Solar Electrical Systems (Out of Business)

They built a solar system for us in 2008 and it's still running great. Their estimate was right on and the work was quick and clean. I would definitely use them again.

Sales person provide multiple options for system sizing and worked with us by providing analysis and information to help us make our decision. Our install was considered a relatively "small job" but we were not treated that way. Company worked hard to educate us by meeting with us repeatedly in person and on the phone. The installation crew was top notch. Answered many questions and explained much of what they were going to do and what they were doing. Spoke about receiving an Owner`s manual for the system. This was not delivered. Once job was completed there was no followup by the contractor. Overall very happy with the system, the install and the contractor.

The roofers were not dependable in their appearances..I have not met with rep subsequent to the installation

This is actually the second system that we had installed by Solar Electrical Systems. We did check other contractors before both installations and no one came close.

Work started one day EARLY, but they did not tell us. But it worked out and install was completed in one day as predicted. City inspectors caused them problems and delay of approval. This was due to lack of communication within the city, not to SES. Not SES fault. Work corrections were due to city`s lack of communication, not SES.

I was called the day before they wanted to start and was told we needed to be there the next day. There was no notice and no scheduleing of anyone throughout the job at least none that I was ever informed of.

The company exceeded my expectations, but my expectations, were very high. The installing team leaded by Bear, was a team that likes what they do, and that is getting the job done right. Questions about the job, were answered without hesitation, by myself, or city inspectors, to what level of expertise that was requested or required. I give Solar Electrical Systems my highest recommendation for a job well done. Thoughout my conversations and contact with about five different company personnel, I was treated in a polite and professional manner. From sales, to accounting, I was assured that I was working with people who cared and listened to my concerns and welcomed my questions.

Solar Electrical systems were timely, reliable and easy to work with- other individuals stated that this co took a long time w/the installation but i found them efficient- the regulatory aspects of the rebates are time consuming and they provided support with that as well

Solar Electrical Systems was a pleasure to work with from start to finish! When going through the process, talking to different members of the team, I could see why they`ve got such a great reputation. Everyone was so kind, informative and helpful. I will be referring friends and co-workers to Solar Electrical Systems whenever possible because I think they did such an excellent job with my house. I can`t wait to get my bill in the mail now. How many people can say that ?

We have not had follow-up meeting that was suppose to occur to describe system, how it works etc. and hand off manuals and/or booklets. I would like the follow-up meeting to have occurred by now

biggest problem coordinating with DWP - may have been DWP`s issue and not installer`s no problem with permits and rebates - problem coordinating scheduling with DWP about final inspections and installation of new meter

I believe the system WILL NOT perform to what I was promised, since they changed the orientation of the array. I do not think it can produce the 80-85% of my power that the sales person assured me it would.They changed the installation method and direction the PV panels would face without communicating it correctly. The installation crew however did a very detailed and professional installation. The Office staff did a good job with the rebate paperwork and it appears seamless. We will need to wait and see once the solstice moves up, it appears to be only covering about 45% from the readings on the Solar vs. Net Meter I have concerns on the engineering side,and the project manager they assigned to this job did a poor job of communication, I think he lacks proper communication skills, and did not like being questioned on the engineering. His assistant Dena however was very good. They did a excellent job on the permits, and the rebate process. and the installation crew was very professional. Due to Dena, and the installation crew I would recommend them again, however I would warn the person to double check the facts and details to insure you get what you were promised.

The on site work crew was great,had no problems.

I cannot find fault with anything that was done to achieve our solar installation. However I would like some information (prefer printed) on how to interpret the box installed on the side of my house!

Total cost was net of the purchase incentives but gross for the tax credit. Without both the system would be far too expensive.

Solar Electrical Systems exceeded our expectations in every regard. We would strongly recommend Solar Electrical Systems to anyone who might ask for our opinion.

System capacity was underdesigned- scheduling and dispatch NEVER communicated when a work crew was to arrive (SURPRISE!!!), bill for city permit was 350% of estimated, final instruction and documentation packet is currently three weeks overdue and counting....

The on-site contractor did an excellent job from start to finish. Our original contact did a terrible job of explaining roof work that would also be necessary. After the job was well underway, we found out that we needed to hire a roofer and spend an additional $ 7,000 for the job to be completed. This was a huge oversight. I received three separate emails explaining how I was expected to pay for the work, but not a single oral or written communication about needing to hire a roofer for a fairly big job. I found out that a roofer was needed from the job supervisor who knocked on my door to ask me what time my roofer would be starting the next day. That`s when and how I learned that it wasn`t a turnkey job. Very bad form. This web site didn`t let me check the options above. I chose to go with solar power because of science journals and environmental stories in print, on television, and on the internet.

