The Solar reviews
• last updated FEB 26, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
The Solar Company is out of business. We reviewed dozens of accounts and found that while early installations went smoothly, the company shut down in 2016-2017, leaving customers with zero support. One homeowner discovered roof leaks right where the panels attached but was told he'd pay several hundred dollars for a service call if the technician decided it wasn't their fault. He patched it himself with Henry's roof sealant. Another tried for two weeks to get a replacement part and couldn't reach anyone to confirm the order. Reviews from 2017 confirm the phone lines stopped working. Beyond the closure, the pattern before they disappeared was concerning. We found 27 complaints about value and 32 about project management failures. One customer waited five months for activation and said the rep fed him "stories." Another was quoted $18,000 more for four extra panels, then told the jump was "cash vs. financing pricing." The sales approach was high-pressure. One homeowner reported daily harassment calls for two months and uninvited strangers showing up at the door after he declined. The few positive reviews came from 2011-2016 installs that worked as promised, but those customers are now on their own for repairs.
If you're hoping for long-term support, look elsewhere. The Solar Company shut down and left customers stranded with leaks, broken parts, and no way to reach anyone. Even when they were operating, project delays and high-pressure sales were constant complaints.
Reviews That Shaped Our Verdict
Jim C. hired "The Solar Company" in September 2014 to install a SolarEdge system on his home, and the original installation went smoothly. When he later needed service, he discovered the company appears to be out of business and stopped returning calls. SolarEdge first steered him to SunPower, and SunPower in turn referred him to SkyPower in San Ramon. SkyPower handled the service work quickly and competently, and he walked away impressed enough to use SkyPower for any future service needs. The standout detail: a tidy installation in 2014 was undermined by an unreachable installer, and a local specialist (SkyPower) ultimately rescued the situation.
S B. had a solar array finished about 18 months ago on a house that got a new roof less than two years earlier—after the roof had been tested in rain and with hoses and showed no leaks. Soon after the crew mounted the racks, a leak turned up right at the roof penetration for the rack. The installer offered to send someone but warned that if their tech determined the leak wasn’t their fault, the homeowner would face a service charge of several hundred dollars. Frustrated, they ended up sealing the spot themselves with Henry’s roof patch. The panels otherwise work fine and have lowered energy bills, but the lasting memory is the company’s after‑service stance: buyers who purchase systems (not leases) should read the contract closely and verify who covers roof penetrations and potential service‑call fees before committing.
Stan F. met the company at a home show while re‑evaluating solar for his high‑usage house — newer high‑efficiency panels finally made the idea plausible. A few days after giving his contact info he received someone else’s full solar quote by email — a document for a man in the next town that included that customer’s personal details. He immediately flagged the mistake, called, and got an apology blaming similar names; at the in‑person appointment the salesperson still referenced the wrong email and insisted they don’t sell personal data, an uneasy start that put trust on the line. During the meeting the rep ran a 2.5% financing pre‑qual and Stan was declined. The team then pushed higher‑rate financing and leaned hard on leasing, appearing more determined to put an array on the roof than to find the best deal for him. Troubled by the financing story, he went to his bank; a creditor pulled his score and found it was nearly 800, contradicting the solar firm’s assessment of “low 700” and meaning he could have qualified for much lower rates than the 6.8%+ the company was steering toward. He came away believing the sales process steered customers into pricier financing. Price figures
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 51
No Red Flags
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 15 years
Among the longest-standing installers in the market.
BBB Rating
Not BBB rated.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
Contractor License
License information could not be confirmed.
What You Can Expect
S B. had a solar array finished about 18 months ago on a house that got a new roof less than two years earlier—after the roof had been tested in rain and with hoses and showed no leaks. Soon after the crew mounted the racks, a leak turned up right at the roof penetration for the rack. The installer offered to send someone but warned that if their tech determined the leak wasn’t their fault, the homeowner would face a service charge of several hundred dollars. Frustrated, they ended up sealing the spot themselves with Henry’s roof patch. The panels otherwise work fine and have lowered energy bills, but the lasting memory is the company’s after‑service stance: buyers who purchase systems (not leases) should read the contract closely and verify who covers roof penetrations and potential service‑call fees before committing.
Margie W. wanted SunPower panels on her home to shave down a $2,400 annual PG&E bill, so Davis Northnagel from The Solar Company came out, walked her through net metering and used modeling tools to design a 16-panel array projected to cut the bill to about $200 a year. Before committing to the layout, the crew put solar photon detectors on the roof and logged a full week of sunlight data; the engineers reviewed those measurements and recommended a small adjustment to the initial plan. Project managers then handled all the permits and paperwork with the city, county and HOA, and the install, which Davis had estimated would take a half day, wrapped up in four hours. The system has worked flawlessly for 18 months with no issues, and what sticks from Margie’s experience is the combination of careful, week-long on-roof measurements followed by a precise, quick installation.
Channa P. moved forward with solar after enduring high electric bills and a first installer who vanished after the initial meeting. She chose The Solar Company and found the whole process startlingly fast: after arranging her own financing she signed the contract and the crew was on her roof just a couple weeks later. The 30-panel system, scheduled for two days, went up in a single day — Kenny and his crew worked like a well-oiled team and cleaned up so thoroughly they left no trace. Although she was told the utility switch could take six weeks, PG&E swapped the meter in about ten days, so the house was running on solar roughly a month from start to finish. Whenever questions came up, Kimmie and Robert answered promptly. Seven months after installation she hosted a neighborhood “solar party” organized by Felicia; Robert showed up to talk with guests and even paid for the catered lunch, which helped neighbors see how the system worked in real life. Doing the project in December also helped — permits moved quickly, TSC wasn’t backed up, and PG&E was available. Now in year two, she’s run the numbers and found that by the end of the first year she had paid about as much to her loan as她