NRG Home Solar
Is This Your Business?1.9
4.0
Overall Score
Author: Kaitlyn Short
NRG Home Solar is no longer performing new installations.
As of February 2017, the information in this review may now be inaccurate or out of date. We recommend researching other top solar companies in your area.
NRG Home Solar is a subsidiary of NRG Energy, on of the U.S.'s leading integrated power companies that sponsors a number of commercial and residential projects from nuclear energy to natural gas and other renewable sources. NRG Energy also sponsors solar farm and community solar project initiatives through its recently rebranded Clearway Community Solar program. This does not include residential rooftop solar panels.
RG Home Solar offers solar energy solutions to homeowners across three states and currently maintains 15 utility-scale solar panel projects, including sports stadiums and university campuses. NRG has loan, lease, power purchase agreement, and purchasing offers, which enable customers to take advantage of no upfront costs and free installation.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Lease with Free Installation
- Performance Guarantee
- System Monitoring
Lease with Free Installation
NRG Home Solar offers a 20-year leasing option. Leasing a solar system means that either NRG Home Solar or a third party will own the system and you will make monthly payments to them as if you are renting the system. This is a great option for consumers who do not have a lot of cash on hand but would like to take advantage of the savings associated with solar energy conversion. Lease payment are set at a fixed rate, and are often lower than the monthly electricity bill.
With a solar lease, the solar company will install the system for free. After that, monthly lease payments will generally be lower than standard monthly utility payments (depending on factors such as location, electricity usage, utility rates, and system production). At the end of the leasing period, NRG gives its customers the choice to either remove the system at no cost, extend the agreement for another five years, or purchase the system at a reasonable rate.
Performance Guarantee
After designing each system, NRG Home Solar will give the customer a quote stating the amount of solar power the system should generate and add this to the service agreement. If at any time the system produces less than the quoted energy efficiency, NRG Home Solar will refund the customer the difference.
System Monitoring
Through its partnership with a leading solar inverter manufacturer, NRG Home Solar monitors each solar installation 24/7 and will notify the homeowner if there are any issues. NRG also offers a mobile app and online monitoring service that allows customers to monitor their system's energy production and consumption on their own from anywhere in the world. This empowers customers to stay on top of their electricity costs and determine how much they're saving on their utility bill.
The Bad
- Strict Credit Score Requirement
- Poor Customer Service
- Limited Online Information
Strict Credit Score Requirement
NRG Home Solar requires an Experian credit score of 700 or higher, while most companies in the industry only require a score of 650. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, it does exclude a large number of potential customers from going solar with NRG.
Poor Customer Service
Based on reviews we've received for NRG Home Solar, those who have signed a lease with NRG have been quite upset with the company's customer service. Many customers have stated they had delays with the installation. Additionally, several negative reviews on our site mention NRG's lack of responsiveness to questions and concerns have not met customer satisfaction.
Limited Online Information
Lastly, we noticed a lack of transparency in regards to specific details of the lease contract and solar array equipment used on the NRG website. This information is important for potential customers who are planning to lease a solar system for the next 20 years, so the lack thereof is frustrating.
The Bottom Line
NRG Home offers its services in 3 states: , New Jersey, and Massachusetts. The offers a 20-year leasing agreement that enables them to install the system for $0 and provide customers with an production guarantee, as well as 24/7 monitoring. NRG Home also has a monitoring app and online portal, giving customers access to system information at all times. If customers live in NRG's service area (3 states) and are interested in signing a 20-year , NRG Home is a viable option.
With 24/7 monitoring, a production guarantee and a mobile monitoring app, NRG Home earns a fairly high score. However, reports of poor customer service and a general lack of pertinent information on the 's website may dissuade some customers. Take a look at the user reviews below, as well as our industry leaders before making a final decision.
