Let's start with this: solar power is a journey. Everyone wants solar power, but two immediate questions come into play: - can I afford it? (i.e., whether I borrow or pay out of pocket, does solar power make sense from a return-on-investment perspective?) - can I trust the company? (i.e., will the company that is drilling holes in my roof and attaching thousands of dollars' worth of equipment be around in 10 years to pick up the phone?) Armed with these not-so-profound concerns, I did my due diligence in researching solar installers, and many seemed to be able to do the job. However, my home builder was super impressed with a company called Smart Solar Energy. Why? Because they did what they said they were going to do within the budget and schedule they agreed to. No BS, just getting the work done as promised. That kind of thinking resonates with me--just do what you promised to do. So I gave Smart Solar Energy a shout in November 2023. From our first emails I was impressed. No fluff, just focused on the task, addressing the concerns I had, setting expectations, more than anything helping me understand if and why solar power might make sense for me because, as it turns out, solar power is not for everyone. From that point forward we steadily marched toward an understanding of the need and what meeting that need would entail in terms of cost and schedule; basic project management ideas. But the difference was that Smart Solar Energy took care of literally everything from unscrewing the local city hall bureaucracy to permits to scheduling the work. This kind of handholding was awesome and I appreciated it very much. We were scheduled to get our system installed in May 2024 and somehow got it actually installed in March 2024. That's pretty cool. I won't go into detail about how awesome the installers were (great folks, great communicators, and getting on a roof in a steady rain with a stiff wind still amazes me) but Smart Solar Energy did their part flawlessly and stayed in touch the entire time. In fact, the only part of the process that was frustrating was dealing with the power company, something Smart Solar Energy can't control but helped with from an expectations point of view. My system went on-line just within the past week, so I have no comments on Smart Solar Energy's long-term viability, and I do hope they can maintain their high standards and "produce to promise" ethos. From what I've seen so far, they have their stuff together, and when considering the two questions addressed at the beginning of this review, they are on the right track. Last thought: generating power is its own addiction, so be forewarned. You'll spend time watching the dashboard, trust me. read more

Smart Solar Energy installed a 9.43 kilowatt system, generated by 23 solar panels mounted on our garage roof, in May 2024. Our electricity power bill was reduced by 85% compared to our May, 2023 bill. To say that we are delighted is a gross under statement. A Smart Solar representative returned my call on the same day of my initial inquiry. Our first Zoom consultation meeting occurred only a few days later. At that time, we were presented with a detailed engineering plan for our project, including a diagram of optimal solar panel location, our power consumption needs, and realistic cost-reduction offsets by going solar. All steps involved in the process were clearly spelled out, from an on-site survey with an engineer to permitting, installation, and inspection processes. After personally contacting references from other Smart Solar customers--who all sang the company's high praises, without reservation--we signed the contract for Smart Solar to do the job for a very competitive and reasonable cost. Every aspect of the proposed work proceeded flawlessly and exactly according to the planned timeline. High quality, USA manufactured panels were installed by two licensed electricians and two skilled technicians. All of the daunting permitting, paperwork, and arrangements for inspections were handled by very well-informed Smart Solar administrative staff. Upon job completion, we received a thorough exit interview with technical experts who explained how the system works and how to monitor it using an intuitive phone application. Smart Solar is the most professional contracting company that I have ever dealt with in the course of my 50 years as a home owner. This is a well-established top-drawer, reputable solar contractor that operates as a well-oiled machine. All company staff, including administrative and technical support, are promptly accessible by phone and email. Their competence and responsiveness is unparalleled. Smart Solar's warranty on labor and parts exceeds that of competitors by a country mile. Final project costs were exactly as proposed, with no hidden fees or after the fact charges. I readily refer my friends to Smart Solar owing to my total trust in and satisfaction with the integrity of this local company. read more

