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South Coast Solar

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7.1

Overall Score

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LAST UPDATED: March 27th, 2024

Since 2007, South Coast Solar has specialized in solar energy installation projects for residential, commercial, and government properties in Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The locally owned and operated company has performed over 4,000 residential installations, provides free estimates, and offers a $1,000 incentive for customer referrals. South Coast Solar offers solar panel installation, electric vehicle charging installations, solar panel repair and maintenance, and backup battery solutions for power outages such as the Tesla Powerwall.

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The Good

  • Master SunPower Dealer
  • NABCEP Certified
  • Full Warranties
  • Numerous Monitoring Choices
  • Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer

Master SunPower Dealer

As on of only 38 Master SunPower Dealers, South Coast Solar installs some of the most durable and energy efficient solar panels on the market. SunPower solar installation projects feature panels and inverters that are unrivaled in terms of long-term energy output and efficiency. SunPower equipment boasts the highest efficiency, highest wattage, and highest wind and snow resistance in the industry. Customers who choose South Cost Solar can take confidence knowing their solar panel system is built to last.

NABCEP Certified

South Coast Solar has been certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), the leading employee training body in the solar industry. Solar companies with this designation, like South Coast Solar, distinguish themselves as true experts in solar technology, and have their work endorsed by one of the most widely recognized and respected organizations in solar.

Full Warranties

South Coast Solar uses a flashed mounting system that features a patented water seal technology to keep installations from leaking from inclement weather. All materials and labor is covered under SunPower's 25-year Complete Confidence Warranty, which covers parts, labor, and performance for the essential lifetime of the solar power system. The solar provider has also issued its own 10-year power production guarantee, which ensures customers their systems will produce the amount of energy estimated by South Coast Solar's expert team.

Numerous Monitoring Choices

A digital display on the inverter will provide current system data as well as some information on its performance history. There are several choices of third-party providers for performance monitoring services and equipment. Some of these services feature weather stations and sensors. South Coast Solar also has web-based and on-site monitoring that has revenue-grade capabilities.

Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer

South Coast Solar is a certified installer of the Tesla Powerwall, a leading solar energy storage device. The homeowner who upgrades an existing solar system to include a solar battery will enjoy continuous clean energy flow, even at night, as well as a backup system in the event of an energy grid interruption. Installing a backup battery also translates to further savings on the monthly electricity bill. The Tesla Powerwall comes with a 10-year warranty.

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The Bad

  • Some Installation Limitations
  • Longer Installation Time

Some Installation Limitations

South Coast Coast Solar is experienced in installing custom designs on many rooftops but they do not install solar panels on roofs with asbestos or concrete tiles. The size of your roof is also a factor in the type of solar panels that can be installed and rooftops that face south are best for installing these types of panels. Homes that experience a large portion of shade throughout the day will most likely not qualify for the installation of solar photovoltaic panels. Chimneys, vent piping, and ventilation fans may interfere with the installation process. Consumers will need to make sure they have at least 48 inches of wall space free from obstructions next to their utility meters for inverters and disconnect mountings.

Longer Installation Time

South Coast Solar admits on its corporate website to spending a longer time with the installation process than other similar industry competitors. Consumers can expect a day of installation for each kilowatt of solar electricity. According to the company, the longer installation times are due to the installation of the leak-proof mounting system and to making sure the wiring is hidden as much as possible. Some minor inconveniences can also be expected by consumers as contractors perform some wiring work inside the residence as well.

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The Bottom Line

South Coast Solar is an experienced provider of solar energy systems for commercial, residential, and government properties. South Coast Solar provides customers with free estimates, full warranties, and multiple performance monitoring and financing options. However, the company's installation time is longer than what is offered by conventional solar panel installers (or installers who do not offer SunPower panels). If you are a homeowner living in Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, or South Carolina, read verified South Coast Solar reviews to see if this company would be a good fit for your energy needs.

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South Coast Solar Frequently Asked Questions

Why does pricing vary on South Coast Solar's panels?

Pricing varies on a number of factors such as roof pitch and size of the system, but the average cost of going solar is $20,000–$40,000. This does not take into account tax incentives or rebates you may qualify for. Your energy consultant will help you determine what module type and size of system would best meet your energy needs.

Why should I schedule a consultation? Can't the company send me a quote via email?

While not mandatory, South Coast Solar encourages you to schedule a virtual appointment with one of its consultants. A virtual site visit will allow the consultant to give you the most aggressive quote possible, as well as give you the opportunity to provide feedback on the design. The energy consultants will also cover what tax incentives and rebates you qualify for, your return on investment, a background of why SunPower panels are superior to conventional solar panels, and the available financing options.

How many Powerwalls do I need?

This can vary based on your home's energy consumption, the size of your home, and what appliances you would like to run during a power outage. Generally, one Powerwall can cover your lights, outlets, fridge, and freezer. If you are looking to be able to run your air conditioning unit during a grid outage, you will need at least two Powerwalls.

Why does pricing vary on the Tesla Powerwall?

When purchasing your first Powerwall, you are also purchasing the "brains" of the system known as The Gateway. Each additional Powerwall after your first purchase is $11,000. The Gateway can connect to 10 Powerwalls before a second Gateway needs to be purchased.

Do I have to place panels on my roof? Does the company install ground mounts?

You do not have to place solar panels on your roof. South Coast Solar can quote a solar installation in which the panels are mounted to the ground. This does increase the average cost of going solar as the company would need to build out the ground mount for the panels to attach to. If you want to do a ground mount installation, you should consider the distance from where the panels will be placed to the location of the home or structure you want to power, as well as the shading of the roof.

Star Rating

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4.5

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47 Reviews

Review Breakdown

5 grade

81%

4 grade

4%

3 grade

4%

2 grade

2%

1 grade

9%

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Review Source

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Jeff Riso Mandeville, LA

When I had to replace my roof, Southcoast Solar removed my solar panels, then after the roof contractor finished replacing the shingles, Southcoast Solar technicians did a great job reinstalling the mounting brackets and solar panels, and reconnected everything. They got my system back in operation well before Hurricane Ida struck, and although we lost utility power for about a week, our solar panels and battery back-up kept our refrigerator, lights, fans and other devices working continuously. Technicians did a great job. We are thankful that despite 110 mph winds in Mandeville, and many trees down throughout our area, no damage to new roof or reinstalled solar panels.

2 years ago

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Reply from South Coast Solar

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review & we are so glad everything worked out for you during the last hurricane. It helps so much when people can hear first hand how well our solar & battery installations work instead of only reading data sheets showing the superiority of SunPower panels. Thank you again!

Sep. 17th, 2021

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Verified Customer

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Review Source

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Robert Ramey Westminster, SC

Would be 5 stars if had production info for individual panels

2 years ago

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Reply from South Coast Solar

Hi Robert! Thank you so much for the review. It is unfortunate that SunPower does not allow individual output monitoring on the homeowner's portal, but I will definitely bring it up to our SunPower rep as a feature request for future updates. If you ever think something is off with your system (even without an error message), you can always give us a call at (803) 254-0294 and our service department would be more than happy to check on your behalf as we can see the individual panel output through our dealer portal. Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you ever need assistance as well at [email protected].

Jul. 6th, 2021