Hawaii Energy Connection

THIS IS NOT A FINAL REVIEW! This is purely informational for others thinking about getting PV during the ongoing Covid Pandemic. So here goes... I signed my 2 year intreset free loan on April 1, 2020. Hawaii Energy came and Installed my rooftop solar panels and wiring on May 4-5. System is not completed because the batteries and cabinets are not available. HECO came yesterday July 6 and switched out my analog meter for a NET meter. I've lost 3 of my 24 month interest free cushion. I'm still paying an electric bill to HECO. Here is bullet... When I closed on the loan it was not disclosed to me that ALL parts were not available. The installation crew swept in and installed roof panels, wiring, boxes. Then on the second day I was told there were no batteries to install. Wait, What??? Communication is spotty at best. I asked some questions that I never got direct answers for. Simple questions like.... How many people are waiting? Of the people waiting where am I on the list? Easy to figure out but no answer from **** & ***** (don't want to mention names) so here I sit at 12 noon in my hot living room cause I still need to pay my HECO bill. I'll keep you posted 7.7.20

I could not be happier with the sales (Kauanoa), support (Victor), installation crew, office staff (Melissa) of my NEM+ system. Everything was explained well. Solar contractors are very busy now, but they had a cancellation and were able to install our system much earlier than expected. Everyone I encountered was extremely professional and courteous. I do not like high pressure sales tactics and I did not in any way feel pressured to make a decision in their favor. We received three quotes. I received the lowest quote from them and even received a small discount by paying with a check and I got another discount for purchasing the system in 2019 and having it installed in 2020 to make up for the decrease in Federal tax credits in 2020 from 2019. Highly recommended.

I have had problems getting a rain gutter that was damage resolved.I talke to Lisa and sent her photos of the damage but nothing was done as of yet.

I met with Greg in late Jan/Feb time frame and signed the application that day. Greg was a great sales rep. He was very friendly and professional and took the time to explain everything and answer all my questions.Once I got the okay from HECO Kumukit wouldn't move forward until I got the funding from my bank. So I got the funding in the beginning of May but wasn't scheduled for an install until the end of June. Once I got installed we were still waiting on paperwork to get done and for HECO to come out to change out the meter. We are going on almost FOUR MONTHS since it was installed and I'm still waiting. During this time, my the clock on my loan has already begun but yet I am still paying a full electric bill (higher recently as its the summer). I've been told paperwork keeps getting sent back and I saw the email traffic from before and what I'm noticing is that my paperwork is not getting done correctly the first time so my paperwork keeps getting sent back pushing my final HECO approval back.I'm sure that everyone is trying to get everything done quickly and effectively as they can for each of their customers but I have not been happy with the level of service that I have received from this company. I will be paying Kumukit over $22K for the panels and work done for my account, and when I pay someone that kind of money, I EXPECT to get everything done correctly with very minimal hiccups and holdups. At this point, the panels are on my house, they half of my money I took out for the loan on this and all I need is for this final approval to get done so I'm kind of stuck. I can't do anything but express my frustrations to the company and hope that everything gets submitted correctly and HECO gives me my approval so that HOPEFULLY by the end of this year-long endeavor I can finally turn my PV system on and begin to recoup on my investment and start paying down my loan. I hope as a consumer you understand my frustrations. I started this in January so I could hopefully have everything on by mid-summer. With everything that has happened I am just disappointed to say the least.UPDATE: According to Kumukit, I have been one of the unfortunate few that this has happened to. Lucky me. They have acknowledged their fault and have addressed it. Taking fault for it makes me feel better but I am still without a running PV system ATM.