We worked with Mark Byington of Cobalt in 2010 and installed a system on our home in Lafayette. Everything about Cobalt was outstanding from the day they came to estimate what we needed for our home, the report they put together and the amazing installation team they sent to install our solar. They also helped me understand the monitoring system through the Sunny Portal website. We recently upgraded the router for our Comcast internet and Cobalt sent a technician to help reset our boxes for monitoring. As always, the technician was on time, courteous and got the job done. I highly recommend Cobalt for any Solar job you have. read more

I have worked with Cobalt on multiple projects at our house over the last couple of years. They are amazingly thorough and reliable. Our PV/battery system works beautifully. And not only did Cobalt install it on-time and on-budget, they also dealt with all the insane and constantly changing paperwork requirements that PG&E kept throwing at us. And even years later, when I had additional questions they have always gone out of their way to help me. Can't say enough good things about this company. I wish all my contractors were that easy to work with. I would not hesitate to hire Cobalt again, but I am not sure there is much to add to our system at this point. read more

We received bids for PV installations from 3 different vendors. Each vendor presented a few different configurations that varied in price and installation size. We decided to go with Cobalt Power because the bid was competitive and we got a good vibe from the president of the company, Mark Byington, that they were a respectable company. Our PV installation was done in coordination with the roof being replaced and new sun tunnels being installed. They seemed to do everything exactly as expected. After everything was finished, however, it turned out that the brand new steel roof tiles were all dented on the side of the house where the solar panels were installed. No coubt that this was very likely due to the unusually large size of the guys installing the PV panels (all seemed well over 200 lbs). When I called Mark and showed him the dented roof, he asked what we wanted us to do and I told him I want them to fix it. He said OK and very quickly had a different, much lighter team on to remove the panels, worked with the roofer to get and install replacement tiles (which they paid for directly, likely costing thousands of dollars), then reinstalled the panels. In all, it was not a totally ideal experience, but problems do occur sometimes and I feel that the way that Cobalt Power handled this problem was exemplary and a learning experience for all. I strongly recommend Cobalt Power for this. read more

I had a 5.9 kW SunPower solar system installed on my home by Cobalt Power in November, 2012. I was extremely pleased with the entire process and the results. The sales person did a very nice job understanding my family's electricity usage and future needs, and explaining the product options, design options, and financing options. It was really a very simple and painless process all the way through. The installation team was great. They worked very well with my roofer (I installed a new roof at the same time) and installed the system as promised. The crew was very friendly and did careful and detailed work. They were very nice (even when I had some last minute change requests), left no marks or damage, and cleaned up thoroughly when they were finished. My SunPower panels look great on my house (even my wife agrees!), and so far it has been over producing their original production estimates by ~10%, even during the winter months. Going solar has been great for our family, is already saving us money on our electric bill, and Cobalt was a great contractor for the project. I highly recommend them. read more

Cobalt is the best! We installed our system in 2009. They handled everything, waited for inspectors etc. they designed a system perfect for our remodel and not some cookie cutter one size fits all deal. So recently our original Sunny Boy inverter signaled it had a fault. I called Cobalt that night and they sent their technician out the next morning. The inverter needed to be replaced-- but it was still under warranty. They replaced it with a brand new Sunny Boy no charge! No refurbished old model, No installation fees!! I called Mark Byington regarding any upgrades that would allow us to check our new inverter/system online --no problem. Installed within 72 hrs. We had. A network issue--their IT tech came out the next day and fixed it-no additional charges. Loved Cobalt in 2009 and still love their great customer service and response -6 years later. Four of my friends also used Cobalt after I installed my Solar--nothing but praise and satisfaction with their experiences. I HIGHLY recommend this company for any of your Solar needs!! read more

I looked through the Diamond Certified listings for a solar panel company. I called two of them for estimates. Cobalt returned my call right away and I was able to go to a class run by Kurt to learn about solar panels. He had run a rough estimate of the type of system I would need and the cost by the time I went to the class. My husband and I signed up with Cobalt. The panels were installed over 3 days and are working well. Kurt came over and showed us how to access the website to see how much kwh the panels are generating. We are very happy with the service and the product. Thanks Kurt and the Cobalt team. Bev read more

