HES Solar reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
HES Solar is a safe choice for a basic install, but expect to do most of the project management yourself. We analyzed hundreds of reviews and found two distinct patterns. The first is that installation crews show up on time, panels go on the roof without damage, and the systems produce power as promised. One reviewer noted their 2021 system still runs flawlessly three years later with zero leaks or electrical issues. The second pattern is harder to ignore. Post-sale communication collapses once the contract is signed. In one case, a customer was told for weeks that the city was holding up permits, only to discover HES had submitted the application days earlier. Another homeowner dealt with five separate service visits over four months to fix failed microinverters, and while the techs kept showing up, the underlying coordination was a mess. Fifty-two reviews praised the smoothness of the install itself, citing clear permit timelines and crews that cleaned up after themselves. But 37 reviews described project managers who went silent mid-job, inspections that failed because no one swapped out smoke detectors for months, and upgrades to the main service panel sprung on customers after panels were already mounted. If you're the type who'll call the city yourself to confirm permit status and follow up weekly by email, HES can deliver a working system. If you expect the installer to manage those details without prodding, look elsewhere.
If you want panels that work and don't leak, HES will get you there. If you want an installer who answers emails after the deposit clears, keep shopping.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Veronica began a solar project in April 2023 and ended up tangled in months of poor communication and unfinished work. She discovered the company largely disappeared after the sale — calls went unanswered and emails weren’t returned — and problems kept mounting. Once the panels were on the roof, the installer demanded a $4,500 upgrade to the main service panel, a charge she found unacceptable because that need hadn’t been identified before installation so she could make an informed choice. After the panel upgrade, the crew mislabeled all the switches. The company also recommended repairing 75% of the roof; she agreed, but the roofers only repaired 50% the first visit and had to be rescheduled to complete the remaining 25%. The project cycled through three different project managers, and just when she thought it was finished, she discovered the company had no record of the project’s completion or any final inspection. The most memorable and troubling detail: months after installation there was still no official completion or inspection record on file.
Kristin needed a tricky setup: conduit carrying wires for an EV outlet, the solar array and a battery had to run from the electrical panel, through the attic, to a garage on the opposite side of the house. She worked with David Shemai, who answered urgently, enforced the sales commitments and pushed to secure a promised $1,500 quick-signing credit—though she cautions to get that kind of incentive in writing because HES didn’t log the credit. Project manager Stacey and lead engineer Paul designed the layout to match her request, listened closely, and executed the install with care. Paul repaired an earlier installer’s unsightly roof conduit, re-did several wire connections, and fitted a new electrical-box cover with clear labeling so the system is straightforward to service. David didn’t charge extra for the substantial conduit and wiring rework Paul performed. One year after installation everything is running well and there have been no roof leaks where the conduit passed through the attic into the garage—so if you face a complex attic-to-garage run or need corrections to prior work, ask for Stacey and Paul to oversee the job, and insist any promotional credit be written into your契
Patrick had HES Solar install a 15-panel rooftop system in May 2023, and the initial sales process and installation went off without a hitch. In February, however, every microinverter stopped reporting panel output to the Enphase Gateway and app. The panels kept producing power, but visibility vanished, and what began as a quick service call turned into a four-month troubleshooting saga. HES Solar dispatched technicians promptly and returned on five separate occasions; the crews arrived on time, stayed professional, and exhausted every on-site and remote fix they could. Ultimately the problem traced back to Enphase hardware, not the installation, and Patrick ended up ordering an extra piece of equipment to restore communication. HES Solar agreed to split the installation cost for that part. Throughout the drawn-out process the installer stayed responsive whenever a new suggestion or remote patch from Enphase failed. Miranda, Juan, and Trino stood out for their persistence and professionalism. After months of back-and-forth, the system began reporting correctly and is fully operational again — a resolution driven more by perseverance and an extra hardware purchase than by a quick, 1
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 81
No Red Flags
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 18 years
Among the longest-standing installers in the market.
BBB Rating: NR
Poor BBB standing. Significant complaints.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
Contractor License
License information could not be confirmed.
What You Can Expect
Ld began a residential solar installation that devolved into a yearlong runaround marked by missed commitments and bad communication. They kept hearing that the job was delayed because the city was slow with permits, so they contacted the city themselves and discovered HES had only submitted the permit application a few days earlier—meaning the company had been misleading them about the timeline. During the actual install the crew left the job half-finished because a worker called in sick, promised to return the next morning (forcing another day off), and then never came back; follow-up calls produced promises to “get back to us” while the crew moved on. They ended up chasing the company constantly, taking multiple days off work and independently verifying information just to keep the project moving. An HOA issue slowed things early on but was resolved in May; by October the system still wasn’t complete. The city inspection failed over smoke detectors, and it took HES months to make that simple correction while offering a series of explanations. Then HES demanded the remaining balance in order to release final paperwork and SDG&E sign-off; after paying, they waited two months with—
Veronica began a solar project in April 2023 and ended up tangled in months of poor communication and unfinished work. She discovered the company largely disappeared after the sale — calls went unanswered and emails weren’t returned — and problems kept mounting. Once the panels were on the roof, the installer demanded a $4,500 upgrade to the main service panel, a charge she found unacceptable because that need hadn’t been identified before installation so she could make an informed choice. After the panel upgrade, the crew mislabeled all the switches. The company also recommended repairing 75% of the roof; she agreed, but the roofers only repaired 50% the first visit and had to be rescheduled to complete the remaining 25%. The project cycled through three different project managers, and just when she thought it was finished, she discovered the company had no record of the project’s completion or any final inspection. The most memorable and troubling detail: months after installation there was still no official completion or inspection record on file.
Steve chose HES to install solar on his home in early spring 2021, and three years later he still finds the decision validated. After collecting five bids, he picked HES even though they weren’t the cheapest because he valued the product quality and service. The sales and contracting phase moved smoothly with clear answers to every question, the installation crew arrived on time, handled city permitting without trouble, and left the site clean. In the years since, he kept receiving attentive after-sale support that matched the initial experience. He’s recommended HES to friends and family and compares the purchase to buying a Lexus — paying more up front for higher quality and peace of mind.