Solar Energy Collective reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
Solar Energy Collective left customers stranded after the sale. We found multiple stories of salespeople vanishing post-contract, with one reviewer spending weeks hunting down information only to learn their rep had quit with no handoff. Broken promises dominate the record. Seven reviews describe serious installation failures, roof damage, and incorrect system sizing that the company refused to fix. One homeowner discovered 18 months after installation that installers had broken roof tiles, then stolen replacements from another section of the roof without disclosure. Another paid nearly $800 in utility bills because the system was undersized, and the company ignored repeated callback requests. Communication collapsed across the board. Reviewers report calls going to voicemail for weeks, no follow-through on warranty claims, and zero accountability for subcontractor errors. If you're choosing between installers, skip this one. The pattern is too consistent to ignore.
If you value post-installation support or accountability for shoddy work, this company will leave you frustrated. Too many customers describe vanishing reps, ignored service requests, and installation damage the company refused to remediate.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Tony Z. signed the paperwork for a solar installation and expected the normal handoff, but the salesperson vanished immediately after the contract was complete. He couldn't get any answers from the company; after weeks of digging he discovered the rep had quit and the firm left no forwarding contact to manage his account. Promised incentives that helped close the deal never showed up, and he ended up repeatedly left in the dark trying to force information out of a company that offered none. The detail that stuck with him: once the pen hit the paper there was no continuing point of contact and no follow-through on the incentives that sealed the sale.
Mary P. followed a family friend’s referral and signed up after being promised a "zero true up bill." She discovered instead an almost $800 true-up because the system was undersized, and the company has refused to make it right. She tried repeatedly to get a resolution through customer service, mostly dealing with Zach, but calls routinely took at least two weeks to be returned or never came back at all. She ended up paying more with solar than she had before installing it and refuses to recommend the company unless they fix the sizing and improve follow-through—her lasting impression is the mismatch between the original promise and an $800 bill paired with poor responsiveness.
Ryder discovered that when crews installed panels on his nearly-new house (he moved in March 2017; the array went up in January 2020), they broke concrete roof tiles. They then pulled replacement tiles from another section of the roof, leaving a row of empty spots and never notified him. He only found out 18 months later when an inspector checking the home’s fitness for sale flagged the damage — notable because these are 5 lb. concrete tiles, so they couldn’t have blown off. Six months earlier the company had mailed a microinverter to replace one that had burned out but never returned to install it. Customer service proved effectively non-existent: unreachable, unwilling to back up the work, and leaving promises unfulfilled. He was the sole owner and no one else had been on the roof, so the damage and the missed service clearly traced back to the installation. The detail that sticks: a visible row of missing 5-pound tiles discovered only during a sale inspection, with a replacement inverter sent but never installed and no repair offered.
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 52
Clean Record
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 9 years
BBB Rating: B-
Mixed BBB standing. Some unresolved complaints.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
Contractor License
License information could not be confirmed.
What You Can Expect
After years of weighing whether to go solar, Gary finally pulled the trigger and connected with Adrian J. (209-224-6599) and the SEC team. He had been approached by many companies and collected multiple quotes, but Adrian took time to walk him through the pros and cons until he felt confident in an informed decision. Though SEC is a sizable, established company, he encountered an unexpectedly personal, small-team approach that put him at ease. The system he ended up with sits on a rack that required no drilling into the roof — a feature he had never heard of before SEC proposed it and which he considers a major advantage. He also appreciated that SEC offers a range of options for both residential and larger commercial projects. His takeaway: the combination of clear guidance and the no‑drill rack solution is what made the decision stick, and it’s the detail he would tell anyone asking about their experience.
Lea S. discovered that her new solar array is already trimming her monthly bills, and she's eagerly anticipating this year’s tax return because of it. She found the company consistently helpful and professional from the first visit through final sign-off, and the crew put up attractive panels in a surprisingly short time. Beyond the financial wins, she takes pleasure in cutting her carbon footprint. The detail that stuck with her most: a quick, tidy installation that translated into immediate savings.
Mary P. followed a family friend’s referral and signed up after being promised a "zero true up bill." She discovered instead an almost $800 true-up because the system was undersized, and the company has refused to make it right. She tried repeatedly to get a resolution through customer service, mostly dealing with Zach, but calls routinely took at least two weeks to be returned or never came back at all. She ended up paying more with solar than she had before installing it and refuses to recommend the company unless they fix the sizing and improve follow-through—her lasting impression is the mismatch between the original promise and an $800 bill paired with poor responsiveness.