Review for Energy Service Partners (ESP)

Office location: 970 W 190th St #302, Torrance CA, 90502

01/16/2024
Alex Alvarez Sacramento, CA

Don’t do it! Scam

After 6 years of averaging $250-300/month for SMUD (electric) and PG&E (Gas) I decided to go Solar. I got many quotes that ranged from 30k-60k, but I ended up going with ESP for 2 reasons, the sales rep was a family friend and they had this https://www.joinespservices.com/premier_plan/ which specifically lists “Performance Guarantee” and states “Our team will identify any issues with the system within 30 days of the issue occurring. If the issue is not caught within that time, we will pay for actual production that was lost during downtime, based on historic data and/or comparable panels in system performance.”. In addition, Jimmy personally promised to take care of me no matter what. I would never pay another electric bill, in fact SMUD would cut me an annual check for energy they used from me! I would also get 16k back from my taxes if I hurried up and pulled the trigger. So, I did. Biggest mistake of my life. The installation was ok, they came and did it within a few weeks of signing, but they left tools and nails all over my roof that caused gutter problems. They did not paint match anything like they promised. Then they FAILED the SMUD inspection, and it took 6 months for them to correct the problem to get it turned on. I ended up signing 2 contracts. The first one guaranteed production of 13902 kWh, but right before my scheduled install my family friend Jimmy told me I had to sign an updated one that guaranteed 10,493 kWh. Jimmy explained this was due to tree shading, but not to worry the original guarantee offset my usage by 107%, this change is just what they will guarantee 99% of my usage, but in reality, the system produces much more than the guarantee. Finally gets turned on. Never got the conduit paint matched, they never came to clean up their tools and nails and now my panels have been sitting up there for 6 months. I request my free annual cleaning included in the premier package. They said no it hasn’t been a year, I had to fight with them tooth and nail to get them to do this. I did not get my tax credit. It was differed to the 2024 tax season and there is no actual guarantee you will get any tax credit. I financed the solar, so the total amount is over $75k. I paid way more because of the guarantees, annual cleaning and that I had this family friend Jimmy I could rely on. 2-4 months in I am concerned. My SMUD bills have been over $100 month PLUS my $200 dollar solar payment. Jimmy starts reimbursing me out of his own pocket for my SMUD bills while he tries to figure out what is going on. He promises to get me a solar battery at cost which would offset the SMUD bills and I would get a rebate. I am not ok with this because the deal was no more electric bills. THAT’S WHY I AM PAYING 75K!!! I START PUSHING HARDER TO GET ANSWERS, Jimmy disappears – fled CA. I still have the contract that guarantees my system will at least produce 10,493 kWh, I check with SMUD and for 7 months I have average production of 716 kWh. 716 x 12 = 8592. I call, email, threaten to report ESP to the BBB – nothing. They just say my system is producing and ignore me. I paid 75k for this guarantee and “premier package” and it was all lies. Photos below. I am paying more for electricity on Solar than I was before spending 75k to go Solar. I am in the process of filing with the BBB and speaking to consumer attorneys. Please contact me if you are in the same boat and we can take down this corrupt company. aalvarezspam@gmail.com