Review of NovaWest Service by Phillip Atkisson To begin this review let me say that overall Nova West has performed near flawlessly. For discussion purposes the service will be broken into three discrete phases, pre-sale/sale, installation, and post installation support. Pre-sale/sale: During this phase, we looked at several different vendors and got both telephone as well as email responses to certain questions. I were completely ignorant regarding Solar, so we were potentially easy marks for the unscrupulous salesman. I first got a recommendation for NovaWest Solar from Angie's list. I contacted their Representative, Mark Luft, and after several phone conversations I asked him to come to the house where he spent adequate time to explain Solar in general and Nova West Solar specifically. He actually came to the house twice as the first time my wife wasn't home. Mark was great, absolutely no pressure...none! After explaining the system, all the associated costs, and establishing an agreed to schedule, and collecting a down payment of $1000.00, Marks job was done. I might add everything he said and all representations were right-on. Absolutely no surprises, equipment changes, or cost over runs or differences were experienced. The Installation: The installation was completed in three days. They actually started on the day that was scheduled and completed two days early. The installers were courteous, neat, and careful with our tile roof. Members of the install team included the overview of a licensed roofing contractor and a qualified electrician. After installation the house and yard were cleared of all resultant packing materials and you wouldn't even know that they were here. After several weeks, the City of Fresno Building Inspector arrived at our home and the installation was passed without issue. Post Installation Support: This was an area that started out a little shaky but ended quite well. In all fairness the post installation can't really begin, or at least begin in earnest until PG&E switches the service on by integrating the solar into their meter. This was apparently done remotely by PG &E as we didn't even know the service was switched until several days after it happened. If there is room for improvement then it would be communication in this area. However I really believe this out of the hands of the Solar Provider and strictly a PG&E function. That aside the post installation support includes helping the home owner initiate access to the monitoring Web Site supplied by the equipment manufacture Solar Edge (in our case). We had a few hiccups with that set up but after a few false starts Andrew Roldan came to our house and got us up and running. His professional attitude and service orientation confirmed my original belief that NovaWest Solar was an excellent choice as a provider for this service. I strongly recommend NovaWest as a solar service installer, and on going service provider to those in Fresno area. read more

To begin this review let me say that overall Nova West has performed near flawlessly. For discussion purposes the service will be broken into three discrete phases, pre-sale/sale, installation, and post installation support. Pre-sale/sale: During this phase, we looked at several different vendors and got both telephone as well as email responses to certain questions. I were completely ignorant regarding Solar, so we were potentially easy marks for the unscrupulous salesman. I first got a recommendation for NovaWest Solar from Angie's list. I contacted their Representative, Mark Luft, and after several phone conversations I asked him to come to the house where he spent adequate time to explain Solar in general and Nova West Solar specifically. He actually came to the house twice as the first time my wife wasn't home. Mark was great, absolutely no pressure...none! After explaining the system, all the associated costs, and establishing an agreed to schedule, and collecting a down payment of $1000.00, Marks job was done. I might add everything he said and all representations were right-on. Absolutely no surprises, equipment changes, or cost over runs or differences were experienced. The Installation: The installation was completed in three days. They actually started on the day that was scheduled and completed two days early. The installers were courteous, neat, and careful with our tile roof. Members of the install team included the overview of a licensed roofing contractor and a qualified electrician. After installation the house and yard were cleared of all resultant packing materials and you wouldn't even know that they were here. After several weeks, the City of Fresno Building Inspector arrived at our home and the installation was passed without issue. Post Installation Support: This was an area that started out a little shaky but ended quite well. In all fairness the post installation can't really begin, or at least begin in earnest until PG&E switches the service on by integrating the solar into their meter. This was apparently done remotely by PG &E as we didn't even know the service was switched until several days after it happened. If there is room for improvement then it would be communication in this area. However I really believe this out of the hands of the Solar Provider and strictly a PG&E function. That aside the post installation support includes helping the home owner initiate access to the monitoring Web Site supplied by the equipment manufacture Solar Edge (in our case). We had a few hiccups with that set up but after a few false starts Andrew Roldan came to our house and got us up and running. His professional attitude and service orientation confirmed my original belief that NovaWest Solar was an excellent choice as a provider for this service. I strongly recommend NovaWest as a solar service installer, and on going service provider to those in Fresno area. read more

