What Should I Look For In A Solar Company
We’ve ranked and reviewed hundreds of solar power companies from across the United States and gathered thousands of solar reviews from consumers to help you find the best solar companies in your area.
Look for a solar company with positive reviews, lengthy warranties, sound financing options, high-quality products, and industry certifications and recognition.
We recommend obtaining solar quotes from a variety of companies in order to find the right rooftop solar contractor for your needs.
The Time To Go Solar In California Is Now
CA SOLAR POWER ON! It is time to flip the switch on and start enjoying the renewable energy collected from the California suns rays. By working with these top ten solar installers in California, you will be able to start saving money on your electricity bill and play an important part in protecting the environment. Become part of the solar movement by being a part of the Solar Nation!
Get more information on how to tap into solar energy for your California home or business, today!
The news and editorial staff of the Bay Area News Group had no role in this posts preparation.
The Best Solar Company
When you decide that solar is the best option for your home, you should go with a local business near you that can provide installation and service for 25 years or more.
Most of solar salesmen use third-party contractors, which means they cant provide installation services even if they wanted to. Go with a company that does its own work!
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Vivint Solar: Best For Customization
Our Score: 95 out of 100
Vivint Solars wide range of products and services allows customers to create a customized solar energy system that fits their home, budget, and energy needs. Vivint uses only Tier 1 panels and partners primarily with LG to offer LG Chem, a compact battery storage device that is installed in your garage or a covered area to provide energy at night or during an outage. Vivint will also try to accommodate customer requests for panels outside of its normal line-up, including Tesla solar panels, whenever possible.
Battery And Battery Backup
A solar battery allows you to store the excess energy generated by your solar system. These energy storage systems power your home when your panels arent in use or during power outages. They are an optional add-on and can be included with your initial installation or as an upgrade later. There are a variety of high-quality solar batteries available, but availability varies between solar providers.
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Solar Panel Installation With The Best Solar Company In San Diego
When considering a home solar installation, its important to do your own research and evaluate some of the different factors, including what brands to look for, upfront costs, and financing options. At Baker Electric Home Energy, we take pride in our exceptional electrical expertise and attention to quality. We offer a variety of products, services, and financing options to help you maximize your solar savings.
Our free solar panel cost calculator is the fastest way to explore solar energy now. It is customized to reflect the brands we recommend and the professional installation we provide. Our solar energy consultants are committed to making your installation process smooth and hassle-free. Our team meets with you to discuss your households current and future energy needs, the cost of the solar installation, and our financing options. With Baker Electric Home Energy, you know youre getting a real estimate from real experts.
Free Consultations And Estimates
Another great reason to consider hiring a solar panel installation company is if it offers free consultations and estimates. While most companies will offer a free estimate, not so many will actually provide free consultations. Finding a solar panel installation company that will meet with you and talk you through all the options shows that it is prioritizing its customers, so youll know youre in good hands.
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Best Orange County Solar Company
About The Business:
This solar installation company specializes in custom solar installations using Premium Solar panels. They offer a variety of premium panels. When it comes to pricing, theyre simply the best, keeping overhead low so they can pass the savings on to you. Flexible financing is offered.
Solar Tax Incentives In California
In addition to the federal tax credit offered by the U.S. government, California offers a variety of state tax incentives and rebates to make your investment in solar energy even more cost-effective. We have listed some of the significant California incentives below.
- Self Generation Incentive Program : The California Public Utilities Commission offers an up-frontrebate for installing an energy storage system. However, this incentive is a tiered-block program. As a result, the incentive value declines as more battery installations occur in California. SGIP currently offers $200 per kilowatt-hour stored energy capacity, meaning that a popular solar battery like the TeslaPowerwall provides a $2,700 rebate.
- Solar Energy System Property Tax Exclusion: The Active Solar Energy System Exclusion makes your property taxes not increase until the end of the 2024 fiscal year. You can use this exclusion to install a new home solar system in California or build a house with a solar panel system.
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Why We Like Them:
Premium is the buzzword of choice: Premium panels, financing, customer service, and installation. I like that they start your project with a welcome call to the customer to be sure everyone is on the same page. This should be mandatory for every solar project! They also end your project with a phone call, which is a nice touch.
Review Highlights:
Their customer service is top-notch and something we dont often find in this day and age. The quality of workmanship from installation to site cleanup was high. The people who worked on the project onsite were professional, thoughtful, and communicative. While on-site, they were efficient and effective. The office staff were responsive and provided quality answers and information. Top Notch!
