Smart Solar Energy

Let's start with this: solar power is a journey. Everyone wants solar power, but two immediate questions come into play: - can I afford it? (i.e., whether I borrow or pay out of pocket, does solar power make sense from a return-on-investment perspective?) - can I trust the company? (i.e., will the company that is drilling holes in my roof and attaching thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment be around in 10 years to pick up the phone?) Armed with these not-so-profound concerns, I did my due diligence in researching solar installers, and many seemed to be able to do the job. However, my home builder was super impressed with a company called Smart Solar Energy. Why? Because they did what they said they were going to do within the budget and schedule they agreed to. No BS, just getting the work done as promised. That kind of thinking resonates with me--just do what you promised to do. So I gave Smart Solar Energy a shout in November 2023. From our first emails I was impressed. No fluff, just focused on the task, addressing the concerns I had, setting expectations, more than anything helping me understand if and why solar power might make sense for me because, as it turns out, solar power is not for everyone. From that point forward we steadily marched toward an understanding of the need and what meeting that need would entail in terms of cost and schedule; basic project management ideas. But the difference was that Smart Solar Energy took care of literally everything from unscrewing the local city hall bureaucracy to permits to scheduling the work. This kind of handholding was awesome and I appreciated it very much. We were scheduled to get our system installed in May 2024 and somehow got it actually installed in March 2024. That's pretty cool. I won't go into detail about how awesome the installers were (great folks, great communicators, and getting on a roof in a steady rain with a stiff wind still amazes me) but Smart Solar Energy did their part flawlessly and stayed in touch the entire time. In fact, the only part of the process that was frustrating was dealing with the power company, something Smart Solar Energy can't control but helped with from an expectations point of view. My system went on-line just within the past week, so I have no comments on Smart Solar Energy's long-term viability, and I do hope they can maintain their high standards and "produce to promise" ethos. From what I've seen so far, they have their stuff together, and when considering the two questions addressed at the beginning of this review, they are on the right track. Last thought: generating power is its own addiction, so be forewarned. You'll spend time watching the dashboard, trust me.

Smart solar was exceptional from start to finish on our solar panel project, and they were highly responsive whenever any questions came up. Highly recommended!

We chose Smart Solar because they had by far the most experience of any local installer. And, it’s obvious why that is. Smart Solar was AMAZING to work with. First, their bid was the lowest of the 5 we received. They explained things clearly from our 1st contact, never over-promised, and did everything they said they would on time and on-budget. They installed the panels despite nasty winter weather, which allowed us to have the job completed in time for receiving the federal rebate on our 2023 income tax filing. The installation was neat and quick. I’m not great at tech so I was especially pleased that, when the job was finished, they hand-held me through the process of getting the monitoring app working. I tell my home-owning friends that solar is a no-brainer, and using Smart Solar is too! We could not be more pleased with their service.

Smart Solar Energy did a fabulous job of putting solar panels on our small house in Portland. When other solar companies couldn’t be bothered with a “small job” like ours and wouldn’t even give a bid, Jordan from Smart Solar studied our home roof and gave us a thorough explanation of what a small solar system could do for our energy bills as well as the resale value of our house, He was explicit about both the cost of the project (including available rebates) and the projected slow timing to completion due to expected permitting delays. He was also very honest about what made the most sense for this project rather than what might make the most profit for the company – and only the most trustworthy will put the customer first like that. Once we reached an agreement, the project was turned over to Jenn to manage – she kept in touch with us every step of the way so we were always clear on what needed to happen next. Everything was efficiently taken care of from start to finish and we couldn’t be happier with the results. We have no hesitation in recommending Smart Solar for residential solar projects!

Last October I decided to install a Solar Panel System in my home. I chose Smart Solar Energy because they gave me the most concise and accurate estimate at the best price, and because they were local and had been in business for a reasonable amount of time. I signed the contract on 10/31/2023 and was promised a System install no later than 01/31/2024. The installation crew was on site installing my system the week of January 29th. Inspections, new PGE Meter installation, and activation of my system took until 02/19/2024. Overall my experience working with Smart Solar Energy was positive. Jenn Showers was extremely helpful in guiding me through the process and answering questions.

Smart Solar's team is outstanding! Within a day or so of first contacting them, we had a detailed video call where the entire process was described and all our questions were answered. Once we signed on, Smart Solar facilitated the financing (zero interest loan!) and explained how to get the tax credit for the installation. The process of installing the system was also smooth and efficient and completed more quickly than expected. The follow-up with Jenn to ensure the monitoring app was working and to iron out any issues was similarly informative and thorough. I can recommend Smart Solar Energy unreservedly for your solar installation.