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Nov 06, 2024

Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in California - CNET

California has more rooftop solar panels than any other state. Here's what to know if you're planning to join in. California is a leader in rooftop solar panels. California is by far the most popular

California has more rooftop solar panels than any other state. Here's what to know if you're planning to join in.

California is a leader in rooftop solar panels.

California is by far the most popular state for rooftop solar panels; it's not even close. Not only does the Golden State have the most people, it also has a history of policies designed to encourage people to go solar. So whether you want to save on your energy bill or help the planet, these are the best companies to look to for solar panels in California.

California residents will be happy to hear that there are no property, sales or use taxes on solar panel systems. The Self-Generation Incentives Program also helps make solar batteries a more affordable prospect by providing rebates on energy storage systems, while low-income programs such as DAC-SASH offer rooftop installations at no cost for families who fall within certain income thresholds.

While recent changes to the state's net metering regulations might put a dent in the state's solar growth, there are still plenty of reasons to cut back on that above-average electric bill for a shiny new set of solar panels. But making that choice requires a first step: You also have to pick an installer.

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We've compiled a list of the top installers in California and rounded up some advice on how to shop around to make sure you're getting a good deal on something that should power your home and your lifestyle for decades.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, California has the largest solar market in the US, with nearly 2,500 solar companies operating across the state. While this means there are plenty of California solar installers to choose from, it can feel overwhelming to sort through your options.

We've compiled a list of some of the best solar companies that stand out in the industry. Here are a few that service California.

NRG Clean Power brings one of the solar industry's most confident approaches to its work, offering a price match and 40-year warranty. NRG Clean Power is a solid bet as long as you live in Texas and California. NRG Clean Power does not offer leases or power purchase agreements, but it does provide solar panel cleaning and roofing services as well as a reliable equipment menu.

California, Texas

NRG Clean Power brings one of the solar industry's most confident approaches to its work, offering a price match and 40-year warranty. NRG Clean Power is a solid bet as long as you live in Texas and California. NRG Clean Power also provides solar panel cleaning and roofing services as well as a reliable equipment menu.

Solar panels are typically low maintenance equipment, but they're also unfamiliar. If you want to reap the benefits of solar but will have a bit more peace of mind if someone else is making sure it's working, Palmetto might be a good fit for you. Just remember to add the cost of Palmetto's monitoring service in to your payback period calculations.

Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia

Palmetto Solar has more robust service for after installation than most other companies, though it might cost you a bit. All customers receive third-party monitoring and proactive communication when some part of their solar system malfunctions. Palmetto also receives an A-plus from the Better Business Bureau. Palmetto offers quality solar equipment and is one of the few companies that offers Sonnen's batteries. Palmetto's workmanship warranty is 10 years and its weatherization warranty is 5 years.

Elevation's focus on your home's energy efficiency isn't the norm in the industry. If you're planning on addressing energy efficiency first, working with Elevation allows you to keep the whole process with one company. Elevation's solar equipment comes from well-established and well-regarded companies. Elevation's warranties on workmanship and weatherization could be a bit longer.

Arizona, California, Florida, Nevada, Texas

Elevation is a solar installer operating in several states, mostly in the Southwest, and emphasises more than just solar panel installation. The company touts itself as an energy efficiency business, focusing just as much on assessing and improving the efficiency of homes. Elevation offers a price match guarantee and in-house labor. It installs Qcells solar panels, among other brands, and battery brands including Enphase and Tesla.

EnergyPal is more than just a middleman. It'll handle your solar installation from beginning to end while also allowing you to benefit from its proprietary engine and competitive bidding process. The company offers a range of hardware for panels, batteries and inverters, has plentiful financing options and offers responsive customer service support.

Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

EnergyPal is both a marketplace and an energy advisor. It uses its proprietary quote builder engine to customize your solar system; then it'll contract with a local company and act as your single point of contact for everything from installation to permitting. Hardware options include solar panels, batteries and inverters from QCells, REC, Silfab, Aptos, Tesla, Enphase, SolarEdge and FranklinWH. You can expect a workmanship guarantee of 5-10 years, with manufacturer warranties of up to 30 years depending on the hardware. No weatherization warranty is offered. Customers can also take advantage of third-party monitoring tools, from Enphase, SolarEdge, Tesla and others. While EnergyPal isn't rated by the BBB, it receives positive customer reviews online and scores a 4.7 on Trustpilot.

Tesla's solar branch seems to be the least loved of Elon Musk's ventures. Even Tesla's Solar Roof seems to get more love.

If price is the thing you won't budge on, consider Tesla. By all accounts, Tesla installs quality panels and makes the closest thing there is to a household name in solar storage: the Powerwall.

Where you might miss out is customer service. Discussion online seems to suggest Tesla's service is a bit of a gamble.

All 50 states

Solar panels from Tesla are likely to be the cheapest option where they are available. You can save thousands of dollars, without sacrificing on quality of equipment or the warranties that protect it.

