make sense. We decided to purchase a net-metering system that would generate almost as much power as we would need, but to have it installed in increments over a three year period, in order to maximize the percentage of the system that would be covered by State and Federal income tax credits. That would also let us try out the first third of the system the first year and see how much electricity it would produce here in rainy Waimea. I might note that as of 2009 there is no longer a dollar limit on the 30% Federal tax credit, so that changes the tax credit calculation for the better. That is why we waited until 2009 to install the last increment.
In sizing the system, we first replaced almost all of the light bulbs in the house with high-efficiency light bulbs. The payback from that investment was almost immediate at the high electricity costs we experience on Hawaii island. We could not replace bulbs that are controlled by dimmers or those that we need to turn on and off rapidly, because energy efficient bulbs do not work in those applications. We also purchased and used a Kill A Watt™ meter (now available for loan) to see how much electricity various appliances were using, which motivated us to replace an old refrigerator in our ohana dwelling with an Energy Star rated refrigerator that would pay for itself in energy savings in about three years.
Our energy consumption was still greater than most people’s houses because I have a home office with lots of equipment in it. Having two refrigerators and a freezer, plus a cable box and a towel warmer added extra load, too. It turned out we need a system with 27 solar panels instead of one with 16 panels that most people would need. Our inverter (the device that converts the direct current produced by the panels into alternating current) had to be larger than average, too. Our solar panels are installed at the same slope as the roof on the southwest-facing (back) roof of our garage. According to ProVision, that made more sense that tilting them up more to catch more sun. Having just experienced the October 2006 earthquake, we were easily convinced to tie the panels down to the roof securely.
In our situation, Federal and State tax credits paid for $23,316 of the system cost and we paid for $24,081. So, tax credits paid for 49 percent of the system cost. Most people would need a system that is only about 60 percent as big as ours, and that would be proportionally less expensive to purchase. The third increment was installed in February 2009, so we do not have any operating data on the whole system, but we can predict its performance from our monitoring of the operation of the first two increments. We record the cumulative amount of electricity produced (and greenhouse gases saved) as reported by the system at the end of every month to allow us to do that.
First, let me say that watching the wheel in our HELCO electricity meter spin backward is a lot of fun. If I had the time, I would be sitting out there all day staring at it. Unfortunately, HELCO replaced our old-fashioned meter with a fancy one (without a wheel) so it can keep track of the amount of electricity we use over each one-year period. That was done so we only get charged for the net amount of electricity we consume over that period, even if we go for a trip and switch off everything in the house, feeding all of the electricity produced by our system back into the grid.
Over the last 12 months, the first two increments generated an average of 454 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month. During that period of time, electricity cost us about 39 cents per kWh. So, the first two increments system allowed us to avoid paying HELCO $2,120 per year. If we ratio that up by 27/18 to account for production from all of the panels, the full system will allow us to avoid paying HELCO about $3,180 every year. So, if electricity costs remain the same, it will take about 7.6 years for the system to pay for itself. If electricity costs increase, it will take fewer years and vise versa. In that the system is warranted for 20 years, the system could (at current rates) produce about $39,400 in profit (tax free). Better than the stock market, huh? It will definitely reduce our household’s carbon footprint by about 8,200 pounds of carbon dioxide per year (that will offset two roundtrip flights to the Mainland per year).
Another way to look at the economics of the system is to calculate how much the electricity costs that it produces. In our case, the retirement money we invested in the system would have alternatively been invested in a municipal bond returning about 5 percent in interest. If we use that interest rate to determine the mortgage payment we would have to pay to finance the system over its 20 year life, we find that the electricity produced by the system costs us about 27 cents per kWh. That is about 31 percent less than the current cost of power we buy from HELCO of 39 cents per kWh. That works for us.
Yet another way to judge the economics of our investment is to use the rule of 72 to determine our rate of return. The rule of 72 states that “you can determine what your annual compound rate of return is by dividing 72 by the number of years it takes your money to double.” At the current cost of electricity, it will take about 15 years for us to double the investment we made in our system ($24,081 * 2 /$3,180 = 15 years). That means our (tax free) compound rate of return will be about 5 percent at the current electricity cost of about 39 cents per kWh. Our rate of return will be higher if electricity costs increase and lower if electricity costs decrease over the next 20 years. Compared to the rate of return of the rest of our investments these days, that looks like a pretty good deal.
Aloha,
Robert M. (Bob) Hunter, Ph.D., P.E.
