Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for solar companies that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For Mega Power Electric, Inc., the key to keeping clients happy is simple: take a personalized approach to every phase of their projects, including after the initial work is complete. “A lot of our clients call us a month or two after their installations because they’re so excited that they aren’t receiving electric bills anymore,” says owner German Nesterenko. “We do everything we can to help them save money, increase their efficiency and live more sustainable lives.”

Mega Power Electric has been installing and repairing solar power systems for residential and commercial clients throughout the Bay Area and beyond since 2006. The company is a certified installer for industry leaders like REC, SolarEdge and Panasonic, and it also has the in-house capabilities to perform electrical work like panel replacements and upgrades, complete and partial rewiring, and more.

Unlike less experienced solar companies that have salespeople and subcontractors acting as company representatives, Mega Power Electric always sends its own employees to work with its clients. “We don’t have middlemen and we don’t pay sales bonuses, which keeps our overhead low so we can beat almost any price on the market,” explains Mr. Nesterenko. “Also, since we use our own installers on each project, our clients always have a direct point of contact if they have questions or concerns about anything.”

Another distinguishing attribute of Mega Power Electric is its dedication to quality control in every aspect of its operations. Each crew has a foreman and lead installer who double-check all work to ensure it has been done correctly, and they also get approval from Mr. Nesterenko himself before considering the job complete. “At the end of every workday, I get photos of the jobsite so I can confirm that everything meets my high standards,” he says. “This type of quality control is the best way to provide first-rate products and installations.”

Solar power is cheaper and better than ever before.

In 2020, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced that solar power had become the cheapest source of electricity in history, with prices below those of coal and gas sources in most developed countries. And to make it an even more attractive option, solar is now more efficient than it has ever been.

“Everything is new and upgrades come every two or three months,” affirms German Nesterenko, owner of Mega Power Electric, Inc. in Woodland Hills. “Panels are more efficient, inverters make more power and batteries store more than ever. And best of all, the systems are more efficient yet cost a lot less than they used to. Now is a great time to invest in solar.”

Cheaper

The price for solar has fallen fast. Only a decade ago, solar was one of the most expensive energy sources. Since 2010, the average price of a solar system has dropped by about 70%, and the cost is 98% less than it was for early adopters in the 1980s. As with most industries, competition and an increase in demand has caused manufacturers to find ways to cut costs and give consumers a better value. As money flowed into the industry, the industry pumped it back into research and development, finding ways to create more cost-effective and efficient systems and equipment, lowering production and installation costs, and creating solar systems that fit a variety of needs and uses. This makes solar all the more popular, which has lowered rates even further.

More efficient

The first solar panel strong enough to power a household appliance was developed in the 1950s, but it was inefficient, considering the size of the panel required to create enough output. Most early panels only had a 1% efficiency rate; today, the most efficient panels on the market are 25 times more capable. This means fewer and smaller panels are needed to generate the power that a home needs to function. Storage, batteries, and battery backup systems are also getting much more cost-effective and efficient. Some systems are able to hold charges for days and weeks, powering homes through bad weather and power outages.

A better choice

With the lowest prices and highest efficiency outputs in history, solar systems make a lot of sense for most homeowners. Add attractive incentives like state and federal tax credits and it’s easy to see why many homeowners are making the switch to solar.

Q: How long does the solar process take to complete?
A: From the initial estimate to the finishing touches, most solar installation projects take 25 to 40 days to complete.

Q: What types of solar inverters do you install?
A: The main inverter in most of our installations is made by SolarEdge, but some people want microinverters or both. If you already know what you want, we can install any type of inverter to meet your needs.

Q: Are you a certified installer for any brands?
A: Yes, we’re certified installers for SolarEdge, REC and Panasonic.

Q: What is your service call return time?
A: We can usually get to you within 72 hours of your initial call if there’s a problem with your solar system.

Q: Is it expensive to have a solar system installed?
A: The rebates and tax credits that are available for solar installations and battery backups offset a good amount of the installation cost. If you live in an area with high fire danger, or if you have medical issues and need a battery backup, you can get rebates and tax credits that make your system almost free.

Q: Are modern solar systems better than they used to be?
A: Yes. Everything is new, upgrades come every two or three months and systems cost a lot less than they used to. Also, panels are more efficient, inverters make more power and batteries store more than ever. Now is a great time to invest in solar.