Solar Operating and Maintenance Minnesota

Powered by Sunshine — And a Good Operating and Maintenance Agreement

You have the power, now maintain it. A critical component to maximizing your sunshine power is making sure you have a solid operation and maintenance agreement. This is especially the case for commercial solar energy systems, where you as a business owner, project manager, developer, or investor have made a significant investment in renewable energy. You may not have the expertise or staff to maintain your costly investment. Solar was the right thing to do, now make sure you secure the right service provider.

At Cedar Creek Energy, we provide a suite of services that support green energy and sustainable building practices.  In addition to Operating and Maintenance, we design and install turnkey commercial solar-powered systems throughout Minnesota and the Midwest, update or retrofit lighting, provide design, engineering, procuring, and construction, and help secure financing, zoning, and utility grid interconnect agreements.

Factors to Consider With Operating and Maintenance Agreements

Like an insurance policy, you have choices of how much coverage you want and need for your solar array. You can have a free consult with us and pick our brains to help you clarify your needs and goals.

As your Operating and Maintenance provider, it is our business to own how your system should be performing mechanically as well as financially. We will communicate fluently regarding metrics, including your simple payback, the ratio of total installed cost to first year savings, ROI, net present value, and life cycle costs. We want your system performing as if it were our own.  

Learn More About Cedar Creek Energy >

Cedar Creek Energy

5.0

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keith B.

18:12 13 Oct 21

Rick, Annie and the entire cedar creek team are fantastic!In all occasions I dealt with professionals that easily demonstrated their knowledge, expertise, and customer centric care.We are a prime example of that customer focus. Unfortunately we had a significant life change that is forcing us to re-locate. Though we had already signed contract, Cedar Creek allowed us to cancel with absolutely no issue.We are looking forward to the opportunity to enter into contract again in the future.

Jim N.

18:57 24 Aug 21

We've only been up and running for a few days now, but I have been very satisfied with the experience I've had with Cedar Creek Energy. I talked to several companies and they quickly rose to the top of the list. Rick responded quickly with the answers to my questions and was knowledgable and informative. Every member of the team was a pleasure to work with. We went with 25 lg380 panels. They look great on the roof and more importantly are producing as expected.

Georgiann B.

21:48 12 Aug 21

My experience working with Cedar Creek Energy was seamless from start to finish.The project developer I was working with, Max Corner, did a great job with his consultative approach. He took the time to learn about our business and where our needs were in order to deliver on a quality solution that was financially feasible for us.The whole team at Cedar Creek went above and beyond on the back end. My project managers, Annie Hendrick & Patrick Farnham, always stayed on top of communication with different progress points throughout the project so I was never in the dark when it came to my install and status. The installers were exceptional, enjoyable to be around, and clearly professional in their mannerisms and craftsmanship.I now have a system up and running that is completely offsetting my electrical usage on an annual basis.They even took on monitoring and servicing my residential system, even though they didn’t install it. They truly want the best experience possible for their customers and if you choose Cedar Creek Energy, I know you will be thankful for choosing them as your solar installer.

Ben W.

17:50 28 Jul 21

A great company to work with. The entire team was very knowledgeable and dedicated from start to finish. The actual installation was done professionally, everything neat, organized, and they kept the job site very clean throughout the project.

Greg H.

20:18 27 Jul 21

I got 4 separate colar companies to submit bids. Cedar Creek came in about the middle price-wise, but was far and away a better "sales" experience from the very beginning. That sold me, but across all aspects of the business - Sales, Operations, Project Management, Engineering, and Finance - each of these areas, and any I left out - were knowledgeable, positive, and communicated quickly and effectively.The electricians and installers were friendly, quick and really clean/detailed. The install - panels, meters, disconnects, etc - all look professional.All of these 5 star reviews are legit - I would recommend Cedar Creek Energy to anyone and everyone who asks me about my system, is looking for references, or comes across this online review.Excellent experience!

Margaret R.