They did an excellent job and I have recommended them to friends.

Every person from SES that we have dealt with, from the sales rep, to the contract person, to the installers, to the owner of the company, have been very professional, courteous, knowledgeable, and helpful. We highly recommend them.

Solar Electric contacted us about the AQMD grant and did all the paperwork for that grant. Because of that we went with Solar Electric and upped the size of our system considerably. Without that letter we would have gotten a smaller system through another vendor and spent more out of pocket.

Installation crew was outstanding. Easily the best contractor experience Ive ever had.

well done. Waiting for first electric bill. Ive read about alternative power for years and , after our friends installed a solar system, i then believed that it was practical on a single family home. Yearas ago when I attended a panel on renewables, it was stated or implied that solar was only practical on homes just being built. When I was my friends installation, I knew that was no longer true.

The installer drilled a hole in the fascia board on the side of the garage which looks terrible. They re-routed the conduit but the hole is still unrepaired. I emailed a photo to Solar Electrical Systems many months ago.

Very professional and well organized. We made our decision based upon our sense of duty to the environment and reduction of the use of foreign oil to provide electrical power.

Highest praise for SES. Their installation crew was second to none - always came when they said they would, top quality work, patiently answered all of my many questions, and the guys really believe in and are passionate about the technology they are installing. I would recommend them without hesitation to anyone considering PV for their home.

I expect the system to be economically neutral over a 20 year period if electric rates inflate in the 3- 4% range. Without the DWP incentive program I would not have added PV because it would have doubled my cost over time.

Greg, Sheri, Dena amp Bear, whom I worked with, they made it flawless and it was the only smooth project on our new construction. I will recommend your company for all solar needs. Couldn ask for any better service. Thank you so much. Sincerely, Rhoda Kruger Do you mean my General Contractor or yours Your people handled everything. Like I said it made me very proud since I talked the owner into your company. I did my research on the internet, with 5 different companies.

Do NOT even think of installing a REBATED PV system without having somebody like SES navigate the process! My place currently uses 2 meters (will eventually be combined) and Edison did not initally want to approve the system. SES did all the necessary steps to make the project (and rebate) happen. The project flowed as expected, no surprises. If you are considering installing a rebated system be advised it takes time. I started talking with SES in late July and final installation and permit was finally signed off first of December. Delays were not the result of SES, they kept moving the prosess along, they kept me informed of obstacles. Actual installation was only 3-4 days everything else takes forever. A PV system is NOT a cheap thing to do. I do not really beleive that the `payoff` (even a break even) will occur for a LONG, long time. There are probably much better ways to spend `remodeling dollars` that payoff quicker and at a higher rate. I did it out of a sense of citizenship and doing the `right thing` regardless of the cost. Only when production goes up will the price come down. The national conversion to Solar energy must have economic incentives to make it pallatable. Hummm...what would happen if all new construction were required to install some type of solar power? That would change things quickly.

My homeowner`s association is threatening to penalize me unless I provide them with documention stating that there were no other color or mounting options available that would have obscured the PV panels without significantly raising the cost of reducing efficiency. Solar Electrical Systems agreed to produce this documentation but has been slow to do so. The process continues to drag on.

These folks are a class act. I have already referred many to them for systems. I`m into simplicity and control costs in my retirement years. This takes away an unpredictable and growing cost--energy. Recent increases suggest that is a good decision. Marketing on that basis would be effective to many.

It would be helpfull if you visit the job site couple of weeks prior to installation so that the owner can prepare what ever he need tp prepare. in my case the house was seen via the internet and no one told me where the unit goes and in my case I cut the wrong tree and when the unit was installed I had to cut the `right` tree so if some one whould have visited my home prior to instolation that could have been avoided!!!

price of sub contracted roofing rose after initial contract.

Every step of the process from the estimate to the final installation to the inspectsion has been flawless. The staff, from the office staff through to the subcontractors has been expert and available. I would highly recommend this company to anybody interested in installing a PV system in there home or business. I was most spurred on to install a renewable energy system by seeing the Al Gore documentary `An Inconvenient Truth` which sent me over the edge that I was balancing on anyway with respect to installing a PV system in our home.

Santa Barbara County is notorious for putting up permitting roadblocks and that proved to be true in our case. However, Solar Electrical Systems and their permitting specialist dealt with this beautifully and now our meter is `running backward.`