What you might sacrifice is customer service. From delays to price changes, to slow responses, to system malfunctions, social media reports of negative experiences aren't hard to find, including some who regret their choice. This is true of all solar companies, but the quantity of reports concerning Tesla is concerning.

Momentum installs in 11 states without using subcontractors. While using in-house installers doesn't guarantee a better experience, it does suggest you're likely to get a more uniform experience from Momentum. The fact that Momentum backs its installations with a 25-year workmanship warranty hints at a strong belief in its crews' ability. If Momentum is part of your search, consider the warranties against leaks that other companies offer. Momentum's is five years, which isn't the best.

Only solar panels: Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Nevada, Pennsylvania

Also installs batteries: California, Florida, New Jersey, New York, Texas

Momentum Solar puts Qcells solar panels on roofs in 11 states, and installs Enphase batteries alongside them in five of those. Momentum is one of a few companies that will price match quotes from other companies. It also receives an A-plus from the Better Business Bureau. The company also uses only in-house, Momentum-trained installation teams and backs that work up with a workmanship warranty that lasts 25 years, matching the longest warranty terms in the industry.

During your search for solar installers, it's worth looking into local solar companies too. We pulled a few California solar companies with some of the highest average Google review scores. However, you should also do some research on your own and get referrals from people you know if at all possible. Here are a few local solar companies in California that might be worth considering.

AWS Solar is one of the highest-rated solar companies in Southern California, specializing in residential and commercial solar installations. Its installers are certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners and the company is also certified by the Tile Roofing Institute. AWS Solar offers a 25-year manufacturer and labor warranty, as well as a 25-year panel performance warranty. There are other warranties available as well. You can request a quick, free over-the-phone quote before committing to an on-site consultation. With AWS Solar, you can either pay cash or finance your solar panels.

Forme Solar is another highly rated local solar installer in California. The company specializes in residential and commercial solar installations, as well as solar panel and roof repair services. They also install solar batteries and EV chargers. Forme Solar offers straightforward pricing in the form of packages. Equipment, warranties and pricing will differ depending on the package. You can pay cash or finance your solar panels.

Your Energy Solutions is a highly rated solar installer servicing various parts of California. The company installs a wide variety of solar panels and offers two battery options: the SunPower SunVault or Enphase IQ batteries. Your Energy Solutions also offers a 25-year panel production and workmanship warranty. You can pay cash or finance your solar panels.

You'll want to make sure your installer has experience working with the type of roof that you have and the type of system you want installed, whether that be a grid-tied or off-grid solar panel setup.

Ben Delman, a communications director with Solar United Neighbors, a clean energy nonprofit, says a homeowner interested in solar should look for solar installers that are certified by The National American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners and have the proper licensing for their work. Reading online reviews from multiple sources can also help you get a better understanding of a company's reputation. A few places to start looking for solar company reviews are Google, Yelp and Angi. Delman recommends looking for solar companies that have at least 20 to 30 reviews. If you know someone who has solar panels on their home, you can ask them for recommendations too.

Aside from certifications and reviews, there are a few other things to look for in a solar installer. A good installer, Delman said, will be able to:

A reputable solar installer should be able to answer any questions you may have, no matter how difficult those questions might be. Don't feel hesitant to ask for clarification on any project and pricing details. To get the best price possible, shop around for multiple quotes. Delman recommends getting at least three quotes before settling on an installer, but it'll never hurt to chat with representatives from even more solar installers.

Read more: Just looking for an emergency backup? Check out portable solar panels for homes and solar generators.

There's no way we'll be able to tell you outright how much solar panels would cost. Price depends on the size of your solar panel system, and that might vary depending on factors such as your energy usage, the size of your roof and more. Adding a whole home solar battery or any other additional solar equipment could also significantly increase the initial investment you'll have to make into your solar panel system. You'll have a better idea of your price once you consult with and see quotes from reputable solar installers.

Here's a look at the average cash price for a typical solar panel system in California before factoring in tax credits and incentives, according to data from FindEnergy.com. For comparison, we've pulled the FindEnergy.com data on the national average cost of solar panels as well. Remember that the prices you're quoted may not exactly match the estimates and averages, which may vary for a number of reasons.

The following interactive infographic will show you the average total price, cost per watt and system size for a typical solar panel system across the US, according to data from FindEnergy.com. All prices shown aren't representative of fluctuations from tax credits or any other state solar incentives. If FindEnergy doesn't have solar data for a particular state, it appears grayed out on the map.

Even though the cost of solar panels has decreased in the last two decades, they're still a substantial investment. But several solar tax credits and incentives make solar more affordable, especially in California. One key solar incentive, net metering, was reduced in a utility commission vote in 2022. California also introduced time of use rates, which could make installing backup batteries more profitable.

