Cobalt Power Systems

Cobalt Power Systems does electrical work centered on solar in Mountain View, CA. They replace old solar arrays, add new panels to existing setups, and install battery systems like Tesla Powerwalls. Alex Harrison leads many projects as the engineer, with install teams headed by Mikey and including Manny. Jay works on sales proposals and initial designs. The company handles city permits, PG&E paperwork, and system approvals for customers in the Bay Area, including spots like Crescent Park.

Homeowners call them for full solar replacements on twenty-year-old systems that stopped working, expansions that bring production up to cover entire electric bills, and Powerwall additions to handle outages. Alex inspected one roof and oversaw a complete swap that finished by the end of May with a three-person crew under Mikey. Others got higher-quality panel arrays paired with more battery storage than competing bids, plus coordinated scheduling that kept equipment out of sight near gas meters. Some jobs ran into roof inspection misses that forced rework and extra permit steps, or crews leaving trash in gutters over multiple days.

They manage the full flow from design through utility interconnection with only occasional signatures needed from the owner. Response times and follow-up vary, with some customers sending dozens of emails over months to get answers while others describe the design stage as collaborative and the install crews as professional. Pricing lands higher than several other quotes in some cases, though a few proposals came in thousands lower overall with better equipment counts. Work covers Bay Area neighborhoods and condominium setups with restrictions.

Reviews split on management and communication, with praise for final system performance and results alongside complaints about changing project leads, repeated rescheduling, and weak post-install support. Google shows 4 from 25 reviews. DIRT Score 3.1 from reviews on Finds.

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“Recently, my 20-year-old solar system faded into non-action. Through my neighborhood list serve (in Crescent Park) I received a referral to Cobalt Power Systems. Following an inspection by Alex Harrison, the lead engineer, I agreed it was time to put in a new system. The old panels were dismantled and by the end of May my new system was in place and up and running. In addition to Alex, who led the project, I met the team of three, led by Mikey, who completed the installation. For anyone either new to solar systems or looking to replace an old one, I highly recommend Cobalt Power Systems for three reasons. (1) Time will tell, but I would say product quality is excellent. (2) Alex provided me with accurate and reasonable cost estimates, so I know what to expect. He also offered payment optio”

“Paid more for Cobalt because they promised better service. Huge mistake. Their designer did not even inspect the roof properly at first, which led to rework and permit resubmission. Project managers kept changing, communication was chaotic, and I had to chase them constantly. I sent 71 emails between October 2025 and May 9, 2026, just to keep things moving. After installation, they did not even provide a proper walkthrough. The designer offered only a “courtesy” Zoom, then no-showed twice. Overpriced and badly managed. Do not trust the marketing pitch. Stay away.”

“Cobalt Solar was honestly a bit tough to work with in the beginning, largely because of all the uncertainty and chaos created by the current federal government’s axe to green energy incentives. Communication and timelines were frustrating at first, and I wasn’t sure things would come together in time. To their credit though, the team stepped up when it mattered most. They worked through the holidays and pushed hard to get my system installed before the end-of-year deadline, which I genuinely appreciated. Since then, Alex and Manny have both been fantastic to work with. They’re responsive, professional, and just genuinely good people who make you feel comfortable doing business with them. That personal touch goes a long way. In the end, I’m very happy with the system and grateful they stu”

“My neighbors just used Cobalt to install solar panels. I have no idea about the quality of the work product, but their crew dumped their van/truck garbage in the gutter three days in a row. I cut them some slack the first time and chalked it up to an accident, but certainly not after the following two days. Terrible.”

“Excellent experience from first phone call to utility interconnection. Collaborative design process, professional installation and coordinated scheduling throughout. Have referred my network, including friends with new construction projects in the Bay Area.”

“I just finished a third round of Solar PV installation with Cobalt Power Systems. Every time was impressive. In 2010, I installed a PV system of 40 SunPower panels. That went very well, and the system performed better than predicted. In 2016, I added 44 LG PV panels which brought my power production to cover 100% of my electric bill, which has been zero since 2016. Both installations went extremely well. Based on my past experience with Cobalt, I went with them again this year to install a Tesla Powerwall System of 3 units to help me ride through the predicted PG&E issues in the bay area. I got about 4 different estimates from different companies. Cobalt was the highest bid, but I went with them anyway. I’m glad I did. Why? As an electrical engineer myself, I am continually ”

“I contacted Cobalt after speaking with several other installers and getting a quote from one. We live in a condominium community with restrictions on how to implement solar. The other installers made the whole process seem so complicated. From the initial quote to the final installation, Cobalt made everything simple. They came up with a panel array that gave us more panels of a higher quality and paired it with a Tesla Powerwall. The other quote had an inferior solution with fewer panels and less battery storage. Ultimately, the Cobalt proposal was not just superior, but also thousands of dollars more affordable. As a bonus, everyone I dealt with from office staff to installers were fantastic (and professional). I couldn’t be more pleased.”

“Just stay away if you can, the most inefficient company. Took forever to complete the job, kept rescheduling, coming back 100 times. Kept scheduling final inspection with the city and never show up. Just horrible experience overall (we were supposed to had it done September 2025, but unfortunately the work is still in progress till nowadays without letting us know approximately completion date)”

“Once they have your giant check communication is a nightmare. It’s like pulling teeth to get an answer from a call or email. There is clearly some type of upheaval at the company and it made our process incredibly painful. Take your money elsewhere.”

“I selected Cobalt Power Systems after noticing several projects in the neighborhood and speaking with a customer. After speaking with the Cobalt sales person (Jay), and receiving a detailed proposal, I signed on for a system with battery backup. That started a process which has been painless. Cobalt handled all the documentation/approvals from System design, City permits, PG&E paperwork, etc with only an occasional signature on my part. The installation process also went very well with the installers working with me to minimize equipment visibility. (Because our gas meter is directly below the main electrical panel, PG&E rules prohibit any additions in a clear zone) I provided enclosure outside of the PG&E safe zone and the workmen concealed all wiring from the primary panel to the ”