In 2018, we contracted with SEG to install our residential electrical solar panel system. My system was equipped standard with a wireless remote system that allows reporting of any system operational issues. Recently, my system advised SEG to come check the system and I was contacted immediately on a weekend by Brian Gardener-SEG's new President. Since 2018, Brian has my principal business/installation contact with SEG and has always stayed in touch with me. My system was repaired immediately under warranty and the SEG/Customer feedback and their system service restoration plan was effectively communicated by Brian and his team of professionals that always shine. I am back to generating electricity back to P.G.& E., thus allowing me to use my electrical demand when I need it, without constantly worrying about $$. I still conserve on my energy needs thanks to SEG's monthly newsletter. Call SEG now, if you want to schedule your system design and estimate. They are busy because they offer quality and a no-hassle installation and service guarantee. They back what they sell you and establish a long time relationship from the first contact call and each contact with you. read more

As others have stated, SEG is now out of business. They have closed their office and do not respond to calls or emails. Their contractor license has been suspended. Those of us with labor warranties are out of luck and need to find other companies to service our systems. No one sets out to fail and the solar business is tough, but It is a shame that they were unable to wind down in a controlled manner and at least communicate to existing customers. I guess they never intend to run a business in the area again since they have burned their bridges with so many people. read more

SEG is STILL dragging this out with zero communication on their part. The amount of unprofessionalism is running rampant. This will be my final update. I cannot and will not recommend SEG to anyone. The say we regret our choice in solar companies is an understatement. Don't be fooled by false claims on their website, the family reviews on Facebook, or the reviews given before Brian took over. read more

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**UPDATE 5/27/26- Their license is in a SUSPENDED status according to the CA Contractors State Licensing Board** SEG is, without question, the most unprofessional and incompetent company we have ever worked with. There's far too much to cover in a Yelp review, but here's where we are six months after they claimed the project was "finished": we still have an open trench in our backyard and still don't have PTO from the local utility. Six months. I'll note we're clearly not alone...the pattern of reviews here speaks for itself. Like others, I'm keeping the bulk of the details offline until this is resolved, but I wouldn't hold my breath given how many people seem to be waiting for SEG to make things right. The short version: the owner took on far more work than he was equipped to handle, and customers like us are the ones paying for it. read more

Brian Gardner is a crook who stole $90K from us knowing he could never complete our project. Working with him in any capacity is a mistake.

SEG installed my solar 5-years ago. A month ago I lost production. The SolarEdge inverter faile. SolarEdge responded with a replacement inverter within a couple days. A SEG technician spent 4-1/2 hours, into an evening, installing the inverter. PGE shows my system sending to the grid, but SolarEdge's system shows it all being consumed by my home. I am unable to login to the inverter. SolarEdge says SEG technician improperly installed CT. Bottom line, I have spoken with, left voicemails, emailed SEG for the past 2-3 weeks, and have yet to see or hear anything towards resolution, despite twice gettting apologetic messages and firm commitment dates; all have passed w/o any response. read more

i can't say my opinion my husband has asked me to remove the review until this company makes it right.

They have effectively closed. Business vacated. Contracting license suspended. Within the last 6 weeks they have closed up shop and do not return phone calls. read more

For anyone considering giving business to Sustainable Energy Group in Grass Valley, I would reconsider. Our system stopped working properly in October. We didn't know for months because the way the app reports and apparently they don't monitor it or don't care to contact you if they do. I have been trying to get someone from that company to come fix it for the last month. Its extremely hard to get a response or to get someone to answer the phone at all. After numerous calls we got an appointment a few weeks ago. Unfortunately they didn't show up or call to reschedule. Multiple calls later we got another appointment. Again no show or phone call. More unanswered calls. Then the receptionist answered finally and told us that the owner, Brian, was doing all the service calls because their employee quit. She didn't know why Brian wasn't showing up or calling to let us know and she would call us back after talking to him. This last conversation was over a week ago. Now they will not answer the phone at all, won't return messages and today when I called they hung up on me twice. So I guess they won't be honoring any warranty or fixing our system. Basically we are left high and dry. read more

Great professionalism. Great communication. Great service overall. So grateful for our whole house generator. It has saved our butts the last few winters. I recommend Brian & co. read more

I had two young men (say 22-25 years old smaller statured men clean cut) door knocking solicitors (claiming they were not selling anything so not solicitors) show up at 8 pm at my door, in a rural neighborhood, no card, no brochure, no company car, but SEG hat on one which verified where they said they worked. Regrettably I opened the door, they were not forthcoming with who they were and why they were at my house. I did give them a chance to explain or give me information but they couldn't provide any, only fishing for mine. Clearly, these were the cold callers. When it was clear to them I wasn't interested in solar panels of any kind at 8 pm with random people at my door, they turned VERY NASTY AND HOSTILE. They actually screamed at me that I was "UNQUALIFIED" whatever that means as they were headed out??!! I ended up TRESPASSING them from my private property and private road (to which they did not leave but continued to walk on down to bother my other neighbors at 8 pm). So unscrupulous people will come to your home at 8 pm and harrass you. Agency is everything. People like this are of low character, please stay out of our neighborhoods until you are invited by appointment. News flash - no one OWES you their business or reasons just because you show up at their door uninvited, and eventually unwanted. It is illegal to remain on private property when you are trespassed and we do have law enforcement alerted and the exchange commemorated. If these nasty jerks are the face of this business model, buyer beware. I do need solar eventually, but because of these two I would NEVER do business with this company (I'm "unqualified"??!!!) read more

