Amazing experience. I really wanted solar panels, but have a very tree-filled lot and was not willing to cut down a bunch of trees. Had quite a few companies come out to give me estimates - some obviously had no idea what they were doing. But a couple did, and JP was obviously very knowledgeable, and spent several hours going over his ideas and teaching me all about solar without seeming rushed at all. And I even was given recommendations for 512 Solar by 2 other solar companies, given that my home would require a little creativity due to all the trees - that says a lot. And I really liked that they were deducting the expected Austin Energy rebate from my bill and collecting it themselves. I asked JP what would happen if the panels were not approved (a concern of mine given my tree-filled lot) - he said he would make sure they would be, but if that were to happen, it would be their loss. I had questions after he left - and each time, I got a very speedy response. There were significant delays because there was a problem with my roof so that had to be addressed first (noted first by JP, by the way; several other reps had been on my roof and hadn't said a word though when I found out and sent a pic to my contractor brother, he said anybody who has ever been on a roof should have recognized the problem). And obviously the roof needs to be in good shape before installing solar panels - or you have to pay to have them removed and reinstalled when you get a new roof in the future. I kept them updated on our progress, and as soon as my roof was ready, I was on their installation schedule for the next week. They showed up exactly when promised, got the job done quickly, and cleaned up very well afterwards. Once the city got all their electric work and inspections done, JP came out and turned my system on, and spent time explaining all the monitors. Now every day I get to check my monitoring app and see how much energy my panels are making! I was very impressed with 512 Solar and strongly recommend them to anybody wanting to go solar. read more

Add us to the list of huge fans of 512 Solar. They just installed a new solar panel system for our home, and we are over the moon delighted with the process and results. From the initial appointment through the final installation, we were just stunned at how great the experience was. It's some of the best customer service and craftsmanship we've encountered. First, JP and Brad don't use any high pressure sales techniques. They actually talk to you, and they are incredibly knowledgeable about the solar industry. We presented them with a really tricky situation: our roof has a sub-optimal pitch and angle, and it's small. And yet, JP designed the perfect system for our house, adapting it to meet City of Austin standards to make sure we qualified for rebates. Speaking of which, 512 Solar took care of all the city paperwork and inspections, so that our rebates went through with no problems. And these guys actually like it when you ask questions, and promptly responded to us any time we contacted them. If you've got any solar needs, I cannot recommend these guys highly enough. UPDATE: Thank you 512 Solar! We had a small issue come up and we thought it might be related to the solar panels, but weren't sure. Nevertheless, I called and the 512 Solar guys came right out to check it out and to help us troubleshoot it. Another example of the excellent customer service and follow through you get with these guys. They don't abandon you after the installation is done, and instead continue to provide great service. read more

JP and his company were extremely helpful in my solar process. I talked to about 5 companies and had 3 come visit my house. He was the only one that sized the plan appropriately for my house. Some companies will max out the square footage of your roof without any concern for what you actually need to cancel out your energy bill or without concern for what will actually get a rebate. In order to get a rebate the panels have to meet certain specifications from Austin Energy. Other companies approved of panels to be installed that wouldn't have qualified for the rebate. They basically overdesign your home so as to get more money. JP insisted that 12 panels was all that I needed while other companies tried to give me 15-16. I've had my system for 4 months now and have a $20 credit towards my energy bills (that means I've paid nothing for four months and have $20 stored towards months where I don't generate as much as I use). We'll see how it goes this summer but it looks like I'm building enough credits to make sure my summer bills are also zero balance. If I generated more electricity it wouldn't really matter. It's not like I ever get a check for my profits. They were also very professional in helping me get the software setup so I can view the panel production on my phone. They also did my friend's house and we had the same experience. Go with 512Solar. read more