65-1116 Hokuula Rd.
P.O. Box 2709
Kamuela, HI 96743
tel 808-885-4194
cel 406-581-2234
fax 866-740-4144 toll free
robert.m.hunter@hawaiiantel.net
www.webpatent.com
Friendly Market Center, Ltd.
P.O. Bob 1919
Kaunakakai, HI 96748
(808)553-5595
January 23, 2009
Marco Mangelsdorf
Provision Technologies
69 Railroad Avenue, Suite A-7
Hilo, HI 96720
Dear Marco,
We just received our first electricity bill since installation of the SunPower/Satcon Photovoltaic system and were pleased to see a significant reduction in energy usage. Considering the unusually cloudy/rainy weather we've had, it was surprising to see how efficiently the panels can capture energy. We expect the system to pay for itself in 4.5 years.
I must tell you how great it was to work with and Provision Technologies. With our refrigeration/freezer running at .47 cents a kilowatt hour, one of the highest in the nation, we were looking for alternatives but knew little about photovoltaics. Contracting Provision essentially provided us a worry free "turn-key" system and valuable advice like leveraging tax credits. Your engineering team and sub-contractors were the best; efficient, educating us, always keeping us "in the loop". We had no business interruption and the installation finished weeks ahead of schedule.
Please extend our appreciation to the rest of your team for a job well done. We will not hesitate to recommend you to anyone interested in solar power for their home or business.
Sincerely,
Crystal K. Egusa
Vice President
Your family store on Moloka`i
To: Whom It May Concern
From: Kimberly Svetin
President, Molokai Drugs, Inc.
General Manager, Kamoi Snack-N-Go, Inc.
Re : ProVision Technologies, Inc.
ProVision Technologies, Inc. of Hilo, Hawaii was hired in 2006 to design and implement four photovoltaic systems at our two stores, Molokai Drugs and Kamoi Snack-N-Go. One of the four systems was partially funded by a United States Department of Agriculture grant and required detailed planning and financial documentation during and after the completion of the project.
All of our systems were built under very tight timeframes during two build-out phases in 2007 and 2008. Marco Mangelsdorf, president, and his team of employees and subcontractors constructed the items based on our budget and deadlines. In fact, our systems were up and running prior to our established start dates.
It was a true pleasure working with the professionals of ProVision Technologies, Inc. We highly recommend them for commercial photovoltaic systems and would work again with ProVision Technologies for future projects.
Please free to contact me directly at 808-553-5790 (work), 808-553-5536 (home) or svetin1@yahoo.com if you need any additional information.
Woodbury Inspection Group Inc.
65-1170
Spencer Rd.
Kamuela Hawaii 96743
808-322-5174 Fax 322-5178 Cell 640-1566
woodburya001@hawaii.rr.com
September
19, 2007
Woodbury Inspection Group Inc. has a reputation for being very
particular with all aspects of construction and related installations.
Photovoltaic systems are no exception. We expect the best and
settle for nothing less. It is for this reason that we chose Provision
Technologies to install a net metering system on one our
personal residences in Kamuela.
Three
things sold us on Provision.
Product:
Provision’s product was far superior to that of other competitors.
The Sunpower equipment installed was a huge selling factor. It
was more efficient that other brands, had better warranties, and
provided more installation flexibility.
Service:
Douglas Bath, Marco Mangelsdorf and Jessica Shweig ensured that
our questions were answered in a timely manner and definitively.
Through every aspect of the transaction Provision was professional
and conscientious.
Installation:
As consulting inspectors we know what defines a good installation.
Provision kept the site clean and organized and ensured that every
aspect of the installation was meticulous. The workmanship of
the installing electrical sub-contractors that Provision used
exceeded our expectations. The performance of our system tells
the rest of the story. We have had 9 months of continuous total
offset of our electrical usage. We expect to have full return
on our investment in roughly 5 years and have added value to our
home while doing our part to offset our carbon foot print. Go
green! Go Solar! Go Provision!
Respectfully,
Alex Woodbury
Woodbury Inspection Group Inc.
Last year I installed a ProVision Technologies solar electric
system on our auto dealership, Island Dodge in Kahului and I'm
very glad I did so. ProVision provided skilled design work, top
quality components and coordinated the installation with the electrical
contractor. I was very impressed with the professionalism of the
staff at ProVision, and would recommend you highly to those who
may be considering solar electric for their home or business.
