Occidental Power reviews

Russell W. had an Enphase-microinverter solar system installed through Occidental and, after another two years with the system, experienced three more microinverter failures. He blamed the manufacturer rather than Occidental, but he leaned on the company repeatedly as problems cropped up. Occidental — and Greg in particular — kept troubleshooting, arranging repairs, and doing whatever was needed to keep the panels running, repeatedly stepping in well beyond what you'd expect when the fault lay with the MFG. Russell hopes Enphase will produce a long-term fix so the cycle stops, but what stayed with him was that when hardware failed again and again, Occidental’s hands-on, persistent support kept his system working.

Carl brought Occidental Power in during a major remodel in 2007 to install a just-over-4 kW solar array on his home. They worked closely with him to get the layout and output optimized, and the installation went smoothly with no problems. A few years later he noticed production dipping; Occidental investigated, pinpointed a failed inverter, and dealt directly with the manufacturer to secure a warranty replacement at no cost. By 2014 his total electricity bill for the year had dropped to $3.95 — a concrete sign that the system and the company’s support delivered long-term value.

Alex B. had Occidental install a residential solar system eleven years ago and, after a smooth start, even recommended them to friends in San Francisco. He experienced a steady decline beginning about three years ago when the system’s inverters started failing—first one, then two, and eventually half a dozen—and getting replacements turned into a battle; Occidental did swap some units, but only after significant delay. This summer more inverters failed, and his emails went unanswered. Over the past two months he reached out four times with no response, despite remembering a multi-year warranty that should cover these failures. What began with solid work from Greg and Keith fell apart into long waits and silence, leaving him feeling abandoned and unable to access the warranty. He can no longer recommend the company; the image that sticks is four unanswered outreach attempts in two months while a still-active warranty sits unused.

Helene had Occidental install solar panels on her home about 3½ years ago and still considers the system a smart investment. The installation went smoothly, and when a component recently stopped working, Occidental showed up and fixed it before she even picked up the phone. She appreciated the company’s follow-through and the friendly, professional team she dealt with. What stuck with her most was that unexpected service visit — the company didn’t wait for a complaint, they took care of the problem.

Seven years ago this homeowner went with Oxy after they delivered the best bid and a careful plan for a large rooftop array — the crew even helped secure a Fire Department variance so the system could be maximized. Oxy kept them updated through every phase, and the installation sailed through final inspection in about five minutes. This week the array’s capacity suddenly dropped to roughly half, so they placed a troubleshooting call. The original lead installer returned, climbed onto the roof, and within seconds isolated the fault: an in-line cable under a panel had come unplugged, likely after raccoons tumbled beneath the modules. He reconnected the cable, tucked other wires neatly out of the way, rinsed the panels, and restored full output that same day. The most memorable detail for them was that the same technician who designed and installed the system personally diagnosed and fixed the problem on the roof — a hands-on follow-up that got the array back to full power immediately.

In October 2013 Jim G. hired Occidental Power to design and install a purchased PV system for his Redwood City ranch-style home. He found the whole process smooth from the initial proposal to final inspection and commissioning. What stood out most was how the small team — Tor, Jay, Shane and Sarah — managed the project end-to-end: they recommended the right system size, performed a professional site evaluation, and refined the layout after listening to his concerns. They coordinated cleanly with his roofer and electrician, used high-quality materials, and executed workman-like installation. They also took care of permits and inspections so he never had to intervene, then followed up to confirm the system was operating correctly. He ended up with a properly commissioned system and a memorable level of hands-off, thorough project management.

Robert has worked with a small, well-established local solar company for more than 15 years and often contrasts their steady, community-rooted approach with bigger names like Solar City. He has dealt directly with General Manager Greg Kennedy throughout that time, and he trusts Greg’s knowledge and reliability. When a problem with a crew member popped up, Robert flagged it and Greg moved quickly to make it right. More recently, Robert worried about his aging system and Greg came out for an inspection — examined the array, answered questions, and refused to push unnecessary equipment. He even waived any fee for the visit and advice. What sticks with Robert is the combination of prompt problem-solving and no-pressure honesty: a longtime local manager who’ll fix issues and inspect an old system without trying to sell something he doesn’t need.

Yunny T. had a relatively small solar array installed about a year and a half ago on a home with limited usable roof space and discovered it produced more kilowatt‑hours over the past year than the household consumed. They watched Occidental install the panels quickly and handle all the permits, credits and paperwork, which made the entire process surprisingly easy. Customer service stayed responsive, efficient and helpful throughout, and the surplus generation has them seriously considering an electric car to use the extra energy and cut gasoline costs.

Karen V hired Occidental to install solar on her home in November 2021, a house just a block from the coast. During the install she caught the crew trying to use fasteners that were clearly marked as unsafe for coastal use, and then ran into repeated communication breakdowns—technicians showing up unannounced and a mistake in her email that sent her personal information to a stranger. About a year and a half later, when she asked Occidental for service, they repeatedly ignored her: two promised callbacks never happened and written requests went unanswered. She asked for a referral to an electrician familiar with solar; none came, so she hired an independent electrician who found an unsafe breaker in the solar box—Occidental refused to come inspect or fix it. A separate PG&E visit uncovered another problem: the crew had left a temporary connection in the main meter box instead of a permanent one. In the end she was left dealing with safety concerns and no support from the company, the most striking consequence being the temporary main-meter connection and unsafe breaker that outsiders had to identify.