I've had my solar installed by Freedom for just about a month now and figured between all the weather events we had now's a good time to write my review. It might be a little long, but I figured this may help someone new to solar or concerned with things I was concerned with. Freedom Solar Company: When I decided to get solar, I contacted 10 companies. Some may feel that excessive but for the money you spend for solar you want to make sure you're getting the best deal. Once I choose Freedom I instantly knew I picked a great company. They were responsive and made me feel like more than an account number. The company took care of all the paperwork with the HOA and permits for the city. I am more than thrilled with picking Freedom Consultant: I worked with Jonathan Baldridge for my project. I am not the easiest person to work with, so I'll start with that. Between my crazy schedule and the fact I research everything I can before a purchase you can only imagine I had a lot of questions. Also, there is a lot of conflicting information out there when it comes to solar so having someone in the know was great. Jonathan was very patient, responsive and informative especially when I had 1-5 questions a day. Even after the installation he continues to reach out with check-ins to make sure things are good. Survey: The survey team came out with a drone checked my roof and after a couple of days came up with a design that fit what I wanted and pleased my wife's requests for limited front visibility. The person who came out for the survey was great and friendly. I was his last job for the day so he had no issue explaining the complete process after the survey and also how he loves working for the company. You would be surprised how many people you asked about a company and its all negative, but nope he was all praises. Again, another person from the company friendly and responsive. Installation: For this one I'll have to say we had a minor hiccup, nothing to do with the installation but more with a crew member. Nothing huge but again just a hiccup. The installation took about 6 hours for a 2-story house. Of course, typical me being me I had a question or two about some vents on the roof. One was to be capped the other cut down but not capped and the crew chief was more than happy to explain the process. We did an attic installation which means all wires run through your attic and out the side of the house where your panels are. Some people like it for the clean look, I'll say this it is very clean. Some don't want to risk it and have the wires run on the roof it your choice honestly. As I'm sure most homeowners I wanted to know where every wire was run so as usual, I asked. They were happy to explain what was going where and how they were sealing it so no leaks would occur. After everything was done, they cleaned the area set up my next appointment. For the last week or so we have had rain, ice and light snow. For all those events I went to the attic and checked to make sure there were no leaks and it was bone dry. So the installation was very well done. Electrician: This was the last step in the installation. The installation took a couple of hours and I'm not going to pretend I knew what he was doing. First time in the whole installation I didn't really have a question plus you never want to bother anyone who's messing with electrical wires. Once he was done he explained how the system worked, walked me through the panels and what they do. He was also nice enough to explain how batteries would work once I decide to get them with the system setup I have. He cleaned up and was done with that part. System: So far my system has been generating surplus electricity, This is common this time of the year. Can wait to see what it will do during the summer when I'm going to need that surplus. I went with the electric company Jonathan recommend due to the buyback rate and so far my first bill was nothing owed. I'm also happy the way the panels look, trust me I've seen some panels that would be a deal breaker. Also, the panels are big and I do mean big so the big plus for me is that you need less panels than an average system. Cons: so far the only negative I have is more with Sunpower than with Freedom. It would be nice to have individual monitoring of panels on the app. I get they have a great product when it comes to solar panels, but the monitoring app is its weak point. Conclusion: If you're in the market for solar give Jonathan a ring he will get you set up. Freedom is a great company and should be on your short list for solar read more

About a year ago I started working with Robert Bradshaw (aka Solar Bob) and a couple other Austin area solar companies for quotes on solar for our home. I work in mechanical engineering and am very much into the details and numbers, so I can be a demanding customer. Robert helped us study systems of various sizes using our roof, a soon-to-be-constructed pergola over our deck, and a combination of the two. We looked at SunPower panels and SunEdison panels (as well as other brands through other companies). Robert helped me compared the payback of several different system sizes using premium products that fit our specific needs. Ultimately, we decided to go with Freedom Solar over some of the other companies because of the lifetime warranty on the installation, the quality of the products they install, and because we were able to get VERY low interest financing in a 2-part loan (30% same-as-cash for 1 year, 70% payments over 12 years). Over our pergola and shading the south-facing windows on our first story, we now have 30 SunEdison Silvantis F-Series 270W panels. Robert and the Freedom Solar team were great about coordinating with our pergola builder, Austin Deck Company (also great - will review separately), and the actual installation of the solar panels went very quickly. Robert and his team were very responsive to my MANY questions, and they quickly replaced a breaker when the system tripped off twice shortly after it was up and running. A true measure of a company's performance is how they perform for their customers AFTER the initial installation. I am very thankful for Robert and the team at Freedom Solar for the quality of their work and their responsiveness. The biggest delays in our project were due the electrical utility - not anything that Freedom Solar could do about that. We are extremely pleased with our solar panels, and I am thrilled that we chose to install them on a pergola over our deck. It's been a synergistic solution since we now use less AC to cool the downstairs because of the shade from the panels, and we can also sit out on our deck even when the summer sun is pounding down on the panels over our heads. Even our dog is thankful for the panels since he can now supervise his yard while knowing that solar panels are not only shading him but also generating electricity. Over the last 30 days, we have produced 132% of the power that we have consumed. Of course, that will change when we have to start running our air conditioning as the weather warms up, but we'll still be producing at least 70% of the power that we consume throughout the hottest summer months. read more