I
was quite satisfied with the 32 kW system I installed in 2003.
So satisfied, in fact, that I decided to expand the system to
52 kW this year. The decision to install a solar electric system
not only made sense from an environmental standpoint, it also
made good financial sense. This an investment that will pay for
itself in a short number of years, and continue to provide clean,
green power to our business for decades to come.
I
can tell you that I carefully considered this investment, and
I am completely confident that I made the right choice. I would
certainly recommend ProVision Technologies for their competent
staff and commitment to customer satisfaction. If a business owner
is interested in pursuing an excellent investment, they should
consider installing a ProVision solar electric system.
Sincerely,
Roy Kitagawa
Owner, Island Dodge
Dear Marco:
I would like to thank you for assisting Roberta and I in the purchase
and installation of a solar photovoltaic net metering system for
our home in Hilo. We were very satisfied with all aspects of the
transaction. We found your staff to be extremely knowledgeable,
professional, and committed to our satisfaction. ProVision was
conscientious in designing the system, selecting the best quality
components, coordinating the installation with the electrical
contractor, and ensuring our complete satisfaction with the system
once it was installed.
We are extremely happy with the performance of our system, and
enjoy its many benefits, especially when we receive our monthly
electric bill that shows our savings. We would not hesitate to
recommend ProVision to others who are interested in experiencing
the benefits of solar electricity. As I mentioned to you before,
I would be pleased to speak with others who are considering a
solar photovoltaic electric system.
Shine
on ProVision!
Very truly yours,
Newton J. Chu
Dear Mr. Mangelsdorf:
This letter of recommendation is to acknowledge the service and
attention, which the personnel at ProVision Technologies provided
to Hawaii Electric Light Company during and after the installation
of a 5.4 kW grid-connected photovoltaic system on our Engineering
Building in Kailua-Kona. The system was installed in December
2001.
As
this system is installed at a highly visible location at our Kailua-Kona
baseyard, the quality of the system and installation, provided
by ProVision recommended electrical contractor, needed to be exemplary.
ProVision Technologies provided the major components and design
for the system in a timely and professional manner. Though the
inverter, which was selected for the installation had some new
product problems, ProVision was very responsive in addressing
the situation with the manufacturer and in satisfactorily resolving
the inverter problems. Moreover, after the installation was complete,
ProVision personnel worked closely with us to make sure that the
PV system was operating at its peak efficiency.
I can wholeheartedly and without reservation recommend ProVision
Technologies as an eminently qualified and professional solar
design firm.
Sincerely,
Clyde H. Nagata, P.E.
Manager, HELCO Engineering Department
Dear
Marco:
I m taking this opportunity to let you know how pleased we are
with the ProVision solar electric system that was installed on
our facility last year. As a business owner here on the Big Island,
I'm looking for investments that make good economic sense and
offer high value. Our grid-connected photovoltaic system made
for a great investment and has dramatically lowered our electric
bill. Over each of the past several months our net kilowatt-hour
bill has been reduced to zero.
I
also want to commend you and ProVision for providing us with detailed
responses to our questions when we first considered installing
a solar electric system, the prompt follow through in arranging
for the installation and ProVision's supervision of the project
from to start to finish.
Being
one of the first Net Energy Metered solar electric pioneers here
in the state, we were excited to take advantage of this new program.
Our ProVision system has exceeded our expectations and we can
heartily recommend ProVision Technologies as a solar electric
system provider.
Aloha,
Jeff Mehring
President, HDQ, Inc.
To
Whom It May Concern,
This letter is wholly unsolicited. After my 3rd purchase at ProVision,
it really came home to me how pleasant and positive the experience
has been each time, and how on all countsservice, price and cordiality,
I've been well taken care of by everyone in the office.
In
particular, Marco mapped out a complete solar-electric system
for me, even though my purchase amounted to just a few panels
and components. He spent considerable time on several occasions
both advising and helping me understand how things work. He even
told me where to purchase certain components he didn't sell. I
had complete confidence that he had my best interests in mind
at all times.
I know there's lots of other small-volume solar consumers like
myself that do not as yet know about ProVision, and I'll not hesitate
to recommend ProVision to them when asked about a place to buy
solar-electric systems.
I
hope this letter is passed on up the corporate hierarchy so that
the efforts of ProVision to expand their market-share in the community
are fully supported by HELCO decision-makers.
Sincerely,
Eliot Jay Rosen, QCSW
Licensed clinical social worker
Dear
Mr. Bath:
We have always had exceptionally high electric rates here on Kauai.
We began thinking about a solar electric system and found ProVision
Technologies, Inc. You provided timely and high quality information
that allowed us to fairly assess that merits of the technology.
When
we decided to go ahead with project, ProVision supplied us not
only with the main components for the system, you also provided
all engineering services, vendor relations, and a competitive
bid between contractors for the installation. The installation
process seemed well coordinated and did not cause significant
disruption of our normal business.
In
this past year following the installation, ProVision had stayed
in contact with us and showed a real interest in assuring the
proper performance of our system. Frankly, I was a little hesitant
as you're located in Hilo and it's a difficult journey to get
to Kauai from there, but you've been more than responsive.
I am very pleased with the service and competence of ProVision
and highly recommend you to anyone interested in joining our efforts
towards a sustainable energy future.
Aloha,
Charles C. King
President, King auto center
To
Whom It May Concern:
Last year we purchased a photovoltaic solar electric system from
ProVision. ProVision and Marco Mangelsdorf in particular, listened
to our wants and needs, studied our structure, did a good careful
design, brought in competent skilled subcontractors, delivered on
time and in budget, and followed up well after the installation.
We remain very satisfied customers after several months of use.
We're happy to be saving a couple hundred dollars a month on the
electric bill, and we're continually finding ways to conserve electricity
inside the office, so we can get that bill down to around zero.
We're pleased to recommend ProVision to other clients on the Big
Island, and would be glad to answer questions about our system.
Sincerely,
Thomas Plum
VP/Technology and Engineering
Plum Hall, Inc.
Dear
Messrs Lee, May and Clarke,
I am taking the liberty of writing to you in this fashion in my
capacity as a HELCO customer and a stockholder in HEI. I have
enclosed this letter in another one addressed to ProVision (in
Hilo) and asked that they forward it to your respective offices.
Last
month we had a 3kW photovoltaic system (grid-connected, net-metered)
installed at our home in Kailua- Kona. It has been in operation
for three full weeks now and we are very happy with it. We have
not yet received our monthly HELCO bill and so we do not yet know
how it is effecting the bill financially. But, we have now produced
189 kWh of electricity and we are very happy about that.
The
particular reason for this letter is to compliment your staff
at ProVision, most especially Mr. Marco Mangelsdorf. Marco was
very helpful and very professional. He answered all of our questions,
provided us with literature and product information, and oversaw
the installation of the system. We are aware of the fact that
other companies claim that they can do it cheaper but we felt
more comfortable dealing with a thoroughly professional (and professionally
through) company. We were not as knowledgeable about electrical
contracting and the installation of PV systems as perhaps some
other people may be. But, we feel very confident that we avoided
many possible pitfalls and were happy that the permitting and
inspections proceeded so smoothly. We really do feel that Mr.
Mangelsdorf saved us a lot of potential problems and eased the
whole project considerably. This system represented a considerable
investment for us Over $23,000.00 so we were very anxious to have
it done well. We think that is was, and that Marco is a valuable
asset to your (our!) company.
We
look forward to many years of production from our PV system.
Sincerely,
Larry & Kathy Riggs
Kailua-Kona
Dear
Marco:
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all the help
we received in choosing a complete solar system for our home.
Every one of your staff members was helpful and very knowledgeable.
You all took the time to make sure that every aspect of the system
matched our particular needs. When we needed specific electrical
engineering plans, you also referred us to Donald McLemore, an
excellent electrical engineer. Your prices were very competitive
as I shopped around a great deal. It was not only the price but
the great customer service that made our decision easy.
I
had many questions throughout the process of choosing and installing
our unit and you never failed to provide technical support in
a very positive and friendly manner. You spoke in a language that
I could understand! My husband and I both felt that you went above
and beyond the call of duty to insure that our job ran smoothly.
It was our first experience with solar and you made it very easy
and understandable for us.
We
know we made the right choice coming to ProVision Technologies
Inc., as we have been using our system for over a year now and
it is providing reliable power for our home. We also appreciate
the fact that ProVision has been there for us and will continue
to be there for us should we have any questions in the future.
We recognize that you are not the type of company that makes the
sale and then leaves people high and dry. That is a commodity
in today's solar market!
We
have referred you to many friends and will always highly recommend
you to anyone who is looking to provide solar energy for their
home. Thanks again for your outstanding products and service.
Regards,
Debra Romeo
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