15 Best Solar Companies in Chico, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Chico based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Chico, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Chico homeowner saves $2,684/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Chico
Are you looking for energy freedom in Chico? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding home project since you can enjoy many benefits when you switch to solar power. Over 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar system, you can save about $32,000 on your power bills.
If you’re considering going solar, the first step to take is to find the best solar companies in Chico and compare quotes. The good news is we did the hard work and came up with a list of the best solar companies to make your life easier.If you’re ready to start receiving free, no-obligation quotes from the top Chico solar companies, you can click the button below to learn more.
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 Chico
California Builders - Solar Contractor
Free Quotes- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Consultation- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Urban Design
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Solar Carports
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
All Around Heating, Air and Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
Climate & Energy Solutions
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Tesla Powerwall
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Royal Aire Solar, Heating, Air & Water
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Chico Electric
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Revamp Solar Energy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Light It Up Solar and Electric
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Infinity Energy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
Westhaven Power
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Sustainable Energy Group
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
California Solar Electric Cooperative Corporation
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
DIY Solar Planning
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
Wing Solar & Wood Energy, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Panel Installation
Integrity Heating, Air & Solar
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Chico
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Chico 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 Chico
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 Chico
The cost of installing solar panels has gone down significantly in the past several years, but it’s still a large investment for most homeowners.The installation cost is just one important factor you should take into account when looking into getting solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things such as:
- The make and model of solar panels you want to get: More high-tech panels cost more, so that will affect your budget for your solar project.
- Incentives: Something that can save you money on your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that’s equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your utility bills, which can lead to an average of $32,000 of savings over 20 years.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Chico gets lots of sunlight, your solar panel system will most likely be able to produce enough energy to power your whole home, which influences how much you can save on your energy bills.
- average energy usage: The more electricity your home uses on average and the larger your current energy bills are, the more likely you'll benefit from making the switch to solar.
Although a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you thousands of dollars over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on several factors, including the size of your solar panel system and your energy consumption.
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Solar Incentives in Chico
Switching to solar power has lots of wonderful benefits. Not only can it help preserve the environment, but you can also save a good amount of money on your installation with various government incentives.Regardless of where you live, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will allow you to claim 0 of your project costs when you file taxes, reducing the amount of taxes you owe that year. In addition, there may be some state and city incentives you can benefit from too. Our article on solar incentives has more detailed information on the incentives you can benefit from in Chico.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Chico
If you’re planning on adding solar panels to your home, one of the major reasons why may be to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.A question many homeowners might be thinking about is how much can they really help protect the environment by switching to solar power anyway? Using solar energy for electricity rather than relying on nonrenewable energy sources is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint if you're worried about Chico's fair level of greenhouse gas emissions.In Chico, the average homeowner can reduce their carbon footprint by 50 pounds a year after going solar. As you can see, trading traditional energy for solar has so many other rewards beyond saving money. One of the main ones is that you can help save the environment too.
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 Chico, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best near me?
In Chico, California Builders - Solar Contractor is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 5.00 stars, so it's a great choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your roof.
What are some of the biggest advantages and disadvantages of switching to solar?
The main advantages of solar power are that it can reduce or, in some cases, completely cut your electricity bills, improve your home’s value and bring down your carbon footprint. The greatest 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 whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after getting solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 7.2 years, but the exact period varies depending on local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
How long do solar panels last?
On average, the lifespan of solar panels is about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency decreases by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a larger level 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.