In August 2017, Horizon Solar Power and Solar Spectrum merged, maintaining their individual brands as part of the larger Sungevity family. The merger expanded Horizon Solar Power’s sales strategies and helped align both companies to better serve their customers.
As a leading California solar installer, Horizon is committed to customizing solar systems across the state. In this review, the This Old House Reviews Team looks into Horizon Solar Power services and its installation process to help you decide if the company is the best solar provider for you and your home.
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Is Horizon Solar Power Worth It?
Horizon Solar Power is a local solar installer that offers a variety of purchasing plans. The company’s A- rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) makes it a trustworthy option for Californians looking to incorporate solar into their homes.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of Horizon Solar Power below.
Horizon Solar Power Services
Horizon Solar Power provides customized solar panel installation for residential and commercial customers and is a part of the process from start to finish.
Residential Solar Panel Installation
To begin your solar project, Horizon Solar conducts a free in-home consultation that analyzes your home’s energy needs and infrastructure to determine if your home is compatible with solar. Following your consultation, Horizon Solar provides you with a free proposal detailing your custom system design and installation quote. At that time, you’ll learn about your local rebates and available savings.
If you decide on solar from Horizon, the company will take care of the necessary inspections and paperwork to ensure your solar panel installation is completed within three days. Once installed, your local utility provider will change your electric meter and a Horizon Solar Power technician will teach you how to use your system.
Commercial Solar Panel Installation
Horizon Solar Power follows a similar installation process when working with commercial clients and helps maximize their savings by designing a system unique to each business. Horizon guarantees the performance of its commercial systems for 20 years.
Horizon Solar Power Purchasing Options
Horizon Solar Power offers customers the choice of four purchasing options to help finance their solar energy system.
Horizon Solar Power Finance Comparison
| Options | Solar Purchase | Solar Loan | Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA) | Solar Lease |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Description | Customers who choose to purchase their system outright assume full responsibility of the system but don’t owe a monthly payment to Horizon. | Solar loan customers owe a set monthly payment to assume full ownership of the system. | PPA customers enter into a contract with Horizon to purchase power at a fixed monthly rate. At the end of the PPA agreement, customers can choose to purchase the system. | Commercial customers can enter into a solar lease and pay monthly for solar energy. |
| Cost | Full cost of the system | Set monthly payments | Set monthly payments | Set monthly payments starting at as little as $0 |
| Covered maintenance | No | No | ✓ | ✓ |
| Owner | Customer | Customer | Horizon | Horizon |
| Tax rebates | Eligible | Eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible |
Note: Solar leasing agreements are only available to commercial customers.
Horizon Solar Power Referral Program
Horizon allows customers, non-customers, and employees to register for its referral program. The referral program rewards users based on the number of referrals given.
Here are the rewards available to program members based on the referral:
- 1st referral—$500
- 2nd referral—$1,000
- 3rd referral—$2,000
Horizon Solar Power created a referral mobile app to simplify the referral process by letting users submit referrals and check on their status remotely.
Horizon Solar Power Warranties and Accreditation
Horizon Solar Power doesn’t provide any system warranties for residential customers, explaining that system warranties are available for solar purchase customers under their individual homeowners insurance policy.
Note: Customers under a power purchase agreement are responsible for installing and maintaining their own system.
Accreditation
Horizon Solar Power is accredited by the BBB and holds an A- rating from the company. Here’s a sample of the company’s BBB customer reviews:
“My wife and I just wanted to share a positive review for Horizon Solar. From the cold caller Autumn Hope on to the sales rep, Paul D, they were great individuals to talk with, very informative, and not high pressure. In [the] process, we talked with several other individuals and they were all very friendly [and] always helpful. If you are considering solar, I would put Horizon Solar at the top of the list.” — Ken C.
“They are so desperate to sell that one of them went into my garage while another one was yelling at one of my open windows. [They] almost knocked down my door while I was at my neighbor’s house next door watching all that [happen]. Next time one of your guys goes inside my property I will call the police. And this morning they came again! I spoke with someone over the phone and I hope this is over.” — Gabriela L.
Our Conclusion
Horizon Solar Power provides customers with excellent customer service, a variety of purchasing options, and a lucrative referral program. Although Horizon received some complaints about aggressive sales tactics, the company offers a concise and simple installation process to customers who are interested in switching to solar energy.
Before choosing Horizon Solar Power, we recommend getting a few quotes from a variety of solar providers. Use this tool to compare local solar pricing in your area.
Compare Horizon Solar Power to Other Solar Providers
| Provider | Horizon Solar Power | Shine Solar | Sunrun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar services | Solar panel installation | Solar panel and battery back-up installation | Solar panel and battery back-up sales and installation |
| Service areas | California | Arkansas, Kansas, Oklahoma | Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington D.C., Wisconsin |
| Warranty length | 20-year performance guarantee (commercial customers only) | 25-year production, 12-year professional workmanship, 5-year roof replacement warranty | 10–25 years |
| Payment options | Buy, finance,power purchase agreement, lease (commercial customers only) | N/A | Buy, finance, lease, power purchase agreement |
Other Solar Company Reviews
Horizon Solar Power Overview
- Company name: Horizon Solar LLC
- Company type: Private
- CEO: Frank Kneller
- Years in business: 11
- Address: PO Box 685, Centerport, New York 11721
- Phone: 631-683-4898
- Website: https://www.horizonsolarpower.com/
Frequently Asked Questions About Horizon Solar Power
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team is committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. After over a thousand hours of research on solar companies, interviews with experts, and common customer needs, we’ve created a detailed rating system for solar providers based on six factors:
- Solar equipment, installation, and services (25%)
- Warranty and performance guarantees (25%)
- Brand reputation and certifications (15%)
- Financing options (15%)
- Experience (10%)
- Availability (10%)
Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.