I just had a very large, complicated system installed at my new home (40 solar panels), and these guys were fantastic. I worked with Mark Byington, the owner, as well as Shane Siemer, Kris Legnitto, and several others from their team, and they were all very knowledgeable and courteous. There was quite a bit of design/engineering time that went into my project given roof constraints, etc., and they excelled at pulling it all together. My system is now fully functioning as advertised, looks great, and I could not be more happy with the result. And one small but important point - as a home builder it is very difficult to keep all paperwork sorted. When my solar project was finished, Shane personally came to my house and presented me with a nicely sorted, personalized and labeled binder that included all relevant system paperwork (for tax, warranty and other purposes). It was a really nice touch and rounded out what was a highly professional job all around. I would highly recommend Cobalt to anyone looking to install a PV system! read more

Getting a solar PV system can be a tough experience. First, you've got to navigate the economics, understand the tax issues, calculate the size of the system, etc. Then, you've got to be comfortable that the people doing the physical work won't damage your roof or mess-up your home electrical system. Finally, you've got to be sure that you're buying high-quality equipment that won't fail. Cobalt excels in all these areas. In particular, Mark Byington is superb. He truly knows his stuff and takes the time to explain it all (he clearly enjoys educating his customers). He also delivers exactly what he promises. Our system was installed on-time, on-budget and with zero problems. At the end of the process, he gave me a comprehensive 3-ring binder with everything I could possibly want (from instruction manuals to copies of regulatory approvals) and personal instruction on how to use the system. This is "white glove" service. I wish every construction project around my home was as easy and satisfying. I've referred several friends to Cobalt and they've been delighted as well. read more

After a neighbor's excellent recommendation, I chose Cobalt Power Systems as the contractor to install my solar panels. From the very beginning through the end, Kurt Newark, the system designer, oversaw all phases of the job professionally and considerately, always keeping me closely informed of the progress. Kurt went beyond expectations in designing my system. He is an expert in the field and enjoys explaining the technicalities of solar. He answered any email questions or concerns right away. When there was a minor misunderstanding about what model of SonPower panels would be installed, he took care of it without any problem. The installation itself was done professionally and efficiently. It went live in December 2014; and ever since then I've closely followed my net energy production on line through SolarEdge's easy-to-understand on-line monitoring portal. My panels are a ground installation, easily visible from my deck; so I chose SunPower's all-black panels for aesthetics. The entire installation looks like a modern sculpture and has performed perfectly without a hitch. (A great thing about solar is that there's only one moving part to fail: The earth revolving on its axis and around the sun! Pretty safe bet.) Seeing my energy production rise online as the days get longer has made each day feel like Christmas and I'm winning the lottery. And the real celebration will be this fall during the TrueUp, when I see how little I'll owe PG&E...if anything. I can't thank Cobalt Power Systems enough for this great investment. Without hesitation, I recommend them along with SunPower and SolarEdge. Lois Manning Los Gatos, CA read more

I can't say enough good things about this company. We ended up having a very difficult installation and Cobalt worked with us through the entire process and stood by their workmanship and their word. Their sales people seem much more knowledgeable than many of the other companies we interviewed and the installation was seamless. We met the owner of the company who personally oversaw the tricky aspects of our job and he had a lot of integrity. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to go solar. read more

This company could not directly help me with my problem. However they referred me to someone who could. This was a tremendous help to me and I really appreciate it. read more

We decided to make the move to Solar for our home. This was a relatively large project, as our electrical bills and usage were high and we were also looking for battery backup in case of outages. We researched a number of solar providers in our area (we live in Los Altos) and narrowed our search down to a few, including Cobalt. We had been attracted to their uniformly favorable reviews and their significant presence in our area. We met with each of these companies and received proposals. While Cobalt's proposal was more somewhat more expensive than the others, we felt that the proposed solution was more realistic and that the components-SunPower panels and Tesla Powerwall batteries-were of the highest quality. And of equal significance were our meetings with the System Designer, Drew Johnson. Drew was far and away the most professional and knowledgeable of any representative we met with during the proposal stage. We selected Cobalt for these reasons. We were of course hopeful that our decision to use Cobalt would prove to be correct. It was. We signed the contract last September and told that the actual installation would likely be in early March, given their schedule of other work as well as the intervening holidays and, of course, COVID-related issues. During this time, we met with Nate, a Solar Project Specialist, who finalized the design plans, including roof placement of the 37 solar panels, location of the required electrical panels, and placement of the 3 batteries. We received timely updates from the company regarding permits (they handled everything), PG&E rebate paperwork, and when the installation would likely commence. Everyone we dealt with was first-rate and kept us fully informed. Tatiana (handling the paperwork), Drew (staying in touch and answering questions), and John (who would schedule and oversee the installation) were a pleasure to deal with. The project commenced in March as projected. The supervisors (Brad for the electrical panels and Antonio for the panel installation), along with the crews, were on time, efficient, and friendly. Indeed, they went above and beyond, including asking if we would like them to remove from our roof an old Direct TV satellite dish and associated wires (we did). The City inspections and PG&E approvals were handled seamlessly. Yesterday we had our wrap up meeting with Drew, who presented us with a notebook concerning our system and walked us through all of our questions. I would recommend Cobalt without reservation. read more

