SolarCity

We found Solar City to be professional, prompt, accurate, courteous, and helpful. «Going solar» is a big decision, so you want people and a company with the experience and know-​how to get it done right. We took the option to buy our tax credit from Solar System, and let them sell power back to PGE. We don’t own the system, but we benefit from the lower rates. Our system was installed in a matter of hours; no muss, no fuss, and it has been delivering as promised for a year now. Talk to Jamie Eldrett at Solar City.

I spoke to a rep at a trade show and found out a lot. I set up an appointment which was cancelled twice. Lucky me because I did some checking on the company. Check out the tax credit and the cost of the system. The deal was terrible. You would be better off getting time tax break and financing the project yourself. They get the money and you get hosed.

When learning about a new thing, it’s often easy too feel overwhelmed, particularly when the subject matter is perceived as complex. That’s why I don’t really think much about how the internet works or how rain clouds form, but I do get concerned from time to time about what my foot print on this planet is going to be. Did I make this world better or not? That’s a big question and it was the reason that I met with Mariah from Solar City. I had always been intrigued by the theory of solar power, but I just didn’t really get too much into the technical aspects of it. Too deep.
Anyway, I met with Mariah and she broke down in easily digestible terms, how Solar City works with people who own homes that meet a certain criteria and how the come has a cost neutral way of installing the solar panels on a home. I thought this sounded great and it was awesome that she took the time to meet with me to explain the program.
Although I can’t comment more on the process with Solar City because my home was not an appropriate structure for solar (some won’t be), however it was still worth a chat and I will recommend to the people I know who own homes to have a chat with Mariah from Solar City.

I scheduled an appointment, the guy no-​showed at the scheduled time. I called and left a message and wrote twice to try to reschedule, and have had no communication whatsoever. Not a great experience all around.

One problem after another and then we almost think it’s going to go smooth and then we get what they called a bill tune up and charged us for making too much power

First contact was early last year, Jonathan was very professional and knowledgeable about the systems, business models and options for me to consider. I decided not to pursue this at the time due to other priorities and distractions. When decided to put this on hold, the decision was understood and no further contact occurred until I reinitiated the process a year later when I contacted Jonathan again just a few weeks back.
All documents were sent within minutes and signed electronically, I could see the progress of the project on line and got very clear emails stating what the status was, what my actions required were and what the next steps were. They were also clear on setting the expectation for when the systems will be turned on.
The installation was seamless and non-​intrusive, the technician was very polite and professional. The job was done in a few hours and the property was left clean and organized with no damages to any part of the house. The panels are well installed, the wire management is clean and aesthetic. The equipment attached to the house is new and perfectly set up. All inspections passed with flying colors.
At this time the system is ready and just waiting for PGE to swap the meter. During this process, my involvement was simply to review documents and sign, never had to call to follow up on anything, they were proactive to initiate communications and let me know how things were progressing. Must also say the documents are clear and well written. All in all, I will strongly recommend working with Solar City, there is no logical reason why not getting solar energy and if you do, then do it with Solar City, very easy to work with them. Here’s his contact (971) 271‑1180, email: jdavis2​@​solarcity.​com

We are so very happy with our solar energy system from Solar City. We were part of the big drive to get a hundred homes in each quadrant of the city to sign up to receive installations. We were part of the NE Portland Project. My husband is better at the statistics but at present we receive about 50% of our electrical needs through solar energy. We put our excess during the summer back into the system so in the winter months we pay way less than normal. We got all our tax credits. Now people can come on with their new system of not even having to pay for the system — that is amazing.
I have been a solar energy enthusiast since my 20s — and am so happy that we can participate in saving energy through the use of the Sun! And even living in Oregon.
I say, go for it!
Solar City does a thorough work-​up, they are courteous, helpful, give you lots of information. The set-​up with feedback and all is well done, the panels on the roof are doing well several years after the installation.
We are so happy and encourage others to get involved!

I had the same experience as in Kawika’s review. Borderline abusive emails when I started to get doubtful about their deal. WIthout ever coming to my house they wanted me to to sign a long complex onesided binding contract. I had to sign this contract before they would send their guy out to do the «home site audit». The two other local companies I talked with later sent knowledgeable people out who actually climbed up on the roof and measured the suitability of my site before talking contract. These companies found that my roof did not get enough sun and suggested ground-​mounting. When I pointed this out to my Solar City guy, the nasty emails started.

So I got very interested in their solar project when a friend of mine had it installed in Portland. After several visits we settled on a contract for a lease system. I thought it was home free and on to the next stage of the Audit and home inspection. First downfall they canceled my appointment before I was leaving for town for 4 months so it had to wait till I got back. The inspection happened and it was mentioned that my trees may have to be pruned and that was no big deal to me. I just received a call today informing me that the only for it to work, was if I had two beautiful maples completely removed. NO WAY. I had a couple of inspections prior and there was never any mention of tree removal only trimming. What a load of shit. I suspect they saw my older home which they had already in prior meetngs and realized the cost to install was too high for what the contract was and are looking for an out. Sadly I do not have the metering systems they have so I cannot check what the actual estimates were for output. All I have to say is they put me through many hours of meetings and calls for nothing to show. Nothing good to say about Solar City.

Be very careful with the estimates they send you… even though the salesperson will swear that leasing is a much better option than purchasing the numbers don’t work out when you consider the tax credits and incentives that SolarCity takes from you.
I wouldn’t have left a review if this was all I had to say though… the financials aren’t the worst thing about my experience. What really turned me off to SolarCity was the hard sell. The salesperson I spoke with was very pushy when I tried to turn him down, to the point where his borderline abusive emails made me suspect that the company puts way too much pressure on its salespeople to close. It sounds like others have had positive experiences though, so maybe the problem isn’t systemic.
Either way, think twice before sending your information to SolarCity. They aren’t offering a good deal for Oregonians (since our incentives are great), and at least one person working there is not very nice.

SolarCity teamed up with the city of Beaverton, Oregon, to offer a great deal to go solar. My wife and I have been interested in solar energy for some time now and are very happy to finally get the chance to add solar panels to our home.
SolarCity made the experience very enjoyable, from our initial contact to installation and helping us with the building and utility inspections. \
We have turned on the system and are already saving, even with the cloudy skies.