Planet Solar Inc.

Planet Solar Inc takes on solar jobs from their base in Clovis, California. The outfit covers residential solar, new home construction solar, commercial solar, battery storage systems, service and maintenance, and EV home chargers. They keep sales, design, installation, and service all under one roof instead of handing pieces off. Owners Ben and Marilyn Siebert handle a lot of the front end work across the Central Valley and Coachella Valley, with a second location noted in Palm Desert.

Homeowners bring them in when PG&E bills jump from around 180 dollars to 650 dollars a month. Tim sets up systems that hold up when utility rules create delays and still finish on time. Marilyn lays out buy versus lease choices and right sizes the array so customers avoid paying for extra capacity they do not need. Juan and Mike run the installs with conduit tucked away in garages and panels sitting clean on the roof. Jason handles pre install roof checks, Bill and Lani walk through details on site, and crews answer questions without rushing the homeowner.

They pull permits themselves, keep jobs moving from first call to power on in just a few weeks, and price lower than several other outfits that bid the same components. Communication stays direct with no hard sell, and crews show up respectful and tidy. Work reaches homes throughout the Central Valley and down into the Coachella Valley area, with follow up service available after the system starts running.

Reviewers often note the neat finished look, lower electric bills that sometimes drop below 20 dollars, and staff who explain options clearly. A few mention issues with old warranties or unexpected true up charges. Google shows 4.5 from 36 reviews. DIRT Score 3.9 from 36 reviews on Finds.

DIRT Score = confidence-weighted rating across verified review platforms. How is this calculated? →

“I have to say that I couldn't be happier with the service and professionalism. Tim got us set up with the perfect system. Even when PG&E threw a couple obstacles our way, we navigated through them and the job was finished in a timely manner. Everyone that came out was friendly and more than happy to explain things. (I'm nosey and ask a lot of questions!) The installation is super clean. You don't see anything but the panels on the roof. No conduit or other unsightly things that I have seen on other roofs. I compared my system output with a friend who went with Solar Negotiators. Let's just say I am so happy with my decision to go with Planet Solar, and leave it at that. If you are on the fence with solar, hurry before PG&E and California get NEM 3.0 approved. If you aren't familiar with the new law, Planet Solar will be happy to explain.”

“I am business professional giving an excellent review for Planet Solar as they definitely earned my business! I had planned on going with another Solar company that was successful in our area. However, what changed my mind was that I was treated with respect and patience. One of the owners took special attention laying out all my options and explaining them in detail. From there I could make an educated decision choosing between buying or leasing, and design layout. These people did the homework for me and then I chose what I thought was best for me! There was no high pressure involved. Their service was impeccable, their servicemen were clean and professional. I even got my panels on my house in a faster time frame than the other company had estimated for me! I would definitely recommend Planet Solar to anyone or any business. It is hard to find hardworking honest people to do business with. You will definitely find that with Planet Solar!”

“My boyfriend and I purchased a house a few years ago, and the first month we moved in, the PGE was outrageously expensive. We went from $180–$200 PGE bills to $650, so we decided to look into getting solar panels. We did a lot of research and had a few solar companies come and give us estimates. We had quite a few questions to ask, and Marilyn was the one who was so patient and answered all our questions, especially the financial ones. In the end, Planet Solar had the best offer with warranty and pricing, on top of the knowledge Marilyn shared with us too. So we decided to go with Planet Solar. Marilyn suggested we have 25 solar panels, but we asked for 3 more panels just in case because we heard a lot of horrifying "True-up" stories. Signing the paperwork to complete the entire process was easy and smooth. It took about a month and a half, I believe. We had some hiccups with the county of Fresno regarding the house (not ours or Planet Solar's fault), but everything was solved after a week or so. We had to wait for a few days for PGE to do the inspection and turn on the line too. The actual installation only took 2 days, and we really like the fact that on the roof, there are no”

“Our experience with Planet Solar was amazing! Marilyn and all the staff were so courteous, clean and such a pleasure to work with. It was a quick and painless process. All of our questions were answered quickly and without hesitation. From start to finish only took a few weeks. We just received our first PG&E bill and were truly amazed. We referred a relative and received a nice cash gift from Planet Solar. We highly recommend Planet Solar to our friends and family.”

