Maine Solar Solutions
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Author: Kaitlyn Short
Maine Solar Solutions designs, installs, and services residential and commercial solar power systems in the state of Maine. Maine Solar Solutions has installed more than 600 commercial and residential solar energy projects in Maine, offering solar panels from Axitec, Hanwha Q, Cell, LG Solar, Panasonic, Silfab, Solaria, and Q Cells. Installation typically takes three to five days for a residential project and costs $12,000 to $20,000 before incentives, and $8,400 to $14,000 after tax credits are factored in.
Maine Solar Systems offers financing help, as well as a 10-year installation warranty on all its systems. The company is an Efficiency Maine Residential Registered Vendor and boasts a number of other certifications and professional partnerships.
Continue reading for more information about Maine Solar System’s offerings.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Variety of Product Offerings
- Community Solar Project
- Certifications and Professional Partnerships
- Warranties
- Military Discount
Variety of Product Offerings
Many solar power companies offer only residential or commercial systems, or only grid-tied or off-grid systems, not a choice between the two. On the other hand, Maine Solar Solutions designs, installs, and services residential and commercial solar power systems, both grid-tied and off-grid, as well as with battery backup.
Grid-tied systems are Maine Solar Solutions’ most popular offering. These types of systems don’t require batteries; instead, the system powers the home while it’s producing power, and any excess power goes back to the grid, earning homeowners a credit. The company can also install grid-tied systems with backup batteries that would continue to power customers’ homes during a power outage.
Maine Solar Solutions’ off-grid systems can provide continuous electricity for homes that aren’t connected to the power grid, which may be a good option for more rural homes. These types of systems are able to provide power even when sunlight isn’t available and during power outages.
Maine Solar Solutions’ residential solar power systems are typically 3 to 10 kW.
The company also offers heat pumps to be used with both residential and commercial solar power systems. Heat pumps can both heat and cool spaces, save energy, and reduce consumers’ overall energy costs.
Additionally, while some solar companies offer only one or two brands of solar panel, Maine Solar Solutions provides numerous options: Axitec, Hanwha Q, Cell, LG Solar, Panasonic, Silfab, Solaria, and Q Cells.
Community Solar Project
Maine Solar Solutions makes access to clean energy possible even for those who are not in a position to install a solar panel system on their residence. Through its community solar initiative, the company allows a limited number of utility company users access to the power generated by its solar array for zero money upfront.
Certifications and Professional Partnerships
Maine Solar Solutions boasts a number of certifications, awards, and professional partnerships.
The company is an Efficiency Maine Residential Registered Vendor. Registered vendors have provided proof of insurance and agreed to follow Efficiency Maine’s code of conduct, which includes provisions like calling the homeowner if the contractor expects to arrive more than 15 minutes late and only billing customers for products and services they agreed to in writing.
Maine Solar Solutions is also certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, an organization that holds its members to high ethical and professional standards.
The company is also a Pearl Partner, a certification that includes special training and qualifications. Homes that are Pearl Certified sell for 5 percent more, on average, according to a recent study.
Solar Power World named Maine Solar Solutions a 2020 Top Solar Contractor.
Additionally, Maine Solar Solutions has a number of professional partnerships that increase its product offerings. The company is one of only two certified Tesla Powerwall installers in Maine. Maine Solar Solutions is also a Lumin, Solaria, LG, and Q pro partner and is registered with Silfab.
Warranties
Maine Solar Solutions provides 10-year installation warranties on its solar power systems.
Additionally, all of the solar panels the company installs have their power outputs warrantied for 25 years or more, at 80 percent of the original power output.
Military Discount
Maine Solar Solutions offers a military discount of $500 on its services for veterans, active duty service members, and reserves. Each customer can receive one military discount in their lifetime, and they must verify their military status with identification.
The Bad
- Limited Availability
- Limited Maine Solar Solutions Reviews
- No Leases or PPAs
Limited Availability
Maine Solar Solutions is based in Durham, Maine, and the company designs, installs, and services solar power systems only in the state of Maine.
Limited Maine Solar Solutions Reviews
Unfortunately, few verified reviews about Maine Solar Solutions's solar installation services are available online. Maine homeowners that want to learn more about the solar installer's energy efficiency products from first-hand accounts, may have difficulty procuring that information. Online reviews are swiftly becoming an important resource in the solar industry.
That said, the solar company has published customer reviews from its Facebook page, which can be useful to potential customers; however, we would like to see more Maine Solar Solutions reviews posted to objective, third-party sources as a way to improve the company's credibility.
No Leases or PPAs
Maine Solar Solutions offers neither the solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA) as an available financing option. Rather, customers will either need to pay for their solar system completely out of pocket, or finance it through a third-party solar loan.
The Bottom Line
Maine Solar Solutions offers a variety of options for Maine residents looking for solar power systems: both grid-tied and off-grid, and residential and commercial systems. The company’s systems use solar panels from eight companies: Axitec, Hanwha Q, Cell, LG Solar, Panasonic, Silfab, Solaria, and Q Cells. All of these options give potential customers more choices than they would have with the average solar company.
Maine Solar Solutions has received a number of awards and certifications that demonstrate its high standards of ethical behavior and professionalism — including from Efficiency Maine, the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, Pearl, and Solar Power World. The company is also a certified installer for many solar power brands — it is one of only two certified Tesla Powerwall installers in the state. These qualifications should help consumers feel confident in working with Maine Solar Solutions.
The company offers a 10-year installation warranty on its systems, and all of the panels it installs also come with warranties of 25 years or more on their power outputs. These warranties are fairly standard in the industry, but they should help consumers feel more confident in the lifespan of their solar power systems.
A solar power system from Maine Solar Solutions typically costs $12,000 to $20,000 before incentives, and $8,400 to $14,000 after tax credits are factored in. The company’s online transparency in its pricing is useful for potential customers as they decide between solar companies. Additionally, Maine Solar Solutions offers a military discount for those currently serving or who have served in the military.
The one downside to Maine Solar Solutions is that the company only works with customers in the state of Maine. However, those who are interested in residential or commercial solar power systems for a building in Maine should feel confident in considering this company.
