Review for Capstone Solar

Office location: 8195 166th Avenue SUITE 100, Redmond WA, 98052

12/18/2022
Thomas Lakebay, WA

Failure to plan, Failure to design, Failure to do diligent work

Capstone Review Investment in Solar Energy is a difficult and financially heavy burden. It was only after deep discussion and review that my wife and I decided to invest in future in regards to Solar Energy. We came across Capstone during a Home Show at the Tacoma Dome and were impressed at the time. After talking to Capstone’s representative at our home, we felt that Capstone was going to be a good call but, oh were we WRONG. At the end of March 2022, we committed and removed the funds for the Solar system from our retirement accounts. Knowing this would reduce our retirement income, but hopefully be offset by having a greatly reduced monthly electrical bill. After receiving 65% down for the solar system Capstone Solar, set about designing and installing the solar system for our home. The design of the system went quickly within a month we had the solar system design. Then we were informed at first that the system should be installed between May and June. Then the months changed July-August, October-November, then finally December. Capstone representatives came out three times, the first being the “sales” visit. The second was the assessment of the land for design purposes, a technician used a drone to assess with photos, video, and GPS the land. Then finally the third time, when a Capstone Representative came out to make final measurements and make ground markings for the installation. Then on December 5, 2022, the install crew was to arrive and start the installation. Here is the timeline for that day: 0820 – The excavator is delivered by a rental company 0930- Equipment truck arrives with one worker driving. 1000 -1015 - A second and third workers arrive. At this time they look at the land and do some measurements, checking the access to the property for electrical installation. However, they do not do anything else because the escalator operator has not arrived to clear the property and dig the electrical trench. 1215 – The excavator operator arrives and starts clearing the land for the installation of the solar system. 1530 – All the workers and the excavator operator are reviewing plans and equipment to discover that the initial and follow-up surveys did not take into account the lay of the land for the installation of the Solar Panels. It was discovered that the solar panel mounting poles would not work. We are informed that the design where the Solar panels were to go will not work due to the slope of the land. Even after Capstone had representatives come out twice to assess the land and solar panel placement. 1600 – Capstone workers start packing up to depart. The Capstone on-ground supervisor informs me that designers on the east coast have been informed, they should have the issue redesigned by tomorrow and the crew should be back out around 0930 am the next day. December 6, 2022 0806 – I received a call from a Capstone Representative informing me that the Solar system has to be redesigned and the install crew would need to reschedule installation for the next week. Which is the week we were planning on going on vacation. I informed the Capstone Representative what the on-ground supervisor had told me the day before. 0900 – I received a call from a Capstone Representative informing me that the Solar System has to be redesigned, and the install crew would not be back today. Also, the excavator rental company picked up the excavator machine at 0845. 1400 – I receive a call from a Capstone Representative informing me that the company could not go forward with the project. They informed me the solar system would have to be fully redesigned, to include major landscaping, which also meant a requote of the price of the solar system. However, Capstone informed us that they prefer to cancel the project and provide a full refund of the funds paid and are sorry about the length of time it got to this point. December 7, 2022 1000 A Capstone representative called me (after I texted asking them to). They informed me that a Capstone accounting representative would call today to arrange the full refund. No Capstone accounting representative contacted me on this day. Cost to us, 8 months of wasted time. Lost retirement income, lost interest on retirement funds, had to pay 20% tax on funds removed from retirement, major stress throughout the year, and at this time we do not know the impact on taxes, loss of possible solar federal and state discounts, this does not include the preparation work of removing landscaping plants, moving fences. Oh, and they left the hillside bare down the dirt and a large bush pile for us to deal with. All of this tells me that Capstone Solar failed to do diligent work/research in preparing the estimate for our solar system. Failed diligent work/research on scheduling installation of the solar system. Failed to do diligent work/research in preparing for the installation of the Solar system. A very small example: On installation day December 5, 2022: One employee showed up at 0930, two more at 1000, then the fourth at 1200. They stayed till 1600. That equals 16.5 man-hours. What did they accomplish? Clearing of bush approximately 30 yards x 20 yards. That is all! No trench work, no electrical work. Now we have a large bald area of land on the side of the hill, with mud tracks. We would not recommend Capstone Solar for any solar installation and would highly discourage anyone to contact even for an estimate after this experience. Just look at the time, the cost, how they left the situation, and just nothing to say “their sorry”. WOW.