Zero Energy Contracting reviews

Francine S. hired Zero Energy to make her home more energy efficient, having them add insulation in the walls and attic, repair ducts, and install solar panels. She discovered the whole job moved along professionally and on schedule, with a project manager who kept her informed, patiently answered questions, and even provided written materials that laid out the process and next steps. The installation crews worked efficiently, and each crew supervisor took time on site to explain what they would do and to confirm she was satisfied before leaving. Zero Energy also handled the paperwork quickly—submitting rebate documentation and the Edison permission-to-operate forms promptly so those approvals wrapped up fast. What stood out most was the combination of clear on-site communication and the company’s follow-through with paperwork, which kept the project smooth and avoided delays.

Danielle S. signed up with Zero Energy in May 2015 after being told a system would cut her electric bill in half. She ended up with only four panels and higher bills — the very setup the company had calculated would deliver a 50% reduction — plus a string of home repairs the crew performed before or during installation: asbestos removal, added insulation, repaired air-conditioning ducting, four vents in the garage, and a changed electrical box. Sales pressure pushed a false urgency about a 30% government incentive that she was warned would disappear if she didn’t act immediately; the incentive later remained available. About a year after installation, a rainstorm caused leaks where the panels sat; three weeks later the living-room wood floor buckled and lifted, leaving visible damage. When she called about the leaks and flooring, it took three weeks for anyone to show up and staff insisted her warranty had already expired. Requests for help about rising bills led to a runaround: she sent many bill photos to her representative only to be shuffled between departments with no answers or callbacks. She later discovered mechanical liens on the house because Zero Energy never paid the on

Alex A. hired Zero Energy Contracting in March 2016 to make his home more energy efficient and ended up with a very different outcome: a hotter house, unfinished work, and an aggressive, intimidating run-in with a company representative. They discovered the crew had compacted insulation and blocked attic ventilation, which trapped heat and made indoor temperatures worse instead of better. The electrical panel remained uncovered, yet the company pushed hard for a signed certificate of completion for the HERO program before the job was finished. Jacob Card repeatedly phoned and emailed in a way the family found harassing—calling from a personal Las Vegas number, threatening a lien, and pressing them to sign—while an employee, Marlene Barboso, sent an unsolicited message about installing more panels. Alex also alleges the promised rebates and incentives never came through and claims the company kept federal tax credit benefits; he blames management decisions (naming Paul Hanson) for placing Card in that role. Beyond the workmanship and customer-service collapse, Alex warns of a pattern he encountered or heard about: subcontractors not being paid and legal headaches for homeowners. His

Mr G. opened his review with two words: "Zero Follow Through." He connected with Zero Energy through the HERO Program financing, and he found the HERO rep misrepresented the loan and made promises that never materialized. On his Cerritos-area house the solar panels visually looked good and the roof work appeared properly done, but permitting became a major roadblock — despite repeated assurances from the sales rep that permitting would not be an issue. For roughly a year and a half the system remained off. Zero Energy repeatedly promised callbacks and help with LA County permits, but the promises evaporated into silence. Joey promised a call from Patrick three different times; those calls never happened. Over and over he encountered polite commitment on the phone and no follow-through in practice. What stands out is the finished array sitting idle for about 18 months because the company failed to resolve permitting and never delivered on its own promises. He hoped someone at the executive level would step in to sort out the Cerritos branch and offered to talk with the CEO, but until then the most memorable detail is a completed installation that still can’t be turned on.

Jr F. paid to have solar panels installed on his home and discovered the crew hooked everything up, left, and told him the system was online. After four months of normal electric bills he called back; the installer walked him through a check and they found a switch had been left off — meaning the panels hadn’t been producing. That happened five years ago. Now he tried to arrange a system checkup only to learn the company is bankrupt and out of business, leaving him without support. He gave the experience one star and blamed the HERO program for steering him to a contractor that provided no lasting service.

Michelle L. had solar panels installed two years ago, and recently an insurance inspector found exposed wiring under the house and in the attic. She ended up hiring an electrician to correct the problem, and the electrician discovered a deeper issue: the wiring diagram Zero left inside the relocated junction box didn’t match the actual breakers. For example, breaker 1 was labeled for the front room but actually fed a back bedroom. Zero had been the only contractor who touched their electrical system and had moved the junction box without permission or a request from the utility (Edison). The mismatched diagram and unauthorized junction-box move forced an extra electrician visit and created ongoing safety and labeling problems—issues that are still affecting her two years after the install.

Chris W. admitted the company asked him to write a review, but he wasn't paid or given anything for it. He hired the crew to tie his existing rooftop panels into a new system and to roll a full home upgrade into one project — solar panels and inverter, duct replacement, attic and wall insulation, and air sealing. He ran the payments and incentives through his taxes/escrow, picked up a large deduction, and found the required $500 inspection to be a small, practical cost to get everything moving. Customer service wasn't flawless — there was some back-and-forth over rebates — but it stayed helpful enough through the process. He ended up with a tightly sealed, better-insulated house that now runs entirely on solar with improved airflow, and the combination of integration and the tax handling is what stuck with him.

Cori M. signed up four years ago for what was pitched as a one-day, whole-home energy upgrade — insulation in the attic and walls, sealed windows and doors, and solar panels that would eliminate energy bills after a short loan. She discovered quickly that the crew started work without pulling permits, and that the install was anything but tidy. On day one a family heirloom got broken; no one warned her, crews denied responsibility, and when she called the owner he yelled at her before reluctantly offering a small reimbursement. When the bank called to start the loan process, she refused to sign because the system wasn’t finished and there were no permits. The owner responded by berating her on the phone, accusing her of hurting his employees and threatening to file a lien — followed by 24 hours of harassing calls. To avoid court delays and a stalled project she authorized the loan, even though the work remained incomplete. Workmanship problems piled up. Installers first put panels on a section of roof that lacked proper structural support; they later moved the array to the other side, leaving visible patches in a relatively new roof and cracks in the ceiling. Getting city sign‑

Stuart hired the company to work on his ranch-style roof three years ago; the roof itself is only six years old, so when a recent storm produced bubbling in the bathroom ceiling and a dark water spot in the living room, he wanted them back to inspect and repair the areas they'd worked on. He called and learned the firm would not help under the expired one-year warranty; when he pushed further, manager Jacob Card insisted the guarantee was like a "fridge warranty" and offered repairs only at $80/hour plus materials — even if their work proved to be the cause. An attic inspection revealed the space above the bathroom soaked and moldy; Stuart’s husband had to remove wet insulation and clean up as they waited for the homeowners insurance adjuster. The insurer concluded the bathroom damage was entirely caused by the company’s work; the living-room leak tracked to a solar panel installation that penetrated the roof through the shingles, and another unsealed hole in an eave where pipes were run to the panel left additional exposure. Rather than acknowledge responsibility, the crew expected payment to fix the problems they created — a detail Stuart now warns other buyers to watch for by pe