Vivint Solar
5.8
Overall Score
Author: Kaitlyn Short
Founded in 2011, Vivint Solar is a renewable energy company based in Lehi, Utah, that sells, installs, and maintains PV solar energy systems. Although the company was acquired by Sunrun Solar in 2020, Vivint Solar still operates under its own brand.
The company is one of the most talked-about solar panel installers in the industry, in part due to its notorious door-to-door sales approach.
Vivint Solar was one of the first rooftop solar companies to offer a power purchase agreement (PPA), which allows customers to pay only for the power the system produces during the life of the contract — often at a lower rate than their electric bill.
However, a potential drawback of this residential solar company, according to Vivint Solar reviews submitted to our site by previous customers, is a delay in getting the solar system up and running after it's been installed on the roof.
Read on for our expert Vivint Solar review.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Several Payment Options
- Warranty Coverage
- Flexible Moving Options
- Wide Availability
- Solar Battery Storage
Several Payment Options
Vivint Solar offers a wide variety of payment options, including solar leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs), cash purchases, solar loans, and property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing. Both cash purchases and solar loans allow homeowners to take full advantage of the federal solar tax credit and other incentives.
As mentioned above, Vivint Solar pioneered the solar PPA, which is an option similar to a solar lease in that it allows homeowners to utilize alternative energy and save money on their electricity bill without having to invest any cash by allowing a solar system owned by a third party to be installed on their roof.
Power purchase agreements typically come with long-term contracts and allow homeowners to pay only for the solar panel system–produced power that they use at a flat rate.
There is no upfront cost with a PPA, solar loan, or solar lease.
With so many payment options to choose from, customers have the ability to take advantage of solar energy with a financing solution that fits their needs and budget.
Warranty Coverage
Vivint Solar offers a number of warranties for customers who select a solar purchase or a solar loan. For example, the solar installer offers a workmanship warranty that guarantees its work will be free from material defects for 10 years.
In addition, Vivint solar panels carry a 25-year linear performance warranty, and inverters carry minimum 10-year manufacturers' warranties.
Flexible Moving Options
Vivint Solar has made it relatively simple for a customer to take care of their solar panels if they decide to move.
Customers will be given four options to choose from if they need to move while under contract with the solar company: transferring the agreement to the new homeowner, pre-paying the remainder of the contract, relocating the solar panels to their new roof at no additional cost, or purchasing the system outright (after six years).
Potential customers should be sure to consult a Vivint salesperson about moving options before signing any agreements if there is a chance they may have to relocate while under contract.
Wide Availability
Vivint Solar is one of the most widely available installers in the solar industry. The company currently offers solar installation services in the following states:
- California
- Connecticut
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- New York
This wide state availability increases the company's reach and gives a greater number of people the opportunity to reap the benefits of solar power and clean energy with Vivint Solar.
Solar Battery Storage
Vivint Solar also provides home solar battery solutions that allows homeowners to harness and use surplus solar energy in the event of a power outage or other emergency. Solar batteries can also be used at night, which can greatly reduce the homeowner's monthly utility bill. The company employs the LG Chem battery to do this, which can be financed via loan, lease, PPA, or direct purchase, and comes with a reliable 10-year warranty.
The Bad
- Annual Price Increase with Power Purchase Agreement
- Permission-to-Operate Delays
- Questionable Sales Tactics
Annual Price Increase with Power Purchase Agreement
It should be noted that Vivint Solar's PPA typically requires customers to sign into long-term contracts and be subject to a pre-determined price increase that is meant to account for the inflation of the cost of electricity year-over-year. This insures that the company still makes the same percentage proportionately.
With Vivint Solar, the price increase is currently set at 2.9 percent annually.
Permission-to-Operate Delays
While Vivint can install a solar energy system within a day, some customers have encountered issues with getting the system up and running. In fact, customers on our site have reported that it took three to six months to get their solar system running after the solar panel installation was complete.
Although this issue pertains more to the time it takes Vivint Solar to get permission-to-operate approval from the city, some customers have described Vivint Solar's customer support as being unresponsive and lacking quality customer service throughout these delays.
Questionable Sales Tactics
Vivint Solar utilizes a door-to-door sales approach to market its solar system. While this isn't necessarily a bad strategy, many Vivint customer reviews describe reports of dealing with a sales rep who wasn't entirely upfront with them, provided incorrect information, or was overly persistent.
The Bottom Line
Vivint Solar is one of the largest rooftop solar installers in the United States and offers multiple financing options to help consumers of all budgets take advantage of solar power. Vivint Solar also provides customers with multiple moving options.
However, some Vivint Solar reviews left by consumers on our site have mentioned questionable Vivint salesperson sales tactics and poor customer service from the company after system installation. While these complaints do not invalidate the company's many strong points as a solar provider, they are worth considering as you shop for the best rooftop solar company.
PPA customers should be aware that they are subject to annual rate increases.
On the plus side, there is no with a PPA, loan, or
