Steven Smith J.D. was born and raised in the Phoenix, Arizona area, also known as the Valley of the Sun. He is the son of two prominent Valley physicians and he practiced as a Trial Attorney for seven (7) years. He is very different than most residential solar business owners. Steve has been in the solar industry for five (5) years and has helped thousands of customers go solar. Due to Smith’s unique life experience, he offers his customers a high level of ethics, honesty, integrity, value, experience, and knowledge that is rarely seen in the residential construction industry.
Expertise
Steve has helped thousands of customers go solar and has trained thousands of solar consultants. He has also written hundreds of expert solar articles for the Phoenix Solar Panel Systems website, including the Arizona Solar Education section and the Arizona Solar FAQ section. Steve is an expert in the following solar areas:
Arizona Electric Utility Companies
Steve knows exactly how Arizona Public Service (APS), Salt River Project (SRP), and other Arizona utilities interact with solar. By knowing this, he can save you the most amount of money on your electricity. His expertise with APS includes their solar programs, rate plans before and after solar, service areas, on-peak and off-peak hours, fees, usage rates, demand charges, rate increases, solar buyback rates (solar export rates), and rebates and incentives. His expertise with SRP includes rate plans before and after solar, demand charges, on-peak and off-peak hours, fees, usage rates, demand charges, rate increases, solar buyback rates (solar export rates), and rebates and incentives.
Home Energy Efficiency
Steve has helped hundreds of customers make their home more energy efficient with upgrades like home energy audits, air sealing, roofing, duct sealing, new AC units, attic insulation, LED lighting, smart thermostats, and new windows. Phoenix Solar Panel Systems offers all of these services to homeowners and businesses. Steve can help you make the right decision about lowering your electricity costs and increasing your home’s resale value.
Solar Purchase Options
Steve is assisted thousands of customers with no-money-down, low-interest solar loans and leases. He has access to every solar loan and lease on the market, and he is an expert in fees, total costs, terms, and interest rates.
Solar Services
Steve is an expert in all types of solar services, including solar panel bird proofing, solar panel cleaning, solar panel removal and reinstall, commercial solar systems, off grid solar systems, residential solar systems, and solar patio covers.
Solar System Sizing and Design
Your solar system must be designed by an expert to save money. Steve has designed thousands of systems in all the Arizona utility areas, and he knows exactly how to save you the most money.
Tax Credits and Incentives
Being a lawyer, Steve has an expert knowledge and understanding on the laws creating the Arizona solar incentives and rebates, Commercial Solar Tax Credit, Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credit, Residential Solar Tax Credit, and 2022 Solar Tax Credit Extension.
Education
Steve received the following formal education in Arizona:
- Law School: Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University – Juris Doctorate (J.D.) Degree – May 2010 – Phoenix, AZ;
- College: Northern Arizona University – Bachelor of Science of Business Administration Degree – May 2007 – Flagstaff, AZ;
- High School: Chaparral High School – Graduated May 2000 – Scottsdale, AZ;
- Elementary School: Phoenix Country Day School – Phoenix, AZ.
Career
- Phoenix Solar Panel Systems: Owner – September 2019 to Present – Phoenix, AZ;
- Harmon Solar: Outside Sales Manager – June 2021 to December 2021 – Phoenix, AZ;
- Elite Solar Concepts: Outside Sales Manager – October 2018 to September 2020 – Scottsdale, AZ;
- Bright Home Energy: Solar Sales Consultant – August 2017 to October 2018 – Tempe, AZ;
- Tapout Fitness North Scottsdale: Owner and Sales Manager – May 2017 to August 2019 – Scottsdale, AZ;
- Phoenix Divorce Lawyers: Owner and Managing Attorney – November 2011 to August 2017 – Phoenix, AZ.
Former Trial Attorney
Prior to working in the solar industry, Steve started in his 20’s as a professional musician. He recorded albums and toured the country playing guitar and singing in a band. In 2014, at the relief and support of his parents, Steve decided to change directions and began the path of becoming a lawyer. In December 2011, Steve followed in the the footsteps of his parents, and became a business owner when he opened his own law firm. He initially practiced several areas of law as a Trial Attorney, but eventually specialized in Family Law only, which includes Divorce, Custody, and Order of Protection cases. Steve practiced Family Law for seven (7) years, provided over 5,000 consultations, represented over 700 clients, advocated in over 200 trials, and grew his law firm to 12 employees.
Experienced Business Owner
After seven (7) years of practicing law, and rarely taking a vacation or a day off, Steve decided to take a break from the stress of the legal profession, and started his own Kickboxing Gym in North Scottsdale. He built this gym to over 300 clients and 15 employees, and got in the best shape of his life while doing it. After helping hundreds of people change their life through improvements in fitness and diet, Steve decided to sell his gym. His decision ended up being very well-timed, as the sale occurred months before the Covid-19 Pandemic that put thousands of small gyms across the country out of business.
Steve Created a Different Kind of Solar Company
In 2017, Steve started working in residential solar business based on his desire to help people and make positive changes to the environment. Since that time, Steve has helped many happy customers save money on their electricity costs by switching them to renewable solar power. Steve has met with thousands of customers, designed their solar panel systems, guided them through the installation process, and kept in touch with them after installation. He keeps track of their electricity expenses before and after solar, and he uses this knowledge to save his future customers money. Steve created an advanced training program for solar consultants while managing the sales teams at Elite Solar Concepts, Harmon Solar, and Phoenix Solar Panel Systems. He has trained thousands of solar consultants on residential solar, commercial solar, and the electric utility companies in Arizona. Steve became unhappy with the other solar company owners he worked for because they focused on short term profits over long term customer satisfaction. So, in September 2019, Steve started Phoenix Solar Panel Systems to provide something sorely needed in the solar industry: a company committed to Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency.