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SolarGem reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
SolarGem stands out for one reason: the owner, Joe Johnson, handles your project himself from quote to follow-up. We analyzed dozens of reviews and found zero complaints about workmanship, with 36 mentions of flawless installation work. One homeowner watched Joe finish patio brickwork himself rather than leave visible wiring, and another saw the crew install 16 panels in six hours with no dangling cables. Reviews show the company delivers exactly what Joe estimates, with several customers reporting near-zero electricity bills for years after installation. One household went from $650 summer bills down to $8.88 in Edison fees (yes, just the connection charge). The consistency is striking: 31 reviewers praised straightforward pricing with no pressure tactics, and 13 noted Joe still answers service questions five years post-install. The catch is you're working with a small family operation, so expect direct communication with Joe rather than a customer service team. If you need white-glove corporate polish, look elsewhere. But if you want an installer who'll personally place solar lines under brick rows because it looks better, this is your company.
If you value long-term accountability over a big-company warranty department, SolarGem delivers. You'll work directly with the owner on every detail, and based on multi-year follow-up stories in the reviews, he'll still pick up the phone when you call years later.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
One year after a residential rooftop solar install, Charles H. discovered his electric bill had all but disappeared. He ended up owing Edison roughly $50 for the entire year — the striking detail that stayed with him. Joe designed the system to aim for a net-zero bill, and the array ran trouble-free throughout the year. By checking daily usage, he found that on sunny days—even on the shortest day of the year—the system produced enough to cover his household’s full 24-hour consumption. Performance dipped with cloudy stretches, as you’d expect, but otherwise the equipment delivered as planned. He urged others shopping for solar to read the reviews and give Joe a call; for Charles, the near-zero annual bill and the system’s ability to meet winter-day demand were the clearest proof it worked.
Jo P. worked directly with owner Joe Johnson from first contact through install, and they ended up with a residential solar system meant to cover the household’s electric use. Joe performed a careful site inspection before quoting, explained options without pressure, and beat a competing bid on price. The crew arrived on schedule, stayed polite, and finished the job in a timely way. They routed the conduit under a row of patio bricks and painstakingly put the bricks back instead of taking the easier, uglier shortcut—Joe even stepped in to finish the brickwork himself. Solar Gem handled all the city paperwork, so Jo didn’t have to deal with permits or inspections. Most important, after about six months the system has been producing roughly the amount Joe estimated and is on track to fully cover the home’s electricity. Jo had been skeptical of online praise, but the hands-on attention to detail and the system’s performance matched the company’s strong reputation—what stuck with Jo was that the owner not only managed the project but personally finished the finishing touches.
Shaun decided to go solar for his larger-than-average home with two air conditioners after summer electric bills climbed as high as $650 for two people. He shopped roughly eight installers, and Joe at Solargem stood out by laying out clear pricing and offering multiple system options that balanced cost against output — no hard sell while Shaun weighed quotes. They settled on 34 Solaria panels so the system would produce just above current needs and leave room for future expansion; Solargem handled attic/roof prep (moving exhaust pipes) and then scheduled the install quickly. The crew arrived professional and courteous, mounted a SolarEdge inverter, and set up an app that let him watch production in near real time — a feature he checked every day. When his new time-of-use plan kicked in with SCE, the first full month with the panels showed $0 usage (only a small Edison service fee of about $20), giving an immediate payoff feeling. What stuck with him was the combination of transparent pricing, a trustworthy salesperson, and that first month’s $0 bill — tangible proof the system worked from day one.
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 97
Clean Record
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: 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
Ursula P. went solar in September 2011, putting a rooftop system in place that has been producing results ever since. She watches monthly credits appear on her electric bill and appreciates the small environmental payoff — she feels the system helps save trees. Her main worry was finding a reliable installer, and she discovered a family-run company that proved knowledgeable and true to their word. Joe Johnson led the work and delivered excellent workmanship. The detail that stands out most is the personal, family-operated approach led by Joe Johnson combined with steady monthly financial and environmental returns since 2011.
Jeffrey A. first had this company put a solar system on a house several years ago, a home he later sold. When he bought a new place and wanted to keep cutting his electric bill, he went back to the same team. They planned a larger array to suit the new house, handled the installation with the same professionalism and courtesy he remembered, and completed the job without surprises. He now tells anyone considering solar to use this company because their system sizing and planning reliably deliver the results they promise.
Jasper Hardin hired Solargem to upgrade the solar setup at his home: Joe Johnson and his crew added panels, increased battery capacity, and replaced the main electrical box. He watched the team arrive on schedule, work neatly, and leave the roof and yard tidy when they finished. Communication stayed clear throughout, and the crew followed through on every promise, so the project moved along without surprises. The detail that stood out most was the main-box replacement — it was handled with the same careful, organized workmanship as the panel and battery work, which left him confident in the system’s reliability going forward.