At the beginning of February 2014, we had Sun First install a 43 panel / 43 micro inverter system for us in the East Bay. I will echo the positive sentiments of other reviewers and say that we were very pleased with the experience and outcome. We worked most closely with Stephen Dobbie, who we found both genuine and committed to getting it right. Their on-site person was Garvey, who has a pleasant disposition and great work ethic. They got the panels hung straight and solid, absolute requirements in my mind. We also worked with Kim to administer the project, she was professional and thorough. A week before we submitted plans, Contra Costa County changed its rules regarding setbacks. Stephen Dobbie & team came up with a plan that kept us happy and satisfied the County. We appreciated the efforts at going the last mile. I'll close by saying that Sun First beat out the other 5 bids we had with the best combination of price and features. We are very satisfied. read more

After trying to get quotes from other firms, I contacted SunFirst Solar and worked with a salesman by the name of Stephen Dobbie who understood exactly what I wanted and then delivered it without any hassles and at a very good price. I'd say that SunFirst and Stephen went above and beyond by installing an extra conduit and external junction box for a future car charger I hope to install at some point soon. I work in the industry and knew exactly what I wanted which was high efficiency SunPower modules to make best use of the limited roof space I have and an inverter/system that stays live during power outages. I want to use my system as a backup during an earthquake. After we signed a contract, SunFirst leaped into action and got the system installed very quickly and even managed all the permitting and dealings with PG&E. Highly recommend these guys and particular, Stephen Dobbie as he just "gets it" and will deliver on exactly what you are looking for. Stephen is also quite knowledgeable about hardware and finance choices and can help the uniformed through the various options to be made. read more

excellent service. I hired this company from a referral. I never herd of them before. Dave was very responsive, knowledgeable, kind and accommodating. We just installed a new roof and I was concerned about drilling holes into the new roof. Dave was here on site all day working through the install. He explained how he will install the panels and what materials he will use. I can't say enough good things about this company. This company is an example of excellent service. read more

We have had our Sun First system for about 4 years now... and when PG&E killed our power last week, Sun First was ready to help out. I was able to speak directly with a tech and he helped me get my emergency daytime power working. He even came by to make sure it was all working ok. That is a special service! Thanks to Tayfun for helping is when we were without power! I highly recommend them! read more

We have just finished getting our solar pv system installed. Sun First was great through the whole process from quotes to final permits inspection. We needed someone who was also experienced in solar pool install because we needed to relocate existing pool panels to install the pv panels. Sun First came out and gave us a no sales pitch nonsense install quote that was the best price (we had 4 different companies give quotes) and also the one that we felt most confident in to do the job with no problems. Throughout the process they were prompt, they took care of all of the paperwork (permits, PG&E and tax stuff) and kept us informed. The install was done on schedule, it looks great and everything works great. We couldn't be happier with the results and we strongly recommend Sun First Solar. read more

I had my solar installed 3 years ago by Solar City which has since gone out of business. When I called SunPower who monitors my system and ran tests on the system but couldn't fix it remotely. SunPower referred me to Sun First who installs and works SunPower systems. I talked with Tayfun who spent 30 minutes with me on the phone. He told me how to shut down the system, reboot the system and told me how to check the system to make sure it is working properly. Tayfun stayed on the phone with me while I did this. What can I say, I am not even their customer and they spend 30 minutes with getting it to work properly for no charge. Thank you Tayfun for your help. You made my day. read more

I got several bids on a 3.8 KWH system, and chose Sunfirst to do the job. I liked the solar panels they use for the systems they install, and they used an instrument to determine where on my roof the panels should be installed to make the best use of the sun. The system was installed in a timely manner, and the installers clearly knew what they were doing. They took care of ALL the paperwork (there is a lot). The system has been up and running for a month and it is actually producing more energy than was predicted by the initial charting. Be prepared for delays from PG&E. read more

We got several bids and Sun First! was professional, offered a great price, was pleasant to discuss pro-con issues with different placements, and worked hard to get the job done. They also advised on a tree service to do some trimming to allow more light. The system is performing great. We would highly recommend this team. read more

SunFirst! Solar just finished installing 2 photo voltaic systems where I live with their highly efficient solar panels.. Starting with the person who came out to measure and design the systems, all the people from SunFirst! were highly professional and respectful. My many questions were always answered completely and in a timely fashion. I particularly appreciated how SunFirst! was willing to work with me to create an aesthetically pleasing installation. I also valued their enthusiasm for the work they are doing. I highly recommend SunFirst! read more

