7 Best Solar Companies in California (2024 Top Solar Installers)

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Written by President of SolarReviews.com. Reviewed by Catherine Lane

Updated 9 months ago

Solar in your state

With so many solar companies to choose from, we know how daunting it can be to find an installer you can trust with your home’s solar system. To help you make the right decision, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the best solar companies in California, as rated by our SolarReviews experts and California residents who’ve already gone solar.

We look for solar companies with owners who understand that when they sell you a solar system, you expect them to be there for the next 25 years to fix any issues that may arise. Here are the top companies we recommend for solar in California:

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Company Description

Established in 2009. Sol-Up’s commitment to quality is especially visible in our installations. As Southern Nevada’s only NABCEP certified residential installer, Sol-Up combines years of experience in the field with the latest installation methods to provide ...

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Elite

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Company Description

48 Years of Solar & Roofing Experience Matters: AMECO is the solar and roofing contractor you can trust when looking for high-quality and cost-effective solar energy solutions for your home or business. We partner with the industry's bests, so your system oper...

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SolarReviews Expert Rating Score:

Elite

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Company Description

Licensed Solar Contractor and Licensed General Contractor with over 30 years of experience. (License # 970886.) Serving the California Gold Country, Wine Country, and East Bay Area. We're family-owned and believe in delivering the best service and solar produc...

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SolarReviews Expert Rating Score:

Elite

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Latest Good Review
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Best solar installers in California

Company SolarReviews expert rating Consumer rating City Quote
Sol-Up

Elite

4.59(119)
-
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AMECO Solar & Roofing

Elite

4.54(124)
Paramount
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NRG Clean Power

Elite

4.46(224)
Canoga Park
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Sunriver Solar

Elite

4.44(27)
Auburn
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Hooked On Solar

Unrated

4.42(63)
Rocklin
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CleanTech Energy Solutions Inc.

Elite

4.42(25)
Based in Oceanside
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Green 360 Solutions (formerly Elite Solar)

Unrated

4.25(5)
Woodland Hills
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Best solar companies for home battery installations in California

Batteries have become increasingly popular because they take an intermittent energy source like solar and turn it into a reliable and consistent supply of electricity. We recommend getting a solar battery quote if you want a backup power source or if your utility company doesn’t have a net metering program that buys excess solar energy at the full price of power, as you could save a little extra on your electric bill. 

California is one of the best places in the country for installing a solar battery. First, the state’s Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) provides rebates to homeowners that directly reduce the cost of energy storage installation. California also enacted NEM 3.0 in April 2023, which changed how major utilities bill solar customers and has made installing a battery an excellent financial investment. Plus, power blackouts have become more common across California, making the backup power home batteries can provide is valuable.

Here are some California companies that install panels and solar battery storage systems:

Company SolarReviews expert rating Consumer rating City Quote
Energy Concepts Enterprises Inc

Excellent

4.24(29)
Fresno
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Five Star Solar

Unrated

3.75(2)
Elk Grove
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Renova Energy

Elite

Palm Desert
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Cosmic Solar, Inc.

Unrated

Valley Center
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Sunwork Renewable Energy Projects

Unrated

4.89(196)
Milpitas
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How to find the best solar panel company near you

Picking a solar company is the most important decision you make when going solar. You need to trust them to drill holes in your roof, help you navigate financing and incentives and provide you with 25+ years of customer service.

Check out this video where our founder, who also founded a successful solar installation company, explains what to look for when choosing the best solar company near you.

Top things to consider when choosing a solar company in California:

Years in business

One of the first things to look at when finding a company is how long they have been in business. We suggest looking for companies that have been around for at least five years, as the longer it has been in business, the more likely it is you’ll have a positive installation experience.  

Companies with five or more years of experience will probably have established after-sales service and warranty support. It signals that they aren’t a company in it to make a quick buck; they’re in it for the long haul. 

Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, which is why you should also keep a few other factors in mind.

Licenses, insurance and certifications

Solar companies that are licensed, insured and hold certifications take their business seriously. Look for companies that have NABCEP Certified professionals or certified electricians on staff and are properly insured, so their workers, and you, are protected.

In California, installers are required to have either a general contractors license or a C-46 Solar Contractors License. This license covers installations for photovoltaic systems, solar water and space heating, and solar pool heating. Additional requirements include written examinations and four years of experience in the form of technical training, apprenticeship, or practical experience.

Financing options

Not everyone has thousands of dollars to spend on a solar panel installation. So, you’ll want to find a company with solar financing options that work for you. Ask for quotes for various types of financing plans to see which one will work best for your budget. Solar loans are often your next best choice if you can’t pay in cash. But, if you don’t pay federal income taxes or can’t qualify for a loan, finding a company that offers solar leases or power purchase agreements might be the right move.

Services and products offered

Don’t choose a company that can’t complete the job that you want to be done. If you need an energy storage system, get quotes from companies that install batteries! Maybe you want a particular brand of panels or an electric vehicle charger installation. Ask the company if they provide those services or carry those brands so you don’t have to settle for less.

Customer review scores

Customer ratings give valuable insight into how a solar company actually operates and treats its customers. Read SolarReviews, Google and Yelp reviews to understand the company’s installation process, sales practices and overall customer service. But remember that some companies incentivize customers to leave positive reviews, so make sure you read reviews with some scrutiny.