18:42 25 Jul 21

Our family had an awesome experience with Cedar Creek Energy from beginning to end! Collin Cayce presented to my husband’s company and had done an array for his company’s Sustainability Manager. Colin answered all of my husband’s and my questions; so we felt comfortable with the whole onboarding process, including a new financing option. Patrick, Annie, and the install team were all equally excellent. They were able to move up our install and coordinated with Xcel Energy and the inspector to have our array online less than two weeks post install. CCE made the whole project flow seamlessly. If you’ve been considering solar for years like us, then reach out to CCE now. We keep coming across more of their projects and delighted customers. And in a little over one week’s time since the array’s gone live, we’re easily producing more than we’re consuming energy wise. We’re excited to see future Xcel bills to see how low they’ll go.

Andrew J.

19:45 09 Jul 21

After wishing for a PV system like I had in California since moving back to my home state in 2006, the technology improvements and favorable pricing finally moved me to take advantage of my excellent exposure. The rate I receive from my utility is also very good compared to what I sold back to the grid in California. After getting bids from another local contractor (who I also liked) I made a tough choice to go with Cedar Creek.The entire process and all of the people involved made a pleasant experience. I was especially impressed with the safety ethic of the company and employees who installed the system during the brutal heat wave in June. No one wants anyone to get hurt on their property no matter who may be responsible and I was happy to see the crew get off the roof and in to the shade frequently. The crew and the electricians and the project manager made an installation that is aesthetically pleasing as well. I cannot express any problems with my experience.

Michael A.

12:10 01 Jul 21

Awesome company! Just commissioned my solar array yesterday and I have to say they made the process amazingly easy. I am kind of an energy geek and I asked so very many questions. They knew many of the answers and when they didn't they spent the time needed to figure it out. Very honest about financing, output predictions, everything. Highly satisfied.

m t

20:27 02 Jun 21

Offer some great solar solutions at competitive prices. They are very responsive and worked accommodate any requests I had. Service after sale has been excellent and responsive and I have not regretted at all choosing them for my Solar installation. One month in and 1MW produced, production is exactly as it was scoped.

John K.

14:51 13 Apr 21

Cedar Creek Energy is a team of PROs- really loved the presentation that Colin put together for my family's property. We cant wait to start our solar system later in 2021!

Bruce P

08:49 28 Jan 21

Cedar Creek came into a difficult situation, we had a couple of bumps but in the end they stepped up to the plate and made things right. Thank you!

Mike C.

17:21 07 Jan 21

I am thrilled that I chose Cedar Creek Energy as a partner for my solar project. Their communication (really important), quality of workmanship, and my overall experience were fantastic. Look no further if you are considering going solar!

Heidi K.

15:42 19 Dec 20

Our family had been considering a solar array for a number of years. When we finally decided to move forward, Cedar Creek Energy proposal process was great. There was no pressure and they were very transparent in their answers which was greatly appreciated. We ended up going with a 12.2 KW system and it has been amazing to see the power that is being produced even during the shortest days of the year. During the whole process, Cedar Creek kept us informed of what was happening and everything went very smooth. Great job Cedar Creek!

Stephen S.

21:09 09 Dec 20

A wonderful experience. Cedar Creek was knowledgeable and clear in the presentation of their proposal and communicated well prior to and during the installation period. Could not be happier. I highly recommend them to any who are looking to decrease their energy bill and take carbon out of our atmosphere.

Caleb S

00:37 25 Nov 20

Working with Collin at Cedar Creek has been a great experience. Not only is he just a great guy, he knows his stuff. Solar is a large purchase and Collin took the time to explain all options and the why behind the what. Get your quotes from All Energy etc but buy from Collin you won’t regret it.

Kristian G.

22:48 13 Nov 20

Cedar Creek did an excellent job on my 5.6 KW system. They were easy to work with fast with the install and happy to answer any questions I had. If in the future I buy another house I will not hesitate to contact them again for another solar project.

Ben Z.