After interviewing three different firms, we chose Freedom Solar to design and install a rooftop array for our Austin home. They did an excellent job in managing the permits, inspections, and scheduling while working effectively with our homeowners' association, the City of Austin, and Austin Utilities. They moved the process along as quickly as possible even though each of those three were outside their control. The team was good to work with, did a great job answering our questions, and kept our yard clean of material and debris throughout the process. I think this is in part due to the fact that they have permanent employees who do the job regularly. Note 1: Solar PV arrays are not for everyone; much depends on home your bldg is sited, how much space you have available for panels, and what incentives are in place. What makes sense for one person may not for someone who is right across the street. (Even in our case, we were limited by trees on the largest portion of our roof.) Note 2: One criticism of solar arrays is the payback period, i.e. how long you must use the panels before recovering the cost. When our panels were installed, the rebates and tax credits covered about half the cost. Even if a marginal value is assigned to the parts, that means you only need to recover (maybe) about 1/4 or less of the retail cost. That makes the payback period much more manageable. Note 3: In some areas (like the City of Austin), the rebate comes with a caveat: you must sell ALL your power to the utility at the rate the utility chooses to pay. The city monitors what you draw from the grid *and* your panels, bills you for both of them (and applies all fees), and THEN gives you a credit for the power your panels have generated. Our Results: Our retail cost was about $16K, with an estimated net of about $8K (after tax credits and rebates). For that, we cover about 45% of the KWH over the course of a year. I recommend Freedom to others and very strongly suggest that anyone considering a solar pv system get a visit from them. Ask lots of questions and get a list of others who are nearby who have solar arrays, then make some visits to learn more. Ask for copies of electric bills so you can see exactly what to expect. read more

We decided to "go solar" in order to help reduce our monthly utility bills as well as reduce our dependency on commercially produced electricity. After researching the different panel manufacturers, we decided to go with SunPower panels. I contacted Freedom Solar and they were very responsive. An initial consultation was set up with James Garbo. James was very respectful and provided a shade analysis prior to arriving for the consultation. James was amazing to work with and I was very appreciative that I wasn't pushed toward purchasing anything. I was also very impressed that the system that James put together was not the most expensive or the biggest system, but the system that would benefit me the most and provide me the most return on my investment. We talked and ran the numbers on larger and smaller systems, mostly just to satisfy my curiosity, but after taking into consideration my utility company, the system that James recommended was the system that made the most sense. James and Freedom made the process very pleasant and easy, and took care of everything. I didn't have to deal with my HOA, permits, or anything, Freedom did it all. Once the installation was scheduled it was very smooth. I was concerned that I would have to have a lot of the wiring on the exterior of the house, but the installers were able to run everything through my attic, even though it was not the easiest to navigate. I couldn't be happier with the instal. The guys were very professional and even tolerated my looking over their shoulders for most of the install, just to satisfy my curiosity. James stopped by during the install to see how things were going and answer any questions. Once the installation was competed, Freedom made sure that everything was set and I was able to activate my system in only a few days. I highly recommend Freedom Solar and if you have the opportunity to work with James, he is great to work with. read more

Having Freedom Solar install our Sunpower panels here in Leander, TX has been a seamless and easy process. The SunPower panels were installed on the December 12/13th of 2017 and we are enjoying watching online the generation of a large portion of our power by the sun - despite the cloudy, rainy days of the Texas winter. We have yet to get our first bill. We discovered Freedom Solar at the Austin Home and Garden Show in early 2017. In comparing the Sunpower Panels they represented to others seen at the show, they seemed far superior and subsequent research and recommendations bore this out. Freedom Solar handled everything, we just had to be around at the designated times for the initial post show sales contact (which we thought would be a face-to-face meeting, but which turned out to be a phone conversation - small hiccup) and on the day that the installation started. (Another small hiccup - when they didn't show up by 2 hours after the expected arrival time, I called and my project manager, Ben, got back to me right away apologizing for the fact that they weren't there. There had been some problem and they were unable to get to us that day, but he assured me they would be here the next day - which they were - right on time. The combination of the 2 small hiccups in scheduling account for my 4 instead of 5 star rating. I've called it to Freedom Solar's attention with the recommendation that they work on their internal scheduling systems.) We went with the recommended number of panels to cover 80% of our annual electricity consumption, and so far that seems to be working out fine. When the bill comes, we'll see. We would strongly recommend both Freedom Solar and SunPower to friends and family - once we have some more data. Hope this helps others in their decision making process. Mark and Cathy Martin Leander, TX read more

