Sumintra - Profile & Reviews

I found Sumintra via the Internet when I was having problems with my solar hot water system. The owner lives a few blocks from me. Although he doesn't do much hot water work these days, he was willing to come by and take a look at my system. It was his trick of temporarily switching the tank and collector sensor leads at the pump controller that allowed me to determine that my problem was not a bad sensor, as I'd thought, but a breakdown of the controller itself.
He also provided me with contact information for acquiring a replacement controller from Sun Source Energy. I did so, and installed the new unit on my own.
Mr. Sumintra did not charge me for the visit.

Remodeling a home is an arduous task for any homeowner. Notably, for a new homeowner who is trying to install a relatively more modern technology like the solar system, remodeling becomes a lot more complicated ordeal. Navigating into the world of the solar system and identifying the best system and deal is not an easy task. As a consumer/customer who is trying to make a difference to the environment by adopting a cleaner source of energy, the field of the solar system is challenging to navigate. While trying to find a trustworthy contractor, my friend suggested Anil from Sumintra. She had been exceptionally impressed by the work and customer service provided by Anil and his team at Sumintra. Just as described by my friend, Anil had been very friendly and cordial with our project. He explained all aspects of solar installation. Most importantly, he always had my best interest in his mind. I have felt that Anil and his team believe in providing the best possible system to his clients, and take great care of them after the installation as if they were his own family. To conclude, Anil and his team at Sumintra has far exceeded my expectations. In a short time, we became good friends. I wish every contractor that does home remodeling is just like Anil and his team at Sumintra.

Bob S

Our experience with Anil, the owner, was excellent from the beginning to the end. He was the only one that reacted quickly to the request for a quote and took the time to educate me, the novice. He won the bid with a reasonable price and high attention to detail. Anil and his crew are passionate about solar power and it shows in the work they do. A high attention to detail and excellent communication during the install process. Anil was always available by phone or text to answer questions. We are very pleased with the result and are now enjoying our new solar system

Sumintra Solar owner, Anil Babooram, installed our first 3.6 kW system 15 years ago, and we contracted him again to install a new 6.1 kW system when we had to replace our 35-year-old roof shingles. We got three bids from solar installers, and Anil’s was the most reasonable. He also offered to apply the cost to remove our old panels towards the replacement system – a big savings for us. His two excellent crew members clearly knew their stuff. One commented that he always preferred working with Anil (he works for other solar installers, too) because of Anil’s strict attention to the details of a quality installation. We had frustrating delays due to PECO’s turtle-paced response in giving approval, first for the design, and then for the PTO (Permission to Operate), but this was not Anil’s fault. Only after pestering PECO ourselves as the homeowner did they get moving. The system is working beautifully, and we can track production via a phone app. The Sunny Boy inverter that Anil suggested as an option has a two-plug back-up outlet so that during a power outage, we can shift to “in-house generation” and the outlet goes live. We can power a computer, phones, water pump, refrigerator, etc., during daylight hours during outages. This replaces, for us, the need for a battery back-up system or generator. Definitely a cool feature.

Anil was responsive to our phone calls throughout the project and is the model of how a small business should operate. He is trustworthy, considerate, and really smart. Ask him to give you a bid; you will not be disappointed!

The company owner, Anil, is an Electrical Engineer, and it shows. From the initial sales conversation, you know you're speaking with someone who understands what he's doing and isn't just following a script. I had some special requirements that were taken into account, and they weren't problems for Anil. He actually worked onsite with his installers, who were conscientious about doing a great job.

I called and spoke with Anil. He is very informative about solar panels, and he is also very honest. I was looking into buying solar panels to cut my electric bill. I told him that I am not presently working. He said that since I am not working at the present time, I would not be eligible for the tax credit. I didn't realize that, and I am thankful he shared that important information with me. He had suggested that I look into weatherization first.

From the first time I spoke to Anil I felt he was someone I could trust I was looking to have a large system installed on my house and spoke to several companies. Anil was the only one who had real answers to my questions without giving me the run around. He told me up front that he cared more about quality than a quick in and out job and it showed. Anil and his crew were very respectful of my home and family and that means allot to me. I would highly recommend Anil to anyone interested in solar.

We interviewed three different Solar companies before signing with Sumintra to install our 53 panel, 2 inverter system. We were confident in Anil’s ability to do the job well from our first meeting. He is clearly very knowledgeable, and spends the time to truly design the best system to meet your individual needs/wants. He was the only one of the three companies who was able and willing to answer all of our questions. He was prompt and courteous in explaining everything we needed to know, and has continued to be available for our questions over a year since the installation. We have a really old house, built around 1730, so the job was not straightforward. Our walls are 3 feet of stone and the roof beams were not up to current code, so remedial structural work needed to be done on the beams. Sumintra handled the entire job, remedial structure work and all. It was a professional installation and it shows. We are able to generate enough electricity from the solar system that our electric bills are near zero for the year, including an electric water heater and mostly electric heat.

