====== Feb 2018 ===========
To make a long story short - very happy with Chris and his Kingdom Solar.
This project took a long time to research, and there were a lot of options to wrap my brain around, and a lot of vendors to consider. I ended up contacted about nine, talking directly to four, and chose Kingdom Solar at the end because of their competitive pricing, and Chris Paredes' personable approach of a professional who clearly knew what he was talking about.
For the successful solar panels installation, there are three main components to consider:
- Solar
- Electrical
- Roofing
Chris came across as an expert on all three. He is a roofer by trade; worked for a large Solar company before opening his own business; and upon coming to my house for the first time, he immediately assessed the electrical situation while getting familiar with the existing panels and layout.
The installation process itself was made very easy on me, for which I am very grateful. I was promised a 3-day installation, and this is what I got. By the early afternoon of the 3rd day my panels were fully operational, and the crew was gone, leaving no mess behind. Whatever problems they have encountered during the course the installation, they dealt with them without involving me. Quick, neat and efficient - all I could ask for.
At the moment, it has only been one week since the panels were installed, and naturally I am yet to see the true monetary benefits from this newest addition to my house. The dealings with PG&E also promise to take at least few weeks, so it is not the time to do the final math. But so far, I have been extremely happy with Kingdom Solar and with Chris personally, and I certainly recommend this local company to anyone considering purchasing the solar panels.
One more piece of advice - Chris does not offer the lease option, or his own financing, so you should be ready to purchase/finance using your own means. While in the beginning it felt like a disadvantage, I quickly realized that on the long run this saved me some $$ by a) forcing me to find the optimal (cheapest) financing solution, and b) by not adding any overhead, allowing Chris to keep his prices on a very competitive level.
If anyone needs more information, or a more detailed reference, please feel free to contact me directly through the messaging services.
==== Added 6/14/18 ===========
When I was hiring Chris to install the solar panels, one of the things he repeatedly told me was that he will always take care of me. This promise was put to test for the first time, when after 4.5 months of solar service I had my first issue with the inverter (that large apparatus in your garage that sends the generated energy to PG&E.)
I am very happy and relieved that once again Chris did not disappoint. He took the issue to the manufacturer of the inverter; he then came over and replaced the box, while also taking care of a minor electrical issue in my house.
Chris, once again, thank you for your help and your professionalism! read more