LA Solar Group
4.0
6.6
Overall Score
Author: Kaitlyn Short
One of the fastest-growing solar companies in the nation, LA Solar Group has been providing rooftop solar energy services since 2012.
LA Solar Group installs solar systems, roofs, and battery storage devices. While LA Solar Group has primarily focused on residential rooftop clients, the company also serves commercial clients. In addition, the company offers energy monitoring and other solar-related services and products.
LA Solar Group wants its customers to be as knowledgeable as possible about how solar works: the savings it brings, the warranties it offers, how to select the best equipment, the most suitable financing options, and how to monitor a solar system's production.
The company prides itself on its highly-trained, specialized staff working on each step of the solar design and installation process, including leading engineers; in fact, the company's founder has a background in construction and electrical engineering.
In recent years, the company has been ranked multiple times as one of the fastest-growing companies locally and beyond, including #1 on the San Fernando Valley Business Journal top 50 list and #75 on the Inc. 5000 list.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Wide Range of Payment Options
- Live System Monitoring
- Comprehensive Warranty
- Top-Level Solar Products
- Solar Panel Maintenance
Wide Range of Payment Options
For its solar energy systems, LA Solar Group offers four different payment options for consumers to choose from, including a cash purchase, loan, lease, and Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). For loans specifically, the company offers two program options to its customers.
The first option allows borrowers to finance solar systems through a third-party lender. Loan terms include no prepayment penalties, $0 down, the option to choose a secured or an unsecured loan, and either a 12- or 20-year term.
The second option is a secured loan with a 5- to 25-year term, allowing customers to finance through their home equity and roll payments into their property taxes. This loan is not based on a credit or FICO score, but the borrower must have at least 15 percent equity in their home to qualify.
The PPA and lease options do not require any money down for the solar installation and provide consumers with monthly savings on their electricity bills. LA Solar Group's leases are made on a standard 20-year term with the option to either remove the system, extend the lease, purchase the system, or replace the system entirely when the term is over.
Live System Monitoring
LA Solar Group offers two different monitoring systems (Enphase and Hoymiles) that allow customers to monitor their solar production and usage. Both systems have received decent user ratings on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Enphase and Hoymiles allow property owners to verify system health and performance, view production by month, day, or hour and analyze performance against historical weather data.
The use of both applications gives LA Solar Group customers a comprehensive look at their overall system performance.
Comprehensive Warranty
LA Solar Group provides its customers with a complete warranty package. This includes a 25-year workmanship warranty, a 25-year manufacturer's warranty on the solar panels, a 25-year manufacturer's warranty on the inverter, a 25-year production warranty, and a 25-year roof warranty.
This comprehensive warranty is among the longest available in the solar industry, giving customers peace of mind that their system will be protected in the event of an accident or malfunction.
Top-Level Solar Products
One way in which LA Solar Group is different from most solar providers is that, in addition to a broad inventory of solar panels made by third-party manufacturers (Panasonic, LG, Talesun, ReneSola, Q Cells), the solar provider produces its own solar cells. The company attests that these solar cells absorb several times more sunlight than conventional cells. The combination of panels from third-party partners as well as LA Solar Group's own in-house product gives customers a wide variety of choices to fit their budgets and energy needs.
LA Solar Group has also earned an excellent reputation as a trusted solar battery installer and maintains a strong partnership with Tesla. What's more, the company remains one of the leading installers, by volume, of Tesla Powerwall batteries in Southern California.
Solar Panel Maintenance
LA Solar Group offers solar panel cleaning and repair for all solar systems that it installed, as well as for systems installed by other solar energy companies.
The Bad
- Customer Service Complaints
Customer Service Complaints
While LA Solar Group has a strong cumulative review profile, there are several negative reviews that mention customer service issues, such as not being notified of delays. While this is definitely a cause for concern, it is encouraging to see the company reaching out and offering to resolve these complaints.
The Bottom Line
With multiple payment options, online monitoring, and lengthy warranties, LA Solar Group is a good company to consider for your solar project if you live in the company's service area. While communication does occasionally slip through the cracks, LA Solar Group shows a commitment to ensure customers are satisfied with their switch to clean energy.
See frequently asked questions and company reviews below as you determine if you want a solar system quote from LA Solar Group.