High marks all around for 512Solar! I contacted 8 vendors from the Austin Energy list of approved vendors. 2 said they couldn't or wouldn't do it. 3 came out in person, of which 2 actually got up on the roof! JP was one of them. I was also interested in battery back-up. He suggested I wait a while because Austin might rebate for batteries in the future. Their bid was very competitive. I made things a little complicated but the whole team worked w/me. I wanted to meet Austin's rebate deadline before I left the country for 3 weeks. I was replacing my shingle roof with a folded-seam metal roof. Along the way I decided to go all electric and upgrade my service from 125 amp to 200 which 512S did. This required additional permitting w/the City and additional inspections before the solar could be activated. In the meantime I asked them to run a 240v line from the service panel to my kitchen. JP was patient w/me. Steve is a fine, neat and detailed electrician, and answered all my questions; JP too. Huiyin was in ongoing communication/coordination w/me, and provided forms for taxes and Travis County Appraisal District. Got my federal tax refund and Austin Energy rebate within a week of each other. I am very pleased with how it all came together. Will likely expand the array in the future. read more

I am definitely a "Raving Fan" of 512 Solar. We had been planning on expanding a 3kw system that Meridian installed for us 10-years ago, and I'd even gotten a bid from another company in town to do that work. We weren't really that pleased with the quote of that firm, so were taking our time evaluating their proposal when our existing system stopped working. I called Meridian for service recommendations (knowing that they no longer install residential systems) and were referred to 512 Solar. That was the best thing that could have happened to us. JP came out right away, figured out what the problem was and (on-the-spot) called SunnyBoy for a quote on replacement parts needed to repair our system. As it turned out, rather than repairing and expanding our existing system, JP gave me a very competitive quote for an entirely new 10kw system. He took care of all the paperwork with Austin Energy, brokered their rebate program to our advantage and even bought back our old PV panels that were no longer needed. I can't say enough good things about JP and the other good folks at 512 Solar. They do what they say they'll do, when they say they'll do it, for the price they quote. Can't ask for more than that. read more

This is an unequivocal positive review of my experience with, and hearty endorsement of 512 Solar. I am a property manager. I wanted quotes for two residential systems in Austin for a client. I met with three prominent solar install company's reps the beginning of April 2015. One was incompetent, another was very slow to respond and full of sales pitch when they did, and then there was was 512 Solar. JP Novack, owner and rep, was on time, thorough, straight talking and knew what he was doing. He communicated clearly and answered all questions, calls and texts. I had correct, honest proposals in hand in 24 hours. Contracts were signed for two residential 3.3 KW systems April 11, 2015. Work began April 21. The install crew was sharp - knew what they were doing and got it done. Any and all issues were immediately responded to and taken care of. Installations were complete April 27. Final inspections complete, meters installed, and up and generating power on May 11. Integrity. People who communicate. People who know what they are doing. Oh! And best price! An owner operator taking care of business... What's not to like. read more

I had done extensive research on solar power - technologies, best panels, best converters, and best installers before contacting 512 Solar. I was impressed the reviews I read about 512 Solar and gave them a call. They were very responsive and set up a cost-free consultation during which JP made suggestions, showed me figures for output, costs and savings. 512 Solar then inspected my roof and discovered there were some problems with the original plan for the placement of panels due to the spacing of vent pipes on the roof. JP presented another plan, suggesting maximum number of panels, and suggested different panels with higher output to make up for there being fewer panels. From that point, JP and Huiyun from their office handled everything, including dealing with Austin Energy and my HOA to make sure everything would go smoothly. The installation team was so professional, prompt and courteous that I felt completely comfortable with the job. Installation and inspection was completed ahead of time and I was online just before the 100 degree weather began in June. I can't recommend 512 Solar enough! read more

My experience with 512 Solar was outstanding. The inverter on my system started showing error messages and the system was not generating electricity. I contacted three different solar companies. One never got back to me, one said their trip fee was $250 that needed to be paid before they come out and then there was 512 Solar. 512 Solar got back to me the same day I inquired and said they would be able to come out in wo days to check out my system. A little later I received an email from the owner, JP Novak, saying based on the symptoms the solution might be to reset the system. He asked me to call him the following morning and he would walk me through the process. I did that and the system is back online! I was not charged for this service! With all service providers busy these days, it is not unusual to not even receive a call back when requesting service. To have the owner of the company get involved and resolve the issue over the phone is just amazing. I will certainly be using 512 Solar anytime I need service in the future. I would highly recommend 512 Solar. read more

