Solar Connection

Solar Connection takes on solar panel jobs from their base in Gastonia. They design, install and service full systems for homes, businesses, farms, schools and non-profits. Mounts go on roofs or out in yards, and the setups turn sunlight into power for lower bills and more independence. The outfit has worked the Midwest since 2010, putting in over 900 systems that total more than 28 megawatts.

Homeowners and business owners describe getting arrays that start producing right after startup, with some seeing bills drop by half within months. Garrett and Garret get named for site visits and system layouts that match the roof or yard. Micah and Megan handle the steps from first talk through permits and utility sign-off. A few jobs needed quick panel swaps or battery add-ons that went smooth. On the other side, one family dealt with roof leaks traced to the mounting brackets on an older roof, and another spent over a year on emails before the company stopped answering about a combined fix and new array.

The crew shows up on time, keeps the work area clean, and stays in touch through every phase including final checks. Reviews note they handle all the paperwork and utility talks so the owner just signs. Pricing lands in the middle of quotes, but the hardware holds up and production often beats the early estimates. They serve the Midwest region and keep lines open after the power flips on for maintenance checks.

Google shows 4.7 from 65 reviews, with most pointing to clear explanations, solid installs and steady follow-up. A couple flag leaks on older roofs or stalled replies on fixes. Recurring notes cover good communication and systems that deliver as promised. DIRT Score 4.3 from reviews on Finds.

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

“We purchased a home with a solar panel system installed by Solar Connection and later discovered a significant roof leak. The damage became so severe that our daughter’s bedroom ceiling collapsed, sending insulation and debris throughout the room. Thankfully, we had moved her out of the room earlier that night after water began dripping through the ceiling. Three separate local roofing companies, along with Olson Solar out of Wisconsin, identified the solar panel mounting brackets as the source of the leak. We also learned that Solar Connection installed an 18-panel array on a 17-year-old roof in 2022 — something multiple professionals have since told us is poor practice due to the increased likelihood of roof failure and leaks. When we contacted Solar Connection to discuss the issue and ask whether they would honor their workmanship warranty, we were told their warranties do not transfer to new homeowners, despite the system being only a few years old at the time of the failure. We were also told there was nothing they could do to assist us. No accommodation, discount, or effort to help was offered. We are extremely disappointed with both the installation practices and the comp”

“Our array was installed by Solar Connection in 2014 and the picture is from 2019. (Fortunately, our array survived this event because critical components stayed above water.) We spent more than a year going back and forth with emails and visits, working with Solar Connection on specifying a combined new array plus a mitigation project with our existing array. Finally in early 2022, they verbally promised a contract for this project, but later stopped returning our calls and e-mails. Unfortunately, we had to take our business and loyalty elsewhere. Solar Connection is not the same company they once were!”

“They got our solar system running last week and now it’s producing power. If you’re thinking of getting solar panels for your house definitely look at a quote from them. They weren’t the lowest one, but we thought they were the best choice overall especially after talking to Garret on the phone when we were reviewing our options. In the end very happy with that choice. They walked us thru everything so we knew what to expect, what we were exactly getting, and ended up doing high quality work.”

“I cannot say enough good things about Solar Connection! From the initial conversation through design, permitting, installation, and commissioning they were there every step of the way making sure we knew what was happening and what to expect. We’re fortunate to have a large south facing roof and we installed a heat pump at the same time. Almost six months in, our utility bills are down by nearly half; can’t wait to see the results for a full year. If you’re thinking about a solar installation, call Solar Connection right now. You will be glad you did.”

“Solar connections was amazing to work with for our array. Their representative that met with us at the start of our purchase was great. Garrett was very knowledgeable and planned a great system for our house. Throughout the process the company was very engaged and communicated exceptionally well at every juncture. The installers were awesome and kept the area clean. The system has worked very well. We had some issues with one panel and it was replaced very quickly. We would do business with Solar Connections again in a heartbeat. They are very professional and treat their clients with respect. You can be confident that they will meet and exceed your expectations.”

“Solar Connection was a dream to work with. The initial sales visit did not push at all; it was a very informative visit, discussing all the potentials of installing solar panels. There was no oversell, and now that we've had the panels for two months, we realized our production ended up being a big higher than predicted, which is wonderful! Solar Connection's employees were all very courteous, well-informed, and took care when working on our house. The quality of installation was excellent and they cleaned up everything and answered every question we had. It impressed us that they use higher quality components and not only install but also maintain installations. They are trustworthy and extremely capable. If you're looking for quality, Solar Connection is the installer for you. We appreciated working with everyone at Solar Connection. We got to support a local company, feed back sun power into the grid, and hopefully mitigate the effects of climate change.”

“With 2 houses with new solar systems(old and new house) and one tear off and replace(due to hail damage), solar connections was a excellent company to work with. I had my doubts on one of the systems, but the systems worked better than we were told. Minor issues were hit with both systems. However the issues were not with anything Solar connections did, they were inside the hardware they purchased. They resolved all issues quickly and professionally working with the suppliers. The hardware they picked was high quality, and have worked flawlessly since installation was completed. They even worked with me on one of my houses to make put in a truly unique solar system with batteries. The service was more than I expected.”

“We have had a lot of conversations and quotes over the years with other solar system installers but Solar Connections made the biggest impression on us. The representatives were very knowledgeable, friendly and easy to work with and gave us accurate information. Garret was especially helpful in explaining things, designing the system and site selection. According to the production from the first 140 days of operation, since June 1st 2019, we were given an accurate estimate of the pay back from our system. Solar Connections was well organized, provided high quality equipment and did a very professional installation in a timely manner.”

