Before you sign a solar contract, do your research. You’ll want to choose a company that has a reputation for good customer service, backed by quality equipment and warranties.
It’s a good idea to receive quotes from at least three solar companies. This will allow you to compare prices and incentives.
Trinity Solar
Trinity Solar is one of the longest-serving solar companies in the industry and has carved out a stronghold along the east coast. It offers a wide variety of financing options and battery choices, which helps it stand out from competitors.
This company also eliminates many of the barriers to going solar, including no-cost solar installation and pulling permits. It also offers a referral program, which can earn homeowners up to $1,000 for every referred friend or family member who installs a solar system.
Trinity Solar’s products are high quality and competitively priced. They include panels, batteries and inverters from top brands like Q Cells and Tesla.
Sunrun
Sunrun is the nation’s largest solar installer and offers a wide range of products. Its primary product is a residential solar system, but it also installs battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
They offer both lease and power purchase agreements, which are a type of financing for home solar systems. With either, customers pay a fixed monthly fee for the electricity their solar panels produce.
Their monthly lease option includes rate-hike protection. However, you won’t own the panels; instead, they will remain Sunrun’s property.
For home solar owners looking to get started, Sunrun offers a free energy audit and design services. They will send someone out to your home and collect a year’s worth of bills to find out what your needs are.
Tesla
Tesla is a multinational company that designs and manufactures electric vehicles, battery energy storage from home to grid-scale, solar panels and solar roof tiles. It also operates a global sales and service network, sells electric power train components to other automobile manufacturers and develops software capabilities for remotely controlling and dispatching its energy storage systems across a wide range of markets and applications.
As a result of its multi-pronged strategy, Tesla has become a major force in the world of electric vehicles and energy. Its business model is unique and has driven its stock price to a level that exceeds the combined market value of GM, Ford and FiatChrysler.
Momentum Solar
Momentum Solar is a full-service solar energy company that provides all the components you need to go solar with one provider. It designs, installs and activates each system, handles permitting and paperwork, and offers solar loans, leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs).
The process starts with a conversation with a project manager to discuss your home’s needs, current energy use and how much you want to save on your electricity bills. This helps the team create a custom solar design that maximizes your home’s sun exposure and fits your budget.
The company only works with tier-one solar manufacturers, which means their panels are of the highest quality and are among the most efficient on the market. It also offers monocrystalline panels, which are currently the most cost-effective option for a residential solar system.
Blue Raven Solar
Blue Raven Solar is a residential solar company that sells solar panels and Enphase microinverters in more than 20 states. It installs monocrystalline tier-1 black-on-black solar panels with wattages from 315 to 405 watts and efficiencies between 18-20%.
They also provide a 25-year panel warranty and a 10-year workmanship warranty. However, it’s not clear if these warranties cover the panels themselves or if they only apply to installation errors.
The company runs a full-service operation from pre-sales energy consultations to design, permitting and installation. Its sales team includes consultants who work closely with homeowners to convert their power usage to clean, renewable energy.