Solar Energy Solutions, Inc

On April 2, 2008, Andrew installed our Solar Pool Heating System, and in these past 15 years, I have only had Solar Energy Solutions out twice for system maintenance. Obviously, Andrew did an exceptional job back then, as he continues to do today. Ous solar system has performed flawlessly each and every year. We have extended our swimming season by about one month earlier and a month later in the season because it works so well. I used to hold off heating the pool in the early and late season because of the expense, but since installing this system, heating the pool is effectively free. No longer do we have any expense for natural gas or maintenance of the pool heater. We maintain a temperature of 85-90 degrees, and could choose to make it warmer, but we set the automatic thermostat to shut off so it doesn’t get warmer than we want it. We also no longer buy a thermal pool cover every few years because with the system from Solar Energy Solutions, our pool stays warm the whole season, and in NW Oregon, that is saying something. Installation of this system has been the most efficient, cost-effective energy savings upgrade we have done. I highly recommend Andrew and Solar Energy Solutions for heating your pool.

Andrew and team were fantastic! Andrew is incredibly knowledgeable and is forthright with his explanation of the panels and what they'll do, as well as the entire installation and inspection process. I can't recommend him enough!!

It was great! SES did the original installation, so this was a return engagement. Andrew worked over a year with the insurance company to remove damaged panels so that roof could be repaired, then design & cost replacement system, and install once insurance company agreed to pay. Because of changing technology, it was possible to install a larger system that has provided 100% of my electrical needs since June; squirrel guards were added to prevent nesting under the panels. Andrew handled paperwork so that I got Energy Trust and state tax credits, reducing cost by over $8000. Throughout the process, Andrew kept in touch by email or phone so that I knew where things stood.

Solar Energy Solutions charged us a $125 nonrefundable deposit towards a solar hot water heating system in order to get an estimate.  Andrew claimed that his company is too small to be able to provide free estimates. SES's estimate was several thousand dollars higher than the average of the estimates of the other companies with which we inquired, and none of those other companies charged for their estimate.  SES was at a distinct competitive disadvantage in terms of price, but I let Andrew talk me into thinking we would get great service.
  
Well before the appointment to start the work, I think it was the day prior, Andrew scolded me on the phone for not having already cleared the four or so feet radius of the corner that was the work area.  I don't understand why he felt it had to be done an arbitrary amount of time before the start of work.  As long as it was done by the time he and his assistant arrived would have seemed okay to me.  Also, it would've taken him and his assistant probably less than 2 minutes to do the clearing themselves anyway.   I guess it did not occur to him that that would have been good service.
 
Andrew borrowed some things of ours in the course of his work:  the use of our bathroom and the use our towels to mop up the spillage he caused.  They left the towels for us to launder ourselves.  They unjammed our vacuum cleaner  but only because they felt the need to borrow that as well.  I have never experienced such extensive borrowing among any of the several other contractors we have hired recently.  The most anybody else borrowed was the use of the bathroom.
 
As far as I can recall, Andrew never failed to arrive during the time window he gave for his appointments.  That said, the scheduling tended to be by the seat of the pants and not long term.  In the end, he would typically ask us when during the coming week we'd be available and then we were to wait till he would call us, the day or so prior to when he knew he'd be available.
 
About 20 or so months after installation, the system quit working.  When I called Andrew about it, he scolded me for supposedly not monitoring the system well enough.  He had been rather persistent about us doing that but had been vague in the details about how exactly to do it and had not given a more specific schedule other than doing it every time I went downstairs.  Each time he had tried to explain how to monitor it it was like one of the blind men describing the elephant, in other words incomplete.  I had done the best to put the pieces together in my mind but could not really say I did it how he wanted.  It is my understanding that except by invoking a rather arcane principle of physics, one cannot claim that frequently observing the solar hot water heating system can actually prevent it from failing or otherwise alter its due course.  Also, as far as I know, Andrew is not exactly available 24/7 and consequently would not necessarily be able to come and fix it promptly anyway.  He did not even ask about the yearly maintenance, the flushing of the tank, which we had duly performed.   Also, he had originally talked about coming by and checking the system about a year after installation,which would have been the following summer, but he had not followed through.  Since there was a two year unconditional warranty on the system, he had also said that SES "owns" the system for the first two years. I took that to mean that they are responsible for taking care of the system the first 2 years, and I still believe that.  When we notified him the system had broken down, he did not immediately tell us to unplug it; that was a subsequent phone conversation.  
 
Later, when I confronted Andrew about his uncalled-for behavior, his response was first denial, then rationalization, and then playing the victim. He first said that he did not remember saying "most of those things."  He also said that he treats his friends very well when he is with them, which is irrelevant.  He further labeled us "honored customers." I guess he doesn't quite rate his "honored customers" as meriting the consideration reserved for his friends.  Eventually, he said that it did not seem like I wanted him there at our house and that all I had to do was say the word and he would leave for good; saying such seemed extremely unprofessional of him.  I was clearly angry but had expressed myself in an appropriate manner when complaining.  I pointed out that his own objectionable behavior was what had incurred my anger and his threatening to leave was hypocritical; I had to mention that last thing twice before it seemed to sink in with him.  I also told him that I wanted him to stay and meet his responsibilities.  I could have added, though I did not, that I should not have had to explain to him how to behave appropriately in the first place.
 
The repairs played out roughly as follows:  waiting for him to get back from his honeymoon along with waiting one-after-the-other for three different replacement parts or devices; that was all over the course of a few months.   For that last part, he asked me to remind him if we did not hear from him for a while--yet another example of him treating us like we work for him rather than vice versa. The last month or two, Andrew claimed that he was going to be on the phone with the supplier on a weekly basis to try to coax them to soon send that last part and said that it was not his fault for the long delay.  I think he needs to take some ownership for the fact that he chose this supplier and, thus, is at least partly responsible for any unresponsiveness of the supplier.  
 
Andrew's last e-mail informing us of the arrival of that last part had 12 exclamation marks in it.  I don't think that things like that and all his grinning over time provided any enhancement to our overall service experience.  
 
Eventually, as he left our house for the last time, Andrew offered a muted, vague apology for "all that."  This all wasn't our worst experience with a contractor ever, but it wasn't exactly a good one, either.

It went extremely well, though it took longer than expected, largely because of paperwork delays (solar energy incentive application, net metering application) and then weather when winter got serious. Andrew is consistently responsive, almost always answers his phone and also responds to email, and Jason is capable, friendly, and responsible.

I had been looking at PV systems for a couple of years. I read journals about solar energy, attended seminars and "green" tours. There seem to be several very competent solar companies in the Portland area and I settled on Solar Energy Solutions. Andrew made the experience smooth and flawless (as did Jason and Phil). My system has been up for slightly over a year and is performing more than 10% better than promised. I am delighted to be able to control my energy costs and to join others who feel that this is a good way to "lead from behind". I would do another system with this fine company anytime!