After considering solar for many years, I finally decided to investigate what was truly possible beyond just "lowering my electric bill". I started my search through Energy Sage and was brought into contact with several companies, who to their credit, all came out personally to meet with me and discuss their products. In the end, one company stood out above them all and that was Smart Solar. Throughout the entire process, they have been up-front, consistent, reliable, communicative, and responsive. Jordan, who was the initial sales representative, worked with me through the 2022 Christmas and New Year period to put together the final installation package as well as shepherding the permitting and financing process all the way through. Jenn, the project manager, then took the ball and made sure that everything never missed a beat by answering any questions almost immediately, coordinating the schedules, and making sure that I always knew what to do in order to keep the project moving forward. After getting everything signed off on and approved, they were able to complete the installation in around four months, which was early January to early May. Granted, my 14kW system was a large investment for our family, but for this type of product you are also investing in a company. It has been a few weeks since we were turned on by PGE, and we have already far exceeded our first 1,000kwh of total energy before the end of the second week. The solar hardware is solid, and the supporting app is easy to use and very useful as it allows me to track everything down to what each individual microinverter is doing. The physical installation was large at 35 total solar panels, but it was done in such a way that the aesthetics and performance of the system are very balanced. The icing on the cake is that the final bid per kwh was lower than the others that I had received and offered better overall terms with respect to warranty and servicing. However, I was not sold on them being the lowest overall bid, I was sold on their dedication to what they do and what drives them in this industry. Granted, there any many suspect companies out there in the world of solar, but this one is doing their level best to give the industry a very good name indeed. read more

Highly recommend Smart Solar Energy! I am a very satisfied customer. If you are looking for solar panels on your home, look no further than Smart Solar Energy. I did my research by examining the best solar companies in the Portland area and receiving quotes from the top rated companies. Smart Solar Energy was the best company for several reasons. I worked with Jordan to receive a quote and he was extremely patient, walked me through the process of going solar, provided me multiple options for solar, and was not pushy in the slightest. He helped educate me on the various factors to consider when evaluating if solar and what type of system was right for me. The best part was Smart Solar Energy had the lowest price-per-watt (make sure to calculate this when shopping offers!) and worked with me to install a system to cover almost all of my energy needs. After signing with them, I worked with Jenn (the project manager) to organize the install. Installation was completed within a week and was done flawlessly! Jenn was extremely communicative during the install process and handled scheduling the inspection, the smart meter install with PGE, and setting us up on the app to monitor our system. After the system was turned on, there were 2 panels with issues and Jenn handled everything to get the microinverters fixed. Smart Solar Energy worked very hard and provided an excellent product at the best price and flawless installation service. You should go with them, and I am confident if you research other options you will come to the same conclusion. read more

I chose Smart Solar after going through the process with 3 other solar energy companies. After considering the financing options, the technology, the warranty, and associated servicing, on that alone, I would have gone with Smart Solar. Except I also had other needs. I wanted to upgrade my analog panel to a Smart wi-fi panel (SPAN) and I wanted to convert my gas water heater to a hybrid electric water heater for the additional energy savings and related rebates. Only 2 of the 3 companies were willing, 1 required I purchase the panel separately, and the other wouldn't take on my water heater need through their employed electricians. It was out of their wheelhouse and they weren't willing to take on the "liability". Only Smart Solar was able to work with its local electricians to independently wire a new switch for my water heater and take on the SPAN panel as part of the whole project. From a local, flexible, and understanding of customers' needs, hands down Smart Solar was the best choice. If you're looking to go solar, I hope this post is helpful to you in your project. We're super happy with our end result. Our SPAN panel allows us to see all kinds of data and usage that a stand-alone solar system is unable to provide. Overall it was a great project bringing us closer to having a zero carbon footprint and our way to being more self-sufficient. Now, looking forward to battery technology maturing and setting up a backup system but that's for down the road. We'll likely turn to Smart Solar for that too. Best of luck! read more