“Planet Solar was one of the best companies I have ever worked with. I looked around and asked around for a good solar company. Planet Solar was recommended to me by a friend and I made the call. Marilyn was my first point of contact and she solidified my decision to use Planet Solar. She was thorough and knowledgeable and very easy to talk with. I had done some initial system size estimates based on everything I knew. Once I spoke to Marilyn, she designed the correct size system and actual told me I didn't need as big of a system as I had estimated. Once we agreed on the details, a contract was drawn up and work began very quickly. They pulled all the necessary permits, ordered all of the supplies and kept me in the loop the entire time. Installation was quick and professionally done. They were able to go through the attic which minimizes the conduits on the outside of the house. The workers were all professional, polite and always cleaned up their mess. A few short weeks later, I was producing electricity. The only low I have about going solar, I wish I would have done it sooner.”

“I waited a year after Planet Solar installed my solar system on my roof to write a review. I wanted to be sure what was promised and what was produced by my Solar Panels after 1 year (True Up) was accurate. I researched a handful of companies and decided to go with Planet solar after speaking with Marilyn and reviewing Plant Solar’s proposal. Planet Solar did a great job installing my solar system. There was no ugly exposed electrical conduit as Marilyn promised and the conduit that was exposed was installed neatly in my garage where I choose to place the inverter. Juan and Mike installed everything in a few and days and system passed inspection by the city no problem. I was given permission to operate from PG&E shortly after installation. I researched solar, knew what I wanted and what I needed to make solar work for me. I went a little larger on my solar system in anticipation of getting an electric vehicle. I was fortunate to get an EV a few months back and anticipate my next True Up to be close to $0. PG&E is changing their rate plans to be less advantages for solar customers, so you need to do your homework.”

“I called about 4 different company to give me a quote for my new solar system an d Planet Solar was the best price out of them all. Tim is the salesperson that came out to my house and gave me a quote. Tim is very professional, knowledgeable and his always there to answer all my questions. That is only the start of my experience with Planet Solar. The rest of the crew that came out to inspect my roof and install the system was very respectful and friendly. I’m very happy that I went with Planet Solar.”

“We couldn’t be happier with our solar system. Marilyn Seibert is so knowledgeable and didn’t try to sell us something we didn’t need. Our options were clear and fully explained. The process was so simple. We didn’t have to do a thing! Everything was handled by Planet Solar. Their pricing was the best as well. Some of our friends paid double what we paid for the same service through different companies, some of which don’t even work. So thankful for Planet Solar and their high integrity! I highly recommend Planet Solar!”

“Beware! I had my solar system installed in 2007 and was assured that the panels had a 25 years warranty. I called back a few months ago to get them checked out for efficiency. The gentleman that came to inspect the panels said I had 6 panels that should be replaced. I told him sure, replace them because I have a 25 year warranty. I called back a few days later, since I had t heard from them. Once I spoke to the gentleman that inspected them, he told me “the panel company went out of business and we can’t honor the warranty!” I told them that it’s unacceptable, because you guys should tell us this before you sell them to us. The customer is mislead into thinking Planet Solar would honor the warranty no matter the panel company goes out of business or not! This is a poor way to run a business. He said the “owner” would call back and it’s been over 2 weeks am he still hasn’t. I guess he’s a hiding and hoping that solves the issue. If this is the case, that’s poor leadership skills on his behalf. Do your customers a favor and train your staff to tell new customers that the 25 year warranty only applies if the solar panel company will still be in business. There is no integrity in this”

“From the first contact through the design/quotation phase and the contract, installation and start up, Planet Solar exceeded my expectations. They helped with getting the approval from my HOA and did an excellent job making every aspect of the installation neat and clean. We had thought about adding solar for several years but never felt like the time was right. Going with Planet Solar was definitely the right choice. We are very happy with the results.”

“Let me start by saying I have no connection or allegiance to Planet Solar. (other than being a happy customer) They were the fourth of four proposals that we got and they were the cheapest of the four, even though they proposed an almost identical system and components as one of the other companies. Cost was the biggest factor in going with Planet Solar and we are extremely glad we did. From our first meeting with Marilyn we just felt like we were in excellent hands, and dealing with someone we could trust, not your typical sales person just trying to close a deal, and it didn't end there. Everyone we dealt with from Jason who came out to do the pre installation inspection and the foreman Juan who was there on the day of the installation were very professional and courteous, exactly the kind of people you want working on your home! I highly recommend getting a quote from Planet Solar if you are serious about getting solar! We are Happy we did!!!”

