15 Best Solar Companies in Atherton, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Atherton based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Atherton, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Atherton homeowner saves $2,746/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Atherton
When you’re on the hunt for the best solar companies in Atherton, combing through all the options can be challenging, but it can pay off since adopting solar power can offer so many good perks. Over 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar panel system, you can save about $33,000 on your electricity bills.
If you’re planning on going solar, the first step to take is to find the best solar companies in Atherton and compare quotes. That’s why we took the time and made a list of the best solar companies for you.Continue reading to see our picks for the top solar companies in the city, or get connected with a highly rated solar company in your area right away by clicking the button below.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Atherton
SunPower
Reliable Customer Support- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Consultation- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
SunPower by The Solar Quote
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Semper Solaris
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
Owens Electric & Solar
- Family-Operated Business
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
- Solar Panel Upgrades
Cobalt Power Systems Inc.
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
TN Electrical and Solar Services
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
Highlight Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
Soleeva
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Rise & Shine Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
Infinium Solar, Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Carports
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- System Decommissioning
- Financing Assistance
Highlands Energy Service Newark
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
Clean Solar
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
Shade Power
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Carports
- Panel Installation
Cinnamon Energy Systems
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Tesla Powerwall
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Greentech Renewables SF Bay Area
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Atherton
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Atherton based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Atherton
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for California solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Atherton
Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you first need to pay to set up your system.Some key things that determine the upfront cost and potential savings over time include:
- The type of solar panels you want to get: More efficient panels are more expensive, so that will influence your budget for your solar project.
- The amount of sunlight your rooftop gets: Because of Atherton’s very high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a lot on your electricity bills.
- Incentives: One thing that can reduce the cost of your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the project cost. You can also save a decent amount of money on your power bills, which can give you an average of $33,000 of savings over 20 years.
- How much energy costs for you: The average household in Atherton shells out around $1,500 a year on energy use alone, so you could gain that much in savings.
Due to the cost of solar panels being lower than before as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a cost-effective investment for most homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Atherton
One of the benefits of installing a solar panel system is earning incentives from the government.There are several federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that may earn you some money back after installing solar panels. Take a look at our article on solar incentives to see what incentives you can take advantage of.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Atherton
There are lots of reasons to trade traditional energy for solar power, like saving on utility bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint.You may be trying to figure out – how much does going solar do for the planet anyway? For homeowners and business owners who want to help cut back on greenhouse gas emissions, switching to solar power is an easy choice, especially since Atherton produces a fair amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation.Once you go solar, your carbon dioxide emissions can be cut by about 50 pounds every year. Since solar energy is renewable and produces electricity without free from carbon dioxide emissions, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help the environment.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Atherton, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best in Atherton?
In Atherton, SunPower is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.50 stars, so it's a great choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your home.
What are the best and worst things about solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it reduces your electricity bills, it’s eco-friendly, and it gives you a significant return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t work as well when there’s limited direct sunlight, there is a high upfront cost and solar panels can look clunky on your roof.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after installing solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 7.1 years, but the exact period depends on the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
How long do solar panels last?
On average, solar panels can last about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency goes down by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a higher amount of energy production.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.