Boston Solar

Painful and slow process

We had an excellent experience with the salesperson. He sold the product and process very well. We were pleased with the loan rate and proposed timing of the project. The first snag was that the panels we were supposed to get were backordered (these were going to be all black). We received a new quote with another panel, approved it, and were told they were to be all black as well. We were aware that there had been issues with panel production, so we were not surprised. Six days before the scheduled installation (in August) we were told that the panels were not being delivered and there was no time schedule as to when they would arrive. I called to ask for clarification and was told that Boston Solar would be in touch when the panels were available and to anticipate a November installation. I received zero communication in September and I initiated contact in October to see if there was any update. I was informed that there was not and to anticipate a December install. I am in the construction industry and run our company's projects. Even if there is no news or bad news, I inform the customer periodically of the situation, every 2-3 weeks. Sometimes the conversation is difficult, but we feel the communication piece is paramount. No communication in November and again I initiated conversation in December. At this point, I was seriously considering breaking the contract and I shared that news with my contact. My contact provided me with the list of fees associated with the job thus far, per my request. Within 4 days, my Boston Solar contact told me they had found some panels that they could set aside for my project and that they would make sure the installation happened before the deadline for our loan rate. The timing did work (not without some stresses) and the installation went very well. The crew was fantastic and answered all of my questions. The panels, however, were not all black. I decided to keep the panels and not go through any more headaches. Now for the inspection...I was told to wait to hear from Boston Solar when the inspection would happen. I waited 2 weeks and when I heard nothing, I contacted Boston Solar to see what the delay was. I know inspections sometimes take a while, but not to schedule and to receive a date, that takes a phone call. Within an hour, I had an appointment. The inspection was scheduled on a Friday between 9-12noon. The inspector was there at 9:15, but the Boston Solar representative did not arrive until 9:27. Then the rep did not have all the necessary photos and Boston Solar had worked with this particular inspector prior. The inspection did pass and the certificates were sent to National Grid. Within a day of everything being approved, National Grid changed my meter, and the agent told me to contact Boston Solar to figure out next steps. I called my contact and left a message and did not hear back. Fortunately, I knew what breakers to switch on and my panels are producing. I have had zero luck with the mySunPower app as it is not connecting to the reader or I don't' have all the information I need. I'm not sure of the problem because Boston Solar has not returned my call. This has been a most frustrating experience.

Great for Solar Panels, Not so great for Battery Backup

We had a very mixed experience with Boston Solar. The positives: Everyone we dealt with was pleasant and professional. The installers were polite and left the site clean and neat. The solar panel installation was efficient. The negatives: Although the proposed timeline was around 120 days, we are 8 months into the process. Our panels went live three days ago and we are still waiting for errors on our battery backup system to be diagnosed and corrected. So, we are 8 months and counting into the installation. It is the pandemic but Boston Solar only attributed one week of delay to a supply problem. Neither the installers nor our support team seemed to know anything about the Battery Backup system. The batteries were installed without regard for the fire/building code and had to be re-installed after we failed the first inspection (this process cost us more than a month and a lot of aggravation.) We have yet to receive any training on the system. I hope that is coming. Our panels are generating electricity which is great. The jury is out on the battery backup. I would recommend Boston Solar for solar panels with enthusiasm. For the battery backup system, I am much less enthused.