2024 SunPower Solar Review Guide (Costs, Quality, & More)
By Kristina Zagame /
Here’s what you’ll learn in this review of Solgen Power:
Each product and or company featured here has been independently selected by the writer. You can learn more about our review methodology here. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Choosing a solar panel company to handle your solar conversion is one of the most challenging — and sometimes stressful — parts of going solar. Our Solgen Power review below should help give you some clarity and guidance to decide if this company is right for you.
Solgen Power is an excellent company to choose for your solar panel installation. The company is relatively young, but it has already established a reputation for outstanding customer service. It provides high-efficiency solar equipment, maintains below-average pricing and serves five states.
Solgen Power LLC was founded in 2017 by Chris Lee in Pasco, Washington. Before founding Solgen Power, Chris had no experience in the solar industry and worked in the financial sector and marketing for four years. This isn’t necessarily a red flag, but some solar customers like to see longevity in the industry both from the company and the founders.
Solgen Power prides itself on completing all work in-house, so everything from the quote and design process to the installation and service after your system is functioning will be handled by Solgen Power’s team. This is great news, as the company has very quickly developed a reputation for excellent customer care, especially after the installation if any issues begin to pop up.
Solgen Power Fast Facts | |
Year Started | 2017 |
Service Areas | Arizona, Kentucky, Ohio, Oregon and Washington |
Services Offered | Solar panel installations; off-grid solar solutions |
Types of Solar Equipment Offered | Tier 1, monocrystalline solar panels (varies by location) |
Certifications | Technicians certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) |
Better Business Bureau Rating | A+ |
Average cost
Pros
Cons
Once you choose your solar panel installer, the process going forward is relatively similar regardless of the company you choose to handle your installation. Below, we’ll provide a breakdown of the process from start to finish so that you’ll know what to expect every step of the way.
The process of going solar can differ slightly among providers. Below is what you’ll experience when you choose Solgen Power for your solar conversion.
The first step is to fill out the company’s online contact form to request a free quote. The form requires just some basic information, including your address, phone number, and email address. Within 24 hours, a sales representative from Solgen will contact you to gather additional information.
You should have your most recent utility bill handy to share with the sales rep, and you should also be prepared to discuss technical aspects of your home, including appliances and normal energy usage. The salesperson will then typically get a quote for your solar project.
Next, a technician or electrician from Solgen Power will come out to your home to confirm the information you supplied, complete a site survey and measure your roof for panels. They might also look at your heating equipment, your water meter and your main breaker panel.
The Solgen Power design team will use information gathered during your consultation and your home inspection to design a solar panel system that meets your needs and fits your home. The design team will ask for your final approval, at which point you’ll have your total installation cost.
Once you approve the process and secure a loan for your solar system — or make a down payment if you’re paying in cash — the team will begin pulling permits for your system. Your local permitting agency can cause delays here of several weeks, depending on its backlog.
A Solgen energy consultant should also help you get set up with any local solar incentives and rebates you may be eligible for.
After the permits are approved, Solgen’s installation team will reach out to you to schedule your installation. The installation process usually just takes a day or two, and you’ll need to be home the whole time. You can often start monitoring your solar production the same day or the next day.
Finally, Solgen can activate your system and set up interconnection to connect you to the grid and get you started with net metering — if offered by your power company. At this point, your panels will be generating electricity for your home and begin offsetting your electric bills.
Solgen Power is known for providing outstanding customer service from the very first contact through the installation and beyond. Very few customers have complained about difficulties during the process, and most mention the company’s professionalism, timeliness, honesty and commitment to customer satisfaction. You can rest assured that you’ll be in good hands when choosing this company.
Solar panel prices can vary quite a bit based on many factors, including the type of equipment you want to be installed, the orientation of your home with respect to the sun, shading on your roof and more. The installer you choose can also play a significant role in your total. Solgen Power maintains below-average pricing for its customers, making solar more affordable and accessible for all.
More importantly, the value you receive when going solar with Solgen Power is well worth the investment, based on the generally positive reviews from customers. The above-average customer service and the highly efficient solar panel brands make Solgen Power a great option in terms of the cost to value ratio.
Solgen Power only accepts cash purchases and solar loans, which is common among high-quality installers. Solgen doesn’t provide access to leases for solar systems and power purchase agreements (PPAs), although these options aren’t usually recommended anyway.
The table below provides a quick comparison of the purchase options Solgen Power offers.
Cash Purchase | Solar Loan | |
System Ownership | ✓ | ✓ |
Upfront Cost | ✓ | ✓ |
Added Property Value | ✓ | ✓ |
Eligible for Federal Tax Credit | ✓ | ✓ |
Monthly Payment Due to | Solar Installer | Loan Provider |
If you’re unsure which financing option is right for you and your budget, feel free to read through our guide to solar financing options for assistance.
