We signed a contract with Solar Tech Elec as part of a solar cooperative program. We met with Ross to discuss system size and products. We liked the product and the price and decided to sign. We should have known we would have problems when we had to ask that the contract be fixed with the correct information before we signed it (signed in May with 25% down). Had to keep calling and sending emails to find out when they were going to do the install. We were being patient because we signed up as part of the co-op and understood we were getting a good price, and that they probably had lots of jobs to do because of this. In mid-July, the permit was finally pulled, our kit was ordered, and delivered to our house (the driver was 2 hours late with no communication to let us know he would still be arriving that day). We were asked to send a photo of the packing slip because there were mix-ups with some of the other deliveries and Solar Tech Elec wanted to ensure we had the right items for installation. At that time my husband indicated it looked like there was only one inverter, and we wanted microinverters. We were assured we had everything we needed. The installation went well, and the techs seemed to know what they were doing. We were asked if we wanted to make the remaining 75% payment, but we opted only for the required 50%. We didn't pass the first inspection on August 1, because the plans didn't match our system. We looked at our contract again, and it turns out they installed a different product (there were 2 options offered by the co-op, but we specified in our contract that we wanted Enphase with microinverters, not SolarEdge with optimizers). We contacted Ross, and he gave us a few options. We elected to switch out the system for what we specifically asked for. It took one month for them to order the correct system and get it switched out. The second crew was different and didn't do quite such a nice job. In fact, we didn't pass this next inspection (beginning of September) because there were some screws/washers missing and the plans weren't correct. Also, there was some minor damage done to the asphalt shingles on our roof (which we had replaced in May anticipating the solar installation). No one mentioned the damage to us. A new set of plans was provided, but we received another correction notice at the third inspection (beginning of October), because the plans still weren't correct. We finally passed inspection in mid-October, and then had to remind Solar Tech Elec that the squirrel guards still needed to be installed. A crew was sent out one week later to do this (without prior notice). Luckily, my husband was home, because they showed up without a ladder and borrowed ours! Really? Once the Duke Energy net metering request was submitted, we made our final 25% payment (very end of October). The final invoice was sent, and we had to ask for this to be corrected as well - it didn't have the quantities listed in the 'Quantity' column, and the monitoring system wasn't listed on the invoice at all. One week after final payment, we were contacted by Duke Energy indicating the information provided was incomplete/inaccurate. That was fixed and resubmitted within one day. Duke Energy installed our new meter on November 13. We had the roof shingles replaced at our own expense because we didn't want to have to deal with Solar Tech Elec anymore. Bottom Line: Choose someone else! Ross knows his stuff and uses good products. His installers are hit or miss in terms of attention to detail. Customer service is not their strong suit. In the end, we essentially got what we wanted, but I'm not sure how much of that was because we had the support of the co-op, and/or because I was hounding them incessantly to do their job (and do it right).
