What's The SECRET to CPS America's Success? Tyler Anderson Explains | EP287

Today on the Clean Power Hour, Tim Montague interviews Tyler Anderson of Phase Two about solar O&M and engineering services. In this brief but informative conversation, Tyler shares insights about his company's focus on commercial and industrial solar projects.

Company Focus

Tyler explains that Phase Two specializes in "C&I focused" services, including "consulting system design, third party quality control and a little bit of O&M." Their projects range from 50kW up to about eight megawatts, primarily serving Midwest markets including Iowa, Illinois, and Texas.

CPS America Insights

When asked about CPS inverters, Tyler identifies several key strengths: "bankable means simple system designs, nice power classes" and mentions they frequently use "the 50 kW, 60 kW on flat roof mounts." He particularly emphasizes CPS's "really good customer support," noting they've been very "happy with that."

Key Inverter Selection Criteria

Tyler reveals what he looks for when selecting inverters for projects:

• Company history
• UL 3741 compliance, which he notes is "a really big thing" currently
• After-service support
• Failure rate

Primary Customer Base

Phase II's primary customers are "electrical contractors that are trying to get into solar" - particularly well-established companies with decades of experience. Tyler notes these established electrical contractors "should be moving into the solar markets."

Industry Connections

Tyler gives a special mention to CPS team members Evan and Faviola, whom he interfaces with most frequently.

This conversation provides a concise look at the commercial solar landscape from the perspective of a service provider helping traditional electrical contractors transition into the growing renewable energy sector.

Connect with Tyler Anderson

LinkedIn: Tyler Anderson

Website: Phase 2

Transcript

Tyler Anderson: 0:51

Um, when you think of CPS, though, what is it that comes to mind? It's a bankable means simple system designs, nice power glasses. I mean, we use a lot of the 50 kW, 60 kW on flat roof mounts. Actually really good customer support. I've been happy with that.

intro: 1:09

Are you speeding the energy transition here at the Clean Power Hour, our host, Tim Montague, bring you the best in solar, batteries and clean technologies every week. Want to go deeper into decarbonization. We do too. We're here to help you understand and command the commercial, residential and utility, solar, wind and storage industries. So let's get to it together, we can speed the energy transition.

Tim Montague: 1:36

All right, we're here at inner solar, and we're here today to talk about solar O and M and engineering services. My guest is Tyler Anderson of phase two. Welcome to the show, Tyler, yeah, thanks for having me. Good to see you again, man. Yeah, good to see you. I think we were, we were geeking out at the ISEA event not too long ago, right? And you and I described my services, and you were like, Well, you're the first person I've met who overlaps with what I do. But tell us, what is it that you do? Tyler, sure.

Tyler Anderson: 2:14

So we do so C and I focused. We're consulting system design, third party quality control and a little bit

Tim Montague: 2:24

of O and M. And what size systems are you working on?

Tyler Anderson: 2:28

Really, everything down to 50 kW, up to about eight megawatts. Okay,

Tim Montague: 2:33

so I would call that DG. It qualifies. And what regions of the country are you working in most? Primarily

Tyler Anderson: 2:40

the Midwest. Might say, Iowa, Illinois, Texas, actually,

Tim Montague: 2:46

yeah, Iowa, Illinois, Texas, Yep, those are three very good markets. Well, at least Illinois and Texas. I don't know about Iowa. I was, I live there. I was more utility scale as far as the solar industry goes, right? They don't have a good, a strong DG market there yet. Yeah, yeah, okay, the rates are getting up there. So what is it that brought you to the chip boot today?

Tyler Anderson: 3:09

Really checking out new products interested in the battery lines that are coming out, some of the new higher voltage AC.

Tim Montague: 3:19

When you think of CPS, though, what is it that comes to mind? Because, you know, there's a lot of a lot of inverters on the market. CPS does have a significant market share in three phase string. But what is it that different CPS? In your mind?

Tyler Anderson: 3:35

I'd say bankable means simple system designs, nice power classes. I mean, we use a lot of the 50 kW, 60 kW on flat roof mounts. Actually really good customer support. We've been happy with that.

Tim Montague: 3:50

What is it that you look for when you're thinking about designing an inverter into a project? What is it that makes you choose one product over another? I'd

Tyler Anderson: 4:01

say company history, actually, UL 3741 compliance right now. I mean, that's been a really big thing, yeah. And really just after service support, I would say is another one. Failure rate actually is another one.

Tim Montague: 4:14

What is a good failure rate in the three phase string inverter market? That's a good question.

Tyler Anderson: 4:20

I don't know. What is that running these days? How about 00?

Tim Montague: 4:24

Is great. That would be a fantastic but unrealistic number. Yeah, I would agree that CPS is well known for its service. That's really the number one differentiator. You get a human on the phone, you get to know the humans. They actually pick up, right? And they do what they say they're going to do. What else should we know about your work? Tyler, and what else are you here for at dinner? Solar, I'd

Tyler Anderson: 4:49

say actually our primary, let's see, our primary customers are really electrical contractors that are trying to get into solar that aren't, but they're well established. I mean, 50 year old electrical that's

Tim Montague: 5:01

where we would overlap, yeah, exactly.

Tyler Anderson: 5:05

I mean, they're great. I mean, they should be moving into the solar markets.

Tim Montague: 5:09

Exactly. Yep. Do you want to give a shout out to anybody here at CPS?

Tyler Anderson: 5:15

Let's see Evan's great faviola is great, like I interface with those two the most.

Tim Montague: 5:22

Yeah, Evan up, sure, he's been on the show. Fabiola has been on the show. So two great characters there. Well, thanks for joining us. And I'll just say, let's grow solar. I'm Tim Montague, you.