A little over two years ago Nova West Solar put a system on our roof, during that time we have not had an electric bill, and our annual electric production has come within $20 (overproduction) of what we used, all this while keeping the house cool in the warm weather, and shirt sleeve warm in the winter. The crew that installed the system worked quickly and efficiently on our job. I have an extensive background in construction, and I was impressed with how well the job was planned and executed, and the crew's level of skill and professionalism. When they had finished, after the city inspector had signed off on the job, I asked him how the work stacked up against that of other solar companies and he told me that their work was of the highest quality, which of course pleased me. Even though I had known Gary and Rob for some time, I still shopped around. Friendship is important, but business is business. As it turned out, my research gave me a greater appreciation of the competitiveness of their proposal. Since then I have suggested that friends, who told me that they were interested in solar at least talk to Nova, and in every case, with no pressure from me beyond the suggestion, they had Nova do the work, and have been extremely pleased with it, and what it cost. Of course I told them to do a lot of shopping since this would be a sizable investment. read more

A little over two years ago Nova West Solar put a system on our roof, during that time we have not had an electric bill, and our annual electric production has come within $20 (overproduction) of what we used, all this while keeping the house cool in the warm weather, and shirt sleeve warm in the winter. The crew that installed the system worked quickly and efficiently on our job. I have an extensive background in construction, and I was impressed with how well the job was planned and executed, and the crew's level of skill and professionalism. When they had finished, after the city inspector had signed off on the job, I asked him how the work stacked up against that of other solar companies and he told me that their work was of the highest quality, which of course pleased me. Even though I had known Gary and Rob for some time, I still shopped around. Friendship is important, but business is business. As it turned out, my research gave me a greater appreciation of the competitiveness of their proposal. Since then I have suggested that friends, who told me that they were interested in solar at least talk to Nova, and in every case, with no pressure from me beyond the suggestion, they had Nova do the work, and have been extremely pleased with it, and what it cost. Of course I told them to do a lot of shopping since this would be a sizable investment. read more

For us, the customer service offered by Nova West Solar is unmatched, they go above and beyond! Ian Rock of Sales is very professional, very well informed, a great listener, patient, respectful and personable. Ian was frank with us with regards to their services vis-a-vis that of their competitors. He never bad mouth their competitors but highlighted the strengths and weakness of Nova West Solar. Ian was not pushy. He was very patient, much as picky, critical and analytical as we are, and always responded to our numerous questions anytime. He gave us personal space and time to make our decision. Andrew Roland of Administration is also very professional, personable, respectful and always answered all our inquiries. The Installation crew- T.J, Jason, Ceaser, Pollo and Frank are also fantastic. They are very professional, very respectful, knowledgeable and accommodated all our requests. The installation was very smooth and great! no trashing of plants, lawn, no breaking down of flower pots, concrete or damage to anything. One can hardly tell a project of such magnitude was being undertaken at our house. The house was clean during and after the installation, compared to other projects we have had done in the past where the house looked like a war zone or to be less dramatic, a tornado or a hurricane ran through. read more

We could NOT be happier with the service we received. Our system is amazing. We heard about Nova West from two friends that each had a system installed in the last few years and they were both very pleased. We stopped by the Nova West booth at the spring Home and Garden show and made an appointment for a consultation. We had done our research and knew what type of system we wanted. Ian Rock (rockstar!) was our sales rep; he was very patient and answered all of our questions. We signed a contract the following week and had our system installed and running by the end of March. The construction crew was fantastic. They left no trace of their presence at the end of the day. Everything was perfectly clean and there was no damage to any of our plants or the garden in any way. After installation we did have a problem with one of the components (no fault of theirs, part was defective from the manufacturer) and they responded immediately. They replaced the malfunctioning part and our system has been producing clean energy ever since. We cannot say enough good things about this company. They undersold and over-delivered their product! read more