We are very pleased with our experience with Cobalt Power Systems and the installation of our PV system. During every step, from our initial meeting with the sales representative through the installation process, and finally getting the system signed off with our city's inspectors was done quickly, efficiently and courteously. We had a 5.9kW Suniva system installed by mid September, and have just had our first electricity bill arrive showing the welcome results. The sales representative was extremely knowledgeable and able to give us information on various options, and then she was available to us each step of the way to answer whatever questions arose. The installation team was exemplary in all respects. They both asked our preferences and let us know when and where they would be working. They were friendly and respectful and were careful to clean up thoroughly as they went along. Our city has a reputation for being difficult to work with in the approval process, but this was accomplished more quickly than promised, and without a wrinkle. We highly recommend this company and are very very pleased with their work and the result. read more

Cobalt Power did a great job installing solar panels on our home. The person we dealt with through Cobalt, Kurt Newick, is extremely knowledgable and incredibly PASSIONATE about solar power. It was a pleasure delaing with him, since he is much, much more than just a mere salesman - he is an educator as well. The installation was flawless, and the installers did a great job. The system works great so far. I highly recommend Cobalt! read more

Cobalt Power Systems installed a solar system on my home in May 2014. The salesperson, design team, and installation crew were wonderful. They were very professional. I felt very comfortable with the staff and was kept fully informed every step of the way. The system is working as promised. I would highly recommend Cobalt Power Systems. I researched several solar installation companies and various configurations, and Cobalt rose above the rest in terms of service, trustworthiness, and price. I have no doubt that I chose the right company. Great job!! read more

I was lucky to get a referral to Cobalt from a friend who has worked with them in the past and gave them high praise. My designer Drew was knowledgeable, professional and helped answer all those complicated questions about how the rebates worked and how we'd integrate with the myriad of programs through PG&E. He was involved throughout the installation too and made sure that our additional high-speed PEV charger was wired in when the electrical work was being done. I was most concerned about trusting the installer to do the work well the first time, and that they could be counted upon in case of any problems and Cobalt has lived up to all my expectations. Highly recommended. read more

Cobalt Power installed our PV system from last August. The entire experience was very smooth. Everyone was very professional and they delivered everything they promised. We were particularly impressed with Mark Byington. He never pressured us and patiently and thoughtfully answered all of our questions. Cobalt also helped us with the paperwork related to the local and federal tax credits, which paid for a substantial fraction of our system. This year we have really appreciated having the system. Our electric bill has been zero for 4 consecutive months! In fact, we are building credits for later in the year when solar is less efficient due to the shorter days. Thank you, Cobalt Power! read more

Cobalt Power installed a 31 panel system on the roof of my house. I got quotes from 4 different vendors. I decided to go with Cobalt because the Cobalt sales person, Drew Johnson, was by far the most knowledgeable of the sales people I talked to. Because I'm an engineer I like to ask lots of questions about the system design. I'm the kind of guy who downloads and reads the IronRidge installation instructions before selecting a vendor. And Drew, formerly a solar installer, was able to answer all my questions both before the sale and after the installation. I also appreciated how Drew and the installation manager, Brad, were extremely good at working with the customer. To minimize the chance of leaks, I wanted Cobalt to work with my roof installer. I wanted Cobalt to install mounting posts for the solar array after roofer torn off the old roof but before the roofer laid the new shingles. Drew was willing to do this. My contract with Cobalt included the installation of a couple of 50 amp circuits into the garage for EV charging. During the installation, Drew and Brad pointed out that rather than pull two 50 amp lines to the garage, they could pull one 100 amp line and install a subpanel in the garage. Since the subpanel would allow me more flexibility to expand in the future, I was delighted with their suggestion. Another example was that since they were doing stucco work for the installation, I asked for a quote for some stucco repair that was unrelated to the solar installation. Since I asked at the time of installation, after the contract was signed, I expected an extra charge. But Cobalt threw in the repair for free. Finally, Cobalt completed the installation for their quoted price. This may seem like it should always be the case, but at the end of the roofing job my roofer presented charges for some things that I thought were covered by the contract. read more

