Solar FAQs
Frequently Asked Residential Solar Questions
Thinking of installing solar panels but have questions on how the process works? Solar Technologies has compiled the most frequently asked solar installation questions and answers to help make the process even easier.
Does the company have a proven track record of successfully installing and maintaining commercial systems? A healthy solar installer has the expertise and resources to handle your commercial installation. Solar Technologies is one of the Bay Area’s best commercial installers with customers such as the Oakland Zoo, public school districts, state agencies and many other businesses and non-profit entities. Our commercial experience is also integrated into our residential best practices. We take pride in the level of service we provide to both our commercial and residential customers!
If you install the right equipment in the right way then your solar system should operate without incident for many years. Over time you may need to service your existing system or its components and you'll want a company that has a dedicated and experienced service department that can quickly diagnose and resolve issues in the field. Solar Technologies has a dedicated service department and we make every effort to correct any issue in the shortest amount of time possible.
Nearly every solar installer offers a 5-10 year workmanship warranty but that is only as good as the company behind it. How long has the company been installing solar power systems? Are they financially stable and do they have a business that will last? With more than 25 years of experience, thousands of installations and healthy fundamentals, we are one of a very few local solar contractors in the Bay Area that have been in operation longer than our warranties. Solar Technologies will be there when you need us.
At Solar Technologies, we don’t just design and build your system, we will also review our installations to make sure they are saving our customers money. With more than 6,000 systems installed over 25 years, we possess a depth of unmatched experience here in the Bay Area. We know what works, we know what doesn’t work and we know what to look out for.
Not all solar equipment is created equal. The quality of the equipment and installation will determine your long-term reliability and savings. Don’t get fooled into saving a little money upfront on lesser quality equipment only to have your system fall short of expectations in future years. We are proud to offer SunPower panels and were handpicked by SunPower as their only Master Dealer in the Bay Area because of our customer service record, installation quality, employee training and long history of success. Solar Technologies offers the world’s best solar panels installed by the Bay Area’s best installation team.
Make sure your verify if the company selling you a system is licensed to install the system. If they are going to subcontract your installation, that is something you should know. You should verify that whoever is actually installing your system is licensed and insured. Make sure you are protected under the subcontractor while the work is being performed.
Solar sales and marketing companies will trick you into thinking they do everything when they’re really just selling your contract to a construction company for a commission. If they can’t self-perform your install it is likely because they do not have the resources, personnel, expertise or equipment necessary. At Solar Technologies, we self-perform all of our work because it is the right way to do the job.
Solar Technologies is covered by $2,000,000 of general liability insurance, $1,000,000 of automobile insurance, $1,000,000 of workers compensation insurance and $200,000 of construction insurance and we provide our customers with copies of our insurance certificates before we start any work. It is your responsibility to make sure that all of your contractors and subcontractors have sufficient insurance coverage to protect you and your home. Do not allow any contractor or subcontractor to start work without providing proof of insurance.
Solar Technologies is a C-10 Electrical and C-46 Solar licensed contractor (CSLB# 932914).
Check to see if the company you’re working with is licensed with the Contractor’s State License Board, in good standing and legally able to sell and install a solar power system. You can check your contractor’s license at cslb.ca.gov. Do not allow any contractor or subcontractor to start work without providing proof of their active license.
As solar has become more popular it seems like every contractor is hanging an “and solar” sign behind their name. These companies rarely have the necessary certifications, training or knowledge to provide high quality service and reliable systems to their customers. We have been solely focused on solar electric systems since 1998 and provide customers with leading edge technology installed by our own employees who are certified experts.
Solar is a thin margin business and we have seen many companies try to establish a state-wide or national footprint and fail. In fact, the only ones who have succeeded are those running up tens of million in debt a year as public or private equity backed companies. The margins simply aren’t large enough to support duplicative costs and bloated management teams. We prefer to follow a disciplined strategy focused on helping Bay Area home and business owners save with solar by providing the best equipment and service at a competitive price. 19 years of this strategy has resulted in more than 40% of our business coming from referrals and managing our costs to ensure profitability every year has allowed us to thrive when many others have failed.
Choosing a financially stable company is critical because your system will last more than 25 years and you want someone to be there to service or maintain your investment if necessary. We have been profitable for the last 5 years, carry no debt, with a healthy balance sheet and have been supporting our customers for nearly two decades. You can bet we’ll be around when you need us and we’re often called to service systems installed by companies no longer in business.
There are more than 2,000 solar installers in California and on average they sell less than a system a month, operate on shoe-string budgets and don’t make it to their fifth anniversary. You’ll only find a few doing it as long as we have and with more than 25 years of experience and full-service facilities strategically located in Santa Cruz, San Jose and San Ramon we are well positioned to service and support any home or business owner in the Bay Area. Visit our office anytime to meet the teams and see products in our inventory.
We take a consultative approach on every job and work with the customer to clearly understand their electrical usage, future needs, and site requirements. We will request a copy of your electric bill to base our designs on your usage history and work with you to understand your future plans (growing family, the addition of a pool or EV, etc.) to accurately assess your needs and only then provide the appropriate solutions so you can make an informed decision.
Quality and safety come first in everything we do. This is why we self-perform all of our work. We are NABCEP certified and all of our solar advisors, designers and installers achieve and maintain advanced level training certifications. All of our employees have been with us for years and are certified solar experts.
Many companies only sell systems, some only install and some, like us, do everything in-house and do it very well. We have helped more than 6,000 Bay Area home and business owners save with solar since 1998, making us one of the Bay Area leaders in systems installed. In recent years we have become a local leader in battery storage installations, outranking many of our local competitors.
Solar Technologies was founded in 1998 and is one of the longest tenured solar installers in California and widely recognized as one of the leading installers in the Bay Area.