Solar SME, Inc.

I did not end up choosing Solar SME, and my experience with their sales practices is definitely a reason. The level of harassment was overwhelming. I received repeated phone calls, often back to back, even after I clearly stated that I was not interested and asked to be removed from their call list. The sales representatives were extremely pushy and sounded like they were calling from an offshore call center. It reached a point where, even if they offered the best product and service available, I would refuse to work with them solely because of how aggressive and irritating the sales experience was. It became almost comical in its intensity. I have never encountered a company that attempted to push a sale this hard. It was genuinely frustrating and incredibly annoying.

Would not recommend. Was willing to leave this be after contract cancellation, but Solar SME continues to contact me after directly asking multiple representatives to remove me from their contact list. Several months after the quoted install date Solar SME still did not have Enphase or city design approvals; failed to consider component communication distances in design; even suggested installing batteries in the bathroom or master closet. Advertised as a local installer with offices in your area, design and support are well outside of your zipcode. Fulfillment would have been completed by contract workers and no SME staff. Did not even have the courtesy to close their city permit request. Suggest finding a business in your local listings, familiar with all considerations, certified electricians, and staff willing to address your questions.

I signed a solar contract with Solar SME to try to mitigate rising costs of utility bills. When talking with their sales reps, I told them I had EMF sensitivity and was concerned about possible impacts from EMFs from solar panels. They informed that EMF is caused by the inverters and wiring, and they would mitigate the risk by using shielded metal conduit. Their estimate was not the cheapest compared to other local solar installers, but I decided to go with them because the sales reps seemed knowledgeable and willing to support my requirement to mitigate EMF. Worked carefully with the sales rep and project manager to identify a low-risk solar installation solution in the design plan, putting panels only on the highest points of the roof to maximize distance, and avoiding panels anywhere near the bedrooms. However, the installation team did NOT use shielded metal conduit specified in the design plan (it appears they used Southwire Ultratite Nonmetallic conduit), and fed the wiring along the floor of our the attic directly over our bedrooms, which was not expected for an installation designed to mitigate EMF. They also made other installation errors including leaving the critter guard around the panels disjointed and a mess, leaving the PV switch in the On position after testing it (it is not allowed by the power company for the system to be left On when system not approved for go-live), and never provided access details at any time on how to access the data from the inverter DTU unit. I developed major health issues immediately post-installation, including broad muscle spasms, insomnia, severe anxiety in the chest, breathing difficulties and stomach cramps/spasms. When in the room directly under the panels, physical symptoms would steadily worsen the closer i was to the panels. When within a few feet of the PV wiring (indoors or outdoors), I felt chest buzzing/palpitations and felt like collapsing; I also got minor electric shocks multiple times when touching the conduit with an EMF meter to take a reading. The main power line from the grid that feeds into the home did not trigger me like this; these symptoms started specifically after the solar conduit was installed. Most of the physical symptoms would lessen after being away from home for a while (or sitting in a sunroom extension at home which is further distance from the panels), and symptoms would return when in the main areas of the home. I reported the installation concerns to the project manager a day after the initial installation, and multiple times after this that my health was negatively impacted in the home. He set appointments on four different occasions over the next 1.5 months for installers to come out and fix the issues. The installers *never* showed up on any of those occasions to try to correct the issues, and no advance notice was given that the installers would be unable to show up either. Eventually came to an arrangement with Solar SME to have the entire system removed, because a) of how much my health had deteriorated post-install, and b) lost confidence in their ability to fix the system or honor their warranty after so many missed appointments. The uninstallation team they sent did a MUCH better job than the installation team; the uninstallation team explained to me they were doing, talked about particular pieces of the mounting equipment that they needed to leave on the roof to avoid widespread roof holes (I are working with a separate roofing company to fix the remainder of the roof), and provided some temporary patching for the holes in the wall from the wiring removal. Most of my physical health symptoms improved within a day of the system uninstallation; the physical anxiety and sleep improved, and can now be close to the home electrical box again without feeling like passing out. Although to date, the stomach spasms that began post-install have still persisted, several weeks after uninstallation.

I want to commend SME Compliance consultant Taz Ali for coordinating the recent repair of a roof leak due to an installed 12.85 KW system. The leak was unfortunate but does not reflect the high quality and workmanship provided by SME. Mr. Ali was diligent at seeking a reputable contractor to do the work, and keeping me informed during the process. I highly recommend SME and Taz Ali for your next solar project.

Solar SME will call you non-stop for years. It borders on harrassment. You can ask them to stop, but they won't. They have been calling me at least once a week for over a year, maybe two years now. I've asked them to stop, but they never do. They employ a ton of Indians, and they fundamentally are not an American company. I would never do business with them.

I worked with Ray Conner to develop and finalize the design and pricing for my roof top solar project in the Atlanta area. Ray was very straight forward, knowledgeable, and professional in all our discussions. He was able to suggest some modifications to the original design to improve efficiency. Top rating for Solar SME at this stage of the project.