Whidbey Sun & Wind

Cannot Recommend: The Bad Outweighs The Good

This is an updated review, which I submit after Kelly K's response to the review I left when this story just started. Kelly left out some details regarding the rest of the story. My land-based array was installed Sept. 2017. Adjustments that needed attention due to settling were promptly taken care of under warranty by an WSW employee, whom I called directly. On 9/26/19, I noticed a different problem, however. One of my modules was shattered. I saw no evidence of impact from any foreign object, and I assumed that the module was defective. A WSW employee came out the next day and agreed that there was no evidence of impact. It took over a week for Kelly to send another employee to take photos of the bad module on 10/7/19. That second employee also noted no evidence of impact. The photos were sent to John F., owner of Itek, for his approval of my warranty replacement for a defective module. ON 10/11/2019, I RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE FROM WSW THAT STATED MY WARRANTY HAD BEEN APPROVED. So, John Flanagan agreed that there was no evidence of impact, and he sent me a replacement for the defective module. On 10/22/19, the defective module was finally replaced with a new Itek module. ALMOST 2 WEEKS LATER, ON 11/5/19, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM KELLY SAYING THAT HE SUDDENLY HAD “EVIDENCE OF IMPACT” ON THE DEFECTIVE MODULE, AND HE WAS GOING TO SEND ME A BILL FOR TIME AND MATERIALS FOR THE REPLACEMENT. That is when I got upset and called the BBB and the WA State AG office. They were both interested in how Kelly would explain how he could charge me for a replacement that the manufacturer authorized under warranty and that he had replaced under warranty 2 weeks before. In trying to compel me to pay for the installed warranty replacement module, Kelly denied me my option to shop around for the best deal on a replacement. This was extortive behavior and a violation of my consumer rights. Kelly also had the replaced module in his possession for 13 days before he suddenly found "evidence of an impact.” This “evidence” was not seen by 2 WSW employees while the module was in my array; and, the manufacturer approved the warranty and sent the replacement based on photos of the module while it was in my array. After I stood up for my rights, Kelly backed down. Without any apology, Kelly said that WSW “will cover the cost of this replacement fully.” As far as the bad customer service during the month that it took to get the module replaced, Kelly has given his own excuses in his response. He conditionally apologized to me for his lousy customer service, and I accepted his half-hearted apology. The scene should have been over then, and I was ready to change my review to a positive one. Instead, Kelly came back and tried to charge me for a module weeks after my warranty was approved, and now he tries to make me look bad in his response to my review. Buyer beware.

Solar install by Whidbey Sun & Wind

Had 6.2 KW solar panel install at home on Whidbey Island. From informational meeting to estimate preparation to system installation and "how to" session, this company could not have been more responsive, professional, courteous and punctual. Everyone we had contact with seemed to enjoy their job and, as far as we could tell, excelled at it. They worked together to solve problems that arose before and during installation while working to meet our requests. Highest recommendation. Wish we could always find workers like this for the jobs we occasionally have around our house. Five out of five stars. Thank you.

Very Dependable and provided good value.

We highly recommend Whidbey Sun & Wind. We have had our solar panels operational now for one month. We have not had any problems what so ever and the very happy with the job done. The software is really nice and you can get a read on production throughout the day by panel and it is summarized very nicely. The production seems to be on track to meet our yearly goal ... although one month is not a long time. Very nice people to work with. They provided good value compared to the other bid.

Superb service

Overall superb service. Very personable, knowledgeable, reliable, reasonably priced, no time and pleasant to work with. I can highly recommend them.

Excellent design and install experience

Whidbey Sun & Wind did a thorough job with the design and build processes. They initially sent out an experienced designer who walked us through the options and all aspects of the system. The design was complicated by our house roof which is basically flat but slightly sloped for drainage. They came up with a good design using posts that attach to the roof joists and are integrated into the roofing membrane. They also presented options for panel manufacturers and came up with a design that took maximum advantage of the roof dimensions for maximum power output. Installation took 2 days and turned out well, particularly the welds to waterproof the post bases on the roof top. There was one delay in the project due to a vendor shipping the wrong part (outside Whidbey S&W's control) and there were some other faulty parts, but otherwise things went smoothly and there was good communication.

Great people, great work, good price

We got several estimates for the installation of a 9 Kw system with back up battery and Whidbey was the best price (by several thousand dollars) and included identical components. Their staff was informative and easy to work with. All of the work was done well and on schedule and, again they were always easy to work with. The system is now operational at the agreed price and we had nothing but positive interactions with Whidbey personnel in all respects. We are totally pleased with the experience.

These folks are great

They were super helpful and informative every step of the way. The crew that did the install was friendly and professional. I couldn’t believe how quickly they got the system up and running. I’m so happy to have the system producing power for me.

Great service and follow through

We had Whidbey Sun & Wind install a system for us in 2016 and added to it this year. It was thought that the PSE buy back program was over however they signed us up anyway just in case it extended. We are one of the last to be excepted into the program a big plus for us to help with the cost of installing the system. There was a problem with one of the parts they got a replacement and came out to install it as soon as it came in.

Great to work with

Their competitor wanted $250 just to look at our location and prepare a proposal. I couldn’t imagine asking a potential client to give me money in order to tell them what I could do for them. Whidbey S&W responded quickly, prepared a reasonable and thorough proposal in a few days. Their price was competitive, they are local and we felt they would be easy to work with.

