[q_an_a]

The interesting part of your psot is that the “losses” by panel people has not translated into lower cost products to the conssumer. Name one place in America where folks bought because there was a company selling at bargin pricing? can’t be done. So how is it that the cost of the material is 50% of last year, but no change in install costs? enquiring minds etc. etc.

[RGF]

Good call, why aren’t installed costs way down?

And why is this problem so difficult for solar companies, do HP, Apple, Intel, Western Digital, etc. cry every year when the price of electronics nose dive?

[familyop]

"The interesting part of your psot is that the “losses” by panel people has not translated into lower cost products to the conssumer. Name one place in America where folks bought because there was a company selling at bargin pricing? can’t be done. So how is it that the cost of the material is 50% of last year, but no change in install costs? enquiring minds etc. etc."

I'm not sure, although I've done some retail management jobs in the past. Here's what little I've seen.

Competition is prevented in more ways than ever. We already know about increasing regulations and laws against new small business starts. Some of us have also seen that the anti-competition efforts come from established business associates/relatives pretending to be environmentalists and the like (local levels).

Many business administrators and owners have been refusing to sell much old stock of good quality for at least more than a couple of decades. Many of them have also become more hostile against any kind of new business--even business unrelated to their own, viewing it as competition. It's been a very long time since I last heard a boss say, "Competition is healthy for business in general."

I would also be interested in more clues about the current business paradigm.

As for PV modules, though, they're a little different from many other products. They retain value for do-it-yourself users. Used ones have sold very quickly and brought high prices. The less interested contemporary market (corporate/government greenie posers, others who buy only for the subsidy breaks,...) doesn't really see so much value in them (momentary social, business motivations, etc).

Sorry for the rough transitions in writing there--only a few scattered thoughts before getting a few other things done here.