Given the high cost of installing solar power systems, most homeowners look for solar installers that provide good warranty coverage. Most solar equipment comes with a warranty from the manufacturer and some installers provide additional coverage. Many installers also provide a workmanship warranty that protects you and your home from issues during the installation.
Solgen Power offers a 25-year warranty for physical damage and power production for all solar panels and inverters. It also has a 10-year warranty for labor, which includes protection from roof leaks. This warranty coverage is good, but it’s not the best.
Given the rapid increase in the popularity of solar power systems, there are, unfortunately, many companies that have popped up that are just in the industry for profit. These companies often end up providing poor quality systems and below-average customer service that can turn what should be a simple process into a nightmare. Below, we’ll take a look at some Solgen Power reviews from customers to give you a snapshot of what you can expect from this installer.
Most of the online reviews for Solgen Power are positive, and the majority of customers have great things to say about the company’s professionalism, customer care and overall value for the price. Below are some of the positive reviews we found online for Solgen Power.
“Love our new solar panels!! Solgen Power was the best choice! We read other reviews and one of the things that sold me was a review that stated they keep you informed during the whole process so you aren’t left guessing or wondering. It was spot on. I received regular texts letting me know where they were in our journey. They contracted the roofers because we needed a new roof and managed that whole process for us. I can’t say enough about this wonderful company!!” — Jamie via Google Reviews
“We had a great experience from the first meeting with this company. Very professional and knowledgeable. We felt confident making the switch to solar and using Solgen. Since we have had the [solar panels] installed we have had no issues and it’s really fun to see how much power you actually use, and how much is being created by solar. We would recommend them for sure!” — Tara via Google Reviews
No company is without some negative reviews, and Solgen Power is no exception. There have been some isolated reports of poor service, but the company seems quick to respond, and, thankfully, the issues don’t seem to be recurrent. Below are some of the most illustrative negative reviews for Solgen Power.
“When we started the process with Solgen power it was amazing. They were on top of everything, answered questions we had, treated us like we were important customers and part of the Solgen Power family to them. Fast forward two years later this is the worst company ever when it comes to warranty work, at least in Tucson. I was told it’s because of shading from my a/c unit when it has never been an issue before. But I guess that’s their way of getting out [of] any warranty work.” — David via Google Reviews
“The beginning of this adventure went well – good experience overall. Got a new roof and solar panels with Solgen. Fast forward to 10 months later, our roof is leaking into our living room. After 3 weeks of no service response and poor communication, a tech came out and determined that it was a flaw with the panel installation…now it has been almost 2 weeks and we still have no scheduled appointment to get it fixed. Nobody emails or calls back when they say they will.” — Kala via Google Reviews
Solgen Power ranks high in our overall installer ratings, but how does it compare to the top providers? The table below provides a side-by-side look at Solgen Power and how it stacks up against SunPower Solar and Momentum Solar, two of our highest-ranking solar panel installation companies.
Solgen Power | SunPower Solar | Momentum Solar | |
EcoWatch Rating | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.5 |
Year Started | 2017 | 1986 | 2009 |
Services Offered | Solar panel installations; off-grid solar solutions | Solar panel, solar battery and EV charger installations; solar monitoring | Solar panel and solar battery installations |
Service Areas | Arizona, Kentucky, Ohio, Oregon and Washington | Nationwide | 11 States |
BBB Rating | A+ | A+ | A+ |
Payment Options | Cash payments, solar loans | Cash payments, solar loans, solar leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs) | Cash payments, solar loans, solar leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs) |
Below, we’ll answer some of the most common questions we get from homeowners about Solgen Power. If you have specific questions that aren’t answered here, reach out to our team of solar experts at solar@ecowatch.com.
You don’t have to worry about it being a scam — Solgen Power is absolutely a legitimate company, and it ranks very high in our solar panel company ratings. Solgen is younger than most of its competitors, but it has established a record of positive customer service and excellent value provided since it was founded in 2017. The company provides tier-1 solar equipment at below-average prices, making it an outstanding choice for solar conversions.
Yes! Solgen Power is more affordable than most solar companies, but it doesn’t fall short when it comes to the value provided. It uses high-efficiency solar panels, provides good warranty coverage and offers excellent customer service throughout the entire process of going solar.
In most cases, yes. Solgen Power uses high quality products and designs each system specifically for the house on which it’s being installed. The system you get will be custom- designed based on your home size, energy needs and how much sun your roof gets, so it’s very likely that you’ll see a significant decrease in your energy bills. If your state has a good net metering policy, you might even be able to eliminate your electric bills entirely.
No, Solgen Power maintains below-average pricing despite the quality and consistency of the equipment and the company as a whole. You’ll pay less going solar with Solgen than you would with most competitors, especially for the same quality equipment.
Solgen Power is headquartered in Washington State at 5715 Bedford St., Pasco, WA 99301. Through its additional branches, it serves all of Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Ohio and Kentucky.