I couldn't be more pleased with how everything turned out. They worked with me every step of the way during my roof replacement. And they're great dudes. When it comes time to update my solar I will definitely contact them again. What you have here is a great locally owned business that cares about customer service, which is hard to find these days. read more

In December 2022 I contracted with SEG to replace the solar inverters and batteries in my off-grid solar power system. The work was slowed by supply chain problems, and the need to service customers facing a deadline for getting favorable PG&E rates. I don't fault SEG for those problems. In the end they addressed all my concerns and went out of their way to make sure I was satisfied. read more

I am extremely pleased with the installation of my solar energy system. Matt, in particular, has been extremely helpful! On a scale of 1-10, I'd give his customer service a 12!!! Thank you! read more

I have tried and tried to connect with this business, as they were recommended by a friend. But that being said, a few years ago ownership changed, and my experience has been terrible trying to get these guys to respond to me inquiry regarding a solar panel installation. They failed to show up for 2 appts., and now i cannot even get a return call from the extremely unprofessional people working there. At this point I do NOT recommend this company. read more

I contacted Ray Darby at Sustainable Energy Group after talking with a friend about her completed solar project. My friend is ecstatic with her solar system and the almost zero dollar PG&E bill each month. Ray is a wealth of knowledge in both solar power and energy efficiency. Since our initial contact I have attended several of his presentations on the subjects of solar and sustainable energy. Ray educated me on what will be required for a solar system at my business. With a plan in place, we are now just waiting to complete the purchase of my building and looking forward to not paying PG&E every month. read more

Ray Darby, Penn, Harry, and Kris, and the other employees in the SEG group were great to work with. They were prompt, on schedule for the work, and thorough in explaining how our system will work and helping us understand our PG&E billing. I will, and have recommended them to friends. read more

I had Ray and his team install a system on my house 2 years ago. Not only did they do a fantastic job, but Ray came and gave me a free consultation on energy conservation possibilities in my house. His team continues to monitor the output of my solar system, and contacts me if they notice abnormalities. I am more than pleased by the kindness, forthcoming, and support of this company and highly recommend them as a first choice solar installation company in our region. read more

Great Company that cares about making the earth a sustainable place to live. The sales department does not push what you don't need. Custom systems with your financial budget and resources in mind. Lovely office staff. read more

My husband has wanted to have a net-zero house for twenty years and this year, we moved in that direction. We obtained quotes from 6 companies, including Byers, and without a doubt, chose the best company for service and panel quality with Sustainable Energy Group. First, our payback is only 6 years and we have a 25 year guarantee. Second, the cost was very reasonable. For example, the total for the same energy output was $10,000 less than our Byers quote, which would move our payback to 11 years. The quality of the panels and customer engagement will give you the confidence to trust Sustainable Energy and to enjoy doing the right thing with Solar! Also, the Sales team and Installation team were great. The Sales team was far more detailed and conscientious than any other company we received quotes from, which made working with them easy. And the installation team was on time, kind and efficient and explained their process and timeline clearly. We recommend Sustainable Energy Group without any hesitation!! read more

It's been over 3 years since SEG installed my system and I couldn't be happier. Penn, Ray, Brian and the rest of the team are professionals. Before committing to SEG, I had two other solar companies evaluate my needs, 60+ foot trees, roof aspects and electricity usage. SEG's proposal was convincing and inspiring. I highly recommend SEG. Additionally, their in-house system monitors all of their installations and will alert them if any electrical component underperforms. They will attend to malfunctions immediately. I have complete confidence in SEG. read more

Stellar solar guidance from start to finish - professionalism, expertise & knowledge off the charts. Committed to their customers, to their community and the environment. No wrong turns in working with this company - truly understand what delivering caring competency to customers means. Most professional crew I've ever engaged with as well. Stay calm and let's all solar on! :) read more

This company has performed installs on two different homes I've been at. They are always reliable, knowledgeable, and exceed my expectations. read more

Ray and his crew installed a PV array on my house almost 4 years ago. It has worked flawlessly ever since. It was very affordable, service was impeccable, and the whole staff was an absolute plelasure to work with. We had some hiccups because of the county being incompetent, but his crew worked with them tirelessly in order to make the project happen. I could not be happier with my choice of SEG and would recommend them to anyone considering solar. read more

Ray Darby is a genius when comes to solar and how he can save you money. He is professional and does high quality work. If your going solar go Sustainable Energy Group. If your not sure give him a call anyway you won't regret it. read more

Sustainable Energy Group does an amazing job in explaining the benefits of solar and alternative energy and how to easily and affordability benefit from becoming more "green." Ray and Martin are at the top of the list when it comes to being industry leaders. read more