We had a problem with a system that was purchased by the previous owners of our home -- and discovered that unfortunately, although the system was still under warranty, the installers were no longer in business... After contacting several companies for service (all of which stated that they would only service systems that they had installed), We found JP with 512 Solar. JP came over the next business day to look at our system and was quickly able to assess the situation. He also took the time to educate us on our system -- which we very much appreciated. Now we are investigating expanding our system to cover 100% of our electrical usage. To do my appropriate due diligence, I have been contacting other solar providers for pricing but none of them have the knowledge and service that JP is providing, so as soon as we can get our ducks in order, we intend to expand our system with JP as well. He is friendly, courteous, knowledgeable and just great to work with. We will be recommending him to our friends and neighbors. read more

If you're looking for a solar installer, you've found the best. Last year we decided to install solar on our home and started getting quotes from companies in the Austin area. There are so many pushy, misleading, and high pressure solar installers out there, but not 512 Solar. JP came out, looked at the roof, and then sent over a quote shortly after that. No high pressure pitch about how I need a huge install immediately or the unrealistic amounts I'd save. Just options on capacity and great prices. Even without all of the pressure, 512 Solar's price was well below other quotes we received. After that, we put the project on pause for other reasons, but 512 Solar didn't hound us or try to push us in any way. When we were ready to go forward again, they were very responsive, updated the quote, and helped us get started on the Austin Energy rebates. From there, install was a breeze, they took great care of our home/roof, and the new system is great. I can't say enough good things about JP and the team over at 512 Solar. read more

JP and his team visited my house to check into an ailing inverter from a system installed back in 2006 by another solar installer. I was very impressed with the level of professionalism - on time, honest, and willing to go the extra mile. When JP's team found that my inverter was dead, and no longer under warranty, they provided me with several options - replace the inverter only, which would give me the same 2.7kW output I've had, or, replace the inverter, and extend the system to a full 6kW. I also looked at an option to go all the way to 10kW. JP and team answered all of my questions. Unlike some of the other reviews, I did not interview multiple solar providers. It was very clear I was being dealt with fairly, and the price was reasonable, and JP was able to maximize my rebate through the City of Austin. And, most importantly, I knew his company would be around to service the system if it ever needed it. Highly recommend JP and his team to anyone looking to either install new, or extend a legacy system. read more

We loved working with JP and the 512 Solar team to get panels installed on our house recently. The process was laid back - I never felt like I was being pressured. Matter of fact, I had JP provide me a quote and then had to put this project on hold 6 months to work through other house repairs. During that time, he never bugged me and when I was ready we just picked up where we left off. When things got going, I really appreciated how well all parts of the process were communicated - including a timeline of all the activities that occur and really fast email responses when I had questions. It was also a huge help that they worked through all of the city filings and that we could sign documents electronically - it made those parts not painful at all. I highly recommend reaching out to this team if you're even at the point of just considering solar. They are really knowledgeable and easy to talk to. Thank you, 512 Solar! I love using the sun to power our house!! read more

The guys at 512 Solar KNOW their stuff. No question is too small, too big or too complicated for them. My panels are working and the meter is spinning backwards! No problems or hassles during the installation at all. The 512 Solar installation team was courteous, professional, knowledgeable and the guys had plenty of sense of humor and patience to answer all of my 6 year old son's questions as they did their work too! All was done within the promised timeline and done well. I am a perfectionist and know sloppy work when I see it. My solar panels not only work great, but look great too and the crew cleaned up everything before they were finished. I have enough to pick up after two little kids, so it bothers me when contractors leave me with their mess to clean up. Having recently built a home I am sensitive to that and 512 Solar guys knew what clean work meant without my even mentioning it to them! read more

