5/11/2022 About 15 years ago I installed solar on my home in Sebastopol. This system was paid off in the first 6 years and I have been living with a $10 a month electric bill since then. This includes my home with pool and hot tub, an all electric rental unit and an EV (electric car). I added storage to it 3 years back and it has been working great. I needed a new roof and as such needed to remove my existing system. I had 36, 198 watt modules on a string inverter and 8, 270 watt modules on micro inverters. After weighing the pros and cons, I made the decision to replace my entire system with 31 Silfab 380 watt modules, and Enphase Micro inverters.  The designed system was about 25% larger then my previous system, to allow for further fuel switching, away from natural gas for my water heater, clothes dryer and a second EV.  Because I increased the size of my system, I also needed to upgrade my electrical meter. Chaz and Dylan from First Response Solar were instrumental in the design of this system, not just for the solar but also integrating my existing Sonnen energy storage system (ESS). They filed the required PG&E interconnection paperwork, obtained the County Permit, ordered my equipment, removed my old system before the roof was installed and installed the new system, integrating to the ESS.  Since they have a C10 electrical license, they were also able to install my new meter-main without needing to sub-contract this work like so many other solar companies I am aware of. My system is performing even better than expected and with the all black modules, racking and smaller foot print, it looks so much better than the previous system. From start to finish First Response Solar was easy to work with and extremely professional. Their attention to detail, care for my property and awareness of noise and my neighbors made the process easy. I even had one of my neighbors bring them cold drinks on a hot day.  This neighbor, after watching the professionalism of the crew install my system, has already approached First Response to install their solar system. I would recommend this company to anyone looking for storage and solar! read more

About 15 years ago I installed solar on my home in Sebastopol. This system was paid off in the first 6 years and I have been living with a $10 a month electric bill since then. This includes my home with pool and hot tub, an all electric rental unit and an EV (electric car). I added storage to it 3 years back and it has been working great. I needed a new roof and as such needed to remove my existing system. I had 36, 198 watt modules on a string inverter and 8, 270 watt modules on micro inverters. After weighing the pros and cons, I made the decision to replace my entire system with 31 Silfab 380 watt modules, and Enphase Micro inverters. The designed system was about 25% larger then my previous system, to allow for further fuel switching, away from natural gas for my water heater, clothes dryer and a second EV. Because I increased the size of my system, I also needed to upgrade my electrical meter. Chaz and Dylan from First Response Solar were instrumental in the design of this system, not just for the solar but also integrating my existing Sonnen energy storage system (ESS). They filed the required PG&E interconnection paperwork, obtained the County Permit, ordered my equipment, removed my old system before the roof was installed and installed the new system, integrating to the ESS. Since they have a C10 electrical license, they were also able to install my new meter-main without needing to sub-contract this work like so many other solar companies I am aware of. My system is performing even better than expected and with the all black modules, racking and smaller foot print, it looks so much better than the previous system. From start to finish First Response Solar was easy to work with and extremely professional. Their attention to detail, care for my property and awareness of noise and my neighbors made the process easy. I even had one of my neighbors bring them cold drinks on a hot day. This neighbor, after watching the professionalism of the crew install my system, has already approached First Response to install their solar system. I would recommend this company to anyone looking for storage and solar! read more

I'm thrilled to share this testimonial for First Response Solar, the team that has truly revolutionized my approach to energy consumption. From start to finish, the entire process was nothing short of exceptional. First and foremost, the team's professionalism was nothing short of exemplary. Right from my initial estimate request, they stood out by offering the latest technological advancements in the solar field. They took the time to explain every intricate detail of the solar installation process, instilling a profound sense of confidence from the very beginning. What truly set them apart was their respect for the unique architecture of our property. They worked seamlessly with the specific design elements, ensuring that the solar installation seamlessly integrated with the aesthetics of our home. The installation itself was a masterclass in seamlessness. The crew exhibited remarkable efficiency and skill, approaching their work with utmost diligence. Every component of the solar system was installed with a precision that was truly commendable, reflecting their unwavering pride in their craft. Throughout the installation journey, First Response Solar maintained excellent communication. I was consistently kept in the loop regarding the progress, and any queries or concerns were met with prompt and satisfying solutions. Their dedication to customer satisfaction was genuinely remarkable and deeply appreciated. I wholeheartedly endorse First Response Solar to anyone contemplating a solar installation. Their professionalism, cutting-edge expertise, and unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction make them the definitive choice for embracing the power of solar energy while respecting the unique architectural elements of your property. Thank you, First Response Solar, for your outstanding service and for significantly enhancing my life and positively impacting the environment! read more

