kevin c.

Reviews by kevin c.

2 Reviews

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Tesla Energy

Will Solar City save you money over what you currently pay to your utility company? Most likely yes. HOWEVER, shop around! I did much research and negotiated with six different solar providers and found that not only was Solar City the most costly, I found their business practices to be intentionally deceptive. Their shenanigans are a class action suit waiting to happen. I opted for an outright purchase rather than a lease or PPA in order to maximize savings. In every proposal (except for Solar City), I was given a clear bottom line figure of the cost. The proposal I initially received from Solar City was pretty much in line (I thought) with the others. However, they then sent me an electronic contract that they wanted me to sign before they would even do a site survey. They said it was just a formality and the contract was not binding (then why require me to sign it???) Obviously, I did not sign it. I did however read through it. When I added up the costs from their payment schedule, I found that the total cost was nearly $13,000 MORE than the proposal they sent to me. I called my sales rep to ask about it. After the "run around" and spin tactics, I learned that the price in their original proposal "assumed" SREC income from the state for five years, so they deducted that from the proposed cost, saying that "if" I applied that "assumed" income (that they have nothing to do with) toward the purchase of the system, that it would bring my "out of pocket" cost down to the figure in the original proposal. That had to be one of the most deceitful, deliberately misleading sales tactics I have ever seen. Imagine going to a car dealer and agreeing to buy a Prius for a sticker price of $25,000. Then, when you go to sign the papers with the finance department, learn that you are actually paying $30,000 because the sticker price you agreed to "assumes" that you will eventually save $5,000 in gasoline because it is a hybrid vehicle. That is basically what Solar City did. And to clarify, NONE of the other companies pulled tried to pull this tactic. In the end, if I went with them, I would have ended up paying $15,000 MORE than I ended up paying with Direct Energy Solar. If that weren't bad enough, Solar City's far more expensive system was decidedly inferior (no micro-inverters, cheap panels made in china, etc), a substandard warranty, no production guarantee, and no guarantee for installation time. Lesson: Please shop around. Don't jump at the first offer because it may save you money over what you currently pay. For long term investments like these, aim to save the MOST you can by doing homework and picking the right company.

Type: Residential Electric

Reviewed: 07/17/2015

Substandard

Direct Energy Solar (formerly Astrum)

The experience I had with Direct Energy Solar was probably the best that I have had with any home improvement vendor in my over twenty years of being a homeowner. From start to finish, Direct Energy Solar delivered professionalism, knowledge, and competence. Seeking quotes and negotiating with six installers, it didn’t take long to see that Direct Energy Solar was the cream of crop.

The consultant, (Jeff) is not just a salesman. He has an extensive background in environmental sciences, which provided a level of confidence and a source of education that was head and shoulders above all other vendors. Jeff provided straight talk, a fair price, unmatched warranties, and a hassle-free experience. It is not often (if ever) that I trust a salesperson. Jeff was the exception. His ethics and integrity throughout his portion of the project shined brightly.

Once the contract was signed, the ball was passed to Tom, the project lead. Tom responded to any questions and concerns I had with lightening speed. He took care of all the permitting and scheduling like a pro. They estimated the system would be installed within ninety days of signing the contract. With Tom at the helm, it was completed in less than sixty. Tom sets the standards that most companies that are service oriented should be measured. He is a solid, intelligent, and hardworking individual, and I am so glad he was assigned to my project. I hope that the leaders at Direct Energy understand what an asset he is to their organization.

The panel installers and electricians did an amazing job. On the first day of the install, the head electrician went over his plans with me for the conduit run. I wasn’t thrilled with his plan, as the conduit would have been visible from the road. Even though it was not a big deal and would not have been that aesthetically displeasing, I told him I would prefer the conduit run along the back of the house instead. There was no push-back, no complaining, no trying to negotiate a middle ground. Though it would take much more conduit and wiring than they were planning on (it is a very big old farm house), he simply stated “absolutely. This is your house. Whatever makes you happy.” He got on the phone, ordered more supplies to be delivered, and did it the way I wanted.

In the end, I got a top notch install for a great price. Again, from the start to finish, everything went smoothly without any surprises or disappointments. I would not hesitate to recommend Direct Energy Solar to anyone. I honestly could not be any more satisfied.

Type: Residential Electric

Reviewed: 07/16/2015

Excellent
We're humbled by your kind words Kevin and are thrilled to welcome you to the Direct Energy Solar family! We take great pride in providing our customers with the best solar experience possible and are happy to hear we met your expectations. I'll be sure to pass on your compliments to the team and thanks again for sharing your story. Enjoy the savings and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any additional questions or concerns.

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