Progressive Energy Solutions reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
Progressive Energy Solutions earns praise for fast installs and responsive repairs, but its track record gets messy when anything goes wrong. We found 14 reviews accusing the owner of dishonesty, delayed refunds, and vanishing after contracts are signed. One customer discovered six panels not working and got told the owner "has trouble reaching the company that authorizes replacement because they put him on hold for hours." Another was pressured to sign a completion certificate before the job was done, then ghosted when requesting fixes. The company's BBB accreditation was revoked. On the bright side, workmanship scores well when projects go smoothly. We noticed 31 mentions of clean, professional installations, and one electrician named Thad gets called "a true craftsman" for panel work done in 2014. Post-sale support shows a similar split. One reviewer saved $600 on a gateway repair thanks to Dave's troubleshooting, but another couldn't get callbacks after artificial turf melted twice. If you're risk-averse, the pattern is clear: some customers get excellent service, others get legal threats and radio silence.
If you value predictable follow-through over rock-bottom pricing, this company's inconsistency is a dealbreaker. When things go right, installations are fast and neat. When they don't, you may spend months chasing refunds or repairs.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Peg discovered that her residential rooftop solar output plunged in June 2015. After checking the system she found six panels completely offline and two more underperforming — effectively producing no solar energy — and her monthly electric bill swelled to about four times what it should be. She contacted Progressive to request microinverter replacements; Progressive’s owner, Dave Rhodes, said he couldn’t get the authorization he needed because the authorizing company kept him on hold for hours. Frustrated, she warned she would escalate to the Better Business Bureau and the Board of Equalization and plans to keep the post public until the problem is fixed. She added that the installation crew had done a wonderful job, which only sharpened the contrast between a clean install and the ongoing breakdown in post‑installation support.
D. had a 7.95 kW solar array installed on their home in the summer of 2014, and over the years it has generated about 95% of the original production estimate. A citrus tree occasionally shades a couple of panels, which trims output at times, but otherwise the system performance met expectations. Dave Hines and his crew handled the installation, and to manage the system’s output they replaced the home’s main service panel; electrician Thad completed the job with clear craftsmanship. That service panel upgrade also solved a string of blown-fuse and other electrical problems the household had lived with since moving in, so the project delivered both reliable solar generation and a smoother overall electrical system. Progressive Energy also offered multiple financing routes — bank-style loans and PACE — which provided flexibility for the purchase. The lasting detail that stood out was that the install didn’t just add solar production; it removed longstanding electrical headaches thanks to the professional panel upgrade.
Wade B. hired the company for a home solar installation and says the whole job turned into a nightmare. He was bullied into signing the completion certificate while significant work remained undone, and after that signature the crew effectively vanished — regular communication stopped. About two-thirds of the work never had permits pulled, and the company now refuses to obtain them, telling him the installs wouldn’t pass inspection. Technicians broke parts of the system, then denied responsibility; their attempted repairs damaged other components, and the “final” fixes left things inadequate. Scheduling and follow-up collapsed — they promised to show up or call and repeatedly didn’t — and the company deflected responsibility onto the city, a subcontractor, or the original setup instead of owning mistakes. The subcontractor underquoted the job, and rather than pursue the sub, the company demanded more money from him to correct the problems. Even after Wade spent extra time and money trying to cooperate, they failed to perform. He is filing complaints with the CSLB and the BBB, intends to sue and pursue the company’s bond, and plans to keep this file updated. His clearest takeaway: —
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 70
Clean Record
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 13 years
Among the longest-standing 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
Ben P., a general construction contractor, had David's company install solar on his roof seven years ago and walked away with a clean, fast, professional job that has needed no repairs. When he recently needed adjustments, he ran into a parade of tablet-toting outfits offering impractical, wildly overpriced fixes that simply didn’t add up. He called David, who returned the call promptly, came to the house, performed a thorough on-site analysis and laid out a cost-efficient solution the others wouldn’t even attempt. In the end he received a sensible, affordable adjustment without the usual runaround — the thing that stuck with him was David’s prompt, practical visit and the straightforward plan that actually solved the problem.
Mark needed his roof replaced and discovered that Progressive Energy Solutions—the same company that had installed his solar system nine years earlier—also did roofing. He set up a quote and ended up with a competitively priced roof replacement where Progressive removed and reinstalled his solar panels at no charge, a move that saved him thousands compared with hiring separate crews. They completed the work weeks before other roofers could and even arranged one year of no-interest financing, which eased his family’s cash flow. Having called the original solar install one of his best investments, he walked away impressed that the company combined roofing and solar work into a single, faster job and handled the panel work for free.
David P. hired the company for a solar installation on his home and walked away happy with the panels — the trouble began with the other work they arranged. He discovered they subcontract every trade outside of solar, and that outsourcing led to costly problems: a patio that leaked and artificial turf that literally melted not once but twice. The crew removed and reinstalled the turf, then recommended window tinting, even helping cover the cost, claiming the tint would prevent further melting — and asserting the issue was covered by the turf warranty, which he never received. After the turf melted again following the tinting, the company stopped returning his calls. He filed a complaint with HERO; Don insisted they wouldn’t make repairs unless he withdrew that complaint, and only after HERO intervened did they complete the first set of fixes. When the turf failed a second time, he didn’t pursue another HERO complaint because the agency hadn’t been very helpful. He also found it galling that the company later asked for a favorable letter after all the back-and-forth; he noticed Dave responding to negative reviews, but the HERO documentation backs up his experience. The clearest take