Semper Solaris - San Diego

Based upon my previous very positive experience with Semper Solaris and Mr. David Kaul when they added a Tesla battery to my solar package, I asked David for an appraisal of my thirty plus year old roof. After a detailed inspection, with pictures, we committed to a “lift and lay” using my original concrete tiles. The project included removal and replacement of twenty solar panels. The assigned crew, led by project manager Christian Jimenez, arrived early on the scheduled date, quietly parked all their vehicles so as not to inconvenience neighbors and got immediately to work! As Christian explained the plan, each team member initiated action as needed– no shouting, no confusion, no loud radios – just well -coordinated work! During breaks, there was no noise, food wrappers, etc. Christian returned periodically to ensure steady, safe progress and to update me. The roofing portion was completed a day early with GREAT results. The post-job cleanup was immaculate! David and Christian coordinated with the Solar department to complete the re-installation of our panels. The Solar team also arrived early, parked quietly, and mirrored the roofing team – friendly, professional, self-directed, and super-efficient /effective. They also finished early, gave me a complete post-job debrief and left a totally clean jobsite with a fully up and running solar system. My experience with David Kaul, Christian Jimenez, and all the Semper Solaris team has been perfect!

Only reason there are no stars is because they wouldn't let me choose that option. Do not use Semper Solaris for any type of Solar or Roofing work as the company is far below average in customer service, solar system knowledge, workmanship/quality, value (charged me an additional $5,000 for removal and reinstall of Solar) and scheduling. Absolutely horrible company and horrible experience. Contracted with Semper Solaris on September 22, 2022 for removal of existing solar panels (panels 7 years old), removal of existing roof, installation of new roof and re-installation of solar panels. Semper Solaris shorted out the inverter due to their negligence, resulting in 10 months of no Solar generation (there remains a problem to this day, October 26, 2023). Refused to pay for electricity bill, (over$2000.00), which is zero every year and I receive $500.00 back from generation of power. I sent a letter to the owners a few weeks ago, certified mail so I know they received it, explaining the 10 months of failure and they have not had the decency to reply. To date, system is not working. If not for Sunpower, I would have been out much more money. I am retired military and for Semper Solaris to use the word “Semper” to affiliate themselves with the Marine Corp. is an absolute embarrassment. The Marines have integrity, honor and commitment and Solaris does not. Worst company I have dealt with - ever!

Let me be very clear here, I was a very satisfied customer UNTIL something went wrong. My solar system that was installed by Semper Solaris went down at the end of March. I never would have known this because, like most people, I religiously watched my solar production for the first year of so of solar ownership and then I gradually neglected it more and more. Luckily the company that installed my home battery (NeoVolta) noticed I was no longer feeding the battery from Solar and called me the same day they noticed it. Thus began the nightmare that we will call customer service from Semper Solaris. The never answered phone calls and always returned emails with generic responses that did not address my problem or how to fix it. Eventually we spent 2 weeks going back and forth verifying that the system was in fact not working and that my internet connection was not the problem (despite the fact that I verified that the system was not feeding the battery so it was obviously a larger problem). By middle of May after several emails with photos of my system with no lights showing (because it was broken) we scheduled a service tech to come out in the beginning of June. That service tech merely verified that the system was in fact broken and I needed a new inverter (that they would have to order from the manufacturer….you guessed it they will call to set up an appointment when it comes in.) Now around the middle of June someone calls me with the great news that they could schedule someone to come out July 10. I was informed that I should feel lucky that they were able to call in technicians from Northern California to complete the job so quickly (yes almost 4 months of no working solar was quickly). I received another phone call at the beginning of July letting me know that they scheduled my appointment for a travel day for the technicians and that they would have to reschedule 2 weeks later. After some not so nice discussion and threats of legal action we rescheduled for the 13th at 8:30 am. I was told that they would not need to turn off the power to the house. By 10:00am on the 13th I had not heard from anyone so I called and received no response…UNTIL I called the sales line and explained that they WOULD be getting this done today or they would be hearing from my attorney. About 45 minutes later my tech called to let me know he would be there at 12:30 and it would take 2 hours to complete the repairs. When he got to my house he told me that because I had a different battery that they didn’t install they would be turning of the power to the house. For those of you not in San Diego we are in the peak of a heat wave. I know this is a lot of review BUT when you are spending this much money on something you SHOULD read all of the review because the customer service of this company is horrible! It will cost you thousands of dollars in lost power generation (that the warranty explicitly does not cover) and it will annoy you even more because every time you contact Semper about your warranty problem that they don’t have enough technicians to keep up with they will call you, text you AND email you within 5 minutes from their sales department. They have a great sales team and they do very well at marketing on the name of military owned and the “Semper” name. Honestly I don’t know how the ex-military owner of this company sleeps at night linking his horrible customer service company to the honor, faithfulness and loyalty of the US Armed forces and Marines specifically. They are not the most affordable, normally that means higher customer service and better equipment. Do not use Semper unless you want to go through the same thing in the event that something goes wrong with your system.