Cobalt knows solar! I spoke with several Solar companies before engaging with Cobalt. But once I spoke with Kurt Newick from Solar I knew that Cobalt was the only company I would engage with for my solar installation. The other companies were looking at google maps and providing a proposal. Kurt came home and went to the roof and did a very thorough analysis. He then provided three proposals. He was patient and always willing to share information. The installation team, led by Blair Fox were simply awesome. Our home has a curved tile roof. Cobalt brought in a professional roofing company to do all the flashing work after the posts that hold the panels were installed. The conduit work done by Blair and team is exemplary. Everything is painted to color match (yes the conduit on the roof matches the color of the tiles). The Cobalt team took care of everything, City inspections, PG&E approvals, NEM, etc. I am very happy with Cobalt and recommend them without hesitation. read more

We just had Cobalt install solar panels on our house. We are very happy with all aspects of the installation. Ron, our salesperson was very knowledgeable and helpful. We really appreciate John, Vince and Kris for coordinating everything and all the electricians and installers who were so professional. We were very impressed with the fact that Cobalt had the most efficient panels, so we didn't use as many as we would have with other companies. Since we don't go up on our own roof, we didn't even know that we had several dozen nails sticking out of it until the Cobalt guys went up to inspect the roof! It didn't affect installation, but they told us right away and took pictures for us so we could have the problem addressed. We were so lucky that the roof hadn't leaked. Our panels went operational right before the August/September heat blast - great timing! read more

Cobalt Power Systems recently designed and installed solar panels and systems for our house. Kurt was the designer and our main contact. He was very knowledgeable and explained different options to us in great details. He then surveyed our roofs and came up with detailed analysis of panel placement that would maximize the outputs and efficiencies of the system. The permit application went smoothly because Cobalt has done many great jobs in the valley. The installation was done on time and with great quality. We are very impressed and happy with Cobalt. We would recommend them to anyone who needs a solar system. read more

Cobalt is by far the best contractor I've ever dealt with. All the staff was extremely professional, courteous and accommodating. The work was completed ahead of schedule, with high quality, and the final price was exactly as quoted. The execution was flawless, with attention to every single detail (they even painted the DC conduits in the same colors of my my house). Extremely satisfied with them! read more

We had a 5.8KW PV system installed by Cobalt. Their prices were competitive and the level of service was very high. We picked Cobalt due to the far higher level of measurement and analysis that they did before proposing a system. The system was installed in the quoted time for the quoted cost. We are very happy with the system and with Cobalt Power read more

I signed up with Cobalt for a residential PV system after they convinced me that their system would meet my energy and financial requirements. I had been turned down by two other solar companies in the past few years because they said that I wouldn't generate enough electricity to meet my requirements because of tree shading, and therefore would not receive my PG&E rebate. Cobalt PS presented to me a very comprehensive plan with lots of technical information, which was important to me being a mechanical engineer. The fact that they were using high efficiency Sunpower panels was the deciding factor that this was feasible on my house, given the shading and roof area available. The installation went relatively smoothly, and I was impressed with the quality of the work they performed. They used high quality materials (mounting hardware, brackets, and wiring), a first class inverter, and did a neat and tidy installation. The installation crew acted professionally, and were always courteous and willing to answer any of my numerous questions! The results are impressive; I am generating at least as much PV power as they estimated, and I couldn't be happier with the result. My system was installed in late November 2010, so it does not have quite a year of operation yet. I wish all of my contractor remodel jobs turned out this well! read more

Our contractor recommended Cobalt, and we started the process as their bid beat a competitor's. We then took some time reviewing the cost/efficiency and aesthetics. From signature to PG&E approval was two weeks. Overall experience has been excellent. read more

Cobalt installed a 4.5kw system on our home last year. Everything was professional from the sales to install. The install team all seemed very knowledgeable, friendly and professional. The install was super-neat and completed quickly. It's great to get a $12 PG&E electric bill! read more