After evaluation of the top solar panels available & the related companies to install them, in August - September 2105, we had Freedom Solar install 31 of SunPower's latest solar panels, the X20-250 Black. Why the SunPower X20-250 panels? - High efficiency, high reliability, and module-level DC-to-AC power conversion. - Each panel has its own factory-integrated microinverter. This currently is unique in the industry and simplifies installation since each panel delivers already-converted AC power. - Each panel is individually monitored - Wireless monitoring of our entire installation which is reported directly to Freedom Solar & to SunPower. Any problems are diagnosed down to an individual panel for quick, easy repair if needed - SunPower is 65% owned by the French energy giant, Total. Thye aree not going to "disappear" - 25-year parts & labor warranty - In our opinion, the 250 panels are best-in-class for system aesthetics - The SunPower InvisiMount™ residential mounting system allows the panels to be easily & closely mounted to the roof & to each other Why Freedom Solar? - Freedom Solar is a SunPower "Elite level reseller / installer" & was the #1 solar contractor in Texas in 2014. - They installed the SunPower panels at new Wholefoods at the Domain and many other local businesses & homes. - The Freedom Solar team was on-time very responsive during the installation. They continued to be afterwards as they resolved some minor issues. This includes the technical team as well as Robert Bradshaw, the energy consultant / sales person who worked directly with me. Summary: I have no hesitation in recommending both SunPower X20-250 panels and their #1 local installer, Freedom Solar read more

My wife and I have been considering solar panels since purchasing our home a couple of years ago. After receiving a quote from another company, a friend recommended that we speak with Freedom Solar as well. I can't emphasize enough how happy we are that we did. Shannon Munden, our consultant, was fantastic to work with. He was 100% honest with us from the beginning and emphasized that if solar didn't make financial sense for us, he didn't want us to make the investment. Many companies seem more interested in making the sale than making sure that it is right for us, so we really appreciated the approach. After doing a bit more research we realized that Freedom Solar was offering us a better product at nearly the same cost as the other company. The install crew arrived on time, prepared, and did a great job on the install. I had lots of questions about the materials and the installation process and they were able to give me knowledgeable answers for all of them. In the end we had some delays due to weather and a nit-picky city inspector, but Freedom (and Shannon in particular) kept in touch and worked through the process like true professionals. Our panels have been producing power for a few months now and they have exceeded our expectations in production. We were cash-positive from day one, and all of our rebates worked out exactly as expected. I can't speak highly enough about our experience with Shannon and Freedom Solar. We have and will continue to recommend Freedom Solar to anyone who will listen! read more

These Freedom Solar Guys are GREAT! Thanks a million to Freedom Solar Power for installing & getting my 12.740 KW solar project up & running smoothly! Only a very TINY glitch or two, minor inconvenience, which can be blamed on the INVERTERs (& mfg) internal "stuff" & local power company for delays installing their "net" meter device. Everything else was a piece of cake for them, & it was whipped it out in record time. THANKS TO CHAD, REAGAN, STEVIE, & THE REST OF THE CREW. Ya'll were great! Please see photos of 701 E. Austin Ave., Alamo, TX on my facebook wall. Wait, ya must friend me first, I believe, go ahead ... I'll accept any friend request because this FREEDOM from feeding the power company dollars by now feeding them POWER created by this wonderful solar system, from placing my life savings on the roof, is the best investment I've ever made. Believe it's been a full month since installation & replacement of inverter fuse, output seemed to slow somewhat more than we thought/expected due to clouds this past week or so, rinsed off thick pollen powder/dust covering panels yesterday & made a big difference, improved output. We seem to get more caliche, pollen from trees, dust & ash from burning surgarcane, etc. in this south Texas area, which may require regular rinsing during these drought conditions. Love our solar system!!!! Marti Stone Gibson Alamo, TX read more

