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6.5
Sunnova
Like
25-year service assure
A lot of financing choices
Buyer-centered strategy
Do not like
No value match
Potential customer support considerations per the BBB
For those who’re searching for a customer-centered strategy to getting photo voltaic panels, it could be price getting a quote from Sunnova. It presents assurances that your system is working because it ought to with a easy course of for rectifying any issues together with your photo voltaic panels.
Sunnova’s pitch is designed for these searching for a set-it-and-forget-it strategy to photo voltaic: No want to fret about cash upfront, an settlement that ensures your photo voltaic system is producing for 1 / 4 century and a single telephone quantity to name with any questions for the complete period.
“Whether or not it is a lease, a mortgage or an influence buy settlement, we’re guaranteeing that buyer’s energy flows for 25 years,” Kelsey Hultberg, Sunnova’s govt vp for company communications and sustainability, advised CNET in spring of 2023.
One of many newest evolutions on the earth of photo voltaic is the notion of “vitality as a service” provided by among the greater gamers. The thought is to simplify going photo voltaic and make the transfer to renewable vitality — whether or not you are fascinated by preventing local weather change, chopping your vitality payments or hopefully each — so simple as switching web suppliers. An internet of tax credit and different incentives, to not point out the free vitality produced, additionally makes it an attractive proposition for shoppers.
Eloi_Omella/Getty Picture
Sunnova is a number one energy-as-a-service supplier and has been a public firm traded on the New York Inventory Trade since 2019. The Houston-based outfit has been round for 10 years, and with greater than 400,000 prospects throughout the US on the finish of 2023, it is one of many largest photo voltaic firms within the nation.
It is also partnering with the US Division of Power to supply photo voltaic loans to communities that won’t in any other case be capable of entry such financing via an initiative known as Venture Hestia. The federal authorities has dedicated to offer mortgage ensures on as much as 90% of $3.3 billion in loans originated by Sunnova. The general public funding is supposed to extend entry to photo voltaic for households with credit score scores which may in any other case disqualify them.
CNET hasn’t gone via the method of ordering from Sunnova, having a system put in or testing the tools talked about right here. As a substitute, we’ve studied the {industry}, had an in-depth dialog with the corporate and, to a restricted extent, considered outdoors opinions from those that have interacted with the corporate.
With this in thoughts, it’s important that any residence or small enterprise proprietor contemplating a photo voltaic system get a number of quotes from installers of their space and do their very own analysis. (You are off to a great begin by studying this evaluation.) You’ll find lots extra photo voltaic firms right here at CNET as nicely.
What do I get from Sunnova?
Over the previous few years, Sunnova has targeted on creating what it calls the Sunnova “adaptive residence,” which fits past simply placing a number of panels on a roof to incorporate integrating batteries, load controls and EV chargers, amongst different choices.
“We’re packaging that up for the house owner so they do not have to fret concerning the burden of bringing collectively all these know-how items, after which we’re managing that for the client for 25 years,” Hultberg defined.
What tools does Sunnova provide?
Sunnova works with a community of vetted installers to supply its photo voltaic packages nearly anyplace within the nation. Native installers additionally work from a listing of kit producers and particular merchandise which were authorised by Sunnova, together with a big selection of panels, inverters, batteries and EV chargers.
“Nothing’s occurring a roof that we’ve not already vetted and authorised,” Hultberg stated.
The corporate makes use of panels from a wide range of producers, inverters from SolarEdge and Enphase, and batteries made by Tesla, Enphase, Generac, SolarEdge and Franklin House Energy.
Does Sunnova provide system monitoring?
The Sunnova internet portal and app supplies info on how the client’s system is performing, the state of battery cost and extra.
One fascinating beta function is the flexibility to see when the client is pulling vitality from the grid and the way “soiled” the grid sources are (i.e. coal vs. renewables). The corporate did not provide a selected timeline for when the function can be totally practical.
The app has additionally been comparatively nicely reviewed on Google (3.5 stars) and Apple’s (4.5 stars) app shops.
What warranties does Sunnova provide?