If you're using EnergySage, chances are you're a careful consumer researching solar panel installation. Having just thoroughly completed that process, I can assure you that Sumintra is a great option, particularly if you don't plan to finance or lease your installation and you like having all the details of your solar panels. Anil is a well-informed installer and engineer and will find the right solutions for your solar project. He's also refreshingly courteous, responsive, and capable, which are rare qualities in the home improvement marketplace.

Sumintra, although a small outfit, did a great job with my relatively large, roof mounted solar system. Quality and customer service definitely come first with this company even when you are located four and half hours from their headquarters. At the end of my project the electrical inspector from the power company was very impressed, and told me that the quality of work performed on my home stands out from the typical solar systems that he normally sees. Clearly, the company co-founder and lead electrician, Anil Babooram, has a passion for solar and takes great pride in the work that he does. Naturally, a small company can get booked up during the busy season, but the quality and service are worth the wait.

It's a shame I couldn't choose two installers; Sumintra was my second choice mostly because another company managed to come in with a slightly lower price for the same system. With another panel brand, Sumintra would've been the cheaper option, though.

Through the whole process he was not only knowledgeable, but proactive about making sure I knew as much as I could about the technology, the choices available and the installation procedure. Even after he knew I wasn't going to be his customer personally, Anil made it clear he was still available to answer questions and gave me a few insights on how to get the best service possible from the other company - obviously his first priority is doing the best possible job and ensuring people get the best solar PV system they can. Thanks for the help, Anil!

I waited for a response and then I called. Even after being told I'd get a response soon I didn't. The person I spoke with seemed pleasant and knowledgeable they just never got back to me.

A rare contractor in this day and age - knowledgeable, honest, hard working and communicative. The installation was highly professional, the workmen did a great job and cleaned up after themselves, and the owner has made himself available for any and all questions we've had during and after the process. Most contractors we've dealt with vanish when the work is done, but Sumintra has been quick to respond and exceedingly helpful at every stage of the game.

During the early stages of requesting web-based proposals from installers for my home solar PV system in northern NJ (through the Energy Sage website), I felt that Sumintra differentiated itself through its direct, honest, personalized approach and the knowledge and courtesy of its principal, Anil Babooram. Anil took the time to educate me on various aspects of PV systems, components and installation, answered my questions and even offered information and guidance on things I needed to know or do after installation (technically not part of his job). This approach carried through to his on-site visit, where I noted his diligence, patience and attention to detail. After selecting Sumintra, I was pleased to discover that the contract was concise, simple and straightforward, very easy to deal with. When they arrived to begin installation, it was clear that they weren’t going to simply “slap it on and be gone” in 3 days. Anil formulated a well-thought-out plan and he and his crew executed it with meticulous attention to detail, using the most durable equipment, constructed/installed with personalized attention to the quality of the work. We benefitted from Anil’s presence on site every day, planning and overseeing the work while doing part of the installation himself. Anil is extremely conscientious and is a pleasure to have around, both personally and professionally; he treated each aspect of our project as if his own professional qualifications and credibility were at stake. His crew was courteous and diligent as well. The high quality of Sumintra’s work was evident in the several unsolicited compliments I received from our local electrician and the building and electrical inspectors who signed off on the completed project. I would not hesitate to recommend Sumintra highly to anyone considering a solar PV installation in the mid-Atlantic region.

Anil drove over an hour each way to provide research as to why our Grumman Solar Hot Water system stopped producing hot water
Our system was installed in 1980 and has required only normal maintenance over all these years - end of 2015 stopped producing hot water - even though this system is no longer produced it did not deter this professional from diagnosing the problem, ordering and installing the parts and we again have hot water via Solar
Anil was courteous, he kept his appointment arrival times always informed us when on his way. We were very impressed with his dedication to resolving our problem and fixing our system.
He provided good service and at a reasonable cost

Sumintra installed a 14.28kW kW STC grid tied solar electric system on the roof of my home. The project could not have gone smoother! Anil Babooram of Sumintra, an electrical engineer, worked our project from beginning until end. He provided very timely and detailed communications during the planning and pre-construction phase, and personally supervised (on site) the entire installation. The attention to detail and professionalism demonstrated by Sumintra was noteworthy. Sumintra took care of every aspect of the project:

Sumintra obtained all necessary permits, drafted a letter to NYSEG on my behalf, drafted a letter to the town building inspector on my behalf, provided me with the tax exemption form, and actively worked with me to navigate the “Green Jobs – Green New York” credit process. They procured all the materials for the project and performed the necessary labor to install the system. They worked with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) program to complete the necessary paperwork to apply for the rebate. Sumintra made a relatively complicated process very smooth and I highly recommend them to anyone considering a solar electric system.

