Solar Company - Defined

The term " solar company" is tossed around alot these days.

The term "Solar Company" is a broad general term and is used in connection with any company supporting or supplying products and services for solar energy. This includes manufacturing companies, sales companies, contractors, installers and of course electricians. You will also find public or non-profit companies whose purpose is to inform and educate referring to themselves as a solar company. Today, you will find that anyone who is in any way connected with the solar industry will most likely hang the solar company moniker on their door. There are 4 basic types of solar energy in use topday and you can find a description of each in a recent web article. Please click on this link to open the article in a new web page. However, here the focus will be on Solar Voltaic or Solar Panel Systems.

To make some sense of how all of these companies fit together we will break them down into general categories and list a few things to watch out for when selecting your solar system and the company to install it.

Solar Company - Solar System Manufacturing Companies

Today most solar panel manufacturers provide all the components of a completed solar system. This will not only include a variety of panel selections and parts that they manufacture but a selection of equipment such as mountings, inverters and associated hardware. In many cases these support devices are manufactured by other solar product companies who enter into partnership arrangements. The important thing here is to know or check out the business credentials of each solar company involved in the development of your solar system and to carefully read the warranty information. Not all warranties are the same. Solar Panels have been proven to last over 40 years. You want a warranty that covers defects and workmanship for at least 10 years. For performance warranties, solar panels should be covered for 25 years and inverters for 10. When checking business info, look for companies that have been in business at least 10 years and have no unresolved complaints lodged against them. The Better Business Bureau is a good source for this information. What good is the warranty if the company is not in business or ignores you when you need to file a claim.

The next thing to look at is how the solar company is informing the public of their products and how they choose to distribute them. Some companies will sell directly to the public and enter into agreements with solar and electrical contractors to do the surveys, system sizing and installation. In this type of arrangement the solar electrical contractor can also solicit business on behalf of the company. Acquiring your solar system using this method has proven to be the least costly and the most effective. A professional can asses your power requirements and your investment goals in order to provide you with exactly what you need for your situation. After checking the solar manufacturing company's credentials, do the same for the contractor. Inquire with the BBB, check their Dunn and Bradstreet rating and look on the web for customer reviews. If you encounter high pressure sales tactics from any company or contractor, look for another one and compare products and prices. You must feel confident and comfortable when you invest in anything, a solar system is no different.

Some solar companies employ sales companies whose main purpose is to set appointments and to sell pre-designed solar systems right off the shelf. These systems are rarely sized properly for your home or business and if you have any doubts, delay the sale and get another quote or opinion. You can find many stories about pushy sales people and solar systems that were either too large or too small. Click here to review a recent NY Times article regarding pressure tactics being employed today and the negative impact it is having on consumers.

Solar Companies - Installer - Contractors

Solar installers will often refer to themselves as solar somapies. They are most often solar electrical contractors who enter into contracts not only with individual customers to do the entire solar system job but also with the manufacturing companies directly to handle the installation for its' direct sale customers. In all cases the installer/contractor must be licensed and authorized by the solar panel manufacturing company to sell or install their products directly to the general public. There are also solar installers who just specialize in the installation of a solar systems under a solar contractor and never enter into agreements with the solar manufacturing company.

In all cases you need a license electrician to complete the hook up of the solar system to your house electrical circuits and the grid so that your solar system can offset or replace the electricity provided by the utility.

Solar Companies - Educational - Public and Not For Profit

The companies in this group are a great source for information and news. Companies like the California Center for Sustainable Energy provide information product reviews and workshops designed to help the consumer and the building community be more informed about solar and alternative energy. The state of California is not a company but it is a corporation and in full support of the solar movement. You can read all about the initiatives, rebates and incentives that are coming down from the governmental level at the California Go-Solar website by clicking here.

Need a second opinion?

If you find yourself, with a quote for a solar sytem and you are not 100% sold and sure that you are making the right choice, please give us a call at 858-541-1097. We will be more than happy to give you a second opinion. Your solar system proposal should show your energy generation, your period savings (the offsetting of your utility bill) and your investment payback period. A solar system purchase is more realistically an investment that not only returns your principle but will allow you to generate your own electricity while supporting a cleaner, healthier environment.

Our Promise to You

Solar by Milholland Electric Promise:

No High Pressure Sales No Part of Our Work is Sub-Contracted 10 Year Full Warranty, 25 Year Limited Warranty Custom Design and Installation