SunRun’s industry experience is remarkable since it has serviced over 900,000 clients over the last 15 years, making it the largest dedicated residential solar firm in the United States. SunRun’s solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPA) are crucial to its success since they make solar energy more accessible to people with various budgets. SunRun’s lease and PPA options are among the most profitable in the market, with competitive pricing and perks, including an energy output guarantee, daily system monitoring, and included maintenance. SunRun provides high-quality solar equipment from leading manufacturers in the market. Although, SunRun has thousands of satisfied clients, the company recently experienced a difficult time when the installer needed help to handle many repair calls. Let’s delve into SunRun solar reviews in this article.
SunRun Prices and Services Offered
According to replies from a 2023 survey of 1,000 homes with installed solar, the average cost of a SunRun solar power system ranges between $2.50 and $3.12 per watt. This equates to $20,000 to $25,000 for an 8 kilowatt (kW) system, which is comparable to the pricing of most major solar providers across the country. The table below illustrates the typical pricing for various SunRun system sizes.
Solar Panel Brands Offered
SunRun has been an authorised LG solar panel installer for many years. LG produced some of the industry’s highest-rated solar panels before discontinuing production in 2022. SunRun is now installing modules from similar manufacturers. While SunRun Solar Reviews do not specify which solar panel brands it installs, it does state that all its systems employ high-efficiency, monocrystalline solar panels from Tier 1 manufacturers.
Solar Battery Installation
SunRun’s solar battery installations are in high demand; in a recent financial report, SunRun revealed that battery installations have increased by 131% year on year. The installer provides two of the market’s most popular solar batteries, including the Tesla Powerwall. SunRun also provides the LG Chem RESU battery as part of its Brightbox programme, which combines solar panels and battery backup.
In addition to regular batteries, SunRun provides the LG Shift battery in California. This clever storage device switches your power consumption from pricey daylight hours to cheaper nighttime hours to avoid peak rates
Payment Options
SunRun’s main strength is its payment models. It provides four basic payment options: cash purchase, solar loan, leasing, and PPA. Although several firms offer similar payment alternatives, SunRun’s lease and PPA packages are particularly advantageous. SunRun leases include daily system monitoring and maintenance and a production guarantee that reimburses the customer if the guaranteed energy output levels are not met.
However, before determining how to pay for a solar system, we recommend that you weigh the benefits and drawbacks of leases and PPAs. Because you are effectively renting the system from an installer, you will never own the panels and, hence, will be unable to claim certain tax benefits.
Customer SunRun Solar Reviews
To better understand the customer experience, let’s consider dozens of SunRun solar reviews from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. At the time of writing, the company has an A+ rating and certification from the Better Business Bureau. While the company has received many excellent ratings, customers have submitted several complaints in recent years, citing lousy customer service.
What Customers Like
In SunRun solar reviews, consumers frequently laud the company’s installation process and solar lease benefits.
- Installation quality: Some customers appreciated SunRun’s salespeople being informed and able to answer any questions regarding the solar procedure. Others saw a significant reduction in their electricity expenses after installing SunRun solar panels.
- Included maintenance: SunRun customers who chose a solar lease benefit from included system maintenance.
In conclusion, SunRun Solar has received generally excellent feedback for its customer service, flexible financing choices, and innovative solar solutions. However, some consumers have reported concerns with installation delays and contract transparency. A cost study reveals that, while early costs may be greater, long-term savings and environmental advantages can be significant. Overall, SunRun is a viable choice for people interested in solar energy.
Also Read: Jackery Solar Panel Review 2024
Beware: A Year of Frustration with Sunrun Solar Installation
My experience with Sunrun has been nothing short of a nightmare. Installation of my solar system began in September 2023, and as of August 2024, it still isn’t complete. The system has repeatedly failed final inspection with the city, and each time, we’ve been left waiting for corrections to be made.
Most recently, a technician came to our home to make the necessary repairs in preparation for yet another final inspection. After they left, we noticed a massive and abnormal spike in our electric consumption, with our home’s power draw jumping from 7-8 kW to an alarming 28 kW. This surge demanded power from the solar panels, drained the batteries, and even required an additional 9 kW from the electric grid to meet the demand.
When we reached out to Sunrun for help, we were dismissed. They claimed the technician could not have caused this issue and tried to convince us that the Tesla app was simply providing erroneous information. However, after taking photos of our electric meter over time, we confirmed that the demand was real, and the system was accurately showing that we were pulling power from the grid.
Concerned for our safety, we contacted Southern California Edison (SCE) for an emergency inspection. SCE confirmed the excessive system demand and traced the problem to the Tesla batteries and inverter in our solar setup. When SCE disconnected power to the batteries and inverter, the house’s power draw dropped significantly from 54 amps to 12 amps. To make matters worse, the SCE electricians discovered that the installation of the 125w breaker by Sunrun was faulty. Wires behind the breaker were pressing against it, causing the breaker and the entire panel to bow out. The electricians warned us that this unsafe setup could lead to excessive heat buildup, potentially damaging the entire breaker panel.
Despite these alarming findings, my multiple calls to Sunrun for support have been met with little to no help. It’s clear that once the initial installation is complete, Sunrun’s customer service becomes non-existent, no matter the status of your system.
Next month will mark a full year since the installation process began, and we are still dealing with issues. We’ve been paying for the system for the past eight months, yet we’ve had nothing but problem after problem. Without final inspection and the Permission to Operate (PTO), we haven’t been able to benefit from the credits the system should generate to offset the cost.
For anyone considering Sunrun for a solar system, I urge you to proceed with extreme caution. My experience has shown that Sunrun’s commitment to their customers ends once the installation begins, and you may find yourself in a similar situation, struggling to get the support you need to have a safe, functioning system.