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Luminalt Solar Energy Solutions

4.9 (83 reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 5:30 pm

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Vegetated roof with Luminalt solar collectors.
David B.

Trustworthy company that does excellent work. They installed collectors on my cantilevered solar canopy that tops my Net Positive Zero Cottage" residence in San Francisco.

Luminalt Solar Installation

I will add to the five star reviews. I've been around the solar business for a while, so I was aware that Luminalt was well-respected. I first met someone from Luminalt when I took a class at PG&E. The Luminalt person was the expert PG&E brought in to discuss working with legacy household infrastructure. When the city inspector shows up, sees the crew, and says, "Oh, you guys again. This will be quick and easy," you know you picked the right company. When it was time to replace the roof, acquire a solar system, and upgrade the electrical to support a heat pump heater, I got 11 quotes for solar using EnergySage. Luminalt does not participate in EnergySage and now I know why. Some of the bids that came in were flagrantly in violation of building codes or shady in some other way. Others were clearly loss leaders that would have to be changed to get approval. Luminalt was more expensive than any, but they also told me the truth in detail about what needed to happen with my electrical service (which was way less than I expected, thanks Luminalt). I had a roofer lined up, so I asked the roofer who does quality solar work. He said Luminalt. My neighbor was having extensive electrical work done and that electrician was clearly doing quality work. I asked him who to choose for solar. He said Luminalt. As other reviews state, Luminalt is more expensive because they hire locally in San Francisco and their crews are consistent and experienced. It is true that this is a polite, careful and courteous group of people all the way from sales to project management to installation to permitting to post installation. Now the capper. We received Permission to Operate yesterday, Dec. 19th. The original estimate was next March. Luminalt exceeding expectations again.

Guillaume P.

Just got a new system installed. Very professional experience all throughout + the installation crew was incredibly helpful & attentive to details once on-site (Pam & crew). The system looks great. Very happy. Big fan!

Andrea R.

After 15 years of being in the renewable energy industry, going solar was one of the first things on our list after buying a house. We chose Luminalt after speaking with Zach Sharpe and being impressed with their proposal and five star equipment. The installation crew - Victor, Tim, Theo, Jose and David - were fantastic and we can't wait to have our system interconnected by PG&E in the next few weeks. If you are considering going solar with Luminalt, I would recommend you sign your contract early in the year and confirm your install date as the tax credits are stepping down at the end of the next few years and the wait time for an installation can be lengthy as they get very busy.

Our roof after Luminalt's installation
Galen W.

"Whoohoo! As good as it gets!" is not quite right. But, first the great stuff... We love Luminalt and think their people and services are both excellent AND superior to other options. We are genuine fans. Everyone we talked to, from salesman to engineer to project manager to customer services has been knowledgeable, accurate, and attentive. They carefully surveyed our roof and designed a system based on what we told them we wanted. Every (EVERY!) contact with them has been pleasant, professional, helpful, and successful in moving us to our goal of solar power. We very much like that they are a genuine San Francisco firm. Some of the other people who we talked with were basically general contractors who found local talent to install the goods they sold on an ad hoc basis, and their calls were coming from LA, if I remember correctly. So, if something goes wrong in a year, I guess these other guys would contract the repair work to any available engineer. Anyway, Luminalt impressed us because they HIRED full-time people, and their people are uniformly wonderful. We also liked engaging a woman-owned engineering firm who assigned a female engineer and project manager to our work. The system went in quickly, and has worked better than promised since we went live the last day of December. I've waited a bit before posting this review, just to be able to say the system is genuinely performing as expected. (We are actually getting more power from the panels than promised, but that is a function of the sunny-skies drought we are enjoying.) There have been zero problems or gotchas under Luminalt's control. The City changed its enforcement of fire codes which caused our project to morph somewhat, but even then Luminalt helped us alter the project so that our basic wants were still met. I don't think we could have done better than picking Luminalt. So, Luminalt is as good as it gets... for the moment. But,... The only frustration or caution we have with Luminalt is that they are so busy and backlogged! We signed in August, 2019 and were told to expect that installation could be delayed to early December because they were suddenly slammed with orders. In the fall we were told that installation actually would be in early 2020. For a number of reasons, that would cause problems, and Luminalt agreed to shoe horn us into their schedule. "Thank You!" for that. Really. But, we were told by the installers in December that people signing up then were going to have to wait 10 months. They are hiring... they even asked us if we knew certain types of people they need. But, right now they are badly backlogged. And, some of their over-busy-ness shows. We were told sometime in early November (I think) that they would try to install at our house the week of December 23rd with the modifications required by the change in City policy. We had to pump them for a revised contract and date confirmation in early December. And we didn't hear from them to confirm exact start time until Friday, December 20th when they said they'd be out Monday at 8:30-9:30. We were happy, but a bit more communication along the whole way of the project would have smoothed our nerves. Similarly, our expectations were not set about when we were going to learn how to control the system. The company knew that the engineer readying the system for the city inspector would help me download the apps and use them. But, I didn't know that and asked the installers about how I was going to control the system. The installers were reassuring but not quite sure of who was going to show me and when. An unqualified "As Good as it Gets" awaits learning that they're caught up and installation occurs, say... within a month of contract signing!