After reviewing 5 solar companies we decided to go with First response solar. We liked the fact the company was locally owned by 2 brothers, Dylan and Chaz Mathias. Dylan was very knowledgeable about every aspect of solar and recommended a system to be sufficient for my needs and budget. I liked the fact that I could communicate directly with the owner and Dylan would always either pick up the phone or get back to me very quickly when I sent an email or left a message, this gave me confidence that if I ever had a problem with a system they installed I could always get help getting it back online or have it repaired. We decided to go with a 11.5kw solar system with a powerwall 3 and battery expansion. Since it has been installed we have had 3 cloudy days and i'm amazed at the power it puts out even with the clouds. First Response Solar handled all the permitting and paperwork and made it a very easy experience. I got to meet Chaz later on as he heads the installation crew. I was very impressed with the work they did. All materials looked like they were top quality and the electrical work was very nice and clean. First Response Solar ran the electrical through the attic where possible to give the house a very clean look without having conduit running all over the top of the roof. They were very respectful of my house and made sure not to leave a mess in any part of the house they worked in. The panels look great on the roof and are all black with black racks and frames and all the electrical work looks top notch, I have confidence in their choice of materials and workmanship. Chaz, Dylan, and their crew were a pleasure to deal with and i will definitely recommend First Response Solar to my family and friends. read more

I was led to First Response Solar through a personal referral and am now returning the favor to anyone seeking to install solar. This company is fantastic from beginning to end. I could not have been more pleased with their service level and quality of product. This is my third experience with installing solar on a home. While my other two experiences with a very reputable nationwide firm were positive, they were nothing like the white glove service I experienced with First Response Solar. The team was very knowledgeable and extremely responsive. I had a thorough initial meeting where all things solar and battery were discussed. They did a good job explaining the products they use and why they believe them to be the best on the market. They were very quick with my quote. They did a very good job analyzing my rooftop, trees/shade and energy needs to understand the best setup for my home. Their crew was friendly, efficient and very respectful of my property. I was explained every step of the process and always knew what to expect. Being a smaller, locally-owned business, the owners are very dedicated to their customers. I always felt they were going out of their way to make me happy, but it's really just how they run their business. You don't find companies like this much anymore. I would highly encourage you to consider them. Thank you, Dylan and Chaz. You both are incredible! read more

We chose First Response Solar after interviewing several other companies, and it was the best decision we could have made. Dylan and Chaz are exceptional - knowledgeable, honest, and genuinely invested in their customers. Dylan took the time to educate us on every aspect of solar, explaining equipment options, system design, and how our energy use patterns affected PG&E bills. There was never any upselling, just clear, thoughtful guidance based on our goals. Chaz personally managed our installation with meticulous workmanship and attention to detail. The crew's professionalism stood out - they painted the conduit to match the house, ensured everything met inspector expectations, and delivered exactly as promised. Every milestone was hit on time, from permitting to installation to inspection, all handled seamlessly. Communication throughout the process was engaged, responsive, and thoughtful. Dylan and Chaz provided top-quality products and a level of service that's rare in any trade. They made the entire experience seamless--from the first consultation to final inspection and even the ongoing follow-up after completion. If you're considering solar in Sonoma County, go with First Response Solar--a team you can truly trust for expertise, professionalism, and pride in their work. Already recommending them to family and friends! read more

