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Best Solar Companies

Updated May 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
SunPower Solar Energy Equipment
SunPower
Solar Energy Equipment
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Bottom Line

SunPower is known for making solar panels that provide excellent efficiency and reliable green energy.

Pros

This company has 30+ years of experience helping others switch over to solar energy, from corporations to homes and schools. Rooftop, ground, carport and energy storage options. Helix design built for custom solutions that last. Comes with a 25-year warranty.

Cons

Their panel design and strict selling methods make them quite expensive, but often it's a worthy investment. Does not serve all areas.

Sunrun Residential Solar Provider
Sunrun
Residential Solar Provider
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Bottom Line

A good option for homeowners who experience regular power outages or expensive utilities and want energy independence.

Pros

Serves homeowners trying to get away from relying on utility companies to power their homes. Warranties are available, as well as service should you have issues. Various money-saving offers and plans. Earn $350 for referring new customers.

Cons

Only available in 23 states. Only residential. Customer support is iffy.

Consumer Affairs Solar Provider Search
Consumer Affairs
Solar Provider Search
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Bottom Line

Want to get solar but don't know where to start? Use Consumer Affairs' tool to get matched with the right company for you.

Pros

The questionnaire takes into account all of your needs and matches you with the right provider in your vicinity. The questions start broad and then home in on your specific requirements, from panels to tiles and more. People who don't know where to start will appreciate the simplicity

Cons

It's more of a tool that leads you in the right direction than a singular solar company.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

7 Models Considered
1 Experts Interviewed
62 Consumers Consulted
Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

best solar companies

Most of the decisions you make benefit you in some way. They simplify your life, save you money or just help you achieve a goal. Other decisions are based on doing what is right. You choose to help others in some small or large way. In the best of scenarios, all of these factors align, and you make a decision that’s as good for you as it is for others.

Switching to solar power is one of those win/win scenarios. On a personal level, you can reduce your monthly energy bill. Also, depending on factors such as the number of solar panels you purchase, how much sun your panels are exposed to throughout the day, the weather and your home's typical energy usage, you might be able to bank some energy credit that you can literally save for a rainy day.

On a grander scale, solar power can help preserve the world for future generations. According to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, "Solar energy has an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change, which is critical to protecting humans, wildlife and ecosystems."

Family looking at solar panels on home
It may take up to a decade to start seeing a return on your investment. This means solar panels are best for people who intend to remain in their homes for many years. 

What is a solar company?

A solar company is a business that profits, in some way, from converting sunlight into electricity. While it might seem like the most popular renewable energy source, not that much electricity is currently generated by solar power, either photovoltaic or solar thermal. In fact, in 2020, the U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that "solar power accounted for 3% of U.S. electricity generation from all sources." It predicted that by 2022, that number would increase to 5%. According to current figures, however, it only went up to 3.4%.

Pessimistically, things aren't moving as quickly as expected. Optimistically, though, this means there is still a lot of room for growth in the industry.

Did You Know?
While the actual value benefit varies depending on your location, solar panels raise your home's property value. 
Staff
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Types of solar companies

When shopping for solar power, it’s important to realize that there are many types of companies and services available. To zero in on the one that’s right for you, you must first understand those differences. In the broadest terms, solar companies can be classified in three ways: manufacturing, installing and financing.

Manufacturing solar companies

Arguably the most important type of solar company manufactures equipment. After all, if there was no equipment, you couldn't buy and install solar panels on your home. 

A manufacturing solar company designs and builds individual products, such as solar panels. And just like any business, there are manufacturers that create products at different price points. As such, performance varies from one manufacturer to the next.

Note that solar panels are not the only equipment needed to upgrade your home. You will also need racking, wiring, inverters, monitoring and more. While some manufacturers build all of these components in-house, many specialize in just one type. To be an informed consumer, you will want to know which products the manufacturer produces and which it sources.

Installing

The average homeowner looking to incorporate solar power will deal with a contractor who installs solar products. This should be a company that you have vetted and that you trust to make the best decisions. The installer will tell you what you need and which is the best manufacturer to use depending on your needs. Be careful of installers that have a limited scope because they might not be able to offer the best solutions.

Additionally, the installer will (or should) handle all of the logistics needed for installation. This includes everything from applying for the necessary permits to making sure you receive all solar incentives available.