Our experience with Smart Solar Energy has been overwhelmingly positive and I recommend them without hesitation. I submitted an online query from an aggregator site and received communication from Smart Solar and some other solar contractors and met with Jordan from Smart Solar and a sales rep from one other company. I got two bids. Smart Solar and their competitor provided plans for the SAME sized system, offered the exact SAME warranties, and sourced the components from well-known suppliers. (Heck, Smart Solar even sourced solar panels from a Washington-based manufacturer while the other company's panels were manufactured in China.) Smart Solar's bid was 45% less than the competitor! All things being equal, Smart Solar was a no-brainer from the start! But it isn't just the cost. Project Engineer Jake was available at my convenience and did a quick but thorough inspection before he drew the plans, and our project manager Jenn has been an absolute jewel. Jenn was in frequent communication and available to offer answers or guidance at every step of the way; when our local permitting process got bogged down, she was able to get it taken care of; she communicated with us about when to expect delivery of the panels and the arrival of the installation crew; she coordinated the inspections from our local authority, Energy Trust of Oregon and Pacific Power, and walked me through the steps to turn on the system and use the monitoring app. I would - and will - highly recommend Smart Solar to friends and family. read more

I found Smart Solar Energy through my search in Energy Sage for solar installers in my area (Columbia River Gorge) after doing considerable research about solar. There is a lot of information which can be confusing , but I wanted to make informed decisions about size, materials, efficiency, financial incentives, etc for our home installation. I contacted Smart Solar and got a response within a day to set up an online visit time and what documents were needed to assess and design a system, like current electrical usage from the PUD. The online interview with Jordan Showers was very helpful and informative. I got clear, respectful answers to my questions and he spelled out the phases of the solar installation process, product & service warranty, cost & incentives available. It was my decision to proceed--no pressure from Jordan. Smart Solar took responsibility for the permitting processes and WA sales tax credit, set up the installation schedule and solar production & monitoring app, and kept me advised of the steps as installation progressed. This effective communication and keeping to the planned process and cost instilled a confidence in their work & services, which I greatly appreciate. All together, my Smart Solar experience went very smoothly--a testament to their professionalism, belief in the value of solar, and caring for customers in both Oregon & Washington. read more

I had these solar panels installed on the roof of my home. Smart Solar did a great job throughout the process in communication. I was able to really customize the equipment and that was very nice. Pros: Best Warranty and Price Combo (And I compared to 7 different companies) Excellent Communication (Truly the best) Good expectations.... they didn't make a promise they didn't deliver Cons: There was a big gap of time (several weeks) between City approval and the installation. I don't believe this was absolutely necessary. They did bring everything online on time. A different company installs Unity Solar which isn't what I was told but I believe this is standard practice in the industry Installers didn't test the system before finishing and we had some components not working post installation. Super annoying that they had to fix them later. Overall: I'm happy with my decision. I would recommend to anyone using smart solar that if you want it done as fast as possible that you stay on top of each stage every week. Otherwise if time isn't urgent, they will take care of you with almost zero input from you. Truly Great Communication. Also to check the final engineering plans for the exact panel placement, mine was just a little bit different from the early sketches. read more

Smart Solar made our process easy. I researched seven companies and requested bids from five. Three of the companies did an equal job helping me understand panels, microinverters, system configuration, etc. Next, I researched reviews for after care - monitoring, service, maintenance. Smart Solar was not the least expensive bid (the one that was had TERRIBLE reviews on after care/service) but they had great reviews on after care. Jason from Smart Solar was the only rep who went through in detail where utility boxes would be placed on my house and where we could run conduits. I really didn't want crazy contraptions coming over the front of my house to our utility meter. They helped me understand all of my options and I ended up with an install that is invisible from the street. The installation happened in the timeframe they originally set out, the crews (install and electricians) were professional and helpful, explaining what they were doing as they went. Jenn Showers shepherded me through inspections, go live of the system and with my utility for net metering, and my first microinverter glitch (service ticket logged right away with Enphase before I even saw it). She's been a true partner and I couldn't be happier. We're generating energy even on a cloudy winter Seattle day! read more

