Sunsmart Technologies

Installed WIFI so the meter comes straight to my computer. Also gave me software for me to track and analyze the data. They came out and did the work. I say you can really trust this company. The responded within a day of calling them. They are fast and efficient.

I would use them again.

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When my wife and I decided to proceed with the installation of solar panels from Sunsmart Technologies, we were excited about making an impact on the environment and both saving/making money from our energy use. But since we signed the contract with SunSmart in June, we have been disappointed with the project planning, their timely service, and their ability to keep us informed of the approval process of the plan and delivery /installation of the equipment. On June 9, 2015, we signed the contract for installation of the solar panel system. I know that between June 9th and July 2nd, time was spent on the design of our project and filing the initial application for net metering with our utility company. It was from July 2nd and on that we felt that Sunsmart was not keeping us adequately informed on the status of our project and costing us money. July 2, 2015 the application for net metering was submitted. According to the company?s own established guidelines? a system of 10 Kw or less (ours is 5Kw) generally requires less than 30 days to approve.? We expected to hear from them by the beginning of August. August 24, 2015 (54 days later) we had to take the initiative and email Sunsmart to find out where we stood on the project. The response we got back was that we were scheduled for the following week. This was a surprise to us since no one called to inform us that we were finally approved by KCPL or to check our schedules to insure that we would be available that week. According to Sunsmart policy, ?It is our goal to keep you informed as possible, especially in accordance to our interactions with the utility company and the timeliness of their project. ? The next day I emailed Sunsmart to find out if we were approved for a permit with Overland Park Kansas because, again, we had not been informed. They reported that we had been approved in July, yet we were never notified and lost valuable installation and potential usage time. Sunsmart told us that they would contact us at the end of the week to schedule a delivery drop date for the materials needed for the installation, but by Friday August 28, 2015 no contact had been made. September 2, 2015 I received a call from Sunsmart, the delivery driver, informing me that he was going to drop off the materials today. No one from the project called us to verify date or time of delivery. At 6:30 pm the materials were delivered and with my help the equipment was unloaded and taken into the garage. On September 3, 2015, with the delivery of the materials and since we had no further information, we made contact to find out the schedule of installation. I received an email from Sunsmart expressing their apologies about the ongoing lack of communication throughout this project. They reported in the email that installation was scheduled to begin on Wednesday September 9, 2015 and set to finish on Thursday September 10, 2015. This was a surprise to us since no one called to schedule the days of installation and to verify our ability to be present but I rearranged my schedule to be at home. September 8, 2015 (Tuesday) Sunsmart called stating that the team would be out Thursday September 10, 2015 and Friday September 11, 2015 between 8am-9am to start the project. This was upsetting because I took days off from work and rescheduled several important meetings based on the original dates given to me by the project team (September 9th and 10th). Now, I had to reschedule my work, again, due to poor planning and communication. On Thursday September 10, 2015 (1st scheduled workday) No crew showed up at scheduled work time between 8-9am. 10:09 am: I called and spoke to the project team who in turn called the construction manager. They said the crew was at the office and would be on site by 11am. 12:09 pm: No Crew. Spoke initially with the project team then later to the construction manager. He reported that he had misinformed the project team and that the crew was completing another job. He would call me back and let me know when they would be coming. 1:34pm: Construction manager called and informed me that the crew was in route. 3pm: Crew arrives with Construction manager. The team worked on placing mounting points on the roof along with mounting equipment in the basement. 7pm: Crew left for the day. Construction manager said crew would be starting at 7am on Friday September 11 and was reassured that the project would be done and inspected by EOD Friday, September 11. Friday, September 11 7am: No crew 8am: One worker shows up but waiting in car for other workers. 9am: Second worker shows up. 10:39am: Lead electrician shows up and then crew comes to the door and work begins. 3:30pm: Lead electrician reports that they do not have all of the equipment needed to complete the job so they were stopping the work at this time. He also mentioned that the work done on the prior day was done incorrectly. This is why they were unable to get further on the job. Saturday, September 12 Construction manager called. I informed him that the crew left after working only 5 ½ hours. He reported that the crew would be back at 7am on Monday to complete the project. At that time, I expressed my unhappiness with the way this project has gone. Since I was unable to take any further days off from work, I asked my mother to rearrange her schedule to be available at my house for the workers. Monday, September 14: 7am: One worker present but sitting in car in front of house. 8am: 2nd person shows up but both remain outside. 10:35am: It is reported, to my mother, that the delay in starting was because the original electrician from Friday?s work was not available to complete job due to personal issues. A newly employed electrician was sent to replace him. Two workers were present throughout the day installing the solar panels and finishing the electrical wiring. 6:30pm: Work completed. Crew took me to the basement panel to show me that the system was on and producing power. I returned upstairs as they continued to work on that electrical panel. I was told that the city would be out on Tuesday, September 15th to do the inspection. Before I had time to ask about a timeframe for the inspection, I realized the team was gone. I also was waiting for the explanation on how to operate the system. I was disappointed that none was given. From you?re the company policy guidelines, ?Once the installation is complete, the crew leader will meet with you to walk through the entire system, show you the equipment, and explain how to operate it.? This was not done according to their own guidelines or to my satisfaction. No one wants equipment in their homes that we neither understand nor know how to operate. That is unsafe. Tuesday, September 15th: 5:00am Noticed faint burning smell when walking my dog around yard. I was unable to distinguish where the smell originated. 9:01am: Thinking about it at work, I realized that I did not actually see the workers turn the power off since I went upstairs prior to completion. I became increasingly concerned that the workers may have forgotten to turn the power off. I called the construction manager and left a message to express my concerns about the power being on. No Response. 9:04am: Spoke with the general manager about my disappointment with the process. He referred me to the SunSmart supplied guide. 10:17 am: While reading the Sunsmart supplied guide I found the following statement. ?Please be aware the you CANNOT operate your solar system until the bidirectional meter has been installed. Not only is this dangerous but it goes against the utility company?s procedure and they will cancel the meter install and force the process to be started over.? Another call to the construction manager about my concerns but no answer, message left. 10:30am: Extremely upset and concerned about this, I left work to go home and see if the system was left on by the crew (who should have known better). 10:53am: Arrived home and saw that the system was left on. Took pictures and made another attempt to call the construction manager to verify shutdown procedure. No response. Without guidance and ability to reach someone, I did what I believed to be correct. I shutdown the disconnect, inverter and panel breaker that were all left on by the electrician. 11:57am: Project team members called and reported that the construction manager called. He said that I shut down the system correctly. The project team member also notified me that the city inspection would be on Thursday morning. She told me that she didn?t think they needed to have a crew member there for inspection but would be happy to schedule one. The installation policy states that ?SunSmart?s crew leader will request a city inspection, based on the requirements set by your city or county. The crew leader will be present during the inspection on your behalf.? Since I have no training, no idea on how it was installed or knowledge on electrical codes, I asked that a representative be available. September 17, 2015 9am: A representative from SunSmart, arrives for city code inspection. 9:30am: City inspector present and reviews and approves system installation. Now will be awaiting KCPL?s installation of bi-directional meter and instructions on use of system. November 3, 2015 KCPL installed bi-directional meter and I was able to turn on the system. November 30th Requested warranty work to be done. During a long string of rain, we found a leak from a damaged roofing shingle and pilot holes that were not correctly sealed. The leak was found when we noticed that the master bathroom ceiling had water damage. Requested work was completed the following day. They placed flashing under the damaged shingle and caulked around it to keep it water tight.

