Reviews by jillshill

Maryland Solar Solutions

I conducted a nearly three year review of solar companies, alternatives, etc. I met with 9 different solar companies (3 of which are no longer in business). I compared leasing to buying. Leasing was not for me because in addition to wanting to reduce my carbon footprint, I wanted the greater savings and tax benefits you get from purchasing a system.

I selected Maryland Solar Solutions, Inc (MSSI) to handle my solar installation. I KNOW I chose the best company! I signed the contract and the design, permitting, installation and inspections were completed in 37 days! My net meter from PEPCO was installed one week later. This was extraordinarily fast ... not something that was anticipated but sure am happy it was that fast!

What makes MSSI stand out from the rest is they are as interested in the success of your individual system as you are. It is a small, woman-owned Maryland company. The owner, Colette Hayward, was present from the initial meeting and throughout the installation where she was totally hands-on, working side-by-side with her employees installing the panels, wiring the boxes along with the electricians, checking the condition of the panels when they were delivered, and doing the walk-throughs during each county inspection. She was one of the first in this area to get her certification -- only now are many companies getting someone certified because now it is required. Colette did it because she felt it was important ... and did it long before it was required. She was one of only three contractors that went on my roof during our initial meeting, where she took several readings to see what system would work best and estimate the output to provide an educated guess regarding length of time until the system would pay for itself. She was the ONLY contractor who went into my attic space (not an actual attic but the kind you crawl through) to see what the support construction is and if there were any "surprises". (While up there she discovered a serious electrical hazard that could have been disastrous. I immediately had an electrician correct it!) Colette was the ONLY contractor who discussed moving vents in my roof, allowing for more panels to be installed and the layout being more aesthetically pleasing. Colette was also the ONLY contractor who recommended a "critter guard" to protect the wiring of the panels on the roof from being chewed up by squirrels or other critters. She learned about this the hard way -- when critters chewed up the wires on the solar panels on her own home! I could go on and on about what a terrific company MSSI is! They are heads and shoulders better than all of the other companies I met with. (No, I am NOT related to them. I found them through Angie's List when looking up reviews of other companies I had met with.)

I have been making my own electric for two weeks. For this time period I will be billed only 25% of my home's electric usage. That is a 75% savings -- and that was with many days of rain and heavy clouds! Of course this won't be the norm for the entire year, with less daytime hours in the winter, more use of air conditioning in July and Auguest, etc.. But my outdoor pool has been open the entire time so the usage has included running the pool filters 12 hrs a day, the cleaning equipment several hours a day, etc.. It is a great start and a very good sign! My panels don't have a southern exposure, which would make the panels even more efficient. I have huge trees that would not allow for that configuration. Instead the panels are on sloping (not steep) roofs facing east and west.

If you want to work with a solar contractor that is professional, highly knowledgeable and incredibly trustworthy .... then hire MSSI! It has been a total pleasure working with them ... and I am thrilled with the job they did for me! Thank you to those on Angie's List that said such great (and accurate!) things about Colette Hayward that I just HAD TO have her come discuss my project ... when I thought I had already seen enough companies and was not looking to add another. I am SURE glad I did!... read more

Type: Residential Electric

Reviewed: 07/07/2013