Sunnova guarantees to service and in any other case handle its methods for 25 years. Hultberg stated that when Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, the corporate mounted each broken Sunnova system on the island at no cost to prospects.
When service or guarantee considerations come up throughout the 25-year interval, prospects name Sunnova and are more likely to see a Sunnova truck roll as much as make repairs.
What else does Sunnova provide?
In early 2024, Sunnova introduced it had partnered with The House Depot to supply its providers to prospects within the chain’s {hardware} shops nationwide. Sunnova and native installers will employees House Depot shops to reply questions and advise prospects.
The corporate additionally presents digital energy plant networks in a number of states, together with California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island and Texas. A VPP integrates your own home’s vitality system extra intently with the grid, permitting a house battery to deploy vitality to the grid when wanted to keep away from blackouts, amongst different issues. Prospects who enroll in VPPs can usually earn monetary incentives or credit on energy payments.
“We’re revolutionizing the function of photo voltaic and storage whereas placing a reimbursement into our prospects’ pockets — and the response has been overwhelming,” Sunnova CEO William J. (John) Berger stated in a assertion.
How a lot do Sunnova photo voltaic panels price?
Sunnova declined to offer pricing info, which is fairly customary apply industry-wide. Hultberg stated the corporate would not make it a apply to cost match, however that installers do have value thresholds that they don’t seem to be allowed to go above or beneath.
For those who have a look at the common price on tools and set up earlier than factoring within the federal clear vitality credit of 30%, the US nationwide common price is roughly $18,073 for a 5-kilowatt system and $3.60 per watt, in accordance with FindEnergy.com.
Different incentives from state, county and municipal governments, and generally even banks and credit score unions, would possibly carry that whole out-of-pocket expense down even additional. One evaluation from Wooden Mackenzie reveals the common buy price of put in solar energy is $2.99 per watt for an 8-kilowatt system.
In fact, the above figures merely replicate nationwide averages. Make sure to evaluate costs in your individual space earlier than signing a contract.
To get an thought of what photo voltaic prices seem like in every US state, here is a have a look at the common whole price, system dimension and value per watt of photo voltaic panels, in accordance with knowledge from FindEnergy.com. The states shaded in grey had no knowledge accessible.
What financing choices does Sunnova provide?
Sunnova presents energy buy agreements and numerous methods to buy, lease or finance photo voltaic methods. Hultberg famous that not all states enable leases and different program choices might differ by locale.
Sunnova says it may possibly usually get prospects up and working with a brand new photo voltaic system with no upfront price, although the lifetime financial savings of a bought system are usually increased than they’re with leases, energy buy agreements or different zero-money-down choices.
Does Sunnova function in my state? How do I order?
Zooey Liao / CNET
Sunnova works with native sellers in all US states and territories. The order course of begins with getting linked to an authorised Sunnova seller or installer, both via the Sunnova web site or from direct contact with a seller.
The native seller has a dialog with the client, checks out the property utilizing satellite tv for pc imagery, places collectively a bundle of kit from Sunnova’s authorised checklist, and presents it to the client for approval.
The seller will talk about choices akin to batteries and EV chargers as nicely. The ultimate system design is then reviewed by Sunnova for a quality-control test, then authorised. This triggers the method to provoke new photo voltaic service, together with allowing, set up and, lastly, account activation and flowing electrons.
“Then we’re working with you for the following 25 years to be sure that system is working and producing vitality the way in which through which we promised that it could,” Hultberg stated.
Is Sunnova your best option?
Solar and photo voltaic panels means electrical energy.
narvikk/Getty Photos
Sunnova presents a straightforward strategy for including photo voltaic to your own home and guaranteeing your system’s manufacturing for 1 / 4 century.
All of it sounds fairly nice, however understand that we weren’t supplied with any substantial details about pricing and the vary of kit provided. We’re additionally not excited concerning the seller mannequin that primarily doubles the analysis requirement — you need to be sure that each Sunnova and the native installer they join you with are each firms you belief.
