Southern Energy Management review

Positive reviews:

“Very pleased with our solar system installed by Southern Energy Management! I requested quotes from three companies and SEM was the most straightforward, methodical, and low-pressure — and also the most cost-effective. The installers and electrician were great, and the project manager handled all permitting and inspections. We’re getting the output we expected and it’s a lot of fun watching the sun power our home.” – Chrisamclaughlin ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ June 1, 2022

“SEM gave me all the information I needed in a clear, down-to-earth manner with no techno jargon. We went over system options, sizes, outputs, and costs. My Duke Energy bill went from about $127/month to under $8 — just a line fee. The system makes more energy than I use, the leftover power goes back to Duke, and they pay me a credit once a year. I’m currently running about $45/month in credit. These people are professional, efficient, polite, and clean. Top notch team — your best option for solar in the SC area.” – Malcolmo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ December 7, 2017

Negative reviews:

“I bought a complete system with PV panels plus hot water panels. The photovoltaic portion works fine, but there is no support anymore for the water heating part, which stopped working. I was referred to another company that has not responded to my call in 3 days. I was assured I would get service from Southern Energy Management when I signed my contract with them.” – Ralph H. ⭐☆☆☆☆ December 13, 2017

Positive reviews:

“From the no-hassle sales process to the quality of installation to the after-install follow-through — exceptional. The installation team informed us when they arrived, explained what they would do, cleaned up after the work, and stayed on schedule. A professional group who did a great job. We are very pleased.” – S. Pahwa ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ May 23, 2018

“I was very pleased with my dealings with my salesman, Matthew Dickey. Overall, everything went fine with the install. I had left a message saying I wasn’t sure the system was working or not but didn’t hear back. I won’t know if the system is working properly until spring as it was installed late in the season.” – Anonymous ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ December 14, 2010

Negative reviews:

“They installed solar panels for me 5 years ago. When they came to install, they discovered the panels wouldn’t fit — they had not measured accurately. Their solution was to put some panels on a shed roof using mini-inverters, which are less reliable and in a less efficient location. The output has never come close to what was promised. When I later emailed them with questions, they essentially ignored me. I had to resort to repeatedly calling the owner before getting a response. Customer response is extremely poor.” – Bugman ⭐⭐☆☆☆ October 1, 2017

Positive reviews:

“Shoutout to the people at this company: Davis in sales — no pressure, very informative, and always available; Davidson and Sarah — project managers who helped during install; the install team was efficient; and Olive our electrical engineer has been a great help. I would recommend this company — they aren’t pushy, provide great value, and have everything organized effectively.” – David C. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ December 13, 2023

“We had our 6 kW solar panels installed in December 2012 with them going live in early 2013. We typically average under $25/month and are saving about 70% of our prior electricity cost from Duke Power. There have been no system issues and we still get the same peak power generation after five-plus years. I highly recommend SEM and solar power.” – David M. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ June 29, 2018

Negative reviews:

“Do not do business with this company. They got the solar panels installed quickly but then there were multiple updates and corrections needed. They put in a new electrical panel and the drywall repair is horrible. As of December 2024 I still don’t have the solar hooked up to generate. They answer the phone but can’t give any real reasons why nothing is working. Avoid this company unless you have a lot of time to wait.” – Lynn B. ⭐☆☆☆☆ December 3, 2024

“I filled out the form and provided my information and never heard from anyone. I guess they don’t need my business. I was looking to put a solar farm in my backyard.” – John A. ⭐☆☆☆☆ October 7, 2025

Positive reviews:

“Being a solar installer is no easy job. The work is extremely taxing on the body and you work long hours. The people at the company are great though and make it extremely bearable. Great entry level position.” – Sales Representative ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ March 26, 2026

“Committed to its mission, values, and to their people. New leadership are long-time employees who care and have worked hard to get to their new roles. Caring environment — I feel fortunate to work here.” – Anonymous ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ February 18, 2026

Negative reviews:

“Good people, good work, great way to learn skills — but you’ll have to use those skills elsewhere to get paid a fair wage. A great job out of college.” – Building Tech ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ November 21, 2024

“They taught me a lot and it was fun while it lasted. Not a place to work long-term. You get to a point where every mistake is scrutinized. Stressful.” – Field Engineer ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ May 12, 2016

Positive reviews:

“They could not have been more helpful and professional in explaining our options, how our home would get the most out of the panels, and how much we are likely to save. They were explicit about costs and available rebates and walked us through the rebate procedure step by step. We made some minor changes to their standard contract and they accepted without question.” – Maureen I. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ January 2019

“We had a 17 kW system put in this year and it has been amazing — coming close to 100% renewable energy for our house. The crew at Southern Energy did a great job installing and making it look like the panels belong there. I can’t recommend Southern Energy Management enough!” – Warren K. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ September 2018

Negative reviews:

“The installation went well, but once installed it took two weeks before the system was turned on — and only after I called to ask why. About two years later the monitoring system quit working after a thunderstorm. It took 4 months, constant follow-up, and several broken appointments before the monitoring system was finally restored.” – David F. ⭐⭐☆☆☆ August 2017

“I tried to get them to come out before year-end to qualify for tax benefits. They only responded by text and never called. Their next email lectured me about planning with expediency even after I said I wouldn’t be calling them again. Very arrogant.” – Joan D. ⭐⭐☆☆☆ October 2015

Positive reviews:

“The price was right. The service from sales (Davis) to installation (Davison) was quick, pleasant and thorough. Billing was very clear and easy. I went through Duke’s PowerPair program and the rebate and peak payments were a huge bonus on top of the tax credit.” – Miriam Makhyoun ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ November 2025

“We were really pleased with Southern Energy Management’s design and installation of our solar system. I know that they were really rushed by the end of the year but both teams took their time to do the job right. The electrical install was very professional and looks great. Even our very picky county inspector couldn’t find anything wrong. The mechanical team installing the solar really went above and beyond as our installation wasn’t on a typical roof. The lead installer wasn’t happy with how the screws were holding the panels so used nuts and bolts instead. The job was super professional and we are enjoying having some relief from would be an exorbitant power bill due to this extremely cold weather. Overall I wholeheartedly recommend SEM for your solar installation.” – Manjushree “Manju” Karkare ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ December 2025

Negative reviews:

“Contacted them in early August to start the process of getting solar panels and the rep never got back to me. When I followed up, I received a text from the rep saying they were already done with projects until 2026. Very unprofessional.” – Esteban Brunello ⭐☆☆☆☆ October 2025

“I’m a professional engineer licensed in multiple states and Southern Energy Management is one of the most unprofessional groups I’ve dealt with. I would strongly recommend you do not do business with this company.” – Jon Brandt ⭐☆☆☆☆ 2020

Market Leader

With an overall third-party rating of 4+ and positive feedback across more than 10 reviews from different platforms, Southern Energy Management is distinguished as a Market Leader. They’ve established themselves in 1 state, which points to solid customer relationships in these markets. If you’re looking for an experienced solar provider known for both quality and reliability, Southern Energy Management stands out as a premier choice in the solar installation industry.