“a year ago we had Planet Solar install solar system on my house. I was so happy, I bragged to friends & family and even recommended Planet Solar to many people. Now I find out that the salesman for Planet Solar lied to my wife & I. I just received a bill from, PG&E for $1,400. This charge is called a NEM (net energy metering). I paid "cash" , $21,600, for my system, and I was never told that I would get a $1,400 bill at the end of the year. Now, I do not recommend this company to anyone, and I advise other potential customers not to trust them.”

“I did a lot of research before getting solar and waited a long time. I talked to Ben and he was much more knowledgeable then the typical solar sales person. His solution was very detailed and he was able to answer directly any question that I had no matter how technical. I recently hit my first year end true up and I had a $35 dollar credit as I added a little more capacity for future electric car. His design was spot on. I have a contractors license and the technicians he sent out were very professional and I noticed they were trained very well for safety using ladders, tools etc.”

“Best contractor experience ever. We had three other solar companies give us proposals, but it was obvious that Bill and Lani were by far the most knowledgeable solar people we met. In only two weeks and 3 days, our solar system was installed, turned on, and saving us money. Our first electric bill was only $17.42 in July (last year our July bill was over $400!). We told our neighbor about them, who went solar, and Bill came out personally and paid us cash for the referral - without asking! We totally recommend Planet Solar.”

“Prior to choosing Planet Solar, I received another bid for solar for my roof. That company bid $6,000 more than Planet Solar. When Marilyn came to my home to bid for Planet Solar, she put me totally at ease as she answered all my questions regarding solar systems and usage. When I agreed to have the units installed, she gave me a projected date of mid-june for completion of the project. To my surprise everything was done by May 2nd. Thanks to their speedy installation my units will be ready to go before all the hot months of Summer which will save me$$$$.”

“I chose Planet Solar because of Ben Siebert, their lead salesperson. Ben responded timely to my questions, of which I had many, in a timely and patient manner. When I was ready, under no pressure from him, he came to my house, gave me a formal bid, and explained fully and clearly all the details that go with it like number and type of panels, panel location, construction costs, timing of construction etc. Ben was low pressure and left a trustworthy impression. I also went with Planet Solar because they offered a very good competitive price for the system I wanted to have installed. Also, Ben would interact with me in the manner I wished to communicate with him and that was via email. Another local company would not do this (Solar Negotiators) and as a result of this, and their insistence on not giving me a quote for what I believe was a superior solar panel, I stopped pursuing business with this solar company. Additionally my solar project required that I trim and/or remove several trees next to my house so that the solar system could work properly (i.e. not be hindered by shading). This was a big ordeal for me because my wife and I needed to come to agreement on which tree”

“With Pg and E going up year after year my husband and I had been considering solar for over 2 years. We had done several different consultations none of the companies could meet 100% of our production needs. After we meet with Ben the owner of Planet Solar we knew we had found the company we wanted to go with. The entire experience has been seamless from consultation to installation. We are now up and running and watching the savings happen.”

“After extensive research & sitting on the fence for years about solar, we finally decided on Planet Solar. The owners Marilyn & Ben Siebert were very easy to work with, answered sooo many questions, and gave us a better deal than their competitors. They also had no black marks on their company with the Better Business Bureau (unlike the other guys). We ended up with high-quality panels, that were professionally installed by their crew. One of the things that we greatly appreciate is that they took the extra effort to not run ugly conduit across our roof and up our walls, and painted the mounts to match our Spanish tile. We were in agreement that we should install the panels on a rack on the back of our house, for aesthetics, and also since we have quite a few palm trees in the front that shade the front of the house. Even though we have a south-facing home, you cannot see the 28 solar panels from the front of the house! They were able to secure low-cost financing for us, and, even before we get our Federal rebate, our payments are about what we were paying for our SCE Level Pay plan. Once we get our rebate next year at tax time, we will be able to re-amortize the loan, if ”

“We signed a contract with Planet Solar to install a system, and paid a $1000 deposit in April 2021. 4 months later, there is no design, no building permits and they said they are closing their central California location. Do not pay a deposit with Planet Solar; reputable installers do not request a deposit. CEO/Owner Dennis and Ben, each promised the moon, but delivers an empty glass...”

“Buying solar is daunting. I had the opportunity to work with Marilyn Seibert at Planet Solar and she took a process that was extremely complex and distilled it down to one to where, at the end, I felt comfortable and informed. I highly recommend her if you are looking for solar. She will be sure to provide you with the best information to help you with your next install. 100% satisfied.”