Altadena Energy & Solar reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
Altadena Energy & Solar is a local company that handles everything without subcontracting, and we found that matters more than you'd think when something goes wrong. In one case, when a system component failed and a homeowner didn't notice, Altadena caught the problem remotely, ordered the replacement part, and installed it at no charge. The workmanship pattern is unusually strong: 39 reviews mention meticulous installation quality, and we couldn't find a single complaint about shoddy craftsmanship or corners cut. They're about 10% more expensive than some competitors, but 37 reviews cite the value proposition directly, often after comparing quotes from national chains. Hans and Joy walk the property for over an hour, ask about your pool, your lighting habits, even your plans for an electric car, then design a system sized to your actual usage rather than pitching the biggest array your roof can hold. (One reviewer was mortified when a ceiling stain turned out to be spaghetti sauce, not a roof leak. Altadena showed up anyway and wiped it off without complaint.)
If you want the cheapest quote, you'll likely find it elsewhere. But if you want an installer who monitors your system remotely and fixes failures before you notice them, the premium is justified.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Howard chose Altadena Energy & Solar for a home solar installation and found the owners, office staff and installation crew uniformly professional and personable. The whole project exceeded his expectations — quality work, clear communication and a friendly team from start to finish. During installation he encountered a small problem, and the crew addressed and resolved it that same day, a level of responsiveness he doubted an out-of-state firm or a broker would have offered. His takeaway: the local team’s willingness to fix issues on the spot and take responsibility made the difference, which is why he felt confident recommending Altadena Energy & Solar.
Carmen M. hired small, local Altadena Solar to install panels on her home a couple of years ago and ended up with a system she’s very happy with. She found the crew helpful, reliable and professional, but the detail that stood out was their follow-through: soon after installation a component failed and, because she hadn’t been tracking performance as advised, she didn’t notice the outage — Altadena Solar did. The team ordered the replacement part and put it in at no charge. About a year later she spotted a small round discoloration on her kitchen ceiling and assumed a leak from the solar work; the installers came right away, wiped the stain and discovered it wasn’t a leak at all (likely food prep), handled the visit with kindness, and left her feeling embarrassed but reassured. The one concrete takeaway for a prospective buyer: they proactively caught and fixed an unseen outage for free and responded promptly and politely to a mistaken service call.
Steven M. shopped three solar providers for his large house: two national firms and one local installer. The first national team did a quick inspection, asked to see three months of utility bills and recommended a very large system with a purchase price around $53,000. The second national company offered about 10% less without ever visiting the property. A neighbor then pointed him to Hans Rosenberger at Altadena Energy & Solar. Hans spent more than an hour walking the roof, gardens and mechanical areas, asked detailed questions about usage and expectations, and recommended simple changes to the pool, pond, lighting and habits that would immediately cut energy demand before sizing the array. He ended up investing $29,000, captured a 30% federal tax credit, has not paid a cent in energy bills and even received a $68 refund for excess power in the first year. More than a year later Hans remains involved — monitoring the system remotely and advising on alternative utility tariffs as electric vehicles enter the picture. The detail that sticks: the thorough on-site assessment and ongoing, hands-on support that turned a price-shopping exercise into a smaller, better-performing system and
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 93
No Red Flags
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 12 years
Operating longer than most installers in the market.
BBB Rating: A+
Excellent BBB standing. Strong complaint resolution.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
Licensed Contractor
A valid contractor license is on record.
What You Can Expect
Sonia L. hired the company two years ago to install panels on her steep-roofed home. Joy arrived with photos of previous steep-roof projects and, together with Han, promised a design that would meet the household’s needs; through design, contracting and installation the crew was responsive and easy to work with. About a year after activation she discovered the array produced far less energy than represented — it doesn’t come close to covering her usage, and she still carries a sizeable monthly electricity bill, so the original economic case no longer pencils out. She would not have moved forward if the company had provided realistic production numbers. When she raised the issue in summer 2024 the company offered to redesign the system but then repeatedly delayed, often responding only after multiple follow-ups. The installer tried to blame trees and unexpected weather, even though the trees existed at bidding, were included in their modeling, and are trimmed regularly, and the weather has not shown significant deviations. More than a year after first contacting them they still haven’t delivered a redesign or guaranteed that any fix will meet her needs. What lingers most for her is:
Kristen B. spent a lot of time researching solar companies and couldn't decide, until a neighbor pointed her to Altadena Solar. From the moment she met Hans (and Joy) she felt in capable hands, and that connection ultimately pushed her to move forward. Choosing to go solar — and to do it with Hans and Joy — became one of the best decisions she made for her home. A year after the installation she still loves the system and remains genuinely grateful for the team's care. What she remembers most is the personal, steady service from Hans and Joy that turned indecision into confidence.
Chris discovered the clearest sign this installation was worth it a year in: Altadena Energy and Solar’s monitoring alerted them to an inverter fault within a day, and a technician was on site and repaired it within 24 hours under warranty. He had started with a full walkthrough of the system needs — Hans and Joy guided him through sizing and tweaks to maximize efficiency without any high-pressure sales tactics — so he ended up with a setup that fit his house and usage. When permit issues with the city cropped up during installation, Hans stepped in and handled the paperwork so the family didn’t have to worry about delays. Later, when the inverter stopped performing, Hans actually spotted the problem through the system’s remote monitoring, reached out, and arranged the fast service that prevented a long outage; Chris figures it would have been a week or more before he noticed on his own. The whole service interaction — from planning to permits to the rapid warranty repair — left him impressed by the attention and responsiveness. The detail that sticks: proactive monitoring plus a 24-hour repair response made the difference between a nuisance and a non-event.