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Solar SME reviews
• updated MAR 31, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
Solar SME's business appears to run on two separate tracks. We analyzed hundreds of reviews and found a sharp divide: some customers get attentive project managers and working systems, while others chase staff for months over nonfunctioning panels. One Maryland homeowner spent three months trying to schedule a team to replace broken microinverters after being promised a date, then stood up twice. Another customer reported nine dead panels in May 2025 and still had nine dead panels in August, with utility bills climbing the entire time. These aren't isolated incidents. We found 60 reviews describing severe delays, unresponsive communication, and systems that underperform or shut down entirely. The company does respond when pressed (several reviews note improvement only after public complaints), but you shouldn't have to escalate to social media to get basic follow-up. The post-install support pattern is especially concerning: teams eventually show up and fix issues, but only after weeks of ignored texts and repeated calls transferred four times before reaching the right department. If you're comfortable playing project manager for your own solar installation and don't mind long gaps in communication, the low prices may offset the risk. But if you expect a contractor to stay on top of timelines and answer your calls the first time, look elsewhere.
If you're weighing Solar SME purely on upfront cost, the quote may be appealing. But the company's communication breakdowns and delayed service responses create real financial risk once you've paid. Unless you're willing to chase staff for weeks when something stops working, that discount isn't worth it.
3 Stories That Stood Out
Debbie Phillips paid $32,000 for a 26-panel solar system installed in 2023 and ended up stuck in a drawn-out, frustrating process. The crews who put the hardware on her roof worked professionally and efficiently, but the company’s project management couldn’t keep up: she watched the timeline stretch over several months while questions went unanswered and messages went unanswered for long stretches. When the system was activated in July 2023 it never reached full output — it has never produced more than about 80% of expected capacity. SolarSME blamed the shortfall on how a couple of microinverters were wired, claiming that two inverters were tied to two panels instead of four and that this reduced output; after researching and consulting other experts, Debbie discovered that explanation didn’t fully hold. Because the system carries a 25-year guarantee that ensures 90% capacity, she plans to file the warranty paperwork each year to recover the difference. A new problem appeared in June 2024 when the array shut off entirely. Getting help turned into a marathon: she was bounced through multiple transfers before reaching the project team, then waited more than two weeks for a techs’
Nnaemeka installed a 39-panel system on his two-story home and, six months later on June 2, 2022, a panel fell off the roof — no one was hurt, but he discovered the system was then running at only about half capacity. He reported the fall and the damage, but technicians didn’t arrive promptly; three weeks passed without a visit and he felt his family’s safety had been put at risk by sloppy installation. After a harsh public post, a technician finally came around June 24 and found additional panels loose in their clamps; Basem Yani stepped in as the customer-support specialist and began addressing the problems, earning a brief improvement in service. Even so, by August 16, 2022 only five of the 39 panels were producing, his utility bills spiked, and Solar SME refused to cover those costs — he filed a petition with the BBB. Earlier in the project, project manager Michael Lewis helped get the system started, but the installation ran long because of repeated SolarEdge hardware failures (which the reviewer linked partly to COVID-related delays). Over the next three years problems persisted: on May 18, 2025 he reported nine panels weren’t producing any energy, and as of August 11, 2025 –
Ramona E. hired the company to install an expensive solar-plus-battery system at her home, and what should have been a straightforward project stretched into more than a year. Where friends had working systems installed in under two weeks, her installation dragged on, missed deadlines and—after installers declared it finished—failed the initial inspection. Even after the system later passed inspection, it never produced power. Technicians turned up unannounced while she was at work, improvised fixes, and often left without confirming whether anything was actually repaired; she repeatedly had to call for updates because the company offered little follow-up or meaningful communication. At one point the company promised to compensate her for months she couldn’t use the system, but that never happened. More than a year in, she ended up with an installed but non-functioning solar and battery setup and higher utility bills, and she no longer believes the company has a clear plan to fix or replace it. The detail that sticks: the panels have been in place for over a year but still aren’t producing, and she’s been left footing higher bills while waiting for a resolution.
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 76
No Red Flags
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 8 years
BBB Rating: A
Good BBB standing.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
What You Can Expect
James W had a solar system installed on his home more than a year ago and later discovered a roof leak under the array. The company’s compliance-team consultant stepped in and took charge: he coordinated multiple repair estimates, arranged the temporary removal of several panels so roofers could access the problem area, and organized fixes to the roof as well as interior water damage to the ceiling and an attic air-duct box. James appreciated that the consultant kept his word on behalf of Solar SME and maintained active communication through the whole process, and he was pleased that the chosen contractor did an excellent job. The detail that stood out was the end-to-end coordination — panel removal, roof repair, and interior restoration — all handled so the work could be completed properly.
Kent B engaged Solar SME twice: first for the engineering, project management and installation of a 10.4 kW solar array on his home, and most recently to add a battery backup system. He found the team knowledgeable, responsive and professional — the kind of crew that completes the technical work and also makes the process painless. Their energy consultant spent a great deal of time walking him through battery backup engineering in plain language, steering him toward questions he hadn’t even thought to ask and ultimately to the best solution for his needs. For the original solar job, the engineering proved complete and comprehensive, so permitting moved forward without delay or surprises. Project management stayed efficient and communicative, providing clear timelines and remaining available whenever needed; the installation itself was neat, integrated seamlessly into the roof and finished on schedule. Three years after the initial install he returned because the combination of thorough engineering, smooth execution and the consultant’s patient, nontechnical explanations made the choice obvious — the consultant’s ability to translate complex battery engineering into clear, usable I
Steven Abraham discovered a problem with the combiner on the rooftop solar system installed on his home a couple of years earlier. Roman stepped in, worked closely with him through diagnostics, and arranged a warranty-covered replacement of the system’s PC board. He received regular updates during the process, and Roman followed up afterward to verify the array was performing correctly. The detail that stuck with him was the hands-on coordination by a single technician and the fact the warranty actually covered the PC board swap, leaving the system back online and checked.
Cameron had his house chosen as one of the company's earliest installations in the area a few years ago, and he ended up with a competitively priced solar setup that’s run without issue for years. After a storm tripped a breaker and knocked about half the inverters offline, the installer responded quickly, walked him through troubleshooting, and helped get the system back to normal. The combination of long-term reliable output and prompt, effective service after the outage is the detail that sticks.
Sudhakar ran into trouble about two years after his solar install when several microinverters stopped working. He watched Sami and his team take over the issue and methodically hunt for the fault—lifting and checking under every panel, tracing every inch of wiring, and repeating tests until they uncovered a short circuit. They returned in all kinds of weather and kept at it until the problem was located and fixed. What remained most memorable was the crew’s persistence: not a quick phone-call fix but hands-on troubleshooting until the array was restored, a clear sign this installer will come back through when follow-up support is needed.
Petar S. paid about $30,000 for a rooftop solar system 7–8 years ago — an investment he compares to buying a midpriced car — and ended up frustrated by ongoing service failures. For more than a year he kept trying to get the inverter to sync with the SolarEdge monitoring app, repeatedly texting and calling the company, opening the inverter himself, and holding message records going back months. He also paid an extra $5,000–$6,000 for critter protection, yet squirrels still run under the array, make nests and chew the wiring. A technician came once, left in the middle of the day promising to return, left his tools behind, then only came back later to collect them without finishing the work. Tired of waiting, Petar bought an air gun and now handles the squirrel problem himself whenever he sees them on the roof. He found the company’s polite tone misleading and experienced customer service that felt negligent and unprofessional; he even felt the whole operation didn’t give him the kind of U.S.-style support he expected. The detail that lingers is simple and stark: after tens of thousands spent up front and thousands more on protection, he’s been left maintaining the system and chasing
Gregg M is three years into life with an SME solar installation on his home and has had a trouble-free run. He hasn't needed service, and SME still checks in occasionally to confirm he's satisfied and to catch any potential issues. Over the last couple of years he replaced several large appliances, choosing the most energy‑efficient models he could afford, and discovered that those upgrades accelerated his return on investment — his payback came faster than he expected. The combination of a dependable system, periodic follow-ups from the installer, and deliberate appliance upgrades is the detail that stuck with him: upgrading major appliances can meaningfully shorten the solar payback timeline.
Jack had SolarSME install a rooftop array on his Maryland barn in 2023. Since the install the system has generated 18.3 MWh, which carved a noticeable chunk out of the property’s electricity bill. He found the crew conscientious during the project and satisfied with how the work was handled. The detail that sticks: a barn-sized installation that has already produced 18.3 MWh and delivered clear, measurable savings.
Ramona E. hired the company to install an expensive solar-plus-battery system at her home, and what should have been a straightforward project stretched into more than a year. Where friends had working systems installed in under two weeks, her installation dragged on, missed deadlines and—after installers declared it finished—failed the initial inspection. Even after the system later passed inspection, it never produced power. Technicians turned up unannounced while she was at work, improvised fixes, and often left without confirming whether anything was actually repaired; she repeatedly had to call for updates because the company offered little follow-up or meaningful communication. At one point the company promised to compensate her for months she couldn’t use the system, but that never happened. More than a year in, she ended up with an installed but non-functioning solar and battery setup and higher utility bills, and she no longer believes the company has a clear plan to fix or replace it. The detail that sticks: the panels have been in place for over a year but still aren’t producing, and she’s been left footing higher bills while waiting for a resolution.
Long-term Satisfaction
Long-term satisfaction for Solar SME drops to 4.1 ★ compared to early reviews. This is better than 43% of installers we looked at.
Long-term reviews carry the most weight in our methodology because they are most representative of what you should be paying for: a system that will perform for years.