BEWARE - It says so much about a company when they refuse to communicate via email, clearly not wanting to commit their maliciousness to written fact - I contacted Semper Solaris in May 2021 because half the panels on a fairly new system that was installed in 2018 (sold to a veteran for $49k) had blown off and the system was down. As if in slow motion, it took Semper almost 5 months and 3 inverters to fix the system (which I was told by technicians were installed incorrectly). I believed, Semper Solaris owed me money for electricity costs during such a long down time (note: they insist they never pay electricity costs for downed systems) - at which time I realized how could the electricity cost not change with the system working or not? Weird. I contacted Semper Solaris and was assured I was unclear on my electricity usage. However, my deductive reasoning suggested that the system was either not connected to the grid or perhaps not connected to the meter. Was that possible from a system installed in 2018? Semper insisted they could not determine this themselves, its a Southern California Edison issue to solve (which I discovered is not exactly true and could have been solved very easily by a Semper Solaris technician coming and opening the connection boxes). After almost a year and a half of phone calls, emails, waiting on hold, more hours than I could count to resolve - I finally get Southern California Edison to inspect the meter 6 weeks ago, and low and behold - this solar system has not been connected to a meter since its installation in 2018, thus paying full electrical costs! Wow, and the SCE technician also stated that he had been here in 2018 because previous owner complained of the same issue, when the technician discovered that Semper had mistakenly connected this solar system to a third party oil rig and marked the oil rigs connection box with solar power stickers. Then in an attempt to correct (once discovered by SCE), they illegally accessed the SC&E meter and jury rigged a what they thought was a connection - once again, incorrectly, so that the solar system was, again, not connected!! SS finally connected this system , after 4 years of being unconnected (and don’t forget the beginning of the story where half the panels blew off). Their account exec disdainfully recently told me that I am like a person who bought a car from a car dealership and am complaining about a flat tire! This is so offensive after all I have been through with them. They have skirted any kind of accountability conversation, and have now begun to refer to this as simply a “warranty issue” and will not discuss any financial damages. If it were not for my tenacious work over 17 months, this system would have paid full electricity for the lifetime of the system after almost $50,000 investment. While Semper Solaris seems to get press as a top tier solar company, I did find them on a consumer watchlist at California Solar Consumer Protection ([*** Link removed ***] you can look up their watchlist of non-compliant solar providers. This has been a lesson in repeated corporate buffoonery and egregious and negligent business practices, over and over and over again. Stay away from this company.