After researching and meeting with three solar companies, my husband and I chose Freedom Solar. Their reputation and warranties stood out from the other companies we interviewed in the Austin area. The deciding factors for us to go with Freedom Solar were because its affordability and everyone from sales, operations/install, and monitoring is from the same company. They don't outsource any of the work which made us more confident in choosing Freedom Solar. Our experience with the company was outstanding, from initial visit to closeout. Our sales consultant, Nathan Day, was A+. He kept us informed throughout the process and responded to my countless emails efficiently. He was upfront and honest of what we could expect from the company and didn't pressure us into buying more panels than what we actually needed. Ben Flynn, our project coordinator overseeing the actual install, was fantastic as well. We were initially scheduled for install at the end of May 2017 but Ben was able to work us in almost 3 weeks earlier, which means our system is up and running just in time for summer use. Since installation occurred in the middle of our electricity billing cycle, we were able to see the difference on our most recent electric bill. I can't wait to see what a complete month's worth of solar energy will do to our bill! read more

We worked with Freedom Solar to install a ~ 7kW PV (solar) system on our home roof this summer. They were one of five vendors on our short list asked to bid, and I would readily choose them again. The team is prompt, professional, friendly, and happy to explain as they go to an engineering geek like myself. The assigned project manager was generally on top of communicating milestones and work schedules, and did an outstanding job managing permitting, paperwork, etc., required - it was a footnote in the progress updates, rather than a surprise or a chore. Beyond that, their proposal was among the cheapest, for the largest proposed system, and took an incredible degree of precision, planning, and forethought in making sure their numbers were right - attention to detail exceeded the competition starting at pre-sales. Additionally, numbers during the sales process aren't candy-coated. The system has consistently out-produced the production estimates included in the proposal; I was told the ROI in the proposal was conservative, but I didn't believe it until I saw the results myself. Actual power generation has exceeded our expectations, and estimated costs were 100% accurate. Will readily work with the Freedom Solar team again, given the opportunity. read more

Freedom Solar made going solar an outstanding experience. From the first consultation with Spencer through final installation, their team was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely focused on what was best for our home. They designed a system that perfectly fits our needs, installed high-quality equipment (430 Watt Q.Tron panels and Tesla Powerwall 3), and explained everything clearly so we knew exactly what to expect. I just got off a call with Spencer for a post install review. He made some great suggestions that help me save more. The crew was efficient and respectful of our property, and the entire process moved faster than I imagined. What really stood out was their communication including project manager and engineering. They are always responsive, transparent, and willing to answer even the most detailed technical questions. Now that everything is up and running, our system is producing exactly as promised. It feels great knowing we're set up with a system that adds value to our home and reduces reliance on the grid. I highly recommend Freedom Solar to anyone considering solar. They combine top-notch products with service that goes above and beyond. Thank you Spencer! Feel free to click this referral link. https://gtrfl.us/RLxoag read more

I can't say enough good things about this company. I wanted to have my solar panels installed before the end of the year to maximize the incentives available. I contacted 7 different companies. Freedom Solar was the only company that showed up on time, and one of two companies that showed up at all. From the first meeting they were courteous, professional, and went above and beyond to make the experience painless from beginning to end. Their prices were very competitive and the price I paid was that remaining AFTER the Austin Electric incentive. Apparently receiving the money is quite delayed, assuming you've submitted the paperwork correctly, but no worries for me because they took care of it and deducted that amount from the price. They also walked me through, and provided the paperwork, for the federal income tax incentive. Beyond the financial, when they were at my home from initial inspection through installation and post inspection, I barely knew they were there. No muss, no fuss. It couldn't have been easier to magically have a power bill that went from average $500 month to average $60 month. I feel strongly about the integrity of Freedom Solar, enough to inspire my first ever online review of a company! read more

After researching and talking to several top rated solar companies, I went with Freedom Solar and it's been a great experience so far. Starting with the consultation with James Garbo, where he went over details about the products they install, the technology, warranty, installation to help us choose the best option within our budget. Within a few days they sent me documents detailing where and how they are going to place the panels. The roof on our house is segmented with only a small section facing South and they did a great job fitting all the panels there except 2 which were placed on a West facing section.Running the system for 3 months, I am getting upto 90% of panel capacity on moderately sunny days. They were easy to work with, kept in touch on all the steps, took care of all the city, electric and HOA permits, financing. In fact I didn't even have to be at home during installation and it went perfectly. Though they weren't the cheapest option, the 25 years warranty on all the components along with the great monitoring service from Enphase makes up for it. At the closeout meeting James again went over the details of the warranty and support and how to get the tax rebates. read more