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Ask the Community - Luminalt Solar Energy Solutions

Review Highlights - Luminalt Solar Energy Solutions

Friends in Oakland raved about Noel Cotter and Luminalt, so we called them when our solar system malfunctioned.

Mentioned in 17 reviews

Read more highlights

Sunlight Electri-Cal Solutions - Franklin certified

Sunlight Electri-Cal Solutions

(81 reviews)

I can't say enough good things about Carlos Gomez from Sunlight Electri-Cal Solutions…read more I've been working on a non-standard solar setup using an EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra X and EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 3, and finding a contractor who truly understood this type of system was incredibly difficult. I spoke with many contractors, and almost all of them sent salespeople who gave generic answers or tried to push cookie-cutter solutions that clearly didn't fit my setup. Carlos was completely different. From the moment he arrived, it was clear he wasn't a salesperson -- he's an engineer, and it shows. He took the time to deeply understand my system, reviewed actual spec sheets on the spot, and immediately identified issues that other contractors completely missed. Multiple companies told me Hyundai panels would work fine. Carlos checked the amperage limits, applied proper safety margin calculations, and clearly explained why those panels would not work with my EcoFlow system -- saving me from a costly mistake. He also walked me through: Proper panel selection within voltage and amperage limits Safe string configurations and series wiring How to maximize roof space while staying within code Permitting requirements I hadn't been told about before On top of that, Carlos identified critical code and safety requirements that no one else mentioned: Bollards required in the garage to protect battery units Correct battery placement to maintain required clearance from doors and entrances Heat detector requirements for battery installations in a garage These are all things that would have caused inspection failures later -- and Carlos caught them immediately. He spent well over an hour with me, climbed onto my roof to check for obstructions, inspected battery placement, reviewed wiring paths, and answered every question in detail without ever rushing me. What truly sealed the deal was how efficient and transparent the pricing process was. Carlos was able to turn around a detailed quote very quickly, and when I received it, I was honestly surprised -- it was a significant amount lower than every other quote I received, even though his evaluation was by far the most thorough. Given everything: His technical expertise The level of detail and care The ability to integrate with my existing system The fast turnaround And the much better pricing Choosing Sunlight Electri-Cal Solutions was a complete no-brainer. Carlos is knowledgeable, meticulous, honest, and genuinely passionate about doing things the right way. After meeting him, I completely understand why this company has such strong Yelp reviews. If you're in the Bay Area and need electrical or solar work done the right way, especially for a non-standard or custom system, I highly recommend Carlos and the team at Sunlight Electri-Cal Solutions.

I actually first contacted Sunlight Electri-Cal very early on this year, in April. I had closed on…read morea new home but knew we would want to get solar installed. Juan was very responsive and came out to take a look at our home right away. What I loved about Juan and his team is they are NOT sales people, they're real engineers who are focused on solving your problems and meeting your needs. Juan and his team are true solar experts and know exactly what they are doing - they were great at walking me through key details I should know about the system, how to best take advantage of having a solar system, and did their best to get me scheduled (in spite of multiple difficulties) for installation before the end of the year. Just for context, I've talked to another solar company where clearly they were just about trying to close the deal and sell sell sell, which really turned me off - it felt like they just wanted our money as opposed to wanting to understand what we really needed. Juan's team really shined here by just showing up to be real experts who are thoughtful about what system you need, as opposed to trying to close a deal. Juan and his team were also really patient and flexible. Our new home's solar system had to be turned on before we could start any work, and that process took months due to Sunnova going bankrupt. And, they were also really thoughtful when we mentioned we had added in some upgrades that would affect electricity use (ie saunas and outdoor electric heaters), and they reassessed their initial project and updated it to accommodate that. I thoroughly enjoyed working with them and am really grateful that we got our project done so well!!