Besides unacceptable worst customer service ever with overpriced quotes, unprofessional conduct of sales reps coming over with hang over and alcohol breath with shaking hands barely listening to our requests with shaken after all night in the bar hands (Rob, salesman words not mine, mine is just an observation), there is NOTHING military grade service about Semper Solaris…and and I speak as a retired Navy veteran. I am speaking and trying to have upgraded service from them for over a year. Given false promises, fake advertisements for upgraded systems, there is nothing noble resembling military integrity and conduct about them. Executive assistant held me in limbo asking to take off my negative review on Google for almost 2 months meanwhile attracting customers with false advertising of IQ8 upgrade which is available to exciting customers (this came directly from the owner), and false promised service and to be delivered contract masking it with claimed being best solar company yet just simply attracting more and more customers deceitfully attracting new customers with faulty promises and products without a doing legitimate job with improper advertisement yet bound current customer with technically inaccurate and misleading warranty; didn’t even bother to call me when she promised. Everything about them is improper and way below Military integrity and ethics of work delivery and promise.. Look at Truspilot review, it is real evaluation of this company “2” stars. Run away before they will get you with a flow system on false pretense. I don’t do such a brutal negative wen comment for local companies, but Semper Solar sure deserve it. To conclude and wrap it up: Last conversation was to actually deny me a future project. Owner denied it on a fact I posted a legitimate, verified on current advertisement and my own experience honest reviewer. The Fact that false advertisement accusation was based on failing the delivery of IQ8 microinverters and battery systems,, which I temporarily suspended hoping they actually will delivery the promise. Just hear me out… they found me by fake warranty and upgrade is denied, AVOID this company at all costs. Veterans/military don’t treat each other like that, they correct the problem and move on, refusing service has to be legitimate. I don;’t believe it is even veteran own or founded, and all the Jets Co-founder can afford to fly on your honestly earned money will not be of all mistreatment, below optimal product and inferior product. Trustpilot has a true reflection of their performance or lack of it. (2 stars is noo much for their performance). Demand: since I need system expansion which is covered by this solar company, I need either a refund without uninstalling it with all emotional distress, or deliver the advertised promise, and install IQ8 inverters,.. How do you do it to another veteran if its true and you are veteran funded company?

They are the worst possible Company !!!!! They put our solar and AC in July last year and two weeks later our whole house had water damage from it leaking into our floors , walls and ceiling. All of the owners mangers and employees ignored or never called back and hung up on us when we contacting them. We had to threaten to sue and go to the better businesses bureau for them to contact us. By then we had to take apart our whole kitchen and some of our walls because it was completely damaged and rebuild it. They took no responsibility at all. Our insurance sued them and helped us with most of the repairs. Still to this day we have problems with it leaking and other stuff wrong with it and they keep sending people out to fix it and they never fully fix it. Even asked to have the manager come out but they will not speak to us or come out. If you wanna keep your home how it is and not damage do not spend your money on these horrible people and horrible business. Had to uprooted my whole family for a year living in a construction zone had to have one of my kids live with their grandparents. grandparents. IF YOU GET ANYTHING FROM THIS DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THIS COMPANY IF YOU WANT YOUR HOUSE TO STAY INTACT.

I would never use this company. They have been saw-cutting a 27' long trench at my next-door neighbors house for 6 days now. Jack hammering, and gas saws all day long. My house is slimed with dust. No one from the company or crew has come over to apologize or offer to clean up. When I called the company I only got lip service from a junior call center clerk. I am in real estate and construction and know that a competent crew with the right equipment could have knocked out this job in a day.

Product is superb. I am an engineer and researched the solar cell technology. It is a high reliability mechanical design with a 25 year power generation warranty. No pressure sales. Gave me a good price compared to what I researched on historical installs in California. Worked engineering and permits for me. I only had to be present for inspections. Crews were friendly and professional. They explained everything to me when I asked questions. No BS.

Installation was good. Service and support is terrible. It's been two months and no one came out to show me how the darn thing work. The monitoring app is very poor. Will not recommend and will not use them again.

.

Semper Solaris were prompt in their communication and our solar panels were installed a month in advance from what we expected.  We are so pleased with their service and responsiveness. We just received our first electric bill and experienced a 75% reduction.  We highly recommend Semper Solaris.

