Mark Thompson (under his previous company name, RATech Solar) installed our photovoltaic system in 2006 as a subcontractor to another company. This year, we needed to reinstall our system because we needed a new roof and Solar Lightworkers did an excellent job on the new system design, procurement, and installation. He worked in close coordination with our roofing contractor to install the supports for the panels so that the new roof would not need to be disrupted. Overall a very good experience and we're very satisfied with the new system. We have also had Solar Lightworkers do some miscellaneous electrical work for us (undergrounding our electrical service and installation of a charger for our EV) and their workmanship has always been outstanding. read more

In 2009, Solar Lightworkers (formerly RATechSolar) installed 34 panels on our roof, an inverter, a whole-house generator with automatic transfer switch, and a battery backup array with solar chargers. The system has worked with very little maintenance, and has been invaluable during power outages that are common where we live in the Santa Cruz mountains. Mark and Shane did a fantastic job - everything is to code (and frequently exceeds code requirements). The price was reasonable, and Mark helped us apply for and receive the rebates available at the time. Everyone who has looked at the system has commented on the excellent workmanship and clean installation. Recently (2021) we decided to add a ground-based solar array to supplement our generation in order to support an EV car charger and hybrid heat-pump/electric water heater. Mark and Shane designed the array support system, and it is incredibly well built and solid. The installation was done quickly, at a very reasonable cost, and integrated into our existing system easily. They also ran a 240 line to and installed the new water heater, and even patched some drywall that had been removed for another unrelated job. Again the quality of work is extremely high and the system has worked flawlessly. While working on this job, they also discovered and fixed a dangerously loosely-connected neutral line in our main meter panel that could have resulted in major appliance burnouts and other hazards had it not been addressed. Mark and Shane are very good at listening, and are enthusiastic about what they are doing and want you to be happy with the results. I highly recommend them for any electrical or solar work that you are considering. read more

If you are looking for the best solar and electric company look no further. Mark and Shane are top notch in their profession. I wouldn't trust anyone else to do my solar or electric. Shane's work is nothing but perfect. Don't waste your money with any other company. read more

Please also see my review under the previous name RATech Solar. Mark from Solar Lightworkers and his amazing crew installed a great looking rooftop 5.5 kW PV array at our house in Hollister in 2011. The install went very smooth and looks incredible. After researching many other installs from other companies online, from owner pictures, very few installs look as good and clean as what was delivered by Mark. His quotes were clear, honest, and flexible. If you don't like something, Mark will explain the options and help you get what you want. Mark took care of all the paperwork and installation details, soup to nuts. Now I just need to send my accountant the forms to file with my taxes, to get the tax credit; easy as pie. This was a very big investment for me and I wanted to be sure I had the right team for the job. After comparing Mark's quotes to over 10 other large and small Solar companies [taking months of my time], the choice was clearly Ra Tech Solar. Just a note that for anyone considering a PV array install, I strongly suggest getting the optional surge protectors and Tigo modules for your panels. With the Tigo units, if one of your panels is not working perfectly, you will never figure out which one without hours of messy testing and measuring. With Tigo, you can see online how each panel is doing graphically, and that is a priceless feature. It helps the installer come out and fix the problem right away the first time. My only error was not calling Mark sooner since the California rebates are now much lower than before. I should have done this job Jan 1st 2010, as this was when the federal gov started handing out 30% credits to homeowners. As a comparison about pricing, other companies I talked to would find every little reason to bring up the price, like using overly expensive panels or charging me for little details which fell out of their "easy install" guides such as $100's more just because I had concrete tiles. I also took this opportunity to get a NEMA 14-50 240v plug installed in my garage for my electric car charger. This install was also top notch. Suggest everyone get this since Mark's already in the electric panel doing work so it's easier for everyone. My recommendation, don't even bother with anyone else. Get a quote from Mark and go with it. read more

Excellent, thorough work and on-budget. Our ground based array looks amazing and is working perfectly. The county inspector was impressed with the high quality, accuracy and attention to detail. Everything went smoothly. Look no further and get on their calendar. read more

