Choosing between solar installation companies can be extremely daunting. Solar arrays are expensive, and the initial investment required is substantial. That’s why educating yourself on the best solar installers is essential.
To make this process easier, we’ve compiled a list of California’s 10 most reputable solar installers.
We chose these installers by looking at their service area, warranty period, services offered, and more.
Our top three solar installers in California are:
Affiliate Disclaimer
Table of Contents
Who Are The Best Solar Installers In California?
1. NRG Clean Power Solar
- Year Founded: 1992
- Services Provided: Solar panels, backup batteries, electric vehicle chargers, roofing, and energy efficiency upgrades
- Warranty: Lifetime labor warranty, product-specific warranties for photovoltaic panels and inverters
- Financing Options: Cash purchase, loan
- Address: 7012 Owensmouth Ave, Canoga Park, CA 91303, U.S.A
- Website
NRG Clean Power Solar tops our list of California’s most reputable solar installers. They’re a well-rounded company, offering a wide variety of services to provide customers with comprehensive systems.
The company provides quality products at competitive rates with flexible financing options and warranties. However, unlike numerous other solar companies, they lack solar leasing options, making their products slightly less accessible.
2. Momentum Solar
- Year Founded: 2009
- Services Provided: Solan panels, Backup batteries
- Warranty: 25-year labor and equipment warranty
- Financing Options: Full purchase, solar loan, solar lease, and power purchase agreement (PPA)
- Address: 3096 Hamilton Blvd, South Plainfield, NS 07080, U.S.A
- Website
Momentum is known for its wide range of financing options, fantastic customer service, and comprehensive 25-year warranties.
However, this solar installer does not manufacture its own solar panels. Instead, it provides solar panels from various manufacturers.
3. Elevation Solar
- Year Founded: 2014
- Services Provided: Solar panels, backup batteries, energy efficiency upgrades, efficiency audits, intelligent home energy solutions
- Warranty: 25-year workmanship and product-specific warranties
- Financing Options: Cash purchase, solar loan
- Address: 2425 S Stearman Drive, Chandler, A2 85286, U.S.A
- Website
Elevation is one of the nation’s fastest-growing solar companies and is dedicated to more than just selling panels. The company offers energy efficiency services, energy-star certified products, and energy storage systems with innovative home solutions,
While this solar installer is top-notch, competitors in California, such as Momentum and NRG offer more services and benefits.
4. SunPower
- Year Founded: 1985
- Services Provided: Solar panels, backup batteries, EV chargers
- Warranty: 25-year system and labor warranty
- Financing Options: Full purchase, loan, lease, and PPA
- Address: San Jose, California, U.S.A
- Website
SunPower is well known for its in-house industry-leading solar panels. They deliver efficient, all-in-one solutions with comprehensive 25-year warranties. Additionally, the company outsources its work to certified dealers.
5. Stellar Solar
- Year Founded: 1998
- Services Provided: Solar panels, backup batteries, EV chargers
- Warranty: 25-year workmanship warranty, 10-year roof warranty, product-specific warranties
- Financing Options: Cash purchase, solar loan, solar lease/PPA
- Address: 265 Via Del Monte, Oceanside, CA 92058, U.S.A
- Website
Stellar Solar was voted San Diego’s best solar company in 2021.
The company’s energy consultants use consultative, educational, no-pressure tactics in the approach to both residential and commercial solar projects.
This approach continues to pay off for the solar installer, helping it to gain business on the back of an ever-growing referral network.
Stellar offers some of the most modern and effective solar products from manufacturers such as SunPower, Enphase, Panasonic, LG, and more.
6. Sunrun
- Year Founded: 2007
- Services Provided: Solar panels, backup batteries, electric vehicle chargers
- Warranty: 25-year workmanship and product warranty
- Financing Options: Purchase, solar loan, solar lease, and PPA
- Address: San Francisco, California, U.S.A
- Website
SunRun was established in 2007 and is situated in San Francisco, California, U.S.A. The company is a one-stop shop, providing solar panels, backup batteries, and electric vehicle chargers.
This solar installer offers significant perks for residential home builders, such as the “BuilderChoice New Homes” program. This program consists of a dedicated and influential team that handles all the complicated paperwork required by local utility companies and other bureaucratic California organizations, providing customers with the freedom to subcontract their choice of labor.