Financing

Converting to solar power is not cheap. You may need a little help with the upfront costs. This is where solar financing companies come in. You’re not limited to companies that specialize in solar loans, and you should not feel pressured by the installer to give your business to a specific one. You can use a financial institution that you already do business with or one you are familiar with and comfortable using. However, if you require assistance and do not have your own resources, you might benefit from working with an organization that specializes in this type of financing. 

Depending on a variety of factors that must be calculated on an individual level, solar panels may cost anywhere from $4,000 to $35,000.

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BestReviews

Buying versus leasing solar panels

Since the cost of the equipment and installation can be prohibitive, some people choose to lease their solar power. Depending on your situation, this could be either the best way to achieve your goals or a costly mistake. Before deciding, you need to understand your financial position and evaluate the pros and cons of buying and leasing.

Buying

When possible, buying is the best option. However, you may not have $20,000 saved up for this purpose, in which case you would need to finance. The downside of taking out a loan is it will cost you more than the actual price. However, owning your solar panels is the only way you can take advantage of tax rebates and credits, which can be substantial.

Leasing

The only benefit of leasing is that you can get your solar panels now. This could be all the incentive you need, so it is not to be treated lightly. However, leasing could create problems if you want to move before the lease is up. And, since you do not own anything, you would not qualify for government incentives for switching to solar power.

Staff Tip
Before purchasing solar panels, make sure your roof gets adequate sunlight to make it worth the investment.
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The three biggest mistakes to avoid when shopping for solar power

Mistake #1: Not replacing your roof first

Your roof is the foundation for your solar panels. If it’s not in good condition, you will not be able to install them. It would be like building a second story on a home with a crumbling foundation. Also, a roof with solar panels costs more to replace. This means if you've already had your roof for more than 10 years, you will want to consider getting it inspected before installing solar panels.

Mistake #2: Underestimating or overestimating your energy usage

The more panels you buy, the more upgrading to solar power will cost. It’s understandable that you would lean toward keeping your upfront installation costs to a minimum. Unfortunately, this means you could underestimate your overall energy consumption. If you do this, you may still have a monthly energy bill after all is said and done.

If, on the other hand, you overestimate your energy consumption, that means your upfront costs will be higher than necessary. Despite popular belief, this won't benefit you the way you might think; you can't get rich from selling electricity back to your supplier.

Mistake #3: Basing your decision solely on price

Just like any product or service, you have several options when purchasing solar power. To find an average price, you need to shop around. However, it’s important to understand that the lowest price is not always the best option. Take into account the company’s reputation, warranty, reviews, equipment used, financing plans and more. Cost is only one of many factors involved in purchasing the best solar-powered system for your needs.

Solar charger for phone
If solar panels do not make financial sense for you at the moment, there are smaller devices you can purchase, such as solar-powered batteries, that can reduce your dependence on the grid and help you take a step toward having a greener home.

FAQ

Q. What type of care do solar panels need?

A. Possibly the best analogy to use when considering the type of maintenance your solar panels will require is to think of them like gutters. As long as you keep them debris-free, they will work as intended. This means you would need to inspect and perform light cleaning a couple of times each year, just to make sure everything looks good. Other than that, solar panels are largely maintenance-free items.

Q. Are solar panels safe?

A. According to the EERE, solar panels must meet international inspection and testing standards. Also, the homeowner must hire a qualified installer to make sure the panels meet local building, fire, and electrical codes. Additionally, once installed, a certified electrician must inspect the work to make sure it’s up to par. Using only qualified and certified installers is the best way to ensure your home will be safe.

Q. How much money can I make by going solar?

A. A popular myth about solar power is that you can sell it back to your electric company to make money. This is not the case. Any excess electricity that your home's solar panels generate will merely count as a credit. The next time the weather is overcast for several days in a row, you will tap into that credit to get your excess electricity back.

Q. Can I store excess solar power?

A. Yes, you can store the excess power generated from your solar panels. Again, however, this might not work as effortlessly as one might hope. Setting up this type of system is costly and requires maintenance. However, if you can handle those factors, it will provide greater energy independence and, unlike generators, offer a noiseless backup option.

Q. Are there financial incentives for upgrading to solar power?

A. The biggest benefit of upgrading to solar power is knowing you’re doing your part to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The second benefit is having a lower energy bill. That said, if you own your solar panels, you may be entitled to substantial rebates or credits that could help offset some of the costs involved with upgrading. To get the most out of these benefits, you may need to investigate them on your own. However, the best installers will do this for you to make sure you get everything you’re entitled to for upgrading.