Tesla: Best Solar Battery Add
Tesla is a widely recognized solar brand known for its solar roofs. These use small solar panels that double as roof shingles, providing a more low-profile look than traditional solar systems. The companys solar battery, the Tesla Powerwall, is also popular. It connects with Teslas mobile app, allowing you to customize savings and view your energy consumption habits.
Tesla Snapshot
- Warranties: 25-year product and performance warranties
- Payment options: Full purchase and solar loan
- Panel type: Monocrystalline
Offers 24/7 active monitoring through its mobile app
Offers solar shingles to create a high-efficiency solar roof
Provides instant quotes online
What We Dont Like
Customer reviews mention long wait times for installation
Customer reviews are overall negative
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Green Home Systems: Most Comprehensive
Green Home Systems has one of the most comprehensive product selections of any provider on this list. The company offers high-quality monocrystalline solar panels from notable manufacturers, such as LONGi and Panasonic, plus an assortment of solar batteries and backup generators. Green Home Systems also installs solar roofs, which consist of small monocrystalline panels that act as roof shingles.
Green Home Systems Snapshot
- Warranties: 25-year product warranty and performance guarantee
- Payment options: Full purchase and solar loan
- Panel type: Monocrystalline
Has a wider assortment of solar products than competitors
Offers solar roofs
Provides $0 down financing to qualifying customers
What We Dont Like
Doesnt provide cost information online
Some customer reviews mention difficulty with scheduling and callbacks
How Big A Solar System Do I Need In California
Many factors will influence the number of panels you reqquire for your property in California. They include the nature of your roof, the amount of sunlight in the area, the efficiency of the panels, and your energy demand. But on average, a home in California requires 12 to 22 solar panels.
Most of the installers on our list provide a free solar estimate, which is the best way to determine the exact number of panels you will need for your home.
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Can A Homeowners Association In California Prohibit Solar Panel Installation
No. The California Solar Rights Act prevents HOAs from limiting a persons ability to install solar panels on their property. Homeowners therefore have the right to install a solar system, although there can be reasonable restrictions on the placement of the solar panels.
Under the act, reasonable restrictions are defined as those that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or significantly decrease its efficiency or specified performance. The current version of the Solar Rights Act caps reasonable restrictions, cost-wise, as $1,000 over the original cost of the system. An HOA cannot place limits on solar systems that would decrease their efficiency by more than 10%.
HOAs may still maintain some oversight as to how and when your system can be installed. For example, HOA rules might require approval of solar system plans before the installation process can begin.
Will Solar Panels Work In My Climate
Identical solar panels will produce different amounts of electricity when they’re exposed to different levels of sunlight. So, solar panels in sunnier places with more direct sunlight will produce more electricity. But other factors make solar a good deal for homeowners.
New England has one of the highest regional adoption rates for residential solar in the US. That’s not because it has a ton of sunshine year round, but because it has favorable solar policies, like net metering and rebates. Solar panels might make financial sense even if they’ll be installed under frequently cloudy skies.
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How Can I Find A Solar Installer In California
With many solar installers available throughout the state, it can be tricky to choose the right company. If you’re searching for a California solar installer, take the time to thoroughly review your options, read customer testimonials and get multiple quotes from different installers. You can also review CNET’s picks for the top solar companies.
Why Is Solarreviews The Best Place To Compare Solar Panel Companies
The solar installation company you choose is one of the most important decisions you will make when going solar. While you can expect very little to go wrong, you will require support from them in one form or another at some point over the systems 25-30 year lifespan. Unfortunately, many homeowners have installed solar with companies that have either gone out of business or offer very poor after-sales support. Solar companies typically wont service other companies jobs, making these individuals what is known in the industry as solar orphans. SolarReviews exists to help you find the best, most reputable solar installers in your part of California and to ensure you become a happy solar system owner.
Unbiased reviews. No company can pay to alter the reviews or review scores shown on our site. Some companies pay us a small, fixed referral fee if you request a quote but we never earn any commission from sales. Any editorial content is not influenced by financial relationships.
Our CEO gives his thoughts on what criteria you should use to select your solar company
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Going Solar With Electric Utility Companies In California
Utility companies in California, such as PG& E and SCE, do not have programs that directly support private rooftop solar. They only have resources that help you understand the importance of solar and guide you in finding the right installer.
However, you can still go solar with the utilities by participating in programs that allow you to purchase solar power without having to install panels on your roof. For example, PG& E has the Solar Choice program, which gives you access to solar power generated by the companys pool of solar projects.