15:46 04 Nov 20

The team at Cedar Creek was great to work with. From the pitch to install to navigating Xcel's mess of an interconnection process, the team at Cedar Creek did a great job of keeping the ball rolling and getting my roof-mounted 12kw PV system online. I would recommend Cedar Creek to anyone looking to add some solar energy to their home.

Jon S.

19:24 30 Oct 20

The whole team at Cedar creek was awesome to work with. The process was seamless and felt easier than most home improvement projects. I would recommend anyone I know (or don't for that matter) to work with Cedar Creek on your renewable project!Now that my panels are up and my system is operational, I've been "nerding" a lot on monitoring the system's production throughout the day. I've never been so excited to get my next electric bill. :)Fantastic experience from beginning to end! Thanks, Cedar Creek!

Tyson B.

20:57 20 Oct 20

My overall experience with Cedar Creek Energy was outstanding! There were three aspects of the project that sum up the experience; scope, cost and schedule.First, I had been following the solar industry casually for about five years, but I was not prepared for all the specific material options. I received bids from five total installation companies which helped me identify some industry standards to guide my personal research. Cedar Creek was helpful in adjusting their offer to my preferred materials as well as providing multiple array size options. I moved in to a new construction home with a HOA so array size and design plans were critical for approval with the electric company and HOA. Cedar Creek were great partners in compiling what I needed which included some amazing aerial drone shots of my house that I otherwise would never have captured.Next, cost was certainly a factor in the decision making process. One thing to keep an eye out for if getting multiple bids, equalize the projected energy production between the bids. What I mean by that is, take the quoted annual production divided by the system size. Cedar Creek had projected the second lowest production average based on system size. You may think this is a bad metric, but I had already standardized the panels and inverters across the bids so the only input variable that was different was the projected production of the panels. Since the panels were the same across bids, that number should have been consistent. This indicated to me that Cedar Creek was more interested in giving me conservative/realistic production values for my calculation rather than inflated production numbers to get me to sign a contract. Once you have the average production value per kW, you can apply that average to all bids to get a better idea of who is truly offering the best value for the system size and Cedar Creek was a great value.Lastly, Cedar Creek handled the scheduling of everything. There would be moments where I felt like I should be doing more, but the project manager and sales manager were just on top of it all. I ended up selecting a finance company that Cedar Creek had no prior experience with and they worked directly with the financier to get set up in each other's systems. They had all their documents prepared for e-signature which was incredibly helpful during a pandemic. The project manager kept me informed on what would be happening and when. The crew was professional, polite and hard working. In fact, were it not for some supply chain challenges, everything would have been installed in a few days. It ended up taking a little under two weeks for installation, but I was kept afloat of the situation and Cedar Creek did everything possible to make it right. They handled the electrical inspection as well as the interconnection meeting with the energy company. One of the coolest parts of the whole experience was getting educated on the system after the interconnection was complete and seeing the meter indicate the system was sending power TO the grid!I am sure many of the other installers I got bids from are very capable and provide a great experience. However, I would recommend Cedar Creek to anyone based on all the criteria and examples I have laid out.

Kamran H.

13:28 15 Oct 20

Beginning of this year my wife and I decided that we were happy with our house and the neighborhood we were living in to stay for the long haul. So we started to look into solar companies for a quote. Made sense since we wanted to stay in our home till our old years and a solar system was a great investment. Collin and the crew and Cedar Creek Energy came out and gave a us a really good quote. Once we agreed on the project they got to work ASAP and got it done. The only real holdup was the inspection from the city. Will definitely be recommending these guys to our friends and family!

Paul G.

04:29 11 Oct 20

Our house isn't the easiest for having a solar PV system, but Cedar Creek really bent over backwards to make the economics work. The planning, installation, and connection process was effortless for us once we made the decision. Cedar Creek was great to work with.

Ryan W.