From the first call to the final install, it's been a pleasure doing business with Sun First. We thought so much of them and their reputation that we actually paid them to travel to Granite Bay and install our system on our new home. They are a great company and I will recommend them to all. Honesty, Integrity, great product and a fair price. Thanks Sun First! read more

I looked at several companies before going with Sun First. Stephen Dobbie made the difference for us straight out of the gate. i was really worried about the price, the efficiency, etc. I was wary about being overcharged. Stephen patiently answered all our questions...and then more questions...and came to the house to go over everything in detail. I never felt like I was being subjected to a sales pitch (which I definitely experienced with other companies). I even felt that they found ways to save me money.. He explained details that I didn't even know should be considered - some of these details were unknown to the representatives of other companies. We had several requests, including where we wanted the panels (out of view) , on a specific part of the house, and a certain configuration . Another company told us it couldn't be done. Stephen made it happen The on site crew was quiet , fast , and efficient. Let's put it this way - I called the company to ask when the panels would be installed only to have them tell us that they were already on the roof ( we asked for them to be hidden from view and they sure are.) Even the billing office was nice and efficient, patiently answering my questions. I would absolutely recommend them. We are thrilled with our system and my kids and I love going on line and seeing how much power we generate every day. read more

These guys are great! Everything they said they would do was done in a neat and orderly way, very professional, would definitely hire them again. read more

We recently had a brief period when our system went down, so I called Sun First and their response was awesome! I called early one morning last week and Tayfun returned my call within a half hour. He then arranged to visit my home the same morning at a time convenient for me and he quickly diagnosed and repaired the problem with our inverter. He also waited for my wife to come home so that he could set up the sunpower on-line monitoring system, and he then followed up with me by e-mail to help me figure out how to get registered and set up. He was thoughtful, polite, and professional with all of his interactions - a great experience! read more

I did my research about solar panels and interviewed 3 other companies before I got to Sun First. The comparison made my choice easy. Sun First gave me the most comprehensive information, explained clearly how they had arrived at a plan for my home, offered a panel product that has advantages over those offered by other companies, and they provided an inclusive cost estimate lower than the others. They described the process of installation, payments, and gave me a schedule for the work. The installation team was very professional, courteous, and things went smoothly. The system is integrated with my home computer so I can see each day how much energy I'm producing. The system is monitored electronically, and they can determine if each individual panel in my system is operating properly. This is an excellent company. I'm delighted with the whole experience! read more

I have tried for years to get solar but my roof is not ideal and it was not until Sun First came along with the latest more powerful panels and inverter that made this happen. From the very beginning Peter came by and with the help of the entire Sun First Team helped design and install the state of the art system that is producing enough power to reduce my electric bill to nothing and I will never have to worry about electric bill increases again. I interviewed several other companies before picking Sun First not because of price but because of their expert response and ultimate follow through. Garvin lead the installation team and they had my 20+ panels installed and operational in less than two days. Kim Fink coordinated the paperwork and from getting through the approval process to integration with PG&E....it was a breeze. Thank you Sun First and I would HIGHLY recommend them! read more

First rate. Sun First has responded quickly & efficiently to our inquiries and has fulfilled all promises. No complaints whatsoever.

In 2003, our electric bill for the year was about $900. Sun First installed our electric solar in April of that year. Since then, we have paid only taxes and fees, less than six dollars a month. Our annual surplus has been approximately $200. Sun First measured and told us exactly when our trees would cast shadows on the collectors. They monitored their installation from the attic as well as the roof when placing their fasteners. The panels are still solid on the roof and have performed perfectly. Sun First has been there for us when we have had questions. We couldn't be happier. read more

Sun First handled our solar installation with great professionalism from start to finish. The initial discussion and proposal from Stephen was very complete and understandable. The installation team with Garvin and Julio worked extra hours to make sure it was completed on schedule. Paul and his associates went above and beyond to handle the electrical work. And Kim was always accessible and had the answers to our questions, making sure the project went smoothly. A totally satisfactory experience for us. Thanks Sun First! read more