“The presentation of the information and the research they did as we showed interest in solar was top notch. Much better than another "solar company" that came with more of a sales pitch for financing than discussion of our potential solar output. The installation went great! And communication with everyone at Solar Connection has been very responsive and helpful. I love the app I can use on my phone or computer to see exactly what is being generated and in the short time we have had them in place, they appear to be generating as much or more than discussed based on our Minnesota weather and my roof not facing perfectly south.”

“The Solar Connection system is performing as promised and we are already recouping costs. From the first meeting, Solar Connection personnel were excellent. The Solar Connection Rep. was able to explain the system and benefits thoroughly in an easy to understand manner with no pressure, unlike other solar company reps we had engaged. The site manager was able to handle the challenges of our site and modify their plan accordingly. The installation crew was polite and proficient. We've consistently had our questions answered satisfactorily.”

“My family and I are incredibly impressed with our experience with Solar Connection. They provided an outstanding system for amazing value and helped answer our questions throughout the entire process. We felt extremely valued and appreciated. We couldn't imagine going with anyone else, especially after the out-of-state companies were trying to sell us systems that cost more than twice for less output. We highly suggest reaching out to Solar Connection if you are interested in exploring solar for your home and know that you will be pleased if you set up your system!”

“Solar Connection is very professional and very easy to work with. Their proposal might not be the cheapest, especially compared with some quotes from out of state vendors, but their assessment is more trustworthy. Garry explained to me the ideal configuration for my rooftop and the cost benefit analysis is convincing. He also regularly followed up during and after the installation and answered any questions I may have. The scheduling and installation process is smooth and streamlined. Megan did a great job explaining the process. Her responses are always so prompt. There were checkpoints during installation that were gated by the local utility, but I can tell they have established a good working relationship to make it as easy as possible. I’d say this is one of the reasons to go with a local company besides supporting local business. Now is the second month after the installation. I am still crunching numbers and see them translating into real dollars. So far so good, and more importantly, I feel confident that if I need assistance, I can count on these guys.”

“Solar Connection did a great job educating us about solar energy, helping us size the system, working with our utility, and delivering an excellent system. Micah was the primary person we worked with and while I believe his job is "sales" he was much more of an educator than a salesperson. It is very apparent that this is more than just a job for him, it is something he really believes in, and cares about. That isn't to say he was pushy about anything, more that he is really excited about solar power and the environmental and economic benefits it brings. We first contacted Solar Connection for an estimate quite a while before we decided to have it installed. There was no pressure during that time and when we did finally contact them again, solar panel prices had gone down slightly and they drew up a new quote and saved us some money. Another aspect I liked is that they installed US built panels. They were willing to install whatever panels we requested but recommended a couple of suppliers with some preference towards the US supplier. The price difference was minor but the efficiency and the warranty was slightly better. After we wrote the last check, we have still stayed in touch”

“If you are thinking about going solar, go Solar Connection. We attended a workshop sponsored by RPU & Minnesota Gas to learn about solar which is where we heard about Solar Connection. We checked them out and they had very good reviews. They came out and checked our house to make sure solar was feasible and then they led us through all of the steps needed to get solar installed. They did all of the paperwork for us, the permits, the rebates.. all we had to do was sign the paperwork. Once the winter let up, they were here to get up on the roof. They kept us informed about where we were and what steps were next. Even after the installation was complete, they followed up with us to educate us on the system and how we could track it online. We couldn't have asked for a better working relationship. They were/are great. You can't go wrong with Solar Connection.”

“Solar connection provided clear and competitive solar installation quotes. They kept to their install timelines and did a clean job with installation. The app to view production is great but make sure you clarify ahead of time how your system will connect to upload data. We’ve had our system for 4 months now and love it. Would recommend this friendly local company.”

“From our very first interaction with the energy consultant, Garret Sorensen, to our final install commissioning with Megan and Dave, we had a wonderful experience working with Solar Connection. Garrett was extremely knowledgeable and demonstrated an obvious passion for renewable energy. It was clear why several of our friends and colleagues have recommended Solar Connection. We would highly recommend contacting Solar Connection to learn more about solar panels and the process.”

“Solar Connection was incredibly easy to work with. I loved the personal connection I had with the team and the consistency of employee contact. I really enjoyed the process of installation and learning about the system. This team was incredibly helpful and continues to make me feel comfortable with my system.”

“My system has been up and running for over a month now and everything is working perfectly. So far, the system is producing more power than I expected. Solar Connections handled everything and stuck to the initial quote provided. They were always available to answer my questions and consider my preferences for solar panel location. One of the best parts in going with Solar Connections is that they handle all paperwork and communication with the local utility company. I would recommend a solar system to anybody that has an interest and I would recommend Solar Connections as the company to work with.”

“My experience with Solar Connection has been great. Once all the preliminary steps were complete, they installed the system in two days. It was activated the following week, and has been working to pay for itself ever since. I recommend Solar Connection if you are considering going solar and creating your own power.”

“We're so excited about our solar panels! Solar Connection was (and still is!) great to work with - everyone we've encountered has been professional, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. For a total of what will end up being roughly $15,000 after rebates etc., we'll produce roughly $55,000 worth of electricity over the next 30 years. According to the paperwork we have, installing our system has the same environmental impact as driving 380,000 fewer miles, conserving 168,000 pounds of coal, or planting over 4000 trees. SO COOL!”