We had our solar energy system installed by SEG this past August. We were very pleased with the knowledge and work ethic of everyone who worked on our system planning and installation. It is great to be able to monitor our energy usage remotely from anywhere and nice knowing that SEG is also able to track the performance of our system in the event of a problem. We have really just traded a PG&E payment for a credit line payment...and when the system is paid for, we'll be free of utility payments for good. Highly recommend Ray Darby and his entire staff. We are very satisfied customers! read more

Have worked with Ray for almost 30 years and find him and his company to be friendly, knowledgeable and professional. I would not hesitate to recommend them for any solar job, electrical, hot water, or energy efficiency. read more

I had the opportunity to meet personally with Ray Darby of Sustainable Energy Group today, to sit with him and learn about what his company has to offer. Turns out they can do so much more for our community then solar! Whether it is that simple solar installation, or a complex, a full-service sustainability makeover hitting on all levels, ie: sun, water and plant-life- the skill and ingenuity they offer is vast. I am totally sold and very impressed that we have a company in our midst with this level of expertise and inspired design- way to go! I am eager to get my own efficient, safe, sustainable and non-toxic home up and running as soon as possible- and now I know who to call first. Ray himself is clearly talented, passionate and a fiercely intelligent engineer with heaps of valuable experience and heart to bring to their projects. Thanks, Ray Darby and SEG, for serving Nevada County and for putting us on the map for sustainability in creative splendor with the work that you do, I cannot wait to learn and see more! read more

Ray and his crew walk the talk! Some people just talk about Solor and Energy conservation, however, Ray has been practicing Sustainable Energy for decades. You can't find a more honest guy and crew. Recently they visited my home and evaluated my energy use for Solar. They were very honest with what it would take for me to add solar to my home. It's hard to come across honest people and I've found it with them! #customerforlife read more

Ray Darby and his team are amazing!! Their wealth of knowledge and experience is amazing. They are down to earth and make the decision making process easy. They are patient and you won't feel pressured in any way. Sales done well, customer service outstanding. You won't regret working with Ray and his team! read more

Again and again Sustainable has exceeded our expectations. Thank you Ray and your team

Sustainable Energy Group is second to none. They are not just about solar, but energy efficiency. They can educate you on the most beneficial and economic solar system and present to you options on purchase or financing in a way that is easiest to afford and the most economically beneficial. read more

Ray and his team are fantastic, we had a challenging solar installation and Ray was a wealth of knowledge and information.. His team successfully installed our panels and now we are producing our own energy.. his team kept me up to date of the entire process. My experience with Sustainable Energy group has been amazing. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking to understand energy and solar. read more

My wife and I had a soar system installed by Sustainable Energy Group in July of 2016. We were attracted to SEG because of Ray Darby, a California licensed mechanical engineer. He has been a pioneer in solar energy for the last 30 years. We were attracted to Ray Darby not just because of his expertise in solar energy, but his knowledge of sustainable energy practices. He has a global view of how best to save energy and is not just a solar salesman. If you want someone to look at your entire building envelope and provide recommendations on how to increase your energy efficiency, Ray is your man. Ray was very patient with us and was more than willing to answer our many questions. We also found the installers (Joe, Brian and another Brian) from SEG to be very professional, courteous and efficient. We were kept apprised of their daily starting time and overall schedule for completion. They also cleaned up every day after they finished working and when the job was cpompleted our deck and roof were almost immaculate. I have only found occasional, very small wire insulation cutoffs after they finished the job. We are also very pleased that our actual solar generation tracks very well with the design projections. We sure enjoy our less than $10.00 monthly PG&E bill since July (we do realize that as we move deeper into fall and winter we will incur actual energy usage and bills from PG&E). We have been amazed that during the recent storms that our system actually still generating solar energy. We highly recommend Sustainable Energy Group and know that Ray and his team are just a phone call away to answer questions or provide any needed assistance. read more

We purchased solar from Sustainable Energy Group about 2 years ago. The installation and support were awesome. A few days ago, our solar stopped working on a Saturday afternoon. I contacted my project manager Brian Gardner and left him a voice mail. He called me the next day (Sunday) and he came out to check our system. He found a blown fuse. He left to go and see if he could find a replacement. He made a second trip and installed the new fuse. His dedication to his customers was outstanding. We never expected him to come on his days off. But he did and our service was restored and is working beautifully. Thank you to Ray for having outstanding employees like Brian working for him. I recommend them highly. read more

Compared to several other companies we interviewed for solar installation, SEG surpassed them all. Ray Darby's experience, energy expertise and generosity of his knowledge and know how exceeded our expectations. The SEG team took time to personalize their service, educated and kept us apprised every step of the way, and delivered beyond what they promised. This company did not try to oversell us like all the other companies attempted, saving us several thousand dollars. We got more than solar...we got an invaluable education on energy efficiency tailored to our home and needs, a continued commitment to serve our future energy needs, and an available, reliable and trustworthy LOCAL company that we feel proud to support. read more