15 Best Solar Companies in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Carmel-by-the-Sea based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Carmel-by-the-Sea homeowner saves $2,903/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Carmel-by-the-Sea
When deciding on the best solar panel companies, Carmel-by-the-Sea homeowners have more options than ever before, which can be too much to get a handle on, but we’re here to make making the switch to solar energy easier. While solar is a sizable investment, you’ll be able to make that money back and then some, all while helping to protect the planet. In fact, you could end up with savings of about $34,000 over 20 years.
In this article, we’ll list out the top Carmel-by-the-Sea solar installers so you can find the best one for your home’s sustainable energy needs.If you’re ready to start receiving free, no-obligation quotes from the best Carmel-by-the-Sea solar installers, you can click the button below to learn more.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Carmel-by-the-Sea
SolarTecture - Solar
Free Quotes- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Cleaning and Maintenance- Panel Installation
Monarch Home Services (Salinas)
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing Assistance
Scudder Solar Energy Systems
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Solar Carports
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
FMJ Electric, Inc.
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Premo Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Tesla Powerwall
Allterra Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Sandbar Solar & Electric
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Bright Future Solar Energy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Quality Home Services
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Tesla Powerwall
Nomadic Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
Cinnamon Energy Systems
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
Infinium Solar, Inc.
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Solar Carports
- System Decommissioning
Solar Electric Supply, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Consultation
- Solar Carports
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
Sunternal
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
Solar Technologies Santa Cruz
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Carmel-by-the-Sea
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Carmel-by-the-Sea 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 Carmel-by-the-Sea
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 Carmel-by-the-Sea
For lots of homeowners, whether or not you should invest in solar panels depends the most on the cost.Some key things that affect the cost and possible savings include:
- System size and type: Some models are more expensive than others, so the one you decide on can raise or lower your initial investment. Plus, the more solar panels you need to buy, the more it'll cost.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, your solar panels won’t be able to make as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on power bills than someone with a roof that gets plenty of sunlight.
- Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you deduct 0 of your total installation cost, your state or local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that will help you save even more. Aside from incentives, you can save an average of $34,000 over the first 20 years with your solar system, too.
- Your household's power bills: Because of fairly high monthly energy bills in Carmel-by-the-Sea, you could save about $1,500 a year with solar.
Although a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you much more over time. The question of how much, though, depends on several factors, such as the size of your house and your current power bills.
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Solar Incentives in Carmel-by-the-Sea
One of the benefits of installing a solar panel system is earning government incentives.These incentives usually take the form of cash rebates, tax breaks and/or performance-based incentives. They can reduce the cost of installing solar panels by 0, upwards of 50% in some cases. In our article on solar incentives, you can find out about the incentives you qualify for near you.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Carmel-by-the-Sea
One of the best reasons to adopt solar energy is to minimize your reliance on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are damaging for the environment.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Carmel-by-the-Sea, though. The average person has a rather large carbon footprint. Between their car, which releases over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year, and energy for their home, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to do. Going solar is a practical thing you can do to help.Once you go solar, your carbon dioxide emissions can be lowered by about 50 pounds each year. As you can see, using solar power has so many other benefits apart from saving money. One of the most important ones is that you can help save the environment too.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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
EcoWatch's Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
The top local solar company in Carmel-by-the-Sea is SolarTecture - Solar, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are the best and worst things about solar power?
The biggest advantages of solar power are that it can reduce or, for some, 100% eradicate your electricity bills, raise the value of your home and lower your carbon footprint. The disadvantages are that solar panels can be expensive to install, you may not see as many savings if you don’t use a lot of electricity and it doesn’t work for all roof types and locations.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a fruitful investment for most homeowners, but admittedly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your electricity bills are already fairly low, solar panels might not be for you.
When should I install solar panels?
You can put up solar panels whenever it's convenient for you, but consider doing it in the winter when there's less demand. With fewer homeowners contracting installers, you could potentially see quicker installation times and more savings.
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.