Southland Solar

My experience with Southland Solar was great. Unlike other companies my husband and I had received estimates from they did not try to over sell us with extra panels or equipment we didn't need. A year later the savings are still jaw dropping. I highly recommend Southland Solar. The owners are wonderful people, easy to work with. Never a bump in the road. I think what I like most about Southland Solar is that Michael the owner is involved on every level from teaching you how the panels work , helping you decide what system you need , to submitting your rebate forms and acquiring permits. He even installs the system! Whenever you are working on a project that affects your home value and costs thousands of dollars, you need to feel like the people you are working with you can trust. I felt from that way from the beginning with Michael and his company. His Wife even sent us a beautiful gift basket at the end of the project. I Highly recommend this company!

The quality of attention to detail continued throughout a very frustrating period with the City of Banning, which owns its own utility. The permit process normally takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. This process took two entire months, because the various segments of the city utility and the planning department weren't communicating effectively, were losing or not responding to emails, etc. One person there was efficient but fairly negative about contractors, so tended to expect the worst. Michael from Southland Solar was patient with them and with me and kept me informed every couple of days about what was going on with the process.

When I first asked for a quote, I got a figure for the main system. I then learned about other things I might want - a roof fan to decrease the temperature in the attic, and individual inverters for each system rather than one for the whole system. Michael listened to each of my requests, added the items that worked with my system, and installed them all with the most cheerful and friendly attitude I have ever encountered in a contractor. I had checked with another company before going with Southland (and had researched quite a few before I found the Southland web site). The other company had a salesman (not the contractor himself) come out and do a presentation that offered a lesser system (fewer panels, less projected energy savings) for twice the cost.

I knew the first day, after receiving Southland's carefully constructed proposal, that I had a winner with whom to work. When he came out to look at the house before I signed the contract, he waved that away and said "yeah, that's pretty good software." But it's my experience you need to have someone who knows enough to use the software and present the options

Once the permit finally got approved - with alternating calls from him and from me to the city to move things along - he was there the next day, and finished the job within 3 days. He clearly enjoyed his work, didn't rush it, but moved through it with an efficiency that demonstrates considerable knowledge. He explained the monitoring system to me, and then came back twice to meet with the city planning inspector and fire inspector.

The final touch was a folder full of copies of all my documents - HERO financing, original contract, application with the city, final quote on the system - as well as instructions for care and cleaning and a DVD with those same documents and pictures of the system being installed at my home. I can honestly say I've never met anyone more thorough and conscientious, with such integrity. He also left a basket of green goodies: soap, mint chocolate, - organic, by Green and Black (good stuff!) pistachio nuts (clever!), and mint tea. Clever AND thoughtful. Finally, he and his team had a sense of humor, and (with my permission) glued a toy helicopter they found on the roof to the top of a roof vent stack. I am certain no one else has a solar installation such as mine. All thanks to Southland Solar. I give Michael and his wife, Sarah, the highest recommendation for their company, and urge anyone considering solar in the Inland Empire to go with his company. You will not only not be disappointed, you will be delighted you did.