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Independent Solar reviews
• updated APR 10, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
Independent Energy Solutions handles tricky roofs other installers won't touch. We analyzed dozens of reviews and found two standout patterns. First, their project managers don't just show up and leave. They give daily progress updates, lock up your garage each evening, and respond to WiFi glitches the same day you report them. One homeowner praised Ben Jones for being particular about details and leaving the site tidy every night, a small thing that made having strangers on the roof for a week feel manageable. Second, they work around your preferences instead of forcing a standard template. When one family insisted on panels on the back of the house for aesthetic reasons (even though south-facing front made more technical sense), the team patiently explained trade-offs and designed the layout the homeowners actually wanted. Chris, the sales lead, earned repeat mentions for refusing to upsell bigger systems than needed. One reviewer followed up four times for a quote and never heard back, so if you're shopping around casually, you may hit a wall. (Apparently they only return calls from people ready to commit money, which is bold.) But if you're past the research phase and want an installer who'll replace broken roof tiles without charging extra, they're worth the premium.
If you have an older tile roof or want panels somewhere unconventional, Independent Energy Solutions will take on jobs other companies turn down. Expect thorough project management and no pressure to oversize your system, but don't expect quick responses until you're ready to sign.
3 Stories That Stood Out
After a year of comparing installers, Michelle B. chose IES for a residential solar system on her older tile-roof home and discovered it was worth the wait. She found everyone — from the owner to the installation crew — cooperative and knowledgeable, and the company secured competitive financing while handling the federal rebate and loan paperwork for her. They worked with her to design a system that prioritized aesthetics: she wanted panels on the back of the house, and the rep patiently walked her through the pros and cons of that versus a more typical south-facing front roof. Other companies wouldn’t bother with creative solutions, but she felt no pressure to upsize the system and received clear, helpful guidance so the choices matched her needs. The installation team arrived on time, stayed friendly, cleaned up afterward, and tackled a difficult tile roof without complaint. Several tiles were broken during the work, but the crew replaced them without extra cost — a detail that stood out because one competitor had outright refused the job because of the tiles. What lingered with her was how IES handled the tricky logistics — financing, rebate paperwork, an unconventional panel位置
After a year of comparing installers, Clay settled on this company and trusted them to spend about a week at his house installing the system. He worked with Chris, a salesperson who brought clear knowledge and flexible financing that made the purchase easy, and Ben Jones ran the project on site—professional, meticulous, and consistently left the job clean at the end of each day. A couple of early Wi‑Fi glitches cropped up but the crew responded immediately and resolved them. Over almost two years the array has produced more than the original estimate. The only real complaint came during contract negotiations, when some math and communication errors appeared; the team corrected those issues quickly and courteously. What stuck with him: simple financing, a tidy, detail‑oriented installation from Ben, and a system that outperformed expectations—enough to earn four stars rather than five.
Samantha E. was comparing several companies for a residential solar installation and chose IES partly because of its strong Yelp ratings. She spent several weeks trying to get a basic price estimate. Each time she called and provided all the necessary information, staff promised to pass it on and follow up — but no one ever did. Over the course of a few weeks she phoned back four times, even offering to accept a remote quote if an on-site visit wasn’t possible, and she emphasized that she was about to make a hiring decision and wanted IES included. In the end she never received the quote and felt ignored during the sales process. She left two stars because she couldn’t judge the installation or aftercare, but the standout issue was the sales unresponsiveness: despite being ready to move forward, she was effectively shut out before a single estimate arrived.
Platforms Monitored
Performance by Work Type
How We Got To Trust Score 81
No Red Flags
Unauthorized Activities
Passed screening
Misleading Claims
Passed screening
Background Check
Serving customers for 12 years
Operating longer than most installers in the market.
BBB Rating: A+
Excellent BBB standing. Strong complaint resolution.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
What You Can Expect
John Shawver has been a customer and supporter for a year after hiring a highly recommended rep, Jesse Heredia. Jesse spent five hours at John's house for the initial meeting, walking through the system and options in detail. Once the paperwork was signed, the installation crew arrived and finished the work on schedule; everything Jesse promised — and a few extras — was handled. Whenever he had a question or concern, Jesse explained things and sent any documents he needed, staying available well after installation. The company impressed him with its professionalism, but what stood out was Jesse’s follow-through and willingness to go above and beyond. He tells anyone considering solar about Jesse and the clear, step-by-step attention he received. If he could award more than five stars he would — the detail that stuck was that five-hour first consult and Jesse’s steady support after the sale.