15:05 09 Oct 20

Working with Cedar Creek Energy was a fantastic experience. They are very knowledgeable and helpful, answering all my many questions. They kept in touch with me during the process leading up to installation and made sure I understood what was going on at any time. They were quick and reliable and I love our new solar array.

Mark M.

15:17 07 Oct 20

Cedar Creek just finished our Solar install with Tesla Powerwall battery and it is working great! Already charged the battery and now sending energy back to Xcel for our credit. The process took longer than expected but that was due to factors beyond their control (COVID supply-chain, Xcel paperwork, etc.). Great team to work with and worked with me to adjust things here and there as the install went along. They were the best price and did a great job.

jane W.

16:48 21 Jul 20

Cedar Creek was great to work with on my solar panel installation. They communicated well and made sure everything was working as planned. The system is exceeding my expectations in terms of performance and has been maintenance free. Thanks to Rick and the team at Cedar Creek!!

Bruce B.

01:32 15 Jul 20

I am excited to share my experiences about my recent installation of a home solar project designed by Cedar Creek Energy. On July 1st my wife and I officially became independent of Xcel Energy by producing own electricity needs; planting trees and reducing our carbon foot print. Cedar Creek proved to be an excellent choice. Their company exceeded our expectations with prompt service and expertise. Colin was my sales representative. He educated me very well on all aspects of purchasing the correct solar system and guided me through the details of satisfying Xcel’s requirements. Patrick came on board as my project supervisor. He continually always told me when the install crew would arrive and what the would expect to accomplish that day. At the end of the day, he would even email me and let me know what they had completed and the plans for the next day. It is a pleasure to work with a company that exhibits great internal communications. I have been receiving very prompt emails on any questions after installation.As is obvious, I would with no doubt recommend Cedar Creek Energy to anyone contemplating going solar.GREAT WORK GUYS!Bruce and Kristin B.

Chris R.

18:07 10 Jul 20

Collin and the folks a Cedar Creek are phenomenal. I worked with them for about a month, me asking questions, Collin taking the time to explain the answers and give me enough information to make informed decisions. He was gracious enough to offer suggestions, but also take my desires into account and give me honest answers based on facts and opinions based on experience. Ultimately it appears I will be going a DIY route, primarily because I am risk taker, love a challenge and feel comfortable enough to do the work. But if I were not, there is no doubt I would choose to go with Cedar Creek. Why am I writing this review? Because if the professionalism and knowledge that Collin and Cedar Creek have shown is an indication of their work and work ethic, I am positive the end result, as is the experience of working with them, would be nothing short of spectacular. Thank you Collin and Cedar Creek!

Jennifer S.

20:47 09 Jun 20

Cedar Creek was professional and exceeded our expectations. We had solar panels placed by a different company who left an incomplete project nearly 1 year ago. Cedar Creek resolved all of the issues and today we have solar! Couldn't be more pleased.

MBuechel _

18:32 14 May 20

I really enjoy working with Rob and the team at CCE. They are knowledgeable and professional. I highly recommend Cedar Creek Energy for your next solar or EV charging installation.

Bob

23:07 07 May 20

They did the entire installation without any interference in my schedule. Now I get to sit back and save some money on electricity!

construction Hiring C.

20:08 04 May 20

Cedar Creek Energy has been an excellent company throughout. We got our solar installed over 2 years ago and there has been no glitches! We contact them 1-2 times per year about questions and they are always responsive. They met all their dead lines and there was no surprise costs. All the staff are very friendly and helpful. We have shared their company with many other interested solar customers and friends. I wouldn't pick another company:)

Craig S.

15:32 30 Apr 20

Cedar Creek Energy has installed Solar Panels on 4 of our Projects in North Dakota. We were the first solar in the area so Cedar Creek had to teach the local energy providers how this worked. Working with Cedar Creek is efficient, reduces my tax burden by supplying eco-friendly energy, looks out for the client number one, researches new ways to reduce my energy load at key times, and is so much FUN to work with!! Highly recommend Cedar Creek energy. Ask for Matt, as he is the man!

Peter V.

22:54 21 Apr 20

Colin and Patrick, along with the team at Cedar Creek Energy have been fantastic to work with! We shopped around for a solar provider in the twin cities and after comparing how they operate (and price of course), we ended up with Cedar Creek. Colin made sure that we had all the info we needed to find the best solution for us. After a couple of re-draws, we decided on a 12kw system. Patrick worked with us on the design and coordinated all the plans with the city and electric company. They both were very quick to respond and answered all our questions. The install team on site was very professional and made sure things were clean, especially since they need to spend some time inside at your electrical panel.We are now getting a check for almost the amount of what the solar loan costs due to the extra electricity we are making! Once that's paid off in 6ish years, it'll be pure gravy after that. If you are planning to stay in your house for the next 5-10 years and have good sun coverage on your roof, there's no reason not to go solar!!

Brenda M.

10:37 21 Apr 20

Collin and the Cedar Creek team were honest and reliable. They did what they said they were going to do. No complaints, we will work with them in the future for sure!!

John K.

14:49 08 Nov 19

Cost is competitive with other solar companies. Collin is extremely honest, kind, and professional. We felt very comfortable with Collin and Cedar Creek, even though we came into this with very little knowledge. Highly recommend.

Tyler N.

15:32 25 Sep 19

Had solar on my roof courtesy of Cedar Creek for over a month now, I'm thrilled with the results so far! Planning, installation, and solar production has been as advertised, a big thank you for all your help helping me achieve renewable energy!

Muriel L.

02:00 06 Aug 19

We experienced a barn fire last year which was not connected to our solar panels but resulted in a significant loss of solar production. Rick Tisdale pointed this out to us and with his calculations and dealing with our insurance company we received a significant reimbursement amount. Cedar Creek Energy and its staff not only stands behind its products but is also very supportive of its customers!

Aeric

17:24 06 Jun 19

Fantastic experience from sales to install to system production. The staff at Cedar Creek was patient and thorough with the many questions I had throughout the process. Enthusiastically recommend!

Michelle W.

15:37 02 Apr 19

Extremely professional and knowledgable about all things solar. I was very impressed at how their team simplified the extremely technical process of solar installation so my family could understand every step!

Michael T.

18:55 16 Jan 19

I recently had Cedar Creek Energy install a 7.3kW DC system on the roof of my house.You need an installer that pays attention to all the details and follows through in a timely manner. I received 3 bids when doing my project. Cedar Creek Energy was not the cheapest bid, but they were the most responsive with follow-up questions. And if someone didn’t know the answer to a question they would say, “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out and get back to you.” And they did in a timely manner.My wife and I were very particular about where we wanted the wiring, inverter and meters installed. It took Chris a bit of time to figure it all out and make it work but he did. I never got the impression that they were rushing my job. Chris, BJ, Jake, Ryan and Jeff all came across as professional craftsman very interested in doing the job right.I also thought Cedar Creek did a good job a setting expectation as to when things would be done. Their time estimates were conservative and things usually got done a little quicker than they estimated. I also particularly liked working with Collin, our project developer. He kept me very much in the loop with frequent communications as to the status of the project and critical path items and always got answers to my questions in a timely manner. Patrick, a project manager, also went out of his way to make sure this project was a success.I would highly recommend Cedar Creek Energy for anyone’s residential solar array installation.

Terrie W.

14:27 19 Jul 17

This is our first full year experiencing the power of solar energy in our home. We worked with Cedar Creek Energy and had 48 solar panels installed on our home and garage. We are beyond thrilled with the results. Instead of receiving huge electric bills we have received hundreds of dollars of credits from the electric company this summer. The team at Cedar Creek Energy is amazing - so professional and capable. From the installers to the master electricians, to Rob the owner, and Seamus, our main contact, this company is first class! If you are considering solar for your home or office, you absolutely must work with Cedar Creek Energy! Check out our consumption (red) versus production (green) - - pretty cool!

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