SolarCity vs Sungevity
Read on to discover the similarities and differences between SolarCity and Sungevity and determine which company is a better option for you.
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Overview
SolarCity
Sungevity
Reviews
SolarCity
Sungevity
Reviews for SolarCity
Helpful Favorable Review
Jared
Overall my experience with SolarCity/Tesla has been amazing. Great customer service every time I've called to get a status update or help move the process forward. Installers that came out were contracted (around March 2019) and did an amazing job. SolarCity/Tesla upgraded me to the newest panel for free as well due to supply issues (SC330 instead of SC320), and my panels are doing amazingly!
Helpful Critical Review
Hans Muelthaler
Ive had Solar City since 2013,Now Tesla= Roof started leaking a few weeks ago from under some panels,Almost impossible to speak directly to customer service. No Help!! Find out my roof is warranty only for first yr, Now I have to hire a 3rd party contractor to take panels off ,another company to fix roof,then put the crap back on to my roof! Run do not Take this company for your Solar.Buy it outright ,Do Not Lease!
Reviews for Sungevity
Helpful Favorable Review
Brook Warren
Raymond was very thorough and clear on what we were getting into. He did not try to oversell the product and offered an honest assessment of what it would provide to us. He fully answer every question we had. We decided not to get the system because the estimated monthly savings were lower than our cut off requirement. I didn't dislike anything about the experience and when I am back in the market next year, I will be reaching out directly to Raymond.
Helpful Critical Review
Michael
DO NOT BE TRICKED BY THE GUARANTEE They just guarantee a production instead warranty, They are guarantee around 94~96% of Estimated output. It looks OK, but, They are carry over an extra production from the guarantee value. not from the estimated output. It is really so gimmick, Think again carefully what will happen. After 10 years, if system is shut-down for 6 months, they do not have any responsibility. Check the warranty term again, carefully.
The Final Word
Both SolarCity and Sungevity operate in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C.
In addition to the states listed above, SolarCity offers solar services in Arizona, Hawaii, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington, while Sungevity does not.
However, Sungevity’s services are also available in Kansas and Missouri, while SolarCity’s are not.
Payment Options
SolarCity and Sungevity both offer a variety of ways to pay for a solar energy system, including outright purchases, loans, leases, and power purchase agreements (PPAs).
Equipment
SolarCity manufactures its own solar equipment, while Sungevity does not. Instead, Sungevity utilizes high quality materials, including black-on-black solar panels and low impact mounting hardware, from well-respected manufacturers such as LG and SolarEdge.
Installations
Neither SolarCity nor Sungevity outsources installations to third parties. Both companies have teams of professionals in house to install solar energy systems.
Warranties
SolarCity provides its customers with a 20-year equipment warranty, a 10-year workmanship warranty, and a 25-year performance warranty.
Sungevity matches SolarCity with a 20-year equipment warranty and a 25-year performance warranty, but Sungevity’s workmanship warranty is double that of SolarCity at 20 years.
Battery Storage
SolarCity’s solar systems are designed to work with Tesla Powerwall batteries, which are compact, stackable, and have a built-in inverter.
Sungevity’s solar systems have the ability to accommodate multiple battery storage options, including sonnenBatterie, as well as other functionalities such as EV chargers.
Referral Program
SolarCity pays customers $250 for each friend or family member they refer who chooses to install a solar energy system.
Sungevity offers up to $2,000 for every referred homeowner who makes the switch to solar.
Recommendation
SolarCity and Sungevity are on par in terms of payment options and installations. While SolarCity’s service area is larger, Sungevity offers a much longer workmanship warranty on its labor, as well as a larger referral bonus. Additionally, Sungevity’s proprietary remote solar design tool may make the solar process quicker and simpler for customers.
For those who live within its areas of operation, Sungevity is recommended over SolarCity.
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