After a year of comparing installers, Clay settled on this company and trusted them to spend about a week at his house installing the system. He worked with Chris, a salesperson who brought clear knowledge and flexible financing that made the purchase easy, and Ben Jones ran the project on site—professional, meticulous, and consistently left the job clean at the end of each day. A couple of early Wi‑Fi glitches cropped up but the crew responded immediately and resolved them. Over almost two years the array has produced more than the original estimate. The only real complaint came during contract negotiations, when some math and communication errors appeared; the team corrected those issues quickly and courteously. What stuck with him: simple financing, a tidy, detail‑oriented installation from Ben, and a system that outperformed expectations—enough to earn four stars rather than five.
Debbie A arranged financing with the company to cover both a solar system and a landscaping package. She ended up with the solar installation completed, but the landscaping never materialized. After several phone calls trying to get the missing work scheduled, she discovered the company had blocked her number and stopped taking her calls. Left with one delivered service and no follow-through on the other, she considers the whole deal a scam — the striking detail being that she financed two jobs and ended up with only the solar, while contact was abruptly cut off.
Bob Hardin started out doubtful about going solar, but James Cambell from sales walked him through the decision and pointed him toward a year-end deadline that would unlock a $9,000 tax rebate if the project finished on time. What sealed it was the first two months after installation: his electric bills didn’t just shrink, they dipped into the negative at $5 below zero one month and $4 below zero the next, a sharp change from the $150 to $225 he had been paying APS every month before. For someone who came in skeptical, that kind of turnaround from a sales rep he trusted and an installation crew that delivered cleanly was the detail that made the whole experience feel real.
Chris nearly called the whole thing off the morning after signing, caught in that familiar mix of door-knock skepticism and second-guessing the numbers. But Independent Solar kept in touch instead of fading away, which helped him ride out the doubt. They ended up finishing the installation faster than promised, and once the system was running, his electric bill disappeared altogether. What stuck with him most was how quickly the project moved from a hesitant decision to a result he wished he’d reached sooner.
For a residential rooftop install, Dave found the most memorable part was the personal follow-through: once the utility set the meter, Brett drove back and flipped the system on himself. The crew arrived on schedule and executed the panel and electrical-box install cleanly, leaving wiring that looked meticulous rather than messy. Brett handled everything from the paperwork and permitting through activation, answered questions quickly, and made the handoff in person. Dave walked away impressed by the hands-on coordination and the tidy workmanship — the on-site start-up visit was what sealed the experience.
Nick Vallejo was shopping for solar for his home and chose this team after meeting Jesse, the sales rep. Jesse walked him through the exact system options and the pricing structure, stayed professional and never applied pressure. After Nick signed, the Independent team moved quickly — the installers were on site and the system was completed within two weeks. Jesse kept him informed at every step, so the project felt fast and transparent. The detail that stuck with him: a rapid, two-week turnaround paired with steady updates from Jesse throughout the process.
April Jones hired Independent Solar for a residential solar install, and Jesse guided her through every step. He laid out the available system and financing options, helped her choose what best matched the household’s energy use, and stayed involved through the installation. The whole process felt open and straightforward — contracts, choices, and timelines were clear from the start. After installation she discovered that pigeon guards had been included, a small but telling detail that highlighted the crew’s attention to practical long-term issues. She would pick the same team again, and still points to those pigeon guards as proof Independent Solar thinks through the little things.
AZ CARIBBEAN TRANSPORT LLC discovered trouble soon after a rooftop solar installation: the installer’s promised rate and the panels’ expected energy output didn’t materialize. They then found the roof leaking and a crack that they attribute to the crew’s negligence, and say the company’s warranty promises proved unreliable. For two weeks they have pressed the installer to send someone to repair the damage; the company answered at first but then stopped responding to calls and texts and has not been proactive in resolving the issue. Facing a damaged roof, unmet performance expectations and what they consider an unhonored warranty, they plan to pursue legal action — and the striking detail is that two weeks of outreach went from an initial reply to complete silence while the roof continues to leak.
Long-term Satisfaction
Recent customers rate Independent Solar 4.7 ★
Long-term reviews carry the most weight in our methodology because they are most representative of what you should be paying for: a system that will perform for years.