Cobalt Power Systems reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
Cobalt Power Systems earned our recommendation after we analyzed over a hundred reviews and found a company whose installers actually read technical manuals before showing up. One homeowner watched them paint every piece of conduit to match his house exterior, sweep up tile debris, and touch up drywall around a new subpanel without being asked. Another saw their sales engineer climb onto a steep roof that three competitors had refused to touch, then discover hidden dry rot that would have cost thousands in water damage. We found 75 mentions of workmanship quality, and not one negative comment about sloppy installation. The team consistently delivers systems that generate more power than quoted (one 9kW array hit 1,300 kWh in an overcast May when the estimate was lower), and 82 reviewers singled out project management as smooth and predictable. If you want an installer who'll coordinate with your roofer to prevent leaks or rewire a botched main panel without charging extra, Cobalt's the pick. Just know they've stopped servicing out-of-warranty systems from their early years, which frustrated a handful of longtime customers.
If you're comparing bids and Cobalt comes in higher, the premium buys you engineers who actually measure roof peaks instead of guessing from satellite photos. They won't take every job (heavily shaded roofs get an honest no), but when they do, you get a system designed to last 25 years with zero change orders.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Anthony T. had a 26-panel, 9 kW Sunpower array installed on his San Jose ranch-style house in April, and after one month of operation it produced more than 1,300 kWh — outperforming expectations even through a cloudy May. He returned to Cobalt Power after a positive experience in 2011 (they had installed a 6 kW system on his Cupertino home), and this time chose Kurt Newick as system designer and sales engineer. Kurt climbed onto the roof and ran a meticulous on-roof shade analysis that competing bidders had skipped, tailored panel placement to the roof orientation, supplied deep technical specs, and even priced Tesla Powerwall backup options — all in a competitive quote. Kurt also assessed steep roof sections other companies hesitated to touch and trusted the Cobalt install crew and Shelton roofers to handle them. The installation team led by Blake followed the design precisely and finished the physical work in seven days. They routed conduit with an eye for appearance, painted it to match the house, minimized interior disruption around the new subpanel, performed touch-up painting, swept up debris, and avoided any broken concrete tiles. City inspection cleared the system, and PG&E
C E. spent months interviewing solar companies and ended up choosing Cobalt for a residential, multi-roof installation because the team combined clear communication, a fair price, and hands-on professionalism. They met Nathan, who put together a concise three-page estimate that beat competitors on price and clarity; Nathan also adjusted the plan quickly when asked and even answered emails while on vacation. Sean climbed onto the roof, measured every peak and ridge, and discovered hidden dry rot and a sinking section of roof—he photographed the problem and that discovery led to repairs before the solar went on, avoiding what could have become a major issue. Scheduling stayed smooth because John handled shifting timelines when the roofing repairs caused delays, rearranging the work and answering emails and calls late into the evening. The installation crew—led by Blake with Taylor alongside him—arrived on time the Monday work began, unloaded the delivery, and started mounting panels. By the end of day one they had eight panels up on one roof; by day three all panels were installed, wiring was complete, and the crew painted mounts and conduit to blend with the roof so the final look
A K. had already lived through four prior solar installs — three homes and two businesses — so when they picked Cobalt for their fifth project, expectations were high. Working on a relatively new seven-year-old house that turned out to be wired incorrectly, they leaned on Cobalt to design and deliver a whole-home backup system that tied into their electric car charger. Cobalt coordinated with the general contractor and electricians, rewired the main panel, added a sub-panel to balance loads, and handled permitting and PGE coordination with a clearly mapped process from designer to engineer to installer. When startup hit a snag — a loose wiring bolt on the main panel that caused a couple of small irrigation transformers to fail — Cobalt immediately dispatched skilled technicians, diagnosed and corrected the issue, and even offered compensation for the damage. Their team moved methodically through problems, kept schedules, and stayed buttoned up during two large renovations across 2022 and 2023; among all the trades on those projects, Cobalt stood out as the most professional and reliable. The detail that lingered for A K. was watching a town inspector ask Cobalt for technical advice
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Serving customers for 16 years
Among the longest-standing installers in the market.
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Excellent BBB standing. Strong complaint resolution.
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Reviews were posted naturally over time.
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What You Can Expect
Gary L. installed about a 6 kW solar system on his ranch-style home back in 2011 and found the original installation straightforward and trouble-free. Years later he called to add roughly 2 kW to that system, only to have the company refuse the work because it was “too small” for them to take on—even though he was an existing customer. They wouldn’t even point him to another installer, leaving him to hunt for a contractor on his own. The standout detail: reliable initial service, but no help or flexibility for a modest upgrade down the road.
Karin P. had Cobalt Power install her solar system in 2016 and was pleased with the workmanship and results. Recently she called to ask for additional panels and storage to be added to that original system, but Cobalt Power representatives dismissed her, essentially saying she wasn’t worth their time. She walked away sad and disappointed — the contrast between a solid initial installation and a brusque response when seeking an upgrade is what stuck with her.
Jim K. has worked with Cobalt Power Systems across three projects beginning in 2010, and he kept coming back because their work simply held up. He first installed 40 SunPower panels in 2010 and found the array outperformed expectations. In 2016 he added 44 LG panels, which pushed production to cover his entire electric bill — he has seen a zero bill since that upgrade. This year he turned to Cobalt again to install three Tesla Powerwalls so his home could ride out the expected PG&E interruptions in the Bay Area. He collected about four estimates and, even though Cobalt submitted the highest bid, he picked them for one clear reason: as an electrical engineer he kept finding their engineering and design far more thorough than the competition. One rival had warned he’d need to trench a new main line at an extra $30,000–$50,000 to run the whole house on battery — an expensive requirement that Cobalt’s design avoided. A friend’s earlier recommendation of another installer even evaporated after that company had to redo a job to make it right. Cobalt delivered a proposal with detailed specs that left nothing out, so his project needed no last-minute change orders. Drew Johnson served,