I was extremely impressed with the professionalism of the First Response Solar team throughout my evaluation of several solar companies and during the entire planning and installation process. Dylan was consistently quick to respond to my email questions as I compared both local and national installers on price, system design, and service responsiveness. His communication helped build my confidence in their commitment to customer care. Their onsite visit to assess my electrical panel for solar compatibility further confirmed that First Response Solar was the right choice for my home. Leading up to installation, Dylan and Chaz clearly explained each step so I knew exactly what to expect, including any brief power interruptions or times when they would need access to the house. The installation itself was completed in just a couple of days, and they took the time to walk me through the monitoring app so I could easily understand how my new solar system was performing. I was equally impressed with how smoothly they handled the city permitting and PG&E coordination--Permission to Operate was granted much sooner than I anticipated. Overall, I'm very pleased with my decision to choose First Response Solar. Their professionalism, communication, and quality of work made the entire experience exceptional. read more

We had a great experience with First Response Solar and its owner Chaz Mathias. We needed to replace the roofing on our house. That meant we had to have our solar PV system removed, cleaned and reinstalled. And it had to be coordinated with the roofing job that was already scheduled. The solar PV system had to be removed in advance of the roofing company. During the reinstall all the electrical connections had to be replaced with new connections. I got a referral to Chaz Mathias and called him. I sent some photos of my system and some closeups of the panel rack hardware with my cellphone. I got a quote the same day. It was a pleasure to work with him throughout. It was like the solar PV system removal and reinstall was choreographed with the roofing job. Solar system removed on Monday. Roofing job completed Tuesday. Solar system reinstalled on Wednesday and back in operation by end of day! It's up and running and looks beautiful. First Response Solar did a fabulous job. I recommend them highly. John Farison read more

A Perfect Experience with First Response Solar! This review is regarding our system that was installed at the end of 2022. First off, Dylan and Chaz are both very professional and always communicated promptly and thoroughly throughout the project. In our research, we talked with several customers of other companies who had experienced poor communication and sometimes months of delay in getting their systems up and running. That certainly wasn't the case with First Response Solar. The entire project went very quickly and precisely to their timeline, which we really appreciated. As far as workmanship, they went above and beyond, using top quality components and making sure the installation was done cleanly with a nice layout, hidden conduit, etc. It was all top-notch work, and you can tell they really care about the job they are doing. On top of all this, their pricing was very competitive. It was a pleasure working with these guys and 18 months later, not one issue. I highly recommend First Response Solar. read more

We first attempted to contact the solar company that initially installed our system 5 years ago, but they no longer existed. We needed to have our system uninstalled and reinstalled for a reroof. It was difficult to find a company that would provide this service on a system they had not originally installed. Customer reviews were very positive and from our first discussion with Chaz, we were confident that First Response Solar had experience and competence in this area. The owner inspected our system, provided a reasonable quote and was on site to perform the work. He commented on the quality of our original system which gave us added confidence in our system, which has been working without incident since originally installed. Chaz and his team were great to work with, explained every step in detail and completed everything on time. We would recommend First Response Solar to anyone seeking similar work. read more

I just had Solar installed at my house in Forestville. First Response was one of 3 vendors I asked to provide a quote. They were the lowest by about $1800. But I did research on the equipment (panels, inverters, hardware) and their equipment was top of the line. They signed me up 12 months ago and explained that they only have 1 crew, and they want to keep quality high, so I'd need to wait. They explained the process clearly and were outstanding on letting me know what was needed to get this done. Dylan and Chaz and the crew showed a great professional attitude and know what they are doing. I am very happy with the results. I'd recommend them highly. This was a big investment in our home. We needed a new roof first. But knowing that we will be protected from extreme PG&E este increases is a great feeling. Thanks guys! read more

We recently had solar panels and battery installed at our home by First Response Solar, and we couldn't be happier with the experience. From the initial consultation to the final installation, Dylan and Chaz were incredibly knowledgeable and professional. They took the time to explain the entire process, answer all our questions, and ensure we understood how the system would work. The installation itself went smoothly and was completed on schedule. The crew was efficient, respectful of our property, and left everything clean and tidy once they were done. It's clear that First Response Solar takes pride in their work and values customer satisfaction. If you're considering going solar, I highly recommend them. Their expertise and seamless installation process made the transition easy and stress-free! read more