Love these guys! My husband and I separately researched a number of solar installers and came up with the same company --- 512Solar. Generally I get three to four quotes for big projects, but after meeting with JP, we felt the choice was a 'no brainer'. JP and team are fantastic to work with, incredibly smart, honest, and have fantastic customer service. There are a lot of steps (and bureaucracy) in this process. 512Solar guided us each step of the way with both the City if Austin and Austin Energy. They attended each and every inspection and gave us regular updates. Today we flipped the switch and JP came out to review our new solar system. Over the next few months -- they will monitor our equipment to ensure we are getting max efficiency from our panels and check our bill to make sure it is correct. I highly recommend JP and 512Solar. Solid team of nice and competent people. read more

Brad and JP from 512 solar did a fantastic job with the installation of our 3 kW system, which so far is outperforming their initial generation estimate. Whenever we met to discuss the quote or for follow up, they arrived promptly and made sure that all of my questions were answered. Their crew performed a very clean installation, which is something I was concerned about initially. They made sure to run the wiring through the attic to my meter outside, and the worksite was left very clean after their work. I got competitive quotes from several companies, and Brad was the only one who noticed during the analysis that the initial location where I wanted to put panels would have been shaded for a good portion of the year by a large oak. I'm planning to add a shop at a later date and will definitely be contacting 512 solar to add to my system when I have the roofline for it. read more

What a fun and educational experience it has been working with 512 Solar. Thank you guys! They just completed a 9.3 kW system here for me in Cedar Park (interconnected with PEC electric). From start to finish, the process has been transparent, everyone was responsive and extremely friendly. I chose these guys after getting 4 different quotes. They were willing to dive into the technical details. They have a very professional crew. After permitting, the actual installation itself was lightning fast (Granted, I had a very flat roof). It was installed in 2 days and I couldn't be happier. If you're going to go solar, teach yourself about the technology! Don't approach a solar company like you're buying an appliance. Dig in! They really appreciate when the customer is interested in their work, and it shows. Thank you so much, guys, it's been a real pleasure! read more

If you are looking for solar, 512 Solar is the way to go! Professional, experienced, very knowledgeable, and very competitive pricing. I've had an install and upgrade with Jason Guthrie as my rep and project manager, and he spent so much time and energy looking at my site, exploring configurations that dealt the best way with site limitations (they all have them), and explaining the technology and options with me. He worked with me on getting the best bang for the buck and follow-up was amazing. They want to make sure you system is working great and you are satisfied. The install team is great, thorough and courteous. Solar is a big investment, so don't waste your time with the door-to-door guys or the big ad guys, 512 Solar is local, dependable, and responsive. They'll be around when you need help. And you'll love your system as much as I do! read more

I recently installed a 6.72 KW system on my roof with these guys. Yes I did the research before hand; and looked at several other very good installers and finally chose 512 to get it done. I made my first payment on 25th July and 2 months later the system was commissioned and is currently producing as per plan. This is a big investment but VERY much worth-while. The install team were always efficient and professional in answering questions and moved forward with the permitting/rebate process without delay. I had some "special" requests with regards to the system design and they were more than up to the challenge with professional input all the way. I'm currently counting kW hrs and smiling from ear to ear. My only regret is not having done this sooner. In Summary; 512 Solar Installs positive energy with a professional courteous and efficient team. read more

I'm a general contractor and recently and had solar panels installed for a residential client by 512 Solar. The process exceeded our expectations. They have an extraordinary team who stayed in constant communication from start to finish, providing regular updates and helping to move the project along through the city rebate process and installation. I highly recommend 512 Solar. I was extremely impressed throughout the process and our clients were very happy, which is of course the most important thing. JP walked us all through the system and I was impressed with how informative and educational he was with our clients, and I certainly learned a lot as well, which was super fun. They also offer maintenance which is a huge bonus to our clients. I highly recommend them - they are good people and great to work with. read more