Acorn Energy

1 year update The system size that Natalie quoted us on Energy Sage was about 18,000 kWh production in the first year. Looking at my Enphase app, I saw that we generated 16,000 kWh. I contacted OWE to run the energy audit and it took them about a month to run it. They said our expected production was ~15,200 kWh. I am currently trying to get ahold of customer service to get them to do something because they did not put enough panels on my roof to generate 18,000 kWh. With the panels they put up, my APS bill is still $250. I will update and change my rating once this gets fixed. ---Original--- OWE and some other companies designed and submitted solar systems for my house on here but Natalie was the only person that actually called me, and she called during the times I said I was available. I talked to her on here then I talked to a guy my dad used to get solar on his house. The guy came out to my fiance and I's house and quoted us like a $50k system, we said thanks for coming out but we are still looking at other companies. Natalie came out to our house in Buckeye and was great, she answered all of our questions and we were really impressed with what she had to say. No pressure, unlike the other guy. Working with OWE has been really easy. Getting approval from HOA and city of Buckeye was frustrating because it took forever. About a month after we signed the paper work we had solar on our roof. Buckeye finally gave their ok and we are waiting for APS to give their ok and put the meter on. I might give an update when my solar is actually turned on. But so far I would recommend OWE to everybody. Update 1: APS was at my door installing the meter the next day. Been producing 50-55 kWh a day. Only thing I wish I had installed was the consumption meter so I can see how much solar I am actually using and exporting to APS.

My experience with OWE has been great. I researched about 15 solar energy providers, got quotes from 8 of them and went with OWE (second lowest price; best value in my opinion). Natalie did a great job working with me to get the right size system designed. They handled all the permitting through APS, the City of Surprise and my HOA, which went very smoothly. Installation was done promptly and the system has been operating as planned/expected since we turned it on in July 2022. A couple of months ago pigeons starting building a nest under the panels. It took a few calls and emails to finally get hold of customer service, but once I did they sent out a crew to install bird netting (at no cost to me) a week later and they did a great job. I’m very happy I went with OWE.

I have yet to get the solar they said my system would produce, they will not return phone calls, emails or letters. I want them to replace the panels that are not producing and add more if needed plus have connectivity real time. They said all things to get the sale but will not back up their work or product. They installed this in July 2022 and it wasn’t turned on until November, problems ever since.

Review of Our World Energy Solar Company When we decided to install solar panels in our Arizona home, we went to the US Department of Energy website to research the process. Somehow we ended up at EnergySage, a solar power marketplace that is affiliated with the Department of Energy (a grant, I think). We put our requirements in the EnergySage database and they provided us three quotes from three different companies. We also obtained quotes from other companies by simply contacting them on our own. We researched reviews on the companies and compared prices and products. We selected Our World Energy from the EnergySage quotes. We contacted Our World Energy through EnergySage and after that we dealt with Our World Energy directly. We had a telephone consult with an Our World Energy sales representative and we selected a solar power system and signed a contract with them. Payments were structured thus: the first payment was a down payment (about 8% of the total cost), then a payment after the solar panels were installed (the lion’s share of the total cost) and then the final payment upon completion and activation. The process took a little over two months from the installation of the solar panels until the system was activated. There are many different entities to deal with; the solar company, the local utility/power company, the homeowners association, the city/state government. After surveys and obtaining permits, OWE installed the solar equipment during three separate visits over the two+ months. The last event was when the local utility/power company installed a solar meter and activated the system. The utility company technician confirmed that the Our World Energy equipment was of high quality and installed properly. If you decide to go with solar power, I would suggest that you initiate the process in the late winter so the process can be completed in time for you to reap the benefits of solar power in the summer when your air conditioning will be running full time. Solar power may not be for everybody; if you live in an area where it is sunny most of the time, solar power is a great solution for a single family house. It took much of the surface area of my roof to install enough solar panels to provide 60 - 80% of my electrical usage needs during daylight hours. Do your research, do a budget/cost analysis, read your contract, and ask questions.

It is very disappointing that I decided to go with Our World Energy. Up front they were great and quick to respond but once they got their final draw, then came the delays, that were never communicated properly. They requested and received the final draw in July 2022, it is October 2022 and I still do not have the solar up and running. They keep on saying it is a scheduling issue with the Pima County Inspectors, but they do inspections via skype in Pima County. They scheduled the final inspection for the end of September, but the technician was supposedly sick that day, so it didn't happen. Called multiple times to find out when it would be rescheduled and get the same response they are working on rescheduling. If you do use Our World Energy, make sure not to release the final draw or issue them a final payment until all of the work is done.

After comparing five solar companies through Energy Sage, we signed the contract with OWE on April 17, 2022. It's September 10th and we are still waiting to be connected and still have stucco that needs to be patched around the main electric panel. Things happened quickly initially- from plan approval through permitting. But it seems that once things were completely in OWE's court we started to experience problems. The panels were initially installed not according to the approved plan at all and the installers left garbage in our yard and on the roof, and it took three more months to get the electrician to the house. The installation has finally been inspected, though we still do not know if it passed- and it may not have as there are things that are not complete. Communication throughout the process has been inconsistent and the information given to us incorrect at times. All in all, from our perspective the process appears to have been poorly managed. We understand that there are labor and supply chain challenges, but give the management and communication we have experienced a D. And we still can't rate the completed install and performance, and have missed the entire summer's worth of solar potential.