The most important thing I can say in this review is: if you want an amazing system with no-nonsense, GIVE BALKAR AT NOVAWEST A CALL (559-288-4834)!! Like most people investing a large sum of money into a solar system I did my research. I then had quotes from 9 different companies not counting multiple conversations at home shows. I wanted the best quality panels from a reliable company at a fair installation price. I had a lot of cheeper options but reliability, system specs, warranty etc only left two companies that stood out: NovaWest and "the other one" (they don't deserve a mention). And I initially chose "the other one" because their gimmicks got me. After being lied to and ignored for 4 months by the other guys I went back to Balkar at NovaWest, reviewed options and signed a contract. Within 45 days my system was installed, turned on, and making me money before summer even started. My June-August electric bill running my AC 24/7 in Clovis, $18.48! But because NovaWest put the system up in 45 days I was making money since March so I still have true-up credits. Thanks to NOVAWEST. read more

We have had our solar system since August and had immediate benefits from our system. I waited a while to see what my PGE bill would be and as promised by the company It has been practically nonexistent. Everything about the company was a great experience from Tony the sales rep to TJ who measures your roof to Jose and his team that installs it. We did have a couple of follow up questions that Andrew in the office answered for us. There was no mess from anyone installing the panels and they were very efficient. The whole process was very easy and everything was done according to the time frame established. I would recommend this company to anyone considering solar and I already recommended them to family members who now also have solar installed by them. I admit I was extremely hesitant about the whole process based on finances but I now feel that our family made a great decision for our future. No more monthly PGE payments and no more rising energy costs. It feels good to know I'm not dreading my summer bills anymore. Thank you nova west solar read more

While attending the Home Improvement Show, we scheduled appointments with two solar companies. We met with sales representatives and received quotes from both companies, but still had unanswered questions. In an effort to gain additional information, we contacted an acquaintance who had installed solar several years ago. He highly recommended Nova West. I called the office to make an appointment. To my surprise, the solar consultant, who answered the phone, was able to confidently address all of my questions. A few days later, we met with him. He was professional, courteous, and knowledgeable. In terms of cost -- two of the three quotes were similar. Nova West was ultimately selected because of the knowledge, experience, and expertise of the consultant. Nova West completed the project in a timely manner, as promised. The crew was on time, courteous, and professional. The job-site was always clean after the crew left. We are very pleased with our decision to use Nova West Solar and are anxious to see reduced PG&E bills in future months. read more

I researched several solar companies before I chose to go with Nova West. During my research I met a representative from Nova West at a home show in Fresno. I scheduled an appointment with him at my home. I also met with other reps from two other major solar companies prior to meeting with Nova. I was impressed with the knowledge and professionalism shown by Nova West. No pressure sales approach. They gave me detailed information on how solar would benefit me in my particular situation. I was provided with the data and I worked the numbers. Remember we all select solar to save money. I saved thousands with Nova and they provide high end solar panels (my opinion). The other companies I researched tried to sell me what they thought was best for them. The reps didn't have the knowledge of Nova west. Not only did Nova West save me money but continue to provide me with great customer service after the installation. Thank you Mr. Balkar Gill. read more

the absolute worst.started the process in january.heard nothing from them for three months,after they cashed a 1000.00 deposit check.everytime there was any contact with them i had to call or email them,most times without a reply.they came out to meaure three times,each time with no call or explanation as to why they were here or what the issues were.when they finally started the work in late april they left trash on the lawn that i had to clean up and left hardware in my pool(screws,nuts,bolts,and washers)also that i had to remove.then there were the electrical issues that still are not resolved.i had four nieghbors that were very interested in purchasing solar panels for thier homes.i told them this company is the last company that i would reccomend.extremely disappointed with this company,sub par customer service....no make that total lack of customer service...do not use these guys.....they made me give them one star to post this read more

I talked to three solar companies before going with Nova West, and honestly I should have started here. They came in 20-30% below the other two quotes I had received. But the price alone wasn't what sold me -- it was Ian's approach. He didn't pitch or push. He walked through everything like an energy consultant who actually cared about whether solar made sense for my home, not just whether he could close the deal. Timeline-wise, they told me when the install would happen and it happened that week. Permits, coordination, all of it -- they took care of it. My involvement as a homeowner was about as minimal as it gets. Four years later, still happy. The system performs well and the installation has held up. No complaints, no surprises. If you're thinking about going solar, talk to Nova West first before you sign anything with anyone else. At minimum, you'll have a better baseline for what a good experience looks like. read more