The only way utilities in California appear to encourage private rooftop solar installation is net metering. The companies agree to purchase the excess power generated by your system in exchange for credit.
However, utilities like SCE only approve applications into the program for systems that are designed to match your electricity needs. Thus, you cannot invest in a solar system that exceeds your energy needs and expect to sell the excess to the local utility.
The net metering policy in California continues to undergo changes. Currently, the state is using the Net Metering 2.0 policy as residents wait on a decision on the proposed Net Metering 3.0, released in December 2021. The proposed changes will affect the costs and benefits linked to net metering in California.
How To Choose A Solar Installer In California
There are hundreds of solar installers in California. You might find it confusing and time-consuming to narrow the list to the ones that work for you. Lucky for you, were here to help.
Here are some considerations you should keep in mind.
- Identify the type of solar company you need
- Check the level of expertise and experience
- Check if the installer is certified by NABCEP and the California Contractors State License Board
- Check whether the provider is insured
- Check the quality of solar equipment used
- Read up on the solar installers reviews and client testimonials
- Find out about the warranties offered
- Ask for the turnaround time
- Establish whether the installer provides customized solutions
- Get multiple quotes. Get a quote from at least 3 solar installers in California
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Elevation: Best For Whole
In addition to solar panels, Elevation will evaluate your homes energy efficiency and offer solutions to reduce your utility bills.
States available: Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, and Texas
Pros and Cons of Elevation
Solar panels systems backed by a 25-year warranty Full-home assessment for energy efficiency improvements Active energy monitoring for entire home
Only available in five states No pricing information online
Why We Chose Elevation
Elevation provides whole-home energy efficiency solutions. The company builds custom solar panel systems and offers an Energy Efficiency package to find and repair air leaks, poor insulation, or other energy-draining issues. Elevation handles all repairs in-house with trained operations and installation teams. You can also install its Curb Energy monitoring system to track your energy usage in real time.
Elevation backs its solar systems with 25-year warranties for product and workmanship coverage. Installations include a solar battery or electric vehicle charger. Homeowners can pay for their Elevation system in full or with a solar loan.
Will Solar Increase Your Home Value In California
Multiple studies have shown that solar panels do increase the value of a home, including a 2022 EcoWatch Solar Growth Outlook survey where 63% of respondents said they would pay more for a home with solar panels than a home without.
A study from Zillow revealed that homes with solar installations tend to sell for about 4.1% more on average than homes without solar. The study specifically examined the housing market in Riverside, California, reporting that homes with solar energy systems went for roughly $9,930 above market value.8
And an older study from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory revealed that home resale value jumps by nearly $6,000 for each kilowatt of solar thats installed.9
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The Best Climate For Solar Energy
The limitless sunlight in California provides enough electricity in a single hour to provide energy to the entire state for a year! The brilliant weather in Southern California is ideal for capturing the suns power.
California and its surrounding states capture the most solar radiation in the entire nation. Our state receives an average of 7 hours of solar radiation, while the rest of America gets an average of 5.
Sunrun: Best Financing Options
Our Score: 95 out of 100
Sunrun was among one of the first solar panel installation companies to make residential solar power systems more accessible through a leasing program. That focus on financing options makes Sunrun one of our recommendations for best solar installers. Customers can choose from two leasing options. You can opt for a flat-rate monthly payment or select a prepaid 25-year lease that includes ongoing maintenance and monitoring.
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Mounting Hardware And Cables
The mounting hardware and cables are exactly what their name implies. Mounting hardware includes the framework your panels attach to and any other equipment thats part of that system. The cables run from one panel to the next and then deliver the raw electricity directly to the other components in the system.
Our San Diego Service Areas
Alpine | Bonita | Bonsall | Borrego Springs | Boulevard | Campo | Cardiff By The Sea | Carlsbad | Chula Vista | Coronado | Del Mar | Descanso | Dulzura | El Cajon | Encinitas | Escondido | Fallbrook | Guatay | Imperial Beach | Jacumba | Jamul | Julian | La Jolla | La Mesa | Lakeside | Lemon Grove | Lincoln Acres | Mount Laguna | National City | Oceanside | Pala | Palomar Mountain | Pauma Valley | Pine Valley | Potrero | Poway | Ramona | Ranchita | Rancho Santa Fe | San Diego | San Luis Rey | San Marcos | San Ysidro | Santa Ysabel | Santee | Solana Beach | Spring Valley | Valley Center | Vista | Warner Springs
At Baker Electric Home Energy, we are proud of our legacy as the best solar company in San Diego. Contact us to learn more about installing solar panels for your household, or request a demo today!
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