Sustainable Energy Systems LLC

Unethical and Extortionist practices - 14 months ago, my wife and I had solar panels installed on our home. The contract was brokered through a third-party (Zuna Solar - based in Texas). The installation went well, and everything is operating as it should. However, during August 2023, we experienced hail damage to our roof which has resulted in leaking that is slowly growing and causing damage to our living room ceiling. We had the roof inspected and confirmed the best way to deal with the leak is to have the roof replaced. We filed a claim with our homeowner's insurance and have had our claim approved and funded. With these funds, we contracted with a Northern Virginia roofing company to replace the roof. In order for this to occur, we need to have the solar panels dismounted, and then remounted after the roof replacement is completed. This is provided for in the contract on page 7, in the paragraph with the heading "Removal and Reinstall". Please note that the estimated cost on the contract is listed as "the greatest of $135 per panel or $2,700", although the contract also states this is subject to change. When we contacted Sustainable Energy Systems, they initially provided an estimate for the dismount/remount for a figure of $13,800 (drastically higher than "the greatest of $135 per panel or $2,700" figure provided in the installation contract), then went on to state that they would perform the work only if we canceled our contract with our current roofing company and paid SUSTAINABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS, LLC to perform both the roof replacement AND the solar panel dismount/remount. I refused to accept either the radically inflated cost for the dismount/remount work or to cancel my contract with our current roofer (we have already paid a 30% deposit), so we are no longer in discussions with Sustainable Energy Systems. I will never do business with them again due to these unethical and extortionist business practices.

Excellent experience from initial contact through installation of our 28 panel 10 kw system.

This is a terrific company. Every employee was helpful and informative. Kenny Tompkins met with us initially and stayed involved throughout the completion of the project. When the county inspector threw a curve ball, the company was responsive, made the required adjustments without asking us to pay any extra costs. I can't recommend them highly enough.

In 2015 I installed solar panels at my home. Recently I decided it was time to put in a batter backup system, in case the grid went down. After researching it I decided to go with a lithium battery to back up essential loads. I chose SES and I am extraordinarily happy that I did so. I don't use the word 'extraordinarily' lightly. I've had enough contractors doing work at my home over the decades I've lived here that I know the difference between, bad,, average, competent, and the rare one that you want to take home to meet your mother. Happily SES is in the last category.EVERY interaction I had with them was a joy. From meeting one of their sales reps at a Solar United Neighbors event, answering ALL my questions, both on the phone and by email (and I'm a Capricorn so I ask a LOT of questions), doing a site survey and mapping out the relevant circuits, , answering MORE questions, arranging a date of my choosing to do the installation, putting in the battery/gateway and sub panel, doing all the necessary wiring, registering the battery so the app would work which was the one thing that presented a bit of an issue, as the people at Tesla weren't easy to reach by phone), making sure the app worked properly, to arranging an inspection by the county inspector (which took place this morning via Facetime on the phone and went something like this: 'Can you see that? Yep, looks good; I'll send you the paperwork later.' It took all of 90 seconds maximum).I can't recall any other time in my life that I have been so happy to pay someone thousands of dollars.In my experience it is highly unusual where all the staff is so genuinely enthusiastic and upbeat (if I didn't know better I'd think they were on Prozac, but no, they just believe in what they are doing) and where the field people and the management all get along. In fact one of the co-owners was one of the installers.Look at it this way. If SES was a contestant on America's Most Eligible Bachelor they would be the one you choose.So, should you go with them? If you value competence, professionalism, excellent pricing, willingness to go above and beyond, and a positive can do attitude., then, YES, ABSOLUTELY, BY ALL MEANS, and INDUBITABLY.Oh, by the way, I rarely write good things about anyone so for me to have written this means, as Tony the Tiger used to say, 'They're not good, they're GREAT.'