As a SunPower employee, I have high expectations as to how our customers should be treated when choosing SunPower panels as their solar choice. Naturally, when I became the customer and having my own panels installed, my expectations were very high. Freedom Solar did the install on my house - Alex Seyer was my Energy Consultant and Ben Flynn was my Project Manager. Alex is not your typical sales guy......he's not pushy, he's more than polite, he reaches out just at the right times to follow up (in case you didn't make your mind up right away). Also, one more thing about Alex - he's there throughout the whole process - not just to close the deal - this is amazing customer service! On the topic of amazing customer service - let's talk about Ben. Ben contacts you in the beginning of the process to let you know what your scheduled install date is, and set the expectation for duration. These guys take care of everything from permitting to HOA approval - all the way through "flipping the switch" and just like that, you are producing power! I really can't say enough good things about Alex, Ben and Freedom Solar. I am truly a happy customer. #DemandBetterSolar read more

After conducting extensive research with various top-rated solar companies, I am truly pleased to have chosen Freedom Solar as my main solar installation company. Freedom solar is simply the BEST solar company since they offer the best warranty, the panels are the best in the market and their staff (like Juan Gonzalez) are simply the best equipped to handle all complex questions regarding going solar... I deeply appreciate the professionalism and dedication of my Energy Consultant (JUAN GONZALEZ) who assisted me from the very start. Juan was extremely professional and explain everything there is to know about solar installations intricacies and the great benefits solar offers... Unfortunately, due to an urgent unforeseen family situation, I had to postponed my solar project until I come back to my hometown :( Despite, the obstacles and personal situations I am encountering, I am convinced I will come back to Freedom Solar to resume my solar installations since there is still time to benefit from the federal tax rebates and Freedom Solar world-class costumer service. Sincerely/ Eric D. read more

We worked with Robert Bradshaw to provide our solar bid. He was thorough and patient with our bazillion questions. Installation was so cool to watch. We live on a very challenging property--a 3 story home on a hillside with an approximate 40ft drop to the driveway. The installation group was quick, efficient and explained what they were doing as we were outside gawking at them on our roof. My friend, coincidentally, bought a solar system through a competitor a month before me. We compared notes on the process from each company. She had to complete her own rebate forms. Freedom Solar made the process very easy, not only with the rebates and dealt directly with our HOA for approval (a feat in itself!) but also with the recommendation for solar financing. Oh, and even though my friend started the process a month before me, our systems were turned on at the same time due to the competition delays. There is no comparison to the warranty and quality product that Freedom Solar offers. I highly recommend using Freedom for your solar company!! read more

Making the choice to install solar to your home is financially a 'no-brainer'. We used Freedom Solar for the installation of our Sunpower panels...what a great decision! Federico Pigorini was the Sales Manager who we worked with - he set the standards very high with his professionalism from the outset...everything that Federico did was top class, from the explanation of the system, the benefits/savings etc, right the way through to providing what happens when and setting out our expectations. He was there every step of the way and even after the installation he has continued to check in with us - his time management is exceptional. The installation itself went without a hitch and was completed in 2 days, again with a high level of professionalism from every single staff member involved...from the project management team to the installers of the system, we were always informed what was happening. Highly recommend this company and their work for solar installation - true professionalism. read more

After I had read all the reviews I called Freedom Solar. They sent out Jason Pfeffer to sell us a system,or so I thought! Jason did come out but he was more interested in education and our needs than he was in "selling" us a solar system. He thoroughly explained all aspects of solar and then showed us why Sunpower solar panels were the best choice in all the panels out there. I had made my mind up to go with Sunpower the moment Jason was done with his presentation but I waited three more days just to be sure before we bought. Jason never rushed or pushed us! The installation team did a 11 out of 10 job putting the system in and there has been a whole Army of people ready to help and answer all my questions. So far not only do we not owe anything on our electric bill we have over a half of a month of energy stored at the power company as credit for future bills if there are any! Boy am I happy I choose Freedom Solar . If you have any Questions feel free to call me 512-971-9541. read more

I would definitely recommend Freedom Solar Power for installing Solar panels. They are too good. I personally recommend Jason Guthrie whom i worked with throughout our home project. Jason is very knowledgeable about solar panels. He explained everything about solar panels. He is very professional , answering phone calls, emails. He was very patient enough to explain all the questions. Freedom solar power is one of the few installers in central TX who install Sunpower panels. The installation crew did a great job in finishing the installation in 2 days. They did not cause any damage to the roof. Obviously they were very competitive on the prices compared to other dealers. Jason Guthrie did a great job in designing the layout and shading analysis. He got up the roof where other solar panel installers did a google view of the roof layout. Overall a great experience working with Freedom solar power. Go green and go with freedom :) read more