7. ADT Solar
- Year Founded: 2008
- Services Provided: Solar panels, backup batteries, EV chargers
- Warranty: 25-year Power Production Guarantee
- Financing Options: Purchase and loan
- Address: 108 Kelly Rd, Niceville, FL 32578, U.S.A
- Website
ADT Solar’s primary focus is on the protection and safety of its customers, whether it be home security, warranty cover, or energy resilience.
The company strives for these safety measures to deliver the best customer service and project outcomes.
8. Palmetto Solar
- Year Founded: 2010
- Services Provided: Main products are solar panels
- Warranty: 25-year manufacturer warranty
- Financing Options: Purchase, loan, lease, and PPA
- Address: 997 Morrison Dr, Charleston, SC 29403, U.S.A
- Website
Palmetto has your back, whether it be the unforeseen events of the Golden States earthquakes or home maintenance mishaps.
The company offers its optional Palmetto peace of mind Plan, which includes the following:
For only $12 a month, customers will receive active monitoring and discounts on various services such as panel cleaning, repairs, and battery services.
Palmetto Solar also provides a 25-year manufacturer warranty for its Q-Cells monocrystalline panels to add that extra peace of mind.
9. Tesla Solar
- Year Founded: 2015
- Services Provided: Solar panels, solar batteries, solar inverters, solar roofs
- Warranty: 25-year performance guarantee
- Financing Options: Purchase and loan
- Address: 1 Tesla Road Austin, TX 78725, U.S.A
- Website
While the Tesla name is synonymous with EVs, this juggernaut also provides a wide range of innovative solar energy products, such as its solar shingles and Tesla Powerwall.
The latter supplies homes with adequate backup energy during power outages.
10. SunLux
- Year Founded: 2015
- Services Provided: Solar panels, inverters, batteries, EV charging
- Warranty: a 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty
- Financing Options: Purchase, loan, lease, and PPA
- Address: 1061 Segovia Cir, Placentia, CA 92870, United States
- Website
Operating in California and Texas with specialized services, this company offers many perks associated with larger competitors, including a mobile app, active monitoring, and comprehensive warranties.
Additionally, SunLux possesses a personable and accessible customer support team to help assist with any queries.
The company takes great pride in deeply understanding California’s physical and bureaucratic solar needs. So if your goal is to have a system tailored to the Golden State’s climate and solar incentives, SunLux is the best option!
Related Reading: Is It Worth Installing Solar Panels? (Cost & Payback Period Explained)
How We Chose The Best Solar Installers In California
Services Offered
Solar installation companies tend to offer different services. Most homeowners in California will want a company that provides a comprehensive list of services, such as consultative assistance, panel installation, and financial incentives.
However, as a consumer, you’ll also want other specialized services such as home energy efficiency upgrades or EV charger installation.
Installation Process
A solar installer is only as good as the personnel it uses to carry out its installations. The installation process needs to be carried out in a smooth, timeous fashion.
Moreover, the best solar installers will provide customers with comprehensive insurance coverage in the event of any issues.
Solar Pricing And Financing
Sticker shock is often associated with solar systems. In the long run, though, these systems are cost-effective and can save energy.
Warranty
Solar panels tend to last 25 – 30 years, so you’ll want a warranty period that covers that lifespan. The best solar installers offer a 25-year warranty covering roofing, panel performance, and labor.
How Much Does Solar Installation Cost In California?
The installation cost depends on the size of your system, your roof type, and where you’re located. In addition, different brands may charge fees — for warranty purposes, they insist on installing the system themselves.
We applied for quotes from the following best solar installers, and this is what we found:
- NRG Clean Power: $19,000
- Momentum: $22,000
- Elevation: $25,000
| Company | Monthly Savings | Annual Savings | Total Savings | Number of Panels (400w) | kWh Annual | kW Solar System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRG Clean Power Solar | $195.00 | $2,340 | $70,200 | 21 | 13,568 | 8.48 |
| Momentum Solar | $145.92 | $1,751 | $43,776 | 13 | 9,125 | 5 |
| Elevation Solar | $152.88 | $1,834 | $45,865 | 20 | 14,600 | 8 |
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best solar installer is vital when turning to solar power. The cost of labor, panels, and battery system are all integral. Warranty and rebates are other factors to consider. Luckily, California has excellent credit and incentives available compared to other states.
When looking at the above costs, Elevation Solar is a great option. It’s third on our list, meaning it’s still one of the best. Additionally, they have cheaper rates than Momentum and NRG Clean Power Solar.
Which company would you go with and why? Let us know in the comments below.