Clean Solar - Beautiful solar install on clay roof

Clean Solar

(477 reviews)

North San Jose

Unreservedly recommend Clean Solar!…read more Had PV Solar installed when the house was built in 2006. Under our existing rate plan (time-of-use, meaning pay high rates 4-9 pm and low rates the rest of the time), and metering agreement (NEMS 2.0), we were selling more electricity (in $ terms) than we were using. However, we will be forced to switch to the new metering agreement (NEMS 3.0) in late 2026, which drastically cuts how much PG&E pays us for electricity we sell to them--we will end up paying money to PG&E. This motivated me to consider installing a whole-house battery storage system to do "rate shifting"--store the excess electricity generated by our PV system in the morning and early afternoon to power the house during the high rate period (4-9 pm). And of course provides energy in the event of a power outage. I also wanted to take advantage of the energy tax credit before it expires at the end of the year. Reading reviews on Yelp, Google, and other sites, I decided to contact Clean Solar along with 3 other companies. Clean Solar was the first to respond and I had a thorough conversation with a Senior Design Analyst, Art Balaoro. He listened and understood my goals, answered my (many) questions and said he would get back to me with options in a few days. Of the other 3 companies, 2 never responded to my inquiry at all! The other one did, but I had to repeatedly reach out to them to make any progress on getting a quote. In contrast, Art did as he said and responded within a week with several options, primarily around which battery vendor to go with (Tesla vs. Franklin, I preferred the latter) and the battery location. Clean Solar scheduled a technician to come out and look at our house: location and configuration of the main panel, possible battery locations, where the existing PV inverter was, etc. Took a lot of photographs and measurements to verify compliance with building codes. In contrast, the other vendor was sluggish to schedule someone to visit, so I ended up sending them photos and measurements from the Clean Solar visit. Because of the peculiarities of my house's main panel, it was going to be more difficult (and expensive) to install the Franklin battery. And although I would have preferred to put the battery inside my garage, building codes would have required a replacement of the entire smoke alarm system throughout the house, also adding significant expense. Art walked me through these issues thoroughly and so I went with the recommended (and cheaper) option, going with the Powerwall and an outside location. In contrast, the other vendor didn't do as thorough an analysis and wasn't aware of these issues until I pointed them out. When I did get a comparable quote from them (exact same system components), it was slightly more expensive than the Clean Solar quote. I started this process in June, and immediately Art said it was going to be a close thing to finish the project before the end of the year--so many people were wanting to install solar or battery projects and claim the tax credit. Art also walked me through the timeline for the whole process and how it would be managed on their end. Based on the interactions I had with him and others, I felt that Clean Solar was the best choice for my project--and my experience bore that out.

This is my second time around with Clean Solar, and they are just as stellar as the first time, if…read morenot better and more efficient. We needed to add panels because we purchase an EV and needed more solar to offset PG&E. The impeccable experience started with Art the consultant, he gave 4 scenarios and explained in detail what each means and provided detail report including all the tech details and break even timing. To be honest, it was too much for me, I really just wanted pricing and how long it takes to install haha but was good to know he has such knowledge and I was confident he is looking out for my best interest. Then we had Patrick the PM, arrived for site inspection on time and courteous and explained the whole process. Then come the impressive installation team Luis, Alberto and Kevin. The 3 arrived on time and with smiles, just overall a great vibe from them. Luis walked me through the installation plan and gave a few choices taking into consideration aesthetics of the house and then got to work. 4 hours later, clean line, fine craftsmanship and symmetrical matching placement from last system is in place and ready to tangle with PG&E (attaching some photos) I really really can't recommend any higher to go with Clean Solar on your solar projects. Seamless is what you'll experience with them. Until next time Clean Solar!

Occidental Power Solar & Energy Storage - Residential Solar Photovoltaic Electric System in San Francisco,  Battery Energy Stoarge System, Solar PV, Solar Repair, New Solar System

Occidental Power Solar & Energy Storage

(36 reviews)

What started as a small talk with a stranger on the sidewalk in San Francisco with a very positive…read moreand nice person, developed to a walkthrough the facility and full conversation about solar installations and a great advice about how to proceed with a flat roof new solar installations. Thank you Greg. -Michael, Swift Restoration

Every now and then, a company does such a great job that I wish that Yelp would allow me to give…read morethem 10 stars. This is the case with Occidental Power Solar Company. My wife and I have struggled for years with staggering Pacific Gas and Electric bills ranging from $300 to $600+ per month. Most of our friends have bills ranging from $100 to $200 per month here in Pacifica. We hired an energy consultant. He spent a day at the house. He wrote a most professional report. To make a long story short, we had to gut our roof and rebuild the entire attic of our home to solve the problem. We were looking at a bill of $40,000 or more. I rejected this. I felt that solar panels were the answer. Over 5 years, four solar companies came out. Sometimes an engineer came along. They did in-depth quotes with a cost of over $40,000 that did not work. This is due to the fog and vegetation blocking the sun. On the fifth try, I brought Occidental Power Solar Company. They did a professional job. They proposed a system costing $27,000 that would do the job. Despite protests from my wife that the system would never work, I hired this company. I got one heck of an education in solar power. We encountered an initial problem that their system required a 150-amp power box. We had to upgrade our 100-amp power box. Pacific Gas and Electric got involved. There was a lot of bureaucracy and delays. A new transformer had to be installed in front of our house. This was an all-day operation with 3 giant trucks involved. Occidental installed the solar panels on our roof and the support equipment. A permit had to be obtained from The Pacific Planning Commission. A final inspection of that permit opened the way for Pacific Gas and Electric to turn on the solar power system. It took them almost a month to do this. There is a saying in English that I love as follows: "The proof is in the pudding." Early this morning, our first electric bill arrived after the solar power system was turned on. It was only $29.89!!! Occidental Power Solar Company had exceeded all my expectations.

Sunrun

Sunrun

(14 reviews)

Financial District

I referred a close friend to Sunrun after being explicitly promised a $1,000 referral incentive if…read morethey moved forward with an installation. My friend did proceed, the system was installed, and all contractual obligations were fulfilled on their end. Despite this, I never received the promised referral incentive. I have made multiple attempts to resolve this issue through customer service and by contacting the original sales representative, Jake Denniston. No one has returned my calls or followed up in any meaningful way. I was later told that the referral incentive would come out of the salesperson's commission, which raises serious concerns about how Sunrun administers and honors its referral program. What's most disappointing is not just the missing incentive, but the complete lack of accountability and communication. I referred Sunrun in good faith based on the representations made to me, and I feel misled. This experience has damaged my trust in the company, and I would not recommend Sunrun to others unless they are prepared to get everything in writing and chase down promises that should be honored automatically.

My story starts in 2022. The sales person was great. Knew exactly how to 'sell' a system. Shame on…read moreme for not educating myself further. July/August 2023, less than a year after my install, I called and complained about my electric bills being nearly $700.00 for two months, they informed me the inverter was bad and that they would repair. I asked for the credits and a check sent to me for the difference in average projected production and actual production for the months in question. September 2023 I spoke to someone in customer service and requested escalations. Never got a call, but a check was cut as a courtesy refund in the amount of $200.00 which arrived 60 days after the expiration of the check date. After months (years really) of frustration and anger with never hearing from someone, I finally get through. I have a roof leak caused by the install. A year after my initial call in January 2025, Isaac wants to sell me more equipment, which, I desperately need... but will not be getting from Sunrun, sends an email and miraculously someone is coming to check my roof. February 2026, and I am told the issue with my roof is not covered under my 24 year solar penetration warranty. I figured as much... why take ownership! I was told today (March 11, 2026) when I called to follow up with the roofing issue and request a temporary removal of the panels, it is going to cost ME approximately $300.00 PER PANEL to remove and restore. If I do not use their 'partner' Remy Roofing, then my warranty will be void. I am in property management and if I had ONE vendor that completes ALL THE WORK... I AM BEING SCREWED. And this is the case. I also asked for escalations today in hopes that someone can tell me more about my 2023 issue whereas my electricity bill from NV Energy was $1,800.00 and when I called in 2023 to request a refund of my monies, I was told that she, Tania, was unable to see billing information but would have someone look into it and reissue IF POSSIBLE. I again asked for escalations and was told that "escalations managers may or may not call back. When they can, they typically will save time and email." And that "the company is built on the customer receiving the most knowledgeable assistance with the agent, rather than a supervisor/manager." Stating "she uses the system more and frequently takes calls therefore she knows more than the manager." So much more to say... but this is the shortest I can make this. From 2023 to present year, there have been no notes of the 17 calls I made to them. It took a live person trying to sell me more crap from this crooked company to get anything moving. STAY FAR AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY. (Posting in all Sunrun states/locals as my local Las Vegas, NV office is closed apparently.)

Luminalt Solar Energy Solutions - solarinstallation - Updated May 2026

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