The process for us was generally pretty good. The estimator came out in decent time and did a good job discussing options of size and location. The proposals were detailed with all costs lined out. I was disappointed a little regarding how long it took to actually get the project started. The estimator, and office staff, were not good at proactively following up when we were ready to go. I had to circle back to him to remind him which I thought was pretty strange given how much competition there is out there. The project was also delayed because they said there was a shortage of Sun Power panels. After a couple of weeks I made a stink about it and they responded that the panels had just become available. I give them credit for sending out the crew in the meantime to put up the infrastructure so the panel install would go quicker. Not really necessary since it only takes one day to put the whole thing in anyway. At least it meant they were thinking of me. I will say there was some confusion when the City Engineer came by and asked for the city permit and the crew didn't have it. A couple of phone calls and they resolved it but it shows a little lack of attention to details and lack of coordination between the crew and the home office. I would suggest to anyone thinking about getting a system from Sun First or anyone else for that matter to not pay the balance of the cost until PGE has signed off on the transfer of the connection so you start getting credit for the system power. They ask for it but given how long it was taking to get it done, I requested that it be fully operational before I paid anything more than the $1,000 deposit. I will say that seemed to motivate them at the end to get everything done in a much shorter period of time then they had quoted before I said I was going to hold off paying. They said PGE could take up to 2 weeks but miraculously it happened in 2 days when I held back payment. Maybe a coincidence but who knows. I paid the day it became completely up and officially connected and they were fine with that. Holding off payment until something is fully operational seems only proper. Frankly, I don't know how a company can request full payment before a project is "completely" finished. The crew was very professional so no problem there. They make a point of painting the conduits the color of the roof and were good at routing them to make them as hard to see as they could. read more

I really can't say enough about this team. Excellent in every way. I had a 2.6kw system installed in 2007 and added another 2.5kw in March of 2016. The older DC panels are still working great and the newer AC panels are a step above. I would definitely choose the new Sunpower AC panels. I did my due diligence the second time around and no one could match their prices. Sure, you can get cheap Chinese panels but why not buy the Made in the USA Sunpower ones? They are in San Jose and I believe the warranty is 25 years parts AND labor. Try to match that. They are a local Marin business and they certainly get 5 stars from me. Look no further. And, go solar! read more

Sun First! Is so thorough. months after installation, the county asked me to assess the value of the project, so as to pay more in taxes. i was a little scared- hadn't budgeted for this! but Kim at SunFirst! let me know after I wrote, that solar is exempt (as it should be!) to property tax increases. can't tell you what a sigh of relief i let out. :) read more

This is the one year anniversary of my Sun First system. It was a roof-top install and everything was perfect. The installers showed up right on time. The panel layout is nice. The conduit run was excellent. My electric bill is zero. No charges on the 1 year true-up statement from PG&E. I couldn't have asked for more. read more

After doing a lot of research on solar electric providers, I selected Sun First because they helped me to design the best system possible for my shade-compromised situation, and maximized return on investment. I was a tough customer, and Sun First took it all in stride. (Other providers tried to sell me more system than made financial sense, which is less than ethical). Sun First also helped me to work through some structural issues with my attic, and provided the additional construction work at a very reasonable price. When our plans were finally approved by the City of Berkeley, I asked for our system to be installed by the first week of March, and they got it done. Garvin, the crew leader, Julio and Narcisso were all very professional and courteous around my home. Stephen and Aran were very flexible throughout the sales process and navigated the permit process entirely. Kim in the office is an outstanding communicator and kept me updated throughout the process of permits, approval, scheduling, inspection and paperwork. Moments ago she updated me with the good news that PG&E has approved our system to produce energy for the power grid, which was our last hurdle! Thanks to the entire crew at Sun First! read more

After researching several companies I went with SunFirst for several reasons. Every question or concern was answered quickly and completely. My Representative, Christine, met with me on several occasions to review our needs and be sure to get all the information needed. We received the top of the line products at very competitive pricing. Every step, from design and permitting, to installation, was nearly effortless on our end and seamless on theirs. Installation of the 42 panel system, over two buildings, was surprisingly fast. The crew was efficient, professional and a great bunch of guys. Follow up from the team has also been excellent. One item was left to complete due to work needed on our end. The same day I emailed the company, the crew showed up to do the work. Unbelievable responsiveness! I cant say enough good things about this group. Thanks again for an excellent experience from start to finish! read more

We had an initial consultation with a sales rep from another nationally known company with projections and promises from his computer software. We are so glad we checked YELP before signing on and chose Sun First! Solar instead Sun First! Solar is a small local family-owned company which is grounded on a solid reputation and customer service. .They were reliable and professional in managing and integrating the full solar system within budget. From the initial consultation on the roof, they guided us through the many steps along the way from advising a roofer, the proposals, design, best panels on the market, navigating rebates, credits, lease vs purchase, installation, permits, PG&E interface and inspections .They worked hard to get the job done and were with us all the way to make the paper work painless. We always knew they were on our side to get the best product performance and design for the life of the system. read more