I HIGHLY recommend Mark Thompson and his partner Shane. Mark and Shane know Solar, Elecrical, and General Construction like no other person/company I talked to and they offered the best (quality, size, and cost) solution for me. Their bid was not only the lowest (by far) when compared with bigger companies, it was also the most detailed and reflective of what I had asked for in a PV system. The big companies were much more interested in making the most money they could (trying to get me to lease the system) as opposed to addressing my preferences for the system. Mark and Shane's work was excellent: the ~8kW system with 31 panels using microinverters is beautifully installed and performs perfectly. Mark and Shane even went out of their way to fix a few pre-existing roof issues for me (that had somehow escaped notice during inspection when I had the roof replaced in 2008). The PV system went operational just 1 week after they started installation, the inspection passed without any issue, and I'm delighted to be able to monitor the performance of my system online. Thank you Solar Lightworkers! read more

In 2012, we had Mark Thompson and Solar Lightworkers install a solar system on our home in Hollister. What we found out during the process of getting quotes from multiple companies was that Mark is not just another solar contractor, he is a craftsman. Mark takes pride in his work, it's done to code, designed right the first time to maximize the system output, built with quality materials, and installed with care. The system was designed and installed not only to be efficient, but aesthetically pleasing as well. Details such as dark panels with dark frames to match the roof, hiding the conduit and cabling so it would not be seen from the ground, and painting the panels to match the house are but a few examples. As others have said, Mark offers the best bang for the buck out there. A co-worker of mine paid the same as I did for less than half the system we had installed using similar panels and the same invertors. Our installation was much more complex with a tile roof and a multi-level roof requiring several separate sections of panels. Unlike other companies, Mark quotes the usable output of the panels, not laboratory numbers that are not repeatable in the real world. We had several companies that quoted us a total system output by multiplying the laboratory output number by the number of panels. If this was the case, in the real world, our system would be producing 11.3kW instead of the 9.4kW that it actually produces. As others have stated Mark provides the most detailed quote by far and these figures were included in his quote. The details involved in designing and installing a solar system ARE important. Little things such as where to mount the panels for maximizing system output, running of the conduit and wiring to be aesthetically pleasing and minimizing run distances, where to locate the service disconnects, and the labeling of all the electrical panels and disconnects are details that should be standard not optional. Mark provides these and more. Mark provided plan drawings that are complete and accurate to make the permit and inspection process as painless as possible. Mark made sure all the CSI and PG&E paperwork was filled out completely and accurate to minimize the wait times involved with hooking up to the grid and to ensure that the rebates would go through. Mark designs the system to meet YOUR needs. Most of the solar companies that we were dealing with were providing quotes for a system they thought would be adequate without going into the required details. Mark did a detailed assessment of our previous usage and came up with a predicted usage that would include the additional load provided by our new Chevy Volt. In summary, if you want slick sales presentations, a solar company with a large office building with a lot of employees, fancy radio advertising, and company cars for sales staff, than go with one of the other companies. If you want a well-designed system, one that maximizes available sun, using the highest quality materials, designed by an electrician - not a roofer, installed with care, AND pay a lot less, than call Mark. For us the choice was simple. read more

I was talking to Mark in Solar Lightworkers among the first companies when I started learning about solar and was amazed with the depth of his knowledge, quick turnaround time on all requests, and great follow-up. His quote based on the microinverter technology was the best in terms of price and none of the big companies could come even close to matching it. I haven't purchased my solar system yet (still doing the homework) but I would like to send Mark my wholehearted thank you for his educating and insightful recommendations. Here is my summary of education and insightful recommendations on solar install: http://solar.ml-shopping.com. read more

I have been looking for solar panels as an alternate source for energy, lease or own, the best and reliable equipment for the money, and installer experience. After finished talking with over 10 vendors / solar installers, I decided to hire Mark Thompson and Shane from Solar Lightworkers for the project. Mark has demonstrated his knowledge and expertise in the field, and gave me valuable information that helping me select the best equipment for the need and saving money. Mark and his partner Shane spent time to install the panel with perfection. We have to replace the old main breaker. The part is no longer available, but Mark found the part. After it's replaced it, he patched stucco and painted the wall. It looks like never had any work done on it before. He even painted electrical conduit to match the color of the house. He had gone the extra miles repaired the potential leak around the vents on the roof at no charge. He takes care customer like his own. As I am a technical person, I appreciate the quality of works and materials he uses in the project. I couldn't be more satisfy. I highly recommended. read more

I highly recommend Solar LightWorkers. They just finished an installation of additional solar capacity at our home in San Jose. Their quote was the lowest, but their workmanship was of the highest quality. Mark clearly explained my options, and worked with me to get exactly what we were looking for. They went the extra mile to allow for the maximum number of panels to be installed on our roof, even though it meant a more complicated install for them. They also, at no extra charge, found and fixed a dangerous electrical issue that had been created by a previous solar installation done by another company. The final product not only looks great, but is putting out even more electricity than anticipated. Mark's quirky, bubbly personality oozes with knowledge and passion for solar. Shane's meticulous measurements and attention to detail made for a smooth, well done install. Solar Light Workers is an excellent choice, if you are looking at installing solar or expanding your current solar installation. read more

My husband and I were so impressed with the whole process of purchasing a custom solar system from Mark and Shane. They're attention to detail was awesome. From the very beginning they were professional, upfront with all the costs involved and kept to they're word from start to finish. They really treated our home with respect. We would recommend them to everyone who wants an excellent system. We are saving $$$ every month and our carbon footprint is much smaller. It's a win win. Thank you Solar Lightworkers Inc. read more

We originally contracted a "different solar company" to install our solar system, however, after 2-1/2 years of being told one pitiful lie after another with each lie getting more outrageous than the last, we were stuck with a major out-of-pocket investment in a non-operational solar system that we had no knowledge of what had or had not been done to date or what needed to be done in order to complete the entire project. We were screwed. We finally had no other option than to take action against the "original solar company" using every legal avenue we had available to us. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to locate a solar company willing to get involved with our "ground zero disaster" after hearing our story, we finally were introduced to Mark Thompson and Shane Yager of Solar Lightworkers, Inc. These are the guys wearing the white hats riding in on those awesome white stallions. Literally, I cannot say enough good things about these two men who came to our rescue. From the first time we met, I knew that Mark Thompson is not a man who messes around. He knows his business on every level and isn't afraid to take on a challenge. His partner, Shane has got to be one of the most intense and focused individuals I've ever met. The two of them combined are a simply an amazing act to see in action. These guys drove over 60 miles one way every day until they had every last detail in place and perfect. Mark handled all the details with the city building department and when the building inspector came out for his final inspection, Mark was on site to assure everything was code compliant and the permits were signed off. Literally, the first time the building inspector saw the work that had been completed by Mark and Shane, he had a smile and was pleased to see our project finally complete and our solar system fully operational. Mark and Shane transformed our "ground zero disaster" into a masterpiece. They uncovered numerous problems along the way once they started dissecting the original installation but they moved forward and repaired, replaced and re-installed every element of our system. And as tedious and stressful the situation became for them, they succeeded to provide us with a fully-functioning solar system in a matter of days compared to the years it took the "other solar contractor" to unsuccessfully complete. We couldn't be happier. If you want to know more details about our story, contact Mark Thompson at Solar Lightworkers, Inc. and ask him to contact us for a reference. read more

Solar Lightworkers Inc did our install for our Solar System in Hollister, CA. It was done completely by Mark Thompson and Shane. The price that was exactly what was quoted on paper and I am a stickler for details. We had some additional work that was done by them to bring our Jaquzzi line up to code. Both the jazquzzi and Solar past building inspection first time through. I especially like the Enphase system that they installed that lets me see through the computer and my smart phone what I am making on a certain so I verify versus what PG & E is saying I used on the NEM billing. It helps keep PG & E Honest. I average about 40 KWH on a sunny day in Feb and in August I was making close to 60 KWH on a 9.29 system. Some days in the summer I was making more than the 9.29KWH. Keep in mind the rating in the panels (i.e. 215 KWH) is only guarenteed at 80% to 90%, we were hitting over 100% on some days. I also have a electric car so it was a no brainer to do the solar. Mark and Shane installed the enphase software so I know what each panel is making. What is nice about the enphase is you can look at what other peoples systems (which are open) before you install yours. I was especially happy we did not have to pull out our beautiful palm trees out front which was a concern from other solar installers, Solar Lightworkers were able to make a system which took the Palm Trees into account and put a majority of panels away from the Palm Trees where shading can be a issue. read more