On budget and on time working with roofers

Our solar setup isn't particularly big or fancy. The main challenge was the ability to work with roofers, scheduling and installing in the middle of a remodel. Flexibility and communication were key, the installation was successful, and our system is now generating very nicely.

Outstanding Company, Great Price, Great Service

We purchased a 9KW installation in November 2018, and have been delighted with it ever since. Paul Dickerson was helpful and always responsive, both pre- and post-sales. We had a lot of questions beforehand, and we always got a swift and helpful response, and even after the installation Paul and his team have continued their great service. Whidbey Sun and Wind do only limited work overtown (off-island) but for Whidbey, we can recommend them wholeheartedly. The overall cost of the work was noticeably lower than other companies we approached, and this may reflect the extra travel and expenses that off-island companies would incur, but in any case we feel we got a great installation from a long-established company that provides solid service.

Residential Installation South Whidbey Island

Whidbey Sun & Wind installed a 33-panel 10kW system on our home in November of 2018. Working with them was a pleasure from start to finish. During a free assessment, a specialist answered all my questions about net metering and incentives, and gave an honest opinion about the potential productivity for my site. The installation team was efficient, careful and professional. I feel I can call on the company for support at any time, though I haven't had to. The system is working great.

Goodwin Road

Outstanding from start to finish. The whole experience was great. Looking forward to expanding system in future with Whidbey Sun and Wind. Thanks for the professionalism and quality!

Solar Installation on Whidbey Island

The Whidbey Sun & Wind installation of 16 solar panels on our carport was excellent. Schedule objectives were met, the quality is excellent, and perhaps most important, working with the team at Whidbey Sun & Wind was seamless and pleasant. The hookup was completed actually ahead of schedule, the interface with the power company was handled well with minimal involvement by me. It is really nice to see us generating power even in the short winter months; next summer will be very productive. This was a five star experience in every sense of the word.

Review of solar panel system from Whidbey Sun and Wind

Whidbey Sun and Wind installed a 40 panel solar system on our newly constructed barn roof. They did an outstanding job from start to finish. They brought self-evident expertise and practical experience to the task from the first visit (estimating system performance and providing input into the design of the roof) to the final visit (system checkup, software installation, and system use training). The crews were obviously experienced, knowledgeable, and efficient. They did an orderly, well planned job of installation and wiring. Communication was excellent through the process and they responded to questions quickly and thoroughly. The system is just up and working and I could not be more pleased.

Residential Solar Panel

I thought the whole process was very professional and everybody was very courteous. The installation was very fast.

Solar installation

Excellent experience!

Good installation in complex situation

I live in a condo complex, where 7 of the 12 owners decided to install solar on our combined roof. Whidbey Sun and Wind did an excellent job with the installation, getting all 7 separate systems up and running with a minimum of disruption to the residents. The system has been in place for one Autumn month so far, and already by electric bill has dropped by 75%. Looking forward to getting credits in the Summer months.

Solar installation for the Lees, Unit 6, Clearwater Commons

The entire crew of Whidbey Sun & Wind were very professional, knowledgeable, very accommodating, worked efficiently, and bent over backwards to meet our expressed desires. I couldn't be more satisfied with our relationship.

Knowledgeable and professional

As property manager for a large estate, it is my duty to do due diligence in researching contractors and companies to work with. I am very pleased to have chosen Mark Anderson and his crew at Whidbey Sun & Wind. From the initial meeting to the constant and clear communication through all of the process, right down to the installation and completion, we have been greatly satisfied with the quality and professionalism of Whidbey Sun & Wind.

Excellent Experience from Start to Finish!

WSW is responsive, professional, and skilled. Our experience with them was excellent from first contact to the final "throwing of the switch." Highly recommend!

Top Notch Service

We went with the local company and hit it big. Whidbey Sun & Wind hit this one out of the park! Got our solar installed months ahead of schedule and went WAAAY out of their way to make it right and to make us pass inspection. Paul and his crew are so nice and really care about their work. It shows in the detail they put into each and every job. Look no further and go with these guys and gals as they are the best in the west. Thank you so much, now bring on the sun and lets start generating power!

Let the sun shine on

Adam at Whidbey Sun & Wind is terrifically responsive. We got a couple of estimates and their cost was the most competitive. I received all the information I needed and they even helped with coordinating aggregation of our two properties with Puget Sound Energy. Adam even took the time to explain their installation safety plans. Also their timing was excellent. They started and completed the installation a few days before we expected. The electrical inspection and PSE meter installation was also done before we expected. Whidbey Sun & Wind took the lead with both of those groups too. Their office staff and manager is very helpful in coordinating with these groups. I have already recommended Whidbey Sun & Wind to our neighbor and some colleagues at work. They did a great job!

Useless Bay Installation

We received a quick, over-the-phone estimate that told us the system would pay for itself in a reasonable amount of time and could supply all or most of our energy needs. We were then able to schedule an on-site assessment within a few weeks and the estimate came back within a few days after that. We scheduled the installation 2 months out, but when another installation was delayed we were contacted immediately, and we scheduled our installation within a couple of weeks. Adam from Whidbey Sun & Wind and his crew were efficient and did the installation in 2 days. Adam contacted both PSE and the State Inspector and that happened within days of the installation. We're now up and running and monitoring production online. Final price was the same as the estimate. Everything unfolded as Adam described; no surprises. We're happy that we've got a state-of-the-art system using locally sourced solar panels. We highly recommend Whidbey Sun & Wind.

SOLAR ON MARROWSTONE ISLAND

Great, personable service and quick installation and follow-up electronic/computer connections.