Smart Solar Energy just finished our 16.4kw installation and we couldn't be happier!!! Jordan, Jenn & everyone at Smart Solar Energy were wonderful people to work with. Informative, punctual, professional & to the point. They weren't the least bit 'salesy' and I really appreciated that. I trusted them and they took care of us the entire process. Even at the very end of our project, when I had a few finishing touches I wanted taken care of, there were never any questions asked. They valued me and my extremely high expectations. If I have any advice for you as the customer, I would recommend requesting black railing and end caps if you have a dark grey to black roof (You might even ask if they can use black caulking.) and sticking with silver rails if you have a lighter colored roof. In my personal opinion, this will give you the most aesthetically pleasing installation. The entire process was painless. Smart Solar Energy did all the heavy lifting. Don't get me wrong, this is a long, drawn-out process but you basically get to sit back and relax while your team takes care of everything. At the end of the day, if you're even considering solar, I can't recommend Smart Solar Energy enough. read more

Getting a solar system done is no easy job for someone who hasn't done it before - and most of us have not. Talking with vendors and installers, and possibly roofers, shortlisting candidates for negotiations, deciding on the best you consider trustworthy and signing the contract is all stressful, even with knowing the big reward ahead. Frankly, everyone would go through these no matter what awesome references you got from neighbors, HOA board, or friends. However, out of all five solar companies I started with, working with Smart Solar Energy was very quickly surfacing to the top, for a number of reasons, the warranty, the know-how explaining process, the price and personnel. Jordan was genuinely interested in helping you and I don't think he is disguising that for pitching a quick sale. From the beginning to the end, I certainly would not know everything about solar panel brands (foreign or domestic), inverter capabilities, and other specifications thrown at me, yet the common sense seems to go well with what Smart Solar Energy introduced all the way. Now the system is up and running, I cannot say any bad things about the experience. In fact, I think it was a very pleasant one. read more

Smart Solar Energy did a fabulous job of putting solar panels on our small house in Portland. When other solar companies couldn't be bothered with a "small job" like ours and wouldn't even give a bid, Jordan from Smart Solar studied our home roof and gave us a thorough explanation of what a small solar system could do for our energy bills as well as the resale value of our house, He was explicit about both the cost of the project (including available rebates) and the projected slow timing to completion due to expected permitting delays. He was also very honest about what made the most sense for this project rather than what might make the most profit for the company - and only the most trustworthy will put the customer first like that. Once we had an agreement, the project was turned over to Jenn to manage - she kept in touch with us every step of the way so we were always clear on what needed to happen next. Everything was efficiently taken care of from start to finish and we couldn't be happier with the results. We have no hesitation in recommending Smart Solar for residential solar projects! read more

I recently installed solar in my home, and I couldn't be happier with the results. Here are some reasons why I give it a positive review: Energy Savings: Smart solar has significantly reduced my electricity bills. I now generate a substantial portion of my electricity from the sun, which translates to substantial savings in the long run. Easy Monitoring: The smart solar system comes with a user-friendly app that allows me to monitor my energy production in real-time. I can easily track how much electricity my panels are generating and how each panel is working. Customer Support: Smart solar offers excellent customer support. They were helpful during the installation process and have been responsive to any questions or issues that I had. Inspections took a while but Jenn helped make sure it happened. Overall, I'm thrilled with my decision to invest in a solar system. It's not only a smart financial choice but also an environmentally responsible one. I highly recommend considering Smart solar to anyone looking to save money on their energy bills while reducing their environmental impact. read more

