About Alternative Solar Own Your Energy & Power Your Future We believe that going solar should be simple and easy. Our free energy consultation’s allow us to assess your energy needs, giving you the power to control your energy costs. We take care of everything from panels, to the installation—for no upfront cost. The Process 1. Consultation – We’ll take a look at your energy needs, evaluate you how much you can save by investing in solar and answer all of your questions. 2. Site Survey – We’ll stop by for a second visit to check out your roof, and gather information for our solar design team. We then create a custom system for your energy needs. 3. Permitting – Alternative Solar will submit all necessary permit forms to the city, utility, and home owners association. 4. Installation – Depending on your system size, your solar panels will be installed and ready for activation in about 4-8 hours. Once installation is complete, you will be provided with a thorough explanation of your new solar system 5. Activation – We schedule with your local utility to switch your system on. This is called Permission to Operate, or PTO. Once PTO is granted, your panels are ready to be turned on, and you can start saving. Enjoy your savings!
Alternative Solar Review 2024 - Is The Price Right?
Installer
Installing solar since 2020Discover your solar saving potential
Find out how much money you can save by going solar
100% free of charge
Updated on 2023-06-14
Industry Certifications
ASES – American Solar Energy Society
Service Types
Residential Solar
Energy Monitoring System
Alternative Solar Solar Details
Established
2020
Contact
Headquarters
10130 San Pedro #102
San Antonio TX
78216
10130 San Pedro #102
San Antonio TX
78216
(210)-544-4787
Alternative Solar User Reviews
(We try to verify user reviews as much as we can)
June 7, 2023
My PV system was purchased…
My PV system was purchased & installed by Alternate Energy & still under warranty. Had one panel replaced in a timely manner. What I don’t understand & agree with is the service charge of $150+tax. Received text explaining it’s for “technician travel time, cost of fleet of vehicles which includes purchases, fuel, insurance, maintenance & etc.”
Shouldn’t this be part of doing business to maintain warranty?
Shouldn’t this be part of doing business to maintain warranty?
May 27, 2023
Seven years ago we had…
Seven years ago we had three "different" Alternate Energy salespeople and three "different" Alternate Energy proposals before we had a 29-panel PV system installed on a newly constructed home. After the builder was finished with the home, our Closing and move-in, Alternate Energy failed to provide any instruction or customer support related to the PV System. Seven years later, we were informed the on-line Envoy performance reporting system had never been downloaded, was now overloaded with data (broken) and would have to be replaced at our cost. Had Alternate Energy bothered to check their initial installation and/or the actual performance for their System, Alternate Energy would have known there was a problem well "before" anything had to be replaced. Other than the Envoy problem, the PV System is working well. The Field and Technical staff are very competent, responsive and professional. However, our experience is the Owner, the Sales staff, Management and Administration are seriously lacking customer empathy and/or any interest in continuing customer support..
May 16, 2023
May 12, 2023. Update.
I made…
May 12, 2023. Update.
I made contact with Radford. We had a great conversation and I received a lot of information. More updates to come....
May 15 update. I met with Radford and he was thorough and answered all of my questions. He compared the options available so I could make an informed decision on how to upgrade our PV system while taking advantage of any available inventives.
More updates after the project is complete.
I made contact with Radford. We had a great conversation and I received a lot of information. More updates to come....
May 15 update. I met with Radford and he was thorough and answered all of my questions. He compared the options available so I could make an informed decision on how to upgrade our PV system while taking advantage of any available inventives.
More updates after the project is complete.
January 7, 2023
1/6/23) This is an update…
1/6/23) This is an update based on the response from Roy at Alternate Energy Inc.
1) If you had sent out a technician to speak with me personally about the design, there would have been less back and forth emails. I only made one request; to not place anything on the back wall by the surf racks. But if you recall, when your technicians were supposed to show up the first two appointments, they did not come at the designated time.
2) Your email about the confirmation was for the installation date and not for the plan review. My request for the updated plans was already sent. I even attached a specific photo with red outline of where the system should be placed.
3) Even if the email from the 20th was a mistake, why would you send it again so close to the installation of the system. Shouldn't this have been handled weeks in advance?
4) Of course I would want to cancel the installation of an incorrectly placed system. Anyone would want to do this.
5) The morning of the installation Chris called and also texted that everything was going to go through with the installation, and he explained the need for the bollard post to protect the system from damage by our car. My only request from Yuko is that the additional $250 charge be covered by the company and not by Chris' commissions. I asked her to confirm this with management. Here is the email thread for this:
On Wed, Dec 21, 2022 at 8:01 AM
Brandon,
As you suggested earlier we will go ahead and postpone or cancel the installation for today and tomorrow.
Yuko
On Wed, Dec 21, 2022 at 7:51 AM
Hi Yuko,
Please get me a confirmation from your manager.
Brandon
~sent from iPhone
On Dec 21, 2022, at 7:49 AM
If you are referring to the bollards charge Chris will work it out with the company.
Yuko
On Wed, Dec 21, 2022 at 7:46 AM
Hi Yuko,
Please answer my question from the email. You seem to not respond clearly to communication.
Brandon
~sent from iPhone
On Dec 21, 2022, at 7:44 AM
Brandon,
Per Chris we can put everything on the wall and not on the surfboard wall. The prelag crew are scheduled to go out this morning.
Please confirm.
Yuko
On Wed, Dec 21, 2022 at 7:18 AM
Hi Yuko,
Good morning. Per my conversation with Chris the decision has been made to install a “ballard” to protect the battery. I would like this cost to come from your company (not Chris’ commission). I feel that the breakdown in scheduling and communication has come from the main office. Please reply to confirm.
Thank you,
Brandon
Roy, yes AEI did cancel the installation without mutual agreement. It was a unilateral decision on your company's part. I was told by Chris it was going through until Yuko emailed me that it was cancelled.
6) Thank you for the refund. I have contacted another PV company and will work with them.
Original Post:
I was working with Yuko Ahina at alternate energy for 4 months from August 2022 to December 2022. They didn't come at the proper time for their first two scheduled visits to evaluate the site and never sent a technician to follow-up. Then when I requested a different location for their equipment they did not follow through on the proposed change. The day before the installation I notified them that the proposed design plan was incorrect. After speaking with their representative on the morning when the installation was supposed to occur, he said everything was going to go through and the change would be taken care of. I then receive an email from Yuko that they cancelled the installation and will not have any further openings in 2022. The behavior and business practice of Alternate Energy was unprofessional and the communication with Yuko was poor. She twisted my words to get out of installing the system as scheduled, which is unethical. Taking two days off of work and making all of the arrangements ahead of time for PV installation is a daunting task, but apparently they are too busy to care about customer service. I'm providing this information as an account of my first-hand experience.
1) If you had sent out a technician to speak with me personally about the design, there would have been less back and forth emails. I only made one request; to not place anything on the back wall by the surf racks. But if you recall, when your technicians were supposed to show up the first two appointments, they did not come at the designated time.
2) Your email about the confirmation was for the installation date and not for the plan review. My request for the updated plans was already sent. I even attached a specific photo with red outline of where the system should be placed.
3) Even if the email from the 20th was a mistake, why would you send it again so close to the installation of the system. Shouldn't this have been handled weeks in advance?
4) Of course I would want to cancel the installation of an incorrectly placed system. Anyone would want to do this.
5) The morning of the installation Chris called and also texted that everything was going to go through with the installation, and he explained the need for the bollard post to protect the system from damage by our car. My only request from Yuko is that the additional $250 charge be covered by the company and not by Chris' commissions. I asked her to confirm this with management. Here is the email thread for this:
On Wed, Dec 21, 2022 at 8:01 AM
Brandon,
As you suggested earlier we will go ahead and postpone or cancel the installation for today and tomorrow.
Yuko
On Wed, Dec 21, 2022 at 7:51 AM
Hi Yuko,
Please get me a confirmation from your manager.
Brandon
~sent from iPhone
On Dec 21, 2022, at 7:49 AM
If you are referring to the bollards charge Chris will work it out with the company.
Yuko
On Wed, Dec 21, 2022 at 7:46 AM
Hi Yuko,
Please answer my question from the email. You seem to not respond clearly to communication.
Brandon
~sent from iPhone
On Dec 21, 2022, at 7:44 AM
Brandon,
Per Chris we can put everything on the wall and not on the surfboard wall. The prelag crew are scheduled to go out this morning.
Please confirm.
Yuko
On Wed, Dec 21, 2022 at 7:18 AM
Hi Yuko,
Good morning. Per my conversation with Chris the decision has been made to install a “ballard” to protect the battery. I would like this cost to come from your company (not Chris’ commission). I feel that the breakdown in scheduling and communication has come from the main office. Please reply to confirm.
Thank you,
Brandon
Roy, yes AEI did cancel the installation without mutual agreement. It was a unilateral decision on your company's part. I was told by Chris it was going through until Yuko emailed me that it was cancelled.
6) Thank you for the refund. I have contacted another PV company and will work with them.
Original Post:
I was working with Yuko Ahina at alternate energy for 4 months from August 2022 to December 2022. They didn't come at the proper time for their first two scheduled visits to evaluate the site and never sent a technician to follow-up. Then when I requested a different location for their equipment they did not follow through on the proposed change. The day before the installation I notified them that the proposed design plan was incorrect. After speaking with their representative on the morning when the installation was supposed to occur, he said everything was going to go through and the change would be taken care of. I then receive an email from Yuko that they cancelled the installation and will not have any further openings in 2022. The behavior and business practice of Alternate Energy was unprofessional and the communication with Yuko was poor. She twisted my words to get out of installing the system as scheduled, which is unethical. Taking two days off of work and making all of the arrangements ahead of time for PV installation is a daunting task, but apparently they are too busy to care about customer service. I'm providing this information as an account of my first-hand experience.
November 13, 2022
Details to come……
Details to come...
September 23, 2022
Having issues with replacing a…
Having issues with replacing a micro inverter and after 3 months and repeated calls, now entire monitor system doesn’t work. Called several times and each time they tell me they will call me back and nothing. No call backs. Really disappointed.
Updated on Sept 22
I’m updating my review because Teri called me back and arranged for my new enphase monitor which was installed today. Josh did a great job with the install and Teri was really honest to let me know that i had 15 years left on my existing warranty.
Would have gave 5 stars but I am still a little irritated that i had to pay for the enphase replacement. The warranty should match the timeframe of entire system.
Updated on Sept 22
I’m updating my review because Teri called me back and arranged for my new enphase monitor which was installed today. Josh did a great job with the install and Teri was really honest to let me know that i had 15 years left on my existing warranty.
Would have gave 5 stars but I am still a little irritated that i had to pay for the enphase replacement. The warranty should match the timeframe of entire system.
May 19, 2022
I had my A …
I had my A unit cleaned by Cory, two years in a row, and I got to say that you need more employees like him out in the field, he very courteous professional. The last person I had before him did not do a very good job. He did not even take a look at my unit outside to clean it or inspect it.
Thank you Cory for a job well done.
Thank you Cory for a job well done.
May 10, 2022
Everything to process the paper…
Everything to process the paper work is quick but sloppy. Office guys don't know how the field guys does the work so the plans always changes. Field guys are good but only want to get the job done then bail; they don't care about their mess they leave behind etc. Getting assistance after will cost you. There are some great guys but over all for installation, they don't work as a team, rather as independent groups.
05/09 - response to owner
I have no issues with working with Trevor and understand the whole internet setup - no grips about that. Just stating the fact that some after installation services are not included, for public knowledge. Trevor is one of the better knowledgeable technicians and has been super helpful, efficient, and responsive.
05/09 - response to owner
I have no issues with working with Trevor and understand the whole internet setup - no grips about that. Just stating the fact that some after installation services are not included, for public knowledge. Trevor is one of the better knowledgeable technicians and has been super helpful, efficient, and responsive.
March 2, 2022
Melissa and her team were…
Melissa and her team were very professional handling my services and kind spoken during our conversations. Thank you for continuing your great customer service for me and my fam.
September 27, 2021
Current and future buyers beware….
Current and future buyers beware. Quick to take your money, but when problems arise they don’t even call back. 5 calls already after they identified 2 panels were inoperable. Not one call back. Secretaries are nice and admit they have problems with management responding. Save yourself the headache and go somewhere else for your PV and solar
Discover your solar saving potential
Find out how much money you can save by going solar
100% free of charge