SunStar Energy reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
SunStar Energy went out of business in 2023, leaving some customers with inoperable systems and active loan payments. In one case, panels sat on a roof for eight months with no permission to operate because the company stopped answering calls before finishing county paperwork. Another homeowner reported paying on a $50,000 loan for a system that never powered on, discovering only through the installer that SunStar had closed. Before its collapse, the company earned praise for owner Richard Devlin's technical know-how and honest approach. One customer ran a complex multi-roof array that paid for itself in six years, then added a second system. But the shutdown wiped out any post-installation support, and financing companies have refused to cancel contracts even when systems remain off. If you already signed with SunStar, contact your lender immediately with proof the company ceased operations.
Do not hire this company. SunStar Energy is no longer in business, and recent customers report abandoned installations, unresponsive support, and billing disputes with no resolution.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Ralph G hired Sunstar to install a $20,823 solar system on his home and, eight months on, discovered the panels still aren’t running. Local county rules required additional steps before the system could be completed and energized, but Sunstar never followed through to satisfy those requirements. He’s continued making payments on the loan while getting no electricity from the system, and attempts to reach the company have gone unanswered — he now suspects Sunstar may be out of business. The situation left him carrying the debt for a system that hasn’t been commissioned and with no clear way to get it finished.
Erika discovered that the residential solar array installed on her home in March 2023 left her in limbo when the installer revealed the company had gone out of business. A few months later she was directed to contact Mosaic; Mosaic asked for proof that she’d reached the contractor and even provided the contractor’s number, but the contractor’s website was already down. She still hasn’t received permission to operate (PTO) and refuses to let another solar firm work on her roof. Now she’s trying to cancel the contract and refuses to pay, while Mosaic is refusing to cancel — leaving her with an installed system, no PTO, and no clear resolution.
Greg R. hired Richard in 2010 to install a 5.2 kW array on his home. Because the rooflines and an outbuilding faced different directions, Richard spread panels across two structures and oriented them in three separate directions to squeeze the most solar out of the property. That customized approach paid for itself within six years. A few years ago he and his wife bought Tesla Model 3s and began charging at home, and in May he asked Richard to add another 5.2 kW array. The second system cost less than the first but produces more energy. Richard also stepped in whenever hardware or software hiccups appeared and handled the dealings with PG&E, which made owning solar trouble-free. He’s recommended Richard and Sun Star Energy to friends, and what sticks with him is that a complex, tailored installation delivered a six-year payback and now supports daily EV charging.
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 54
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: F
Poor BBB standing. Significant complaints.
Review Patterns
Contractor License
License information could not be confirmed.
What You Can Expect
Diane D. hired Sunstar Energy’s Richard Devlin two years ago to install a rooftop solar system and has been happy with how it’s performed ever since. He analyzed her household energy use and the roof’s layout, then tailored and installed a system that fit those specifics. Recommended by a friend, he demonstrated deep knowledge, straightforward honesty, dependability, and a considerate, professional approach throughout the process. He has kept in touch with helpful advice by email and stayed available to answer questions long after the panels were turned on. Diane has passed his name along to other friends — what she remembers most is the ongoing follow-up and readiness to help whenever something came up.
Matilda turned to SunStar in 2014 after the inverters on her ground-mounted system failed and she wanted a second, modern array added on her roof. She discovered that owner Richard Devlin wore every hat on the job — estimator, lead installer, primary worker and now the system’s consultant — and that he delivered a tidy, professional installation. When unexpected hurdles popped up during permitting and PG&E requirements, he stepped in and resolved them rather than passing them off. Over the years she received more than just a finished system: Richard kept her informed about PG&E rate and filing changes, sent tax‑time and roof‑cleaning reminders, and even alerted her within a day when a home wi‑fi outage could affect system monitoring. What stayed with her most was the ongoing, hands‑on attention from the same person who built the system — practical, timely follow‑up that made long‑term ownership feel managed rather than forgotten.
Peter chose SunStar Energy after a friend recommended them, and he ended up with two Solar PV systems — one installed in 2008 and another on a different house in the fall of 2015. He discovered there was no high-pressure sales pitch; Richard Devlin did the site work himself, examined placement and goals, and exchanged details by email before laying out a few options to discuss by phone and plenty of time to decide. Both installs came in at competitive prices. Richard personally carried out each installation with a helper, bringing deep electrical know-how to the job. He also follows up annually, requesting the PV output numbers to make sure the systems are producing as expected. The detail that lingered for Peter was the owner-installed approach combined with the routine performance check — hands-on work up front and ongoing verification afterward.