Been researching solar for a few years and generally have felt dismayed by other installers' sales tactics. Smart Solar Energy was the complete opposite from the very beginning. Our first call with Jordan was very informative and very transparent walking us through our options and how to best align our quote to our expectations. Icing on the cake was the fact that Smart Solar Energy had the best bid across about 10 local installers. Within a few days we decided that we wanted to move forward and signed the contract. From there on out, communication was consistent with clear expectations with Jenn and the rest of the team. We managed to get our permits in our jurisdiction done in one month and had the system installed and ready for final inspections by 60 days, way exceeding our expectations. The Unity Electrical Service team that did the installation was prompt and very efficient as well. Monitoring of the system is very straightforward, and our system is producing tons of power. Highly recommend. read more

We recently installed solar panels at our home in Ocean Shores WA. After vetting several companies, we landed on Smart Solar Energy out of Portland, OR. After an extensive zoom meeting with them we looked at our options and pulled the trigger. Our system at 8kW included 20 Silfab panels and APS microinverters. From design, permits, installation, inspection, and post-installation customer support, our experience was trouble free, staff were super helpful, and very professional. The investment in solar saves us approximately $100 a month on our electrical bill and this capital improvement increases with the value of our home. After federal and state incentives, which covered a third of the cost, we enjoy a better return on our investment in solar than traditional market investments. If you are considering solar, call Smart Solar Energy, they were able to debunk a lot of solar misinformation floating around social media and help you make the right decision based on your circumstances. read more

I recently had solar panels installed by Smart Solar, and I couldn't be happier with the entire process. From the initial consultation to the final activation, the team was professional, knowledgeable, and incredibly efficient. Thanks Jenn, who was super helpful during the whole process--she answered all my questions, kept me updated every step of the way, and really made everything smooth and stress-free. The installation itself was quick and clean, with the crew arriving on time and taking care to leave everything neat and tidy. They also showed me how to use the monitoring app, which is super easy and gives real-time updates on my energy production. What really impressed me was the noticeable drop in my electricity bill just a few weeks after installation. I feel great knowing I'm saving money and reducing my carbon footprint. If you're considering going solar, I highly recommend Smart Solar for their top-notch service and quality products! read more

I was referred to Smart Solar Energy by a friend and already had three other quotes when I first talked to them. Their pricing came in better than the others, and they also threw in a whole-home surge protector at no extra cost. I ended up going with a 12-panel, 5.28 kW system and have been really happy with it so far. I financed through Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union, and my monthly payment is actually lower than what the solar is offsetting on my electric bill, which was a big reason I decided to move forward. I'm also a PGE customer, so I qualified for a $3,500 Energy Trust of Oregon incentive that came right off the price. They also have a pretty solid referral program. It's $500 if someone you refer ends up going solar with them. Overall, it was a straightforward experience, no weird pressure, and I felt like I got a really good deal. I'd definitely recommend Smart Solar Energy to anyone around Portland looking into solar. -Colin read more

Smart Solar did a great job of meeting our needs! We've had multiple companies approach us to provide bids over the years, each one providing varying information on what would work for our home. Because of the confusing and often conflicting information, we had come to the conclusion that solar wouldn't work efficiently enough on our home. Smart Solar was different. Jordan gave us solid information and answered all of our questions from bid, to installation, to end use. He did a nice job of explaining what savings we could expect and didn't try to sell more than would benefit our household. Jenn was our project manager. She gave us consistent, timely (even when she had to reach out several times due to missed calls on our end)), and clear communication. The installation went quickly and without hiccups. It was/has been a very good experience with Smart Solar and we highly recommend their services. read more

Our solar installation with Smart Solar was flawless from start to finish. Signed the contract on June 1, site survey done the next day, engineering docs emailed to me June 6 and producing power on Sept 13. (includes county inspections and utility meter installation) They did what they said they would do on time with no surprises. They were also the lowest bid when priced dollar per kilowatt. The 40 panel installation started on a Tuesday and they were done by Friday noon. The installation crew was professional and respectful of our home. Smart Solar also arranged for the local county and utility inspections and bi-directional meter installation, done in 2 days. Any email correspondences prior, during and after the installation were answered promptly. I would recommend Smart Solar to anyone interested working professionals that do what they say. read more