The residential clean energy credit (previously known as the investment tax credit) is a federal solar tax incentive offered in California that credits 30% of the cost of a solar system back to consumers who buy solar panels. This solar tax credit was increased and extended due to the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022. There is no cap on the federal tax credit, so you can claim the entire 30% regardless of the size of the system.

You can apply for the residential clean energy credit by including IRS Form 5695 with your tax return. The IRS provides instructions on how to fill out this form or the best tax software can take care of it for you. Your savings from the tax credit will be included in your tax refund or used to offset taxes you owe.

There are various state and local solar incentives available in California, too. You can find a more comprehensive list through the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. Here are just a few you should know.

CNET recently ranked states based on their residential solar policies: the laws and regulations affecting consumer-level solar panel installation and adoption. These policies play a major role in determining how accessible and affordable a solar panel system is to the average resident.

Each state was evaluated through a methodology and scored based on eight categories. The final score was converted to a letter grade.

Here's how your state scored on CNET's solar policy test.

Grade: D

Incentives available:

Strongest scoring categories:

California offers a bevy of low-income programs across the state, helping make all solar equipment -- including whole home batteries -- more affordable. The whole solar panel system is also fully exempt from property taxes in the state.

Categories to improve:

The NEM 3.0 policy has put a real damper on the savings California residents were able to generate from net metering. Whereas Californians once had a great net metering deal, they now have something more akin to net billing at the wholesale rate, hurting solar payback period projections for new solar panel owners across the state.

If you decide to invest in solar panels for your home, there are several financing options to make the purchase easier.

Cash: A big expensive project like solar panels requires a lot of cash. If you see solar power in your future consider saving money now. Regular contributions to a high-yield savings account can help pad your savings.

Solar loan: Many solar companies will offer third party financing. Shop around with different lenders, because your solar company's third party choice might not have the best terms or interest rate.

Home equity loan or HELOC: You can also consider a home equity loan or line of credit. These can save you on interest but your home is at risk if you fail to repay.

Mortgage: Another way to get the cash for solar panels is to refinance your mortgage. Fannie Mae's HomeStyle energy mortgage is designed to fund energy efficiency projects.

Solar panels are a big investment, so it's important to consider all elements that could impact whether they're right for you. Some installation aspects to consider include:

Our Methodology

The companies we listed above as "the best" are curated from CNET's best solar companies list. Companies making the best list are scored on the equipment, warranties and customer service they offer. Then, we make sure these recommendations are available in your state. You can read a full breakdown of how we review solar companies here.

Companies listed under the local installers were chosen in a less rigorous way. We chose them because they offered something unique or notable to customers in the state, they seemed well-regarded by internet reviewers or because they were one of the few installers we could find information on in the state.

Whether we've completed a full review on a company or not, it's always a good idea to get multiple quotes from different installers before choosing a company.

What is the California solar mandate?

The California solar mandate is a building code requiring all new residential home construction to have a solar photovoltaic (PV) system installed as an electricity source. This mandate went into effect on Jan. 1, 2020. It applies to single-family and multifamily homes that are up to three stories high.

Is solar power good for the environment?

Solar power has pros and cons, but generally, it is a more sustainable power source than coal or gas. Fossil fuel electricity sources emit greenhouse gasses, including carbon dioxide, into the air when burned. Burning fossil fuels for energy is the main driver of climate change and contributes significantly to air pollution. Scientists say we must rapidly transition away from fossil fuels to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Solar energy is a greener alternative to fossil fuels because it is renewable (the sun will always produce the energy needed to create electricity), and converting the sun's power into electricity for a home does not produce greenhouse gasses. While the manufacturing of solar panels has some impact on the environment, it is much lower over the panels' lifetime compared to the carbon emissions from fossil fuels.

Does California require home solar panels?

In 2018, California passed a mandate requiring new single-family homes and multifamily buildings up to three stories high to install solar panels. This mandate took effect in 2020 and requires new construction projects to include a solar system large enough to cover all of the household's energy needs each year based on the climate and square footage of the home. If the system includes a solar battery, the builder can reduce the system size by up to 25%. If you live in a home built before 2020, you are not required to purchase solar panels.

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 best solar companies.

Is California offering free solar panels?

California households that meet certain income requirements might be eligible for free solar panels. California's Low-Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) offers free solar panel systems and energy efficiency upgrades to low-income California households. California residents can also apply for the Disadvantaged Communities - Single-family Solar Homes (DAC-SASH) program, which provides no-cost rooftop solar installations to income-qualifying homeowners in disadvantaged communities. DAC-SASH is run by Grid Alternatives.

What is the new solar law in California?

California's new net metering policy (NEM 3.0), which went into effect on April 15, decreases the value of solar energy credits by 75%. This means California residents who interconnected a solar panel system after April 15th are compensated significantly less than those who were enrolled before then for their excess solar energy, making solar batteries an attractive alternative.

Article updated on October 28, 2024 at 9:00 AM PDT

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