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I met them at a home show. They wanted my electric bill information to see how many solar panels I needed. They came to the house, looked at my roof and backyard, took pictures of my fuse box and meter, told me how the tax incentives work. We went ahead with it because I know electricity prices go up every year and this is a way to keep my price the same. So solar is an investment but I'm ok with that because it will save me thousands of dollars, and added A LOT of value to my house. It took about 2 months from when I signed the contract for the crew to come put it on, but SunSmart and KCPL both told me that's because KCPL has an approval process that takes about a month. There's a 20-page application you have to get to KCPL to have solar approved. SunSmart took care of the whole thing, and the city permit, and the electrical and structural engineer, all I had to do was pay them and wait. So as soon as I was approved the crew came. The SunSmart van came to my house full of SunSmart guys which made me happy they were all employed, not contracted workers that come when you have a home projects like this. We were very happy with the process, everyone who comes over is asking us about the solar panels, we have friends who have gone ahead and called and are doing their own houses, my accountant put it on her building in Kearney, I'm satisfied with the whole experience. It's a very nice company, they expanded their operation to KC a couple years ago from Arizona I believe. I met several of the staff when I went to see the office and warehouse in Gladstone. It's a very positive place, the people working there seem happy to be there and congratulated me on going solar. You can tell they like what they do, and they are very good at it.