We purchased our 4br 2.5bth 3car garage, 2059 sq ft .33ac lot home with a 50k gallon non-heated non-jacuzzi pool back in 2009, the house was built in 1987.
I started researching Solar, the different options, solar plans, equipment, solar rebates, awards, companies etc. 3 weeks after solid research, our PG&E bill came in and it was $700+ dollars. That kind of forced my hand to really start getting quotes and more first hand info. I spoke to neighbors who bought/leased solar early on, and listened to their horror stories, and mentally listed their pro's and con's. Then I researched blogs about homeowners who have solar in California and read up on their experiences, even the ones with now out-of-business companies or bought-out companies. Common theme I saw with the big National Leaders - quote EXCELLENT, install EXCELLENT, customer service atf HORRIBLE.
Jamie at Solar Harmonics from day 1 was on-point. His reviews to begin with were at 5* 100%, to the point where my wife and I were asking ourselves how fake these were. I started my inquiry on Yelp late on a weekday about 9pm. By the next morning I had a reply with information. Every communication after that was by email, and responses came back within an hour if not sooner. Working in a facility with poor cell reception 9-10 hrs a day, this was a huge plus for me. It was about 6 weeks before we committed and never in that time did I feel any pressure whatsoever to sign anything. In late Sept 2020 our original energy offset estimate was for 106% I believe, but I wanted an extra panel to bump me up to about 110% offset. The panels were top tier, and what really kept me interested was that my solar project would be monitored after the fact in the future, even though I would be able to monitor production myself from my phone or laptop. Most of the roof/equipment warranties were similar in language and length from the other companies I spoke to, but we kept going back to the customer service once install was said and done. There are hundreds of complaints in CA alone about folks not getting any help or questions even answered with their Solar issues.
By mid October 2020 we signed with Jamie. Even if this company were to go out-of-business in the next few years, Jamie's team in the end provided us with all of the necessary material breakdowns, and blueprints for any other solar company to come in to be guided if we needed desperate assistance. Although, I don't see this happening and hope it never does.
Jamie got us all the info I needed on Solar Financing, and gave multiple options with recommendations. He explained how everything would/should go with planning, permits, and how the 26% FTC would work. I was kept up to date with deadlines and expectations, and the contracting company they work with out of the Sacramento/Mather area are great. Very professional, efficient, and courteous folks. Cleaned up everything each day. Once our system was up and running just before Christmas 2020 (2 day install, 30 panels), Jamie kept me informed on PG&E status with the grid connection and within a week, the first week of Jan 2021 to be exact) we were up and running by PG&E. After all was said and done, he also made sure I had all the appropriate paperwork ready when we filed our taxes for 2020, and we just completed those today Feb 2021. There have been probably been 30 group emails back and forth since September 2020, and all paperwork was signed electronically during this pandemic. I've probably only spoken or heard Jamie's voice 3-4 times in that timeframe. I think I spoke to people over the phone from the Credit Union more than Jamie from Nov-Dec 2020. He and his team have hands down made this solar, go-green purchase, a very smooth and almost stress free experience, from start to finish. There was no nagging, no reverse psychology, no common sales pitches...just facts and data to supplement our decision. It wasn't anything like the folks who go door to door with fake PG&E albums/flyers, or those Gas supplier sales folks.
If you are really serious about saving money on the CA costs of electricity, especially with all the fires and fines PG&E is going through plus their bankruptcy proceedings, or you just want to go-green and save some of the planet for your children, then after you do your own research on Solar, Jamie and his team at Solar Harmonics would be the way to go.
Once a few monthly bills start coming in, or after my first year PG&E true-up arrives, I'll post an update.
FYI- this review took an hour and 15 minutes to compose. read more