True Renewable Energy

• Partnership with SunPower
• Multiple Payment Options

Partnership with SunPower

One of the most compelling endorsements of the quality True Renewable Energy’s solar systems is the company’s partnership with leading solar manufacturer SunPower. As an authorized SunPower installer, True Renewable Energy provides expertise at every step, from initial consultation, to installation, to ongoing customer support.

Panels and Inverters

True Renewable Energy installs the SunPower Equinox™ system, which features some of the highest-quality and energy-efficient equipment on the market. SunPower solar panels and solar inverters come with an equipment warranty of 25 years, meaning the system is covered against flaws and defects for its entire lifetime. Additionally, solar panel systems installed by True Renewable Energy come with a 25-year workmanship warranty, covering the system against any mistakes made during the installation process.

SunPower Mobile App

True Renewable Energy customers have access to the SunPower mobile app (available for both iOS and Android), which consists of a suite of tools geared toward smarter energy management.

• Usage and Output Data — Through simple, but visually engaging graphs and charts, customers can easily observe the state of their system, the energy the solar system generates, as well as the energy the household consumes. Customers can set specific time ranges on the app as well as observe trends in energy usage and output.
• Bill Savings Estimator — One helpful feature of the SunPower mobile app is the bill savings estimator, which approximates how much customers have saved on their energy bills over a given period of time.
• Notifications — Text alerts, messages, and other notifications provide insight, reminders, and suggestions for customers who need to troubleshoot issues affecting their system.
• Support — The app also provides solar customers with a comprehensive knowledge base, a frequently asked questions menu, and an easy way to contact customer support.

Multiple Payment Options

True Renewable Energy offers a variety of financing options for customers interested in investing in solar energy. Having multiple payment options extends a solar company’s reach to customers of different financial backgrounds and needs, and it allows a greater swath of people to benefit from tax incentives and solar credits:

• Purchase — For customers who can afford a significant upfront cost, and want to own their system outright.
• Solar loan — For customers who want to own their system, but need additional help with financing. Solar loans through True Renewable Energy start at 0 percent down.
• Solar lease — Typically for non-homeowning customers; they will not own the system installed on their rooftop, but can still benefit from the savings it brings.

The company also advertises a discount of $1,500 on any solar project for new customers.

• Only Available in California
• No PPA Option
• Insufficient Online Information

Only Available in California

True Renewable Energy only serves customers living in California, primarily the Bay Area of California. Solar in California is already a competitive and provider-saturated space. Apart from its partnership with SunPower, True Renewable Energy possesses few qualities that set it apart from other California-based solar companies.

No PPA Option

True Renewable Energy does not offer power purchase agreements (PPA) to customers. While PPAs and solar leases function much the same, PPAs carry the distinct advantage of only charging customers for the energy their solar panel systems produce (as opposed to the solar lease’s set monthly rate).

Insufficient Online Information

While True Renewable Energy’s partnership with SunPower does much of the heavy lifting toward the company’s credibility, the company itself is either missing or has obfuscated important information that could inform a potential solar customer’s decision prior to purchase:

• Industry certifications — True Renewable Energy does not mention any certifications from industry-recognized associations like the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) or the Solar Energy Institute (SEI). While this omission does not disqualify True Renewable Energy, these certifications provide credibility and separate good solar companies from great ones.
• “About us” — The company’s website is missing valuable information about the company’s history, key personnel, relevant awards or recognitions, and details on the company’s most recent solar projects. Knowing where a company comes from, who represents it, and proof of work that extends beyond a single photograph are important contributors to consumer trust.
• Social media — Save for the company’s YouTube page, links to True Renewable Energy’s social media accounts are either blocked (Facebook), broken (HomeAdvisor), or have been untouched for years (Twitter). The lack of access and activity represents a missed opportunity to connect with potential customers.
• Multiple branded websites — Another problem is the company’s multiple branded websites under separate domains. While both sites ultimately lead to the same source, their presence presents a confusing situation for Bay Area customers looking to go solar.