StanKo | Grand Junction, Colorado | 09/18/2023
3.8KW System
Communication was consistent and reliable. System was installed within 10 days of schedule. Inspection was done the day after. OK! xcel energy took about six weeks to put the required meter in. Big Dog Solar and I regularly bugged Xcel. System up and running production a little low, perhaps weather?
Alan Oyama | Caldwell, Idaho | 05/16/2023
Cannot recommend this company.
Where to start in my review of Big Dog Solar? First, I signed the installation agreement on 9/23/22 and they were supposed to completed the installation by 10/28/22. The installation was complete and online around 1/2/23, so roughly 2 months late. Unfortunately, Big Dog Solar requested payment before the installation was complete and the loan company, EnerBankUSA paid them and hence started my repayment schedule. So, I ended up making two months of payments before the system was operational. The second issue I had with Big Dog Solar is the way they left my property when they were done. I have a large gravel area next to the shop where the solar panel were installed, they asked if they could turn around their trucks in the gravel lot, which I allowed, however I explained to them not to drive on the area next to the fence where the septic drain field was located. Not only did they drive on it, but they left huge ruts in the gravel. The soil underneath the gravel is soft in that area, especially when it’s wet, which is the reason I asked them not to drive on it. No mention of the huge ruts left in the gravel. Fortunately for me, I have a great neighbor who knew I was gone and fixed the ruts for me. They were so bad, he had to bring in farm equipment to level them. The third issue I had with Big Dog Solar is the quality of some of their workmanship. On the inside of the shop ceiling is an electrical connection form the solar panels to the inverters. This connection has a metal housing around it. It is approximately 9 or 10 inches square. There are over 20 screws in that housing, to me it looks like since the metal housing is attached to the steel roof, there should be at least a wood backing instead of screwing into just the metal roof, see picture below. When I inquired about the installation, I was told that is the way they do it and since they agreed it didn’t look good, they would be happy to install a cosmetic cover. I declined the offer, since installing a cosmetic cover would also hide any potential water leaks. Finally, their customer service is awful. I’ve called the customer service line multiple times and at least 75% of the time nobody answers the phone. You are asked to leave a message and a number and they will get back to you. They have never returned my call. My current method of getting customer service is to email the individual that sent me their installation warranty and request a warranty issue be initiated for my installation. Then and only then I have received a call from the customer service department.
WS | Alta, Wyoming | 07/20/2022
Comparison Shop/Research
I called in for a quote, and received a verbal quote over the phone a week later. Since I never received a visit or a written estimate, I put one together myself (below) using online resources. Step 1: Link for determining how many panels you will need: (use your electric bill and zip code): https://www.gogreensolar.com/pages/how-many-solar-panels-do-i-need Step 2: Link for determining your system cost: https://www.fixr.com/costs/400-watt-solar-panel Online estimate using this link for my system cost: $50K avg. 400-Watt Solar Panel Cost Calculator 400-watt solar panels can be found in nearly all types, including thin film, polycrystalline, and monocrystalline cells. Each type typically has a range of costs based on efficiency, performance, and production difficulty. Of these, some types of thin-film and polycrystalline panels are the lowest cost, while other thin film and polycrystalline panels, along with mono-si monocrystalline panels, have moderate costs. The highest quality is generally reserved for PERC monocrystalline cells. Below are the average costs for 10 400-watt solar panels of varying qualities. 400 Watt Solar Panels Costs Zip Code 83422 Panels needed: 80 400 Watt Solar Panels Cost (Material Only) Basic $19,800 - $23,760 Standard: $29,700 - $33,660 Best: $39,600 - $49,500 400 Watt Solar Panels Installation Cost (Labor Only) $16,800 - $20,160 (low) $25,200 - $30,240 (mid) $33,600 - $42,000 (high) Total Costs Low end: $36,600 - $43,920 Medium quality: $54,900 - $63,900 High end: $73,200 - $91,500 400 Watt Solar Panels Cost per Panel $366 - $439 (low) $549 - $639 (mid) $732 - $915 (high) Solar Panel Information: I was told the panels came out of Georgia (USA), which would mean they are manufactured in Dalton, GA at the Hanwha Facility. I wasn't told of the panel efficiency or quality. I assume average quality. The Hanwha product sells at retail for $410/panel and produces 400W. Here is information on that product: Q CELLS 400W Solar Panels 132 cells Q.Peak DUO BLK ML-G10+ Rated Power Output 400 W Voltage (VOC) 45.3 Cell number 132 cell Cell Type Monocrystalline Pickup at 4 locations or US shipping Link to the Hanwha online store to purchase panels: https://a1solarstore.com/solar-panels/hanwha-q-cells-usa-solar-panels.html Link to mounting hardware: $75/each https://www.bougerv.com/products/4-pairs-41-in-adjustable-solar-panelt-brackets Summary: My project materials cost estimate from Big Dog: $100,000 My own estimate of what it will cost if I do it: $42,000. Online estimate calculator: $36K (low end) to $64K (mid) to $91K (high end). I am not sure what differentiates high end, but I think the Hanwha product would be considered low to mid range based on research. It is an affordable substitute to other manufacturers. My do-it yourself quote: Panels: $32,000 Mounting Hardware: 80 x 75=$6,000 Wiring: $1,500 Electrician: $2,500 for final tie-in. Total materials: $42,000 (That leaves $58,000 for the labor to install) Installation Time: I assume a 4 man crew, this would require 2.5- 10 hour days plus an added 4 hour round trip travel time per day of 12 hours additional per employee. 80 + 48=128 labor hours for the project: Assuming the retail cost/labor hour of $80/hour charged $80x128=$10,240 My system estimate based on retail costs in the market: $52,240. The quote from Big Dog: $100,000 (92% higher). The rep told me my system would never pay for itself. Apparently the market lacks efficiency (competition). I noted the ROI periods below. Big Dog Quote: $3.125/watt x 32000 watts=$100,000; ROI 20 yrs Online Estimator: $1.63/watt x 32000 watts=$52,240; ROI 10 yrs. Do-it-yourself price: $1.31/watt =$42,000; ROI =9 yrs I agree with a $10,000 premium to hire a professional and add another year to the ROI, but not a $47,000 premium and 10 years, at which time the system will be antiquated. I understand if there is plenty of work to choose from. I suggest greater transparency in your estimating rather than turning people away from an informed sustainable energy decision.
SY | Melba, Idaho | 02/03/2022
Horrible Company
We would never recommend this company, nor will use them on our next project for our mountain property. First problem. Unknowingly to us, Big Dog was using a 3rd party rep for our system design & installation. They do not disclose this clearly, nor require the reps to clearly disclose, that they are 3rd party reps. More on this later here. Second problem is that our design & install 3rd party rep (who is no longer with B.D. Solar) designed the system too small to keep up with our usage and it burns through our credits too fast from early fall through the winter. Third, problem since the system is too small, we have never not had an Idaho power bill, and for 5-6 months a year, we get an Idaho Power bill is 100.00+, sometimes as high as $120.00+. Fourth problem. Everyone knows that solar is marketed that one replaces their power bill payment with a solar system payment, with maybe a few small bills here and there, especially in the first 8-10 months depending on time of installation. Once credits are accumulated you are supposed to have a net zero power bill. Once your system is paid off you have free electricity. Because our system is too small, we not only have 5-6 months where we have our solar system bill, 140.00, we also have a $100.00+ Idaho power bill those 5-6 months. So effectively all solar did for us, due to the size being too small, is added an extra $600.00-900.00 a year to our cost of electricity. Even once the panels are paid off, we will still be paying for those 5-6 months of Idaho Power bills as we will not ever have a power bill. Our bill for January 2022 from Idaho power was $101.00+ So with solar our electrical cost was $240.00+ Fifth, problem. B.D. Solar blamed 3rd party designer, so claimed no liability to them, especially since he no longer works for them as a contractor. B.D. Solar solution to help us with our problem (not caused by us), was to have us pay them another 13-16K more (on top of the 17K we spent originally) & add to our system. The 3rd party rep simply referred us back to B.D. solar as he is no longer contracted with the company. We requested some type of price break on adding to the new system since the rep was representing B.D. Solar, that request was denied. As consumers who know nothing about these systems, one would think that all reps would be required to be responsible to some degree for the system designs they are selling, as well as the company contracting with 3rd parties. Consumers have no way of really knowing how big of a system they need. Our rep reassured us many times our system was plenty big enough, and even claimed that he had added "extra" panels for our very small two-person hot tub. BUYER BEWARE! Our experience is that B.D. Solar takes zero responsibility for their 3rd party reps who are acting on the companies’ behalf, and they do not confirm that the design systems submitted are accurate. Result consumer screwed over. All B.D. Solar has done for us has cost us more money & pass the buck to the 3rd party rep, who in turn passed the buck back to B.D. Solar. DO NOT USE THIS COMPANY. Apparently, it is time to get a lawyer involved.
Danny Hansen | Idaho Falls, Idaho | 10/04/2021
Don't do it
I got big dog solar in September of 2019. Was told my payment would be around 130. It ended up being 150. I live in Idaho Falls so we have snow usually starting around the end of October and I was told that with the 30% pitch the snow would slide off just like it does on a metal roof. Well it doesn't so from November to mid March my solar panels produced next to nothing. So my power bill went from 177 a month to 500 + and keep in mind I'm still paying 150 for the panels. I next had me taxed done and tried to get the tax credit that I was told I'd get. Well I guess there are certain stipulations to get that as well so I didn't qualify for hardly any of them. So now my solar panels will now cost me 190 a month. So now I've gone from a level pay on rocky mountain power to paying at least 240 a month for my panels and electricity. Now I'm not at all happy about this. So I'm sitting in my house and I get a phone call from big dog for a survey on how I like my panels and I tell them I don't like them. Well the guy didn't believe me about the winter time and the panels not shedding the snow and he looked it up. He said I was right and produced next to nothing. He then said he'd look into it and he would call me back. He never called back. Then about 6 months latter I had a lady from big dog call me to see how it was going and she told me the same thing that she would look into it and would call back. That was 2 months ago but I do have to tell you that I'm not surprised because if I can tell you anything about big dog solar it's that there communication is virtually non existent and once they have your money you are nobody to them. So if you are thinking of getting solar id tell you to not do it.
SolarFan | Meridian, Idaho | 09/17/2021
Great service
I've been very happy with the service from this company. Jessica called me almost every week with an update. Everyone showed up when they said they would. Work was completed on time and looks good. They even called me 2 weeks after the install and said they were monitoring things and will replace one panel because it low.
Alan | Colorado Springs, Colorado | 11/12/2020
8 months!!!
It took 8 months to get my solar up and running. Numerous phone calls, rare follow through in return of questions. More than a month where a ladder was left attached to the gutter blocking the driveway, at least 5 visits from inspectors to clarify what they needed to do(or fix), no shows many times for when they were coming,. I will say that I was compensated for each month but only after ai pursued it with a lot of calls. so beware....
A Great Disappointment | Rigby, Idaho | 07/24/2020
No Follow Through
After over a decade of dithering, my wife and I finally decided to go solar. We solicited bids from three companies. Big Dog seemed to be the best fit for us of the three. They were local and their people did everything from bid to install--no subcontractors, so we went with Big Dog. We gave the salesman a 50% deposit, and then we never heard from him again. After two months of no action we decided to cancel the install. Every time we called we either got a bogus story (“the electrician was out on Monday” -- Which was not true), a false promise (“the electrician will be out this coming Monday” -- No show) or a fabrication (“You declined the upgrade, which terminated your project” – we never discussed an upgrade). We canceled the project because of the poor communication, lack of follow through, disorganization, and constantly changing stories. They lost the paperwork we gave them with quotes for roof replacement and tree trimming which were to be included in the Solar package. After we cancelled the project, you would’ve thought the salesman would be contacting us immediately to find out why, and try to resolve the issue. We never heard from him. Following the cancelation, we received all our deposit back less the permit money. We argued they were the ones that dropped the ball and should pay for the permit. They said it was our responsibility because we had ordered the solar system. We asked who really owned the permit. If it was ours, we wanted a copy so we would not have to get another permit when we started working with another solar company. The Big Dog office said they would look into it and get back to us. After over a month, we have heard nothing. No response appears to be one of their main tactics. We cannot understand how these guys are still in business. So, if you are considering Big Dog Solar, consider again. We strongly recommend reading other reviews … we should have paid more attention to them ourselves.
keep shopping | Grand Junction, Colorado | 07/15/2020
Shop around and read reviews...
I wish that I had read reviews before going with Big Dog. There is little to no communication. We signed paperwork back in May. The first day they were supposed to start installation nobody showed up. When we called they rescheduled installation. It actually took three different "scheduled" dates before they truly showed up to install the solar panels. If I wanted to know what was going on I had to call them, and they do not return phone calls. Our solar panels have finally been installed but they did not pass inspection. I have called every day since the inspection to ask when they will be back to complete the work and they will not commit to a date or call back when they say they will. If you are looking to hire a company with solid customer service keep shopping. Big Dog is not the answer.
JP in Florissant | Florissant, Colorado | 07/14/2020
Big Dog is awful
The reviews at the time were okay and the company said it could move ahead on the timeline we wanted. The salesman seemed believable. But this is a clown car. We signed our contract just after Thanksgiving, and today, nearly eight months later, we have precisely the same solar energy capacity we had that day. It took five months to sort out the paperwork—the county kept rejecting it for simple errors—and another six weeks (so far) to do work we were assured would take a week. There is no continuity between crews, so that when a crew shows up to continue the work it has only the vaguest idea of what needs to be done that day. Crews repeatedly arrive without requisite tools and or components, which figures because they leave tools and supplies (not to mention cigarette butts) all over our property and then disappear for days at a time. They must have stuff strewn all over the state. We have heard at least a dozen times some variation of “You’ll be up and running by the end of the day,” and as of this writing the installation is in its sixth week. The organization is spread out over at least two states, and not one of its constituent parts has demonstrated competence or reliability. They don’t return calls or show up when they promise they will. Clearly the company has sufficient cash flow that it doesn’t need to finish projects so it can get paid. We're giving a 1-star rating for after-sales support, for price charged as quoted and for product quality because after all these months, we still have no way of measuring those things.