The Higher Enterprise Bureau has additionally flagged a sample of complaints in opposition to Sunnova that provides us pause. The corporate assures us that the vast majority of its prospects are happy, and it says it has moved to handle all complaints. Sunnova does additionally seem to have numerous happy prospects from what we will inform.
Bear in mind, CNET has not really gone via the ordering or set up course of with Sunnova. Make sure to do loads of analysis earlier than making a 25-year dedication.
Professionals
25-year service guaranteeLots of financing optionsCustomer-centered approachRecipient of DOE funding for folks with decrease credit score scores
Cons
Required to undergo community of installersA sample of complaints in accordance with BBB.orgNo value match
Sunnova critiques: What are prospects saying?
It may be arduous to place a lot inventory in on-line critiques right this moment. It is easy to search out each constructive and unfavorable critiques of Sunnova. Nevertheless, we do take particular observe of the Higher Enterprise Bureau’s “sample of grievance” for the corporate.
“Buyer disputes alleged misleading gross sales practices, poor customer support, they usually additional report set up and restore technicians don’t arrive as scheduled,” the BBB experiences.
Sunnova’s BBB accreditation was not renewed beginning in 2019 because of the sample of complaints — together with over 500 prior to now 12 months — and a authorities motion in opposition to the corporate in Puerto Rico that has since been resolved.
“Shopper’s complaints said Sunnova assigned decision specialists who’re unreachable by way of telephone or e-mail inflicting delays in diagnosing and repairing under-producing panels or panels that aren’t operational in any respect,” the BBB alert reads. “Whereas Sunnova Power Company has responded to complaints and lots of of which had been closed as resolved, (prospects) felt their considerations had been addressed solely after submitting a grievance with the BBB.”
Photo voltaic panels turning daylight into electrical energy.
Getty Photos
Sunnova says it “engaged in roughly 1.3M interactions with current prospects via e-mail and voice calls. Of these interactions, solely 537 (0.041%) had been related to BBB circumstances.”
Sunnova and the BBB confirmed that almost 99.9% of the above circumstances are at present marked as resolved.
The corporate additionally says it has made current investments in a brand new nationwide operations management heart that “supplies real-time monitoring, optimization and management of over our whole fleet of 300,000 photo voltaic and battery storage methods all through 55 states and territories throughout the US, permitting us to establish and reply to points with unprecedented velocity and effectivity.”
Do not be afraid to ask pointed questions of photo voltaic firms. You may even ask them what they’ve finished to handle the problems you noticed on the BBB web site. It additionally would not harm to teach your self about present scams within the photo voltaic {industry}.
How we consider photo voltaic firms
Reviewing photo voltaic firms in a hands-on manner is tough. Accounting for all of the variations from undertaking to undertaking is unimaginable. To supply a useful evaluation, we targeted on what we will measure and meaningfully evaluate amongst firms.
We concentrate on three buckets of standards: tools, warranties and repair.
Throughout the tools class, firms obtain scores for the panels, inverters and batteries they set up. Warranties embody the ensures on the panels, workmanship and weatherization in opposition to leaks. Firms earn factors for service if they provide a value match, a significant stage of value transparency and a well-rated app for monitoring photo voltaic manufacturing. They lose factors if there are main points pertaining to customer support (lawsuits, investigations or clear reputations for shoddy service). These points will all the time be detailed within the evaluation.
You may learn an in depth have a look at how the scoring breaks down.
We do not think about the common value of an organization’s installations of their rating. This info is tough to search out and arduous to check throughout service areas, and even roof to roof. Firms are sometimes sluggish to reveal it, too. We additionally miss simply discovered info that’s of restricted use, like what number of states an organization operates in.
Doubtlessly. For those who’re searching for a “set it and neglect it” photo voltaic resolution, Sunnova guarantees 25 years of worry-free residence vitality manufacturing.
What panels does Sunnova use?
A range. Make sure to ask detailed questions on what they will give you on your scenario.
Does Sunnova provide financing choices?
Sure, in addition to leases and energy buy agreements. The corporate likes to pitch a financing plan that gives photo voltaic set up with no cash down. Make sure to run the numbers and browse the nice print earlier than signing something, although.
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