Warranty

Any reputable solar installation company will offer a workmanship or labor warranty that covers any damages that may occur during the installation process. We recommend using an installer with at least a ten-year labor warranty.

Some installation companies, like SunPower, include a system performance guarantee. This promises you’ll get a certain amount of electricity from your solar panels and is an excellent added protection.

California incentives and rebates

Solar incentives and rebates can cut the cost of installing solar in California by thousands of dollars. The most significant incentive is the 30% federal solar tax credit, available to any taxpayer in the country when they purchase solar panels or battery storage. 

Some states and utility companies offer additional solar incentives, saving homeowners even more money. Here are the solar incentives available in California:

Incentive Eligibility Type
Residential Clean Energy Tax CreditFederalPersonal Tax Credit
Self-Generation Incentive ProgramStateBattery Rebate
Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy SystemsStateProperty Tax Incentive
Net Billing (NEM 3.0)StateNet Metering

How much can you save with solar incentives?

What to look for in solar quotes in California

Once you’ve found a few companies you like, you can start getting solar quotes. You can get a better deal when you get quotes from multiple solar installers; we suggest getting at least three quotes. Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks for comparing quotes and what questions you should ask installers.

System size and energy production

All solar quotes should include the size of the system and how much energy it is projected to produce. Most of the quotes you get will probably be in the same ballpark. But, if one is drastically larger or smaller than the others — ask about it! Maybe one installer included shading from a tree, while another based its estimates on having that tree removed. 

California is one of the sunniest states in the country, with an average of 284 sunny days each year and between 5 and 7.5 peak sun hours each day. The more sunlight available to the panels, the more electricity the system can produce. But, all this sun also leads to hotter temperatures. This may lead to increased energy usage to keep homes cool, meaning you might need some extra solar panels to support all that electricity consumption.

If you choose reliable installers, you can trust that these estimates will be as accurate as possible. But you can always double-check using the SolarReviews solar calculator and enter the information received in your quotes. 

Pricing

You should know as much as possible about how much the solar panels cost. Make sure you know both the total cost of the system and the price per watt of solar installed. The cost per watt makes it easier to compare prices between quotes and gives you a better idea of how fairly the system is priced. The average price of solar is about $2.14 to $3.22 per watt in California, so anything in that range is a fair price.

Some prices may be too good to be true. If your installer quotes you way below the average price in your area, proceed with caution. Installers must charge fair prices to remain in business and provide you with 25 years of support. If their prices are low, they might not be around when you need them down the road.

Financing

Financing is one of the most important things to look for in your solar quote. There are a few different things to keep an eye out for, depending on what type of solar financing you’re using. 

If you’re looking to use a solar loan, you should ask the company for both a cash quote and the financed quote. Solar loans include something called dealer fees, which can sometimes add 20% or more to the total cost of your system in exchange for a lower interest rate. It’s worth comparing what dealer fees and interest rates you’re quoted from different companies to get the best deal possible. 

If you want a solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA), you’ll want to look for an escalator clause in the contract. The escalator clause outlines how much your payments will go up every year. Ideally, this should be lower than the rate at which electric prices increase in your area, typically about 3% annually. If the escalator rate is higher than this, you could end up paying more than if you hadn’t gone solar at all!

Payback period

Some quotes may include when you’ll break even, meaning when your panels have saved as much as you spent on them. If it’s not explicitly listed on the quote, you can compare any savings estimates they provide to the system’s total price and get a rough estimate of when your panels will pay themselves off. The shorter the payback period, the better.

Equipment

Good quality solar installers will carry good quality equipment. So if you pick an installer you trust, you can expect reliable products. But, it can’t hurt to research and ask the installer questions about what would be going on your roof. 

Most solar panels installed today are about 400 watts in size and have efficiency ratings above 19%. Higher wattage and efficiency panels can produce slightly more electricity but may add a price premium. You’ll want to make sure the solar panels have the industry standard 25-year product and performance warranties.

Frequently asked questions about solar in California

How much do solar panels cost in California?
How much can solar panels save in California?
Do I need a solar battery in California?
How can you pay for solar panels in California?
What are the best solar companies for a solar lease in California?
What are the best solar companies for zero-down solar loans in California?

How SolarReviews rates installers

SolarReviews developed our Expert Rating criteria to make it easier for homeowners to find solar companies they can trust. It’s not just about the consumer reviews or the products they sell — it’s about how they treat their employees, how they support their customers and whether they run an honest business. 

We used our team’s extensive knowledge of the solar industry to create a data-based scoring system for rating solar companies that encompasses all of the most important things to consider when picking the best solar company, including:

  • Background checks
  • Licenses and insurance
  • Profitability
  • Consumer reviews
  • Local service
  • Brand quality
  • Vertical integration
  • Transparency
  • Loan options
  • Responsible pricing

Learn more about the SolarReviews Expert Rating System

Written byAndrew SendySolar Industry Expert

Andy is arguably the most qualified rooftop solar expert in America. He is in a unique position, having founded a large solar company but now being independent of any particular company. He has appeared on CNBC, has been referenced in public hearings concerning the rooftop solar industry ( such as the recent CPUC NEM 3 decision) and has been referenced by many major publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Business Week and many others.