The service I received from Sumintra was second to none! Anil was a combination contractor, educator and guide, and meticulously never left a stone unturn to quell my anxieties. Whether it was fielding/answering questions, providing follow up literature to said questions, or exploring options to provide the best solar solutions for my system, his demeanor and professionalism were exemplary. I would definitely use Sumintra again and highly recommend their services to anyone seeking solar options.

Anil is a knowledgeable solar installer, he very patient and thorough. If you're looking for the right company please call Sumintra LLC.

Our solar array system started reporting a malfunctioning microinverter. After trying to contact the original installer several times I found Sumintra on thumbtack.com. After describing the problem to Anil, he took over and contacted the manufacturer and found that my system was still under warranty so he had them send me the replacement part. Once it arrived he was very patient with my schedule. He arrived and had the replacement installed quickly. He was very friendly, professional and informative about the process. I highly recommend him & would definitely use him in the future.

Anil at Sumintra LLC came highly recommended by a trusted neighbors retired solar man. I needed advice on an older system that had stopped working. After an informative phone conversation with Anil, I was confident he was the man for the job. Very professional and courteous. He was spot on with his diagnosis and fix. I feel the cost of the repair was very reasonable to boot ! Thanks again Anil ! Sincerely, George Freeman

We received excellent customer service and quality craftsmanship. Our solar panels are still in outstanding working condition and we are so pleased with the money we have been able to save with them.

I met Anil a few years before there were state and federal financial benefits. After a brief explanation to let me know what was involved to install solar at my home, he suggested I wait a few years so that I could benefit from rebates and federal tax exemptions that he thought were coming. I was surprised that he basically was open for business but considerate of the best financial solution for me. He was willing to walk away from business at that time, in order for me to wait for a better time for me.

For him, with or without state and federal benefits for me, he would still do the same work and earn the same money. In fact, to take advantage of the state and federal benefits, required him to do more work and fill out more paperwork to benefit me. So years before I actually did the install, Anil earned my great respect.

When I finally contracted with Anil to install my 10K system a few years later, he explained the process in fine detail which I appreciated. He did what he said he would do, and kept me informed every step of the way. The day my children and I turned the solar 'on' was a very exciting day for all of us. Anil comes back every now again to see how things are running (and they are running well) and to inspect the panels. His contract also guaranteed more years of his personal service compared to other solar contractors.

It is clear to me that Anil's passion and expertise for solar renewable energy is matched by his thoughtfulness, conscientiousness, and integrity. I would highly recommend Anil.

Sumintra LLC installed both my solar electric system and solar hot water system for our home in Chester County. Anil is a highly professional and approachable engineer. He is both conscientious and efficient. He can also be counted on to follow up on the project if you have any questions. His prices are fair and his work is excellent. I highly recommend him.

Anil was the second installer to give us a plan for a complete roof mounted solar array and hot water system, and the difference between him and his competitor was apparent from our first meeting. He explained all the factors that influenced the plan, showed us the cool device that maps the sun exposure, but most important, figured out a way to get extra panels onto the roof by moving the hot water tubes to the far side of the roof, but mounting them above it, increasing our kw by about 10%. His approach to the installation itself was equally as focused on quality. When he had a choice, he always took the way that might have required more effort on his part, but that resulted in a better outcome. Plus, his installation was very neat and workmanlike, and he gave us all the supporting paperwork for reference. Last, whenever we have a question, he responds immediately. We cannot recommend him HIGHLY enough!

Amil did a fantastic job installing my solar panels. He took extra care to get things exactly right, which really impressed people who are knowledgeable about construction. He was consistently responsible, reliable, and professional. He completed the job well within the expected time, and he checked in with me after the installation to make sure there were no problems. I'm sure he would have come out if I had any complaints, but I didn't--he did it right the first time!
He not only does great work, but he is friendly and pleasant to work with. His prices were also extremely fair.

I am thrilled with the solar PV installation on the roof of my rowhouse in Chestnut Hill. Anil Babooran, principal of Sumintra, is extremely knowledgeable, energetic, thorough and extremely conscientious. He was able to advise on all available rebates and stays in touch to make sure all continues to work well.