Solar SME, Inc.

We agreed to work with Solar SME in October 2024. They promised installation by the end of the year. We're now towards the end of March 2025, and new problems just keep cropping up. First, the communication has been terrible. I've continuously had to reach out for updates from Solar SME, because their project managers do not keep in touch. We had our site visit at the beginning of November. We got the engineering design then in mid-November. Then Solar SME dropped off on contact. I finally heard from them again after I reached out, and I was told that the structural engineers had not approved the initial plans and they had to be modified. In fact, they told me they had to go with a different engineering company entirely to get the plans approved, which I said did not fill me with confidence. As part of the changes, they told me that had to change the racking system for the solar panels to work with my roof and the weather where I live. These new approvals didn't come through until mid-December, and they were still telling me at that point they could get it done by the end of the year, although that was obviously unlikely. Then they submit the interconnection agreement to my power company, and it turns out that the system they assured me would qualify for net metering that would build up credits with my power company was too large and didn't qualify. At this point, I told them I felt like I had been misled throughout this process, didn't feel good about the difficulties in getting the plans approved, and was thinking seriously about canceling the contract. They convinced us to stay, much to my chagrin now. They also said they could change the system to a different microinverter system to qualify for net metering, which of course was more expensive than the one we originally agreed upon. As part of this discussion I also brought up the issues with communication, and I was assured someone higher up would be taking on my case now. It was immediately reverted back to the previous project manager after that call despite those assurances. Solar SME then sends me an invoice for the second draw of payment on December 20th. Our contract says that is only supposed to happen after all permits are approved. At this point, they have not yet even resubmitted the interconnection agreement to our utility company. I did not get the revised engineering plan until 12/26 and they did not submit the new agreement until 12/30. I signed but start getting emails from the utility company that the application fees have not been paid. I email asking about that on 1/10 and don't receive a response until 1/13 where they claim they have already paid the fees. I get an email from the utility company later that day saying payment has been received. I also get switched to a new project manager at this point. I again bring up my concerns about communication and timeliness, and I'm assured of regular contact going forward. On 1/16, I'm told my electrical permit with the city is approved. On 1/19, I get another email from my utility company that payment has not been received on the interconnection agreement. It turns out they submitted the application twice, which I told them about at that time to fix. Of course, I get an email on 1/27 from the electric company that I still have two applications in process, and finally Solar SME goes through the necessary steps to fix the issue. I then start getting emails from the utility company on a daily basis about corrections needing to be done on the application, and Solar SME claims that it is because the utility company is transitioning to a new software system and this is just a reminder to resubmit the application after the transition. On 2/17, Solar SME again tries to get me to pay our second draft before all of the permits are in place. I said that I was under the impression that only the electrical permit had been approved by the city, but that the building permit had not been approved. The interconnection agreement had also not yet been approved. They confirmed the building permit had not yet been approved yet, and somehow they claimed the city was also transitioning software systems which delayed things. I pointed out they had already said that was why the utility interconnection agreement was delayed, and they just said that was correct and provided no explanation for why the building permit was delayed. Our interconnection agreement is approved on 2/20. Solar SME claims the building permit is approved on 2/21. Solar SME sends the invoice that day and says they will order the materials at once upon receiving payment and once the material is dispatched, I will receive delivery tracking and installation date. I pay the same day and hear nothing. I finally reach out on 3/3 and ask for an update. I'm told that day that the material will dispatch that week and will be delivered the following week. I again hear nothing and reach back out on 3/14. I get a call on 3/14, and they claim that as of the new year, the city implemented a new permit that they did not know about that now has to be applied for. I express my extreme displeasure with them not knowing about this alleged new permit - which they keep referring to as a building permit despite them telling me that the building permit was already approved by the city and they've been in close contact with the city the whole time - since their job is to be aware of these issues. So now we again have no timeline for installation because we have to wait for this new permit approval. Then on 3/20, Solar SME reaches out and says their technical team has JUST realized there is gravel on my roof and the racking system they have selected won't work for my solar panels. I went back to my site inspection report - there are pictures of my roof in the report that clearly show it has gravel on it, and the plans were supposedly approved by structural engineering, the city, and the utility company previously. Solar SME also claims they realized it when they ordered the materials, but at that point in time, they told me everything was great. I said I did not want any changes made without this put into writing, and then I get a voicemail today saying that the changes to the permit with the city are going to take 15-20 business days to process. I called back and said that I did NOT approve changes and I had said I wanted everything in writing and that I still don't understand how we could have made it this far with a system that is not compatible with my roof. Obviously that is a HUGE red flag for working with this company. I have no confidence that I'm ever going to get the solar system I've paid for or that it's going to be stable or functional if we do get it. Will update my review as we go forward.

Our sales rep was courteous and explained the in & outs of solar , answered my questions and did comparisons for us, handled the Financing with no problems Sent me emails as requested and up to date. Good experience so far.

Danny Russell and Ray Conner provided me with the lowest price and then worked tirelessly and creatively to provide a very flexible set of payment milestones geared to meeting my cash flow needs and concerns. This prevented me from having to delay the project two months,

I had communication issue between the inverter and the battery. Due to this the inverter was not charging the battery. I reached out to Mr. Mario Azar at solarsme and he acknowledged me immediately by redirecting to Mr. Roman who was working on my issue. He was able to get a tech scheduled for a visit to fix the issue. It was during the snow storm I had this outage and had to wait for the assistance. The tech came and fixed the issue. Thanks again to Mr. Mario and Mr. Roman. Please keep up your good work. Regards Gowri.

My wife and I decided to install solar panels on our detached garage during the summer of 2024. We received quotes from multiple contractors through EnergySage, one being Solar SME. After several interviews and quote revisions, we hired Solar SME under the condition that the system would be operational before December 31. We were planning to sell a rental property and wanted to offset the capital gains tax with the solar tax credit. We signed a contract with Solar SME on August 7, 2024 with the assurance that the system would be completed in 8-12 weeks. As of February 12, 2025, the system is still not complete. We informed SME Solar before signing the contract that we would be replacing the roof of our garage before installing the solar panels, which was completed in late September. On October 10 they delivered the materials, blocking our driveway. I was forced to move the materials with my tractor to access our garage. Installation started on October 16 with immediate and obvious damage to our brand-new metal roof. The panels were completed within a few days, but they were installed crooked on our roof, so to all our neighbors it looks like a bunch of drunken sailors installed our system. When I told Solar SME about this, they replied that it wasn’t a functional concern, so no repair necessary. After installing the panels, the crew could not figure out how to trench the necessary conduit about 70-feet across open ground to the meter. This insolvable problem halted installation for weeks with no contact. When they finally figured out the solution—dig a trench—they failed to bury the conduit in accordance with the electrical code and they destroyed an irrigation line. We demanded the conduit depth be corrected, which took weeks!!!!! They have still not repaired the irrigation line. Once they had the conduit to the meter, we began hearing from our electricity company about all the ways they had incorrectly and illegally connected to the meter, at one point threatening to fine them. Solar SME interpreted that as a fine they would pass along to us. As of today, they are demanding final payment for the system, but have not 1) cleaned up trash they left at our property, 2) corrected the alignment issue on the roof, 3) fixed the damages they caused, or 4) instructed us how to monitor and maintain the system. I could include numerous other examples of incompetency along the way, but the title of the review says it all—a clown show. Hire Solar SME at your own risk. We spent $51,500 on our system and they cost us about $8,000 in taxes, so I wouldn’t hire them to build a doghouse. I'd give them zero stars if it were an option.

I am satisfied with the services I received