I was so impressed with the amount of knowledge these guys had about solar and installing it! I had done my homework and had a list of questions to ask when I was looking to install solar for my home. Other companies gave me the run around if they didn't know an answer OR whoever was the spokesman would ignore answering my question and redirect to another topic. If I'm going to spend ONE penny, you had better know what you're doing! The people at Nova West did, and were very patient to go over all the details with me. And trust me, I wanted tons of details. I was also walked through the best system that would suit our home and our family. When the time came to install the panels, they were fast, clean, polite, and did a great job! I'm so glad I took my time, did my research, and found them. Now I don't have to worry about an electric bill and I love it! read more

I have had Nova West Solar system little bit over a year. My primarily goal was to pay off the system it self as fast as I can. Usually if you buy the solar system you will pay for it for fifteen or twenty years. Nova west solar offer me a plan for a ten years which I was very happy about it. Needles to say that you safe hundreds of dollars on your electric bill. I will more specific... My electric bill was always during the summer over $500...now it's only $20...... amazing right !!!!!!! The installation itself took only two days. It was very quick with no any problems but what is amaze me more.... when I have any question about solar system I can always rich the owner of the company and he always help me. I am very happy that I choose this company. I highly recommend this company to anyone who is thinking to purchase solar system. read more

I have had Nova West Solar system little bit over a year. My primarily goal was to pay off the system it self as fast as I can. Usually if you buy the solar system you will pay for it for fifteen or twenty years. Nova west solar offer me a plan for a ten years which I was very happy about it. Needles to say that you safe hundreds of dollars on your electric bill. I will more specific... My electric bill was always during the summer over $500...now it's only $20...... amazing right !!!!!! The installation itself took only two days. It was very quick with no any problems but what is amaze me more.... when I have any question about solar system I can always rich the owner of the company and he always help me. I am very happy that I choose this company. I highly recommend this company to anyone who is thinking to purchase solar system. read more

We went through a few solar companies before one of our family friends recommended meeting with Nova West Solar and after the first meeting, they took us through the whole process of solar installation and beyond. The other solar companies made it feel like they were in a hurry to install a solar system and leave. Its about to be a full year with solar now and we have saved hundreds of dollars from our electricity bill. They also walked us through our first couple of bills to explain how the energy from the solar panels are being produced and used to lower the bill. The staff worked with our schedule and came in early in the morning and had everything order so they could finish the job with the best quality. Overall, Nova West Solar is the company that I can confidentially recommend to my family and friends. read more

I started looking for solar for my home in May after my church had decided to go solar. I met with a total of 10 contractors through june. The information and way to evaluate that info was very time consuming. All panels are not created equal. Bob Walker from Nova West was direct and to the point. I work for a contractor. I know how it works. I was hearing nightmares from people who contracted and paid for solar and waited months and still did not have it. We signed with Bob at Nova West on June 30th. We pulled our permit to change out our panel July 1. They pulled permit 7/16 installed panels 7/23 made arrangements for PG&E to tie us in and final 8/3. They were helpful and efficient AND the lowest price from 9 other contractors. We have no electric bill. Call them for your solar Diana A. read more

Professional, great company! With excellent value! Andrew, Ian, Rick and all the other guys did all that was expected from a great contractor. Even after all the problems we had with PG&E, Andrew never quit advocating for us and kept us informed through email and phone calls with all of his communications with PG&E. This job could have turned into a nightmare but Andrew stayed on top of PG&E. Thank you Andrew. They never missed or were late for an appointment. They finished 1 day early cleaned up after the job and I noticed all the hardware they used was of good quality, helping to keep corrosion to a minimum. They even painted the conduit they used the same color as my roof tiles.Use this company you won't be disappointed. They know how to treat a customer. * * * read more

We had solar panels installed last spring after having a few consultations with different solar companies and have had the best experience with Nova West. Our sales rep Tony was great to work with answering all our questions promptly and giving us much needed honest advice. The installation was scheduled and executed quickly and quality of work was excellent. We have been so pleased with the service and company that we have referred others looking for information on solar. Our solar panels have saved us so much money so far and we definitely feel that our investment is well worth it already. We would encourage anyone interested in solar to research as much as possible then call Nova West because they will have the best options available. read more