After the Tubbs Fire in 2017, our ground mount solar panels survived! amazing. but in the debris removal process the wires got damaged; we were told to wait to reconnect the panels (40 year lifespan) to the grid until after we rebuilt our house. we just did that, so we asked around who could help us reconnect our solar panels to the Grid. We heard good things about First Response Solar and we were NOT DISAPPOINTED! Chaz showed up to take a look at this unusual project, and let me know that it was do-able. What a relief. They offered me a fair quote, arrived promptly with a professional crew, and did a great job. Now our solar panels are feeding the grid after 30 months of not being connected, and our energy bills are going down. THANK YOU FIRST RESPONSE SOLAR! I'd recommend to anyone. read more

Dylan and Chaz were great to work with on the install of our new solar system. They were very responsive and answered our myriad questions promptly and professionally. They designed the solar array to fit on our garage so that the panels are hidden from view from both the street and from our back deck. They even dug a trench and ran electricity to a newer garage that had already been built but lacked the electrical hookup - a nice bonus! They worked with the county and PG&E to get the permits and inspections and to get our electricity changed over. I'm looking forward to hopefully having a net zero electricity bill! Less money to PG&E - Yay!!! And renewable energy to charge our EVs. Thanks Chaz and Dylan and all your crew for a wonderful job! I highly recommend! read more

As a retired Solar and Plumbing contractor, I have pretty high standards, and usually do all the work on my own house. Having seen the quality work First Response Solar did on my son's house, I was less nervous. Dylan explained the quality components and installation methods in detail. I was dazzled by the micro inverters, PV panels, anodized roof mounts, concealed flashings and conduit, even the gutter protector they rested their ladder on. When the last panel was installed Chaz stayed until it was energized and confirmed that all micro inverters were feeding into the grid. I did not expect to be producing and feeding into the grid for weeks. I also like the idea that First Response Solar is local, and will be nearby if I ever need servicing. Gerry&Gail read more

First Response Solar recently installed solar panels with microinverters and control panel, along with an upgraded main service panel. We are still waiting for the utility to give the okay for the cutover, but their and the county's inspections both passed first time. We got excellent attention from the owners, two brothers, who made sure all our questions were answered and that we understood how the system worked. We had fired a previous solar contractor, and Dylan showed us where they had tried to upsell us on unecomonical equipment and overestimated the output of the system. They also showed us that that contractor had misinformed us about our NEM2 (better sales price to utility) qualifications, and took care of that too. 10 out of 5 stars! (not a typo) read more

The service Dylan and Chaz provide is exceptional!! I used First Response Solar for panels years ago and there was not a question in my mind who to call to install a battery. Chaz and Dylan grew up in Sebastopol and their integrity is well known. Their communication is outstanding. They let me know every step of the way, the process and steps to installing our battery. Every question I had was explained thoroughly and completely. Dylan was on time for each meeting and Chaz and crew were assiduous and considerate leaving the place clean. They even offered to touch up paint on a new wire. They are efficient yet take the time if you need it. There work is admirable and I highly recommend this company if you want superb service and work. read more

My husband and I are thrilled with our new Solar! We interviewed 4 Solar companies and the choice was obvious; Dylan and Chaz are extremely knowledgeable and very easy to work with. We have a lot of trees and shade on our property; Dylan and Chaz carefully worked out the best placement of our Solar panels to maximize sun exposure. Whenever I emailed Dylan a question he would reply immediately. Dylan & Chaz met with us to go over all of the details and patiently answered all of our questions. The install process sent very smoothly, and we are now enjoying our Solar. Their bid was extremely competitive and reasonable, which made our decision very easy. I highly recommend you contact them to go over your Solar needs. read more

I can't say enough good things about First Response Solar! Dylan promptly responded to my inquiry with specifics. He responded quickly to all emails and was easy to reach throughout the process. Another local company refused (!) to install solar because I have a tile roof. FRS provided metal protectors for my tile shingles. Dylan recommended the county energy support department to help with financing, which worked great for me. When there are power outages, I don't even notice, thanks to my Enphase battery. Now my electric bill is minimal. And an added bonus: this winter I will use a couple of small heaters instead of spending a small fortune using my whole-house (gas) heating. Thank you, First Response Solar!! read more