Sutro Power
Based in San Francisco, California, Sutro Power was founded in 2018.
Sutro Power is owned and operated by its electricians and engineers. This unique setup where the installers are also the owners can give customers peace of mind that all involved in the installation are invested in the company's success, so they will perform excellent work with only high-quality materials.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- In-House Operations
- Battery Storage
- Owner-Partner Shareholders
- Unique Designs
In-House Operations
Sutro Power handles the design, installation, and maintenance of its solar photovoltaic systems in-house, which allows the company greater control over the process than those that outsource to subcontractors and provides quality assurance.
The following are all done in-house by the team that designed the system:
- Layout
- Roof attachments
- Racking
- Wiring
- Module placement
- Grid tie-in
Additionally, any necessary electrical upgrades that need to be made prior to solar installation can be done by the Sutro Power team, so no third party is necessary.
Battery Storage
Sutro Power offers battery storage options that can provide a limited amount of electricity during a power outage. Solar batteries can also help homeowners depend less on the grid utility for their electricity overall, not just in an outage, and may prove financially advantageous in light of the latest policy updates in California's Net Metering 3.0.
Owner-Partner Shareholders
As mentioned, every designer and electrician at Sutro Power is an equal owner-partner shareholder in the business. This means that all the employees who work on customers’ systems are invested in the success of Sutro Power as a whole, and may be more likely to provide stellar service than other companies where employees are simply collecting a paycheck for their time.
Unique Designs
Sutro Power claims superior design acumen even on unique properties that provide a challenge for solar installers. The company website says, “If the sun shines on your property, we will design the most efficient way to harvest that light where other companies would turn away.”
The Bad
- Website Lacks Detail
- Reviews Needed
Website Lacks Detail
While it contains a handful of compelling project gallery photographs and a brief overview of services offered, Sutro Power's website offers no information about its warranties, financing options, accreditations, or product brands (solar panels, inverters, and batteries).
Reviews Needed
In order to determine the quality of Sutro Power's customer service and how it delivers on its overall claims, customers need to see reviews from past and current customers who have worked with the solar company.
The Bottom Line
San Francisco-based Sutro Power handles the design, installation, and maintenance of its solar power systems in-house. This often results in greater consistency than is found in companies that outsource work to subcontractors. This is the company's most compelling difference from competitors and demands recognition.
Unfortunately, few details are available on the Sutro Power website about financing, product, and warranty options, and there are limited reviews available, which makes it difficult to objectively compare the solar company against others in the Bay Area.
If you've worked with Sutro Power on a solar project, please consider leaving a review below.