Everything went smoothly. Very professional.

Once the HOA approval paperwork was done, and the City Permits completed, the installation took about 3 full days. City Inspection was ~2 days later, and SCE another 4 days to approve and get me on the grid. Corey (Sales) assisted with paperwork needed for HOA approval, Jackie (Electrician) and his team were always polite and willing to answer any and all questions I had. I do have one small hiccup on the Sunpower Monitoring system, but they will be here tomorrow to fix that.

From the day I signed the contracts, which were explained in detail by Semper Solas Representive Cory Krein,until I fully understood the program, things went well with one exception. That being the City of Menifee beurocratic foot dragging as well as So.Cal Edison on inspections and final approval. They do things at their own speed.........SLOW!
The eitire installation crew of Semper Solaris were on time and very professional, not only in the installation but their attitude. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. They deserve it. What a joy to watch your electric meter run backwards.It's get even time with high electric bills.
Being a Vet myself, what better way is there to do business than with another Vet.

very well.... we have a flat roof which some companies won't touch and we have an existing system we wanted to add to and that threw some companies. They have a ballast system which we had hoped to use to avoid penetrating waterproofing, but city won't permit that for a small job. They contacted the people who make our waterproofing to make sure their waterproofing would be compatible. Very professional. Took a fairly long time to get started but our engineering was unusual and I think the permit took a long time. Once on the job it was fast and we were very happy.

This is a review of my Semper Solaris solar panel system installation in May of 2016. Sales person was Bob King and installation team leader was Allen. Having researched extensively solar power systems for 2 months, solicited 6 bids and consulting in-person with 4 sales reps, I decided to go with Semper Solaris based on the quality of the hardware / equipment. Warranty. Company reviews and most importantly, price point. My sales person, Bob King completely walked me thru the entire system. From financial and environmental benefits, to the entire installation process with SCE, City, tax benefits, etc. He spoke to me in a manner that allowed me to fully grasp all the information in a very understandable way. Even the concepts I was not fully understanding, Bob provided me with the information to grasp the most detailed and in-depth grasp of everything. I really thought I would be going with the leading warehouse store as they just starting offering solar and I'm a loyal customer of this warehouse store. But after getting their quote (higher price) and almost hanging up on the numerous rude sales people, I just couldn't get around the fact that it was just another high pressure sales boiler room environment trying to scam me. The Semper Solaris installation workers showed up when promised and performed high quality work. They were VERY nice guys. Spoke to me numerous times during each installation day to ensure everything was good from my perspective and clearly outlined everything that was happening., I was very satisfied with the installation workmanship. Semper Solaris administrative support (accounting and scheduling) was helpful and courteous, all questions were answered quickly and any questions were addressed and answered quickly. The most impressive aspect of the whole experience with Semper Solaris and Bob King was the speed and ease of the entire process. From the first appointment, to the date I signed the contract, to the installation, to the date of Edison issuing my PTO was 6 weeks, simply outstanding and Semper communicated to me the entire time. I highly recommend Semper Solaris and Bob King to anyone looking to invest in solar power. Long term, it will be one of the best investments I will ever make as costs go up on electricity but I will have all the power I need and will pay almost nothing per year for that power. This is the second house I have installed solar because of the tax benefits, power savings etc. Even if you just want to inquire about it, call Semper and/or Bob and the no pressure information is very helpful and informative. I knew I was going to pull the trigger and I made the right choice for my solar system by using Semper Solaris.

unknown

Everything was done on time and it only took a few days to get the system up and running.  The only glitch we had was the internet connection so they could monitor the panel performance, but that was a Cox Cable issue.

Dealt directly with the owner and still call him occasionally when ever I have an questions. The were very professional, did the job quickly and I am extremely satisfied with the results I compared 4 different companies and once I was sure exactly what I wanted they provide the best price.