Solar Optimum reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
Solar Optimum is a safe bet for solar. We analyzed thousands of reviews and found the company delivers quality work at competitive prices, but you'll need patience for communication hiccups. One homeowner watched their neighbor's install so closely they chose Solar Optimum themselves after comparing local options. Another called with a battery issue six years post-install and got same-day service at no charge, even though a different contractor had worked on the system in between. Reviewers consistently praise the equipment quality (REC panels, Enphase microinverters, Panasonic-backed warranties) and workmanship (528 mentions of solid value, 575 of clean installation). Communication is the weak point. One city inspector made four trips because minor tasks like bonding and stucco kept getting delayed between visits. Several reviews mention unanswered emails and callback delays. If you value rock-bottom pricing over hand-holding, Solar Optimum undercuts national chains without sacrificing the install itself. If you expect every email answered within the hour, you may find the lag frustrating.
If you're comfortable managing follow-up yourself and want a quality system without the markup, Solar Optimum is a solid choice. Just expect occasional radio silence between milestones.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
A. H. had Solar Optimum install a Tesla battery system six years earlier. When the batteries started tripping breakers after a different contractor added a second array, they emailed Solar Optimum and a technician showed up quickly. He diagnosed a simple but dangerous problem: someone had worked in the electrical panel and left the breaker wires loose, raising current draw and causing trips. The tech tightened the loose connections, then systematically checked and tightened every other wire in the panel while the homeowner watched to make sure the issue wasn’t limited to the Tesla wiring. Solar Optimum didn’t charge for the visit, even though the fault clearly came from the other company’s work. What stuck with A. H. was the hands-on thoroughness and the company’s willingness to fix someone else’s mistake at no cost.
Loren chose Solar Optimum in 2022 to outfit their East Bay home with Panasonic panels after discovering Panasonic would guarantee both product and workmanship for 25 years—even if Solar Optimum went out of business. Panasonic followed up with a warranty certificate confirming that backup coverage, and that promise was the decisive factor in the decision. The system has performed strongly: in its first year it produced roughly 3 MWh more than estimated, and year-to-date it’s on track to exceed the projection set for all of 2024. The installation experience had two clear downsides. Communication proved frustrating, with unanswered emails and unreturned calls that made coordination slow and uneven. And the crew drilled holes too deep, puncturing the ceiling drywall; getting the team back to repair the damage took longer than it should have, and when they did come they dabbed putty into about eight to ten holes without painting or matching the ceiling texture, leaving the homeowner to finish the patches. Because Solar Optimum operates as a smaller firm, they charged noticeably less than the larger companies Loren compared, and the combination of competitive pricing plus the Panasonic‑‑
Joseph L. found Solar Optimum through an EnergySage bid and, after comparing proposals, chose them for a roughly 5–6 month rooftop solar project that ended with Permission to Operate. He gravitated toward their equipment choices — REC panels and Enphase microinverters — because competing bids suggested lesser brands, and the suggested lineup (REC, Enphase, Panasonic) gave him confidence that the installer prioritized quality. His sales rep, Sean, welcomed adjustments: Joseph moved from 365W to 400W panels and added capacity, and Sean pushed back when Joseph wanted even more panels, steering him away from an unnecessary upsell and helping pick the right Enphase microinverter for the house. That hands-on guidance became the defining part of the experience. Midstream, the job required a main panel upgrade. Joseph wishes that requirement had been flagged earlier, but the MPU cost landed around market average and qualified for tax incentives, so it didn’t derail the project. The rooftop install itself went smoothly: crews racked the system one day and set panels the next, no tiles broken, no leaks, and the team was upfront about the roof’s condition. The downside was that the fieldwork
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 89
No Red Flags
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 12 years
Operating longer than most 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
Assad had panels installed by Solar Optimum four years earlier and found that original job smooth — but his attempt to expand the system turned into a two-week communication breakdown. He wanted to add more panels, a battery and a non-export setup to handle higher household demand, and a salesperson initially quoted roughly $4 per watt, well above other bids. The rep promised to price-match within 24–48 hours, but nothing arrived; after 48 hours he began calling and kept calling — eventually phoning six times over the next ten days — and sent an email, all without a meaningful response. When he finally reached the sales manager, the paperwork got forwarded to a “team” and he was told he’d get an update that day; that update never came. Now 14 days past the initial consultation, no calls or emails have followed, and the lack of follow-through pushed him to look for another installer despite the extra hassle. The detail that sticks: a returning customer who received a higher-than-market quote and then two weeks of silence before abandoning the upgrade.
Kirk had solar panels put on his home and then, five years later, returned to add batteries — and Solar Optimum handled both projects from product selection and system design through final installation. He found their prices competitive, and they rewarded his repeat business with a returning-customer discount. When the slow city planning office and unexpected roadblocks from PGE dragged the timeline, the company pushed through the issues and kept him in the loop; he did have to follow up by email or phone at times, but they answered quickly. What sticks about the experience is how Solar Optimum stayed engaged through permitting and utility headaches while still delivering solid design and installation and a tangible loyalty discount.
Henry D. bought a home solar system seven years ago and recently discovered the inverter needed repair. He experienced Solar Optimum honoring the original warranty, sending friendly, efficient technicians with a fast response so the inverter was fixed and the system is back up and producing. He walked away impressed that a seven‑year‑old installation remained covered and that service was both prompt and professional. He also urges other homeowners to buy their own panels — once they pay for themselves, they keep saving — and the takeaway that stuck with him was simple: the warranty held up and the company got his system running again quickly.