Hello Ethosolar customers!  Amendment to the original email

We’d like to take this opportunity to provide some important information around the upcoming DOMESTIC CONTENT deadline scheduled to take effect January 1, 2011.

• Ontario Power Authority (OPA) FIT contract now requires that as of the new year, all solar PV projects are to include a minimum amount of goods and services that come from Ontario (domestic content).
• The minimum domestic content level for commercial Solar PV projects over 10 kW and less than or equal to 10MW must meet 60% as of January 1, 2011.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

Any projects that were applied for prior to July 2 (approved or not approved) have been granted an extension until May 31, 2011 before they have to meet the new 60% domestic content level.  Existing domestic content  level is set at 40% for microfit projects .  You must remember however, that you only have one year to build and integrate your project into the grid from the time of approval of the conditional offer.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DOMESTIC CONTENT ON YOUR SOLAR PROJECT?

You are.  On the OPA contract each project owner declared responsibility to meet the domestic content guidelines.  If you do not meet the domestic content requirement upon inspection, you will lose your contract!

Once you have declared commercial operation, you will be required to submit a domestic content report outlining how the requirements have been met. Click here for more information about this report.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PRICES IN THE NEW YEAR?

As a result of an abundance of foreign product still sitting in inventory, you may have seen some noticeable price drops on solar projects recently. In an attempt to move this inventory BEFORE the domestic content rule takes effect and renders them unsellable in Ontario.  (Be careful buying PV modules from companies that are not planning to manufacture in Ontario – warranties and future replacements could be an issue)

As you might expect, the cost to produce solar modules and inverters in Ontario is more expensive.  Ethosolar has collected price information from most manufactures making panels in Ontario, and the majority of manufacturers are reporting to see a 10%-20% price increase in the PV Modules.

THE GOOD NEWS:

ETHOSOLAR is a preferred partner of Canadian Solar. Canadian Solar will be the largest manufacturer in Ontario in 2011 with 300 MW of annual production capability and they have committed to HOLDING THEIR 2011 PRICES CONSISTENT WITH 2010 PRICES. This means that Ethosolar’s pricing will not increase during the content rule change.

WHAT ARE MY NEXT STEPS?

For our Ethosolar customers:  Relax!  If you are working with Ethosolar, the cost of your solar project will not increase as of January 1, 2011. In addition, you will be benefitting from the reliable, forthcoming service of our team and the strength of our strong supplier relationships over the course of your upcoming install.

For others on the fence: Don’t wait! For those who are wondering if prices will continue to fall, we expect they will increase in the first quarter of 2011 and as the manufactures become more proficient then we could expect to see prices softening slightly in the later part of 2011.

ORDER YOUR SYSTEM TODAY AND LOCK IN YOUR PRICE!  (Discounts available)

More information and forms can be found through the OPA website at this link.

Thank you for your time and attention,

Ken, Jeremy and Your Ethosolar team