15 Best Solar Companies in El Cerrito, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in El Cerrito based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for El Cerrito, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average El Cerrito homeowner saves $2,768/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in El Cerrito
Are you looking for energy freedom in El Cerrito? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding project since you can enjoy a lot of perks after adopting solar power. Fortunately, there are lots of solar companies in El Cerrito thanks to encouraging leadership and a growing clean energy market.
To help you comb through the huge number of El Cerrito solar installers, we’ve narrowed down a list of the top ones.To see how much you might have to pay to install solar panels on your roof, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the top solar companies in El Cerrito by clicking the "get quote" 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 Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in El Cerrito
SunPower
Free Quotes- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Battery Storage- Panel Installation
- Consultation
SunPower by The Solar Quote
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
Solar Works
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Community Solar Projects
CivicSolar, Inc
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
SolarUnion
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
Source Energy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Pac Solar Corporation
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
GRID Alternatives
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Save a Lot Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
Got Watts?
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
Bay Valley Solar Roofing
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
solarXperts
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
High Definition Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Green Air and Solar
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Ally Electric And Solar Inc
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in El Cerrito
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in El Cerrito 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 El Cerrito
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 El Cerrito
The cost of installing solar panels has gone down greatly in the past several years, but it’s still a significant investment for most homeowners.Some key factors that influence how much it will cost to install a solar panel system on your home and how much it could save you over time include:
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you need will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also save you more money over the lifetime of your system. If space isn't a constraint for your project, you can opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- 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 a decent amount of money on your power bills, which can lead to an average of $33,000 of savings over 20 years.
- How much energy costs for you: The typical family in El Cerrito pays around $1,500 a year on electricity alone, so you could be looking at that much in savings.
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: If your roof doesn’t see much direct sunlight, your solar panels won’t be able to produce as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on power bills than someone with a roof that gets a lot of sunlight.
Even though a solar panel system costs a sizable 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 a number of factors, like the angle of your roof and your current power bills.
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Solar Incentives in El Cerrito
There are several reasons why adopting solar power is beneficial. One of them includes some government incentives you can take advantage of.When you install a solar panel system on your home, you become eligible to claim the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently reduces your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. Additionally, there may often be some local incentives that you can benefit from to further cut back on the cost of solar of solar panels. Our article on solar incentives has more in-depth information on the incentives you can benefit from in El Cerrito.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in El Cerrito
Swapping traditional energy for solar is a great way to do your part for a more environmentally-friendly future.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in El Cerrito, though. Going solar is a sustainable choice for the environment, due to the fact that the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation – all of which can be powered by solar instead.Once you go solar, your carbon footprint can be cut by about 50 pounds each year. If you want to do your part for the environment, you’ll most likely get that there are many good things about adopting solar power other than just saving money on electricity. You can also help protect the environment, which some would argue is more valuable.
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 Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's El Cerrito, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best in El Cerrito?
The best local solar company in El Cerrito is SunPower, with a rating of 4.50 stars.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it decreases 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 produce electricity at night, the startup costs are high and solar panels can look clunky on your roof.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels need a considerable upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a range of factors like the cost of electricity near you and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
When is the best time of year to install solar panels?
Despite summer being the most common time people install solