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Does Blue Raven offer system monitoring?
Blue Raven doesn’t have its own bespoke app to keep track of your system, but instead directs customers to the Enphase Enlighten app, which keeps track of energy production, usage and trends over time. The app is well reviewed by thousands of users on the Google and Apple app stores. For installations that include a SunPower battery, the mySunPower app provides similar data as well as live weather alerts. It is also highly reviewed in both app stores.
What warranties does Blue Raven offer?
Blue Raven’s workmanship warranty for the installation and weatherization issues like roof penetrations causing leaks runs for 10 years, which is on the shorter end for the industry. For the equipment, it utilizes the standard 25-year warranties for panels and inverters and 10 years for SunVault batteries.
The company offers a two-year production guarantee. Hoffman said that means Blue Raven will do what needs to be done to keep your system performing as it should during that period. Again, this is on the low end for such guarantees in the industry, though production guarantees are not offered by all installers.
Blue Raven does sales both door to door and through a number of online channels. The easiest way to get in touch is to submit information through the company’s website and you can expect to be contacted by a member of the team to gather some basic info about your situation and desires.
This is followed by an in-person or virtual visit to your home where a sales representative will walk through a basic proposal for a system and the benefits you can expect to receive from going solar. This is when you’ll also learn about the different incentive programs Blue Raven can help make sure you will be able to take advantage of.
The next step is signing an installation agreement and a more detailed inspection before a final system design is proposed. The customer has an opportunity to review and modify this design before approving it. Blue Raven handles permitting with local authorities, coordinating things like tree trimming, financing and finally getting everything installed and turned on.
Is Blue Raven the best choice?
Despite recently becoming a subsidiary of a major solar energy corporation, Blue Raven still has a focus on customer satisfaction and a high-touch approach to customer service.
At the moment you get a little of the best of both worlds, knowing that the company is run like a smaller outfit, but has a bigger parent company standing behind it. That said, Blue Raven falls a little short of what many of the bigger players in the industry offer in terms of warranties and leasing or power purchase agreement possibilities.
Blue Raven works to make sure you’ll get the best panels available in your region that fits your needs, but you’re basically locked into a particular type of battery and microinverter. For the majority of customers, this probably won’t be a big deal and does provide some level of consistency across Blue Raven’s installation, which may be a factor in their high customer service rankings.
The company likes to tout its strong reputation online, claiming to have thousands of five-star reviews. This does seem to be the case, which is reassuring, but CNET doesn’t put a ton of stock in online reviews. That said, Blue Raven maintains an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, where it appears to respond consistently and relatively quickly to complaints.
Once again, keep in mind that CNET has not gone through the ordering or installation process with Blue Raven.
Overall, if you’re not too picky about components and not looking for the longest-possible warranties, Blue Raven is well worth a closer look.
Blue Raven installs the “best available” wherever they install panels. That includes brands like REC, SEG, Maxeon, SunPower, Qcells and others.
What company owns Blue Raven?
CNET has crowned a best overall solar company, but the best company for you is the one that fits your needs. While solar is an investment that can save you money for years, starting with a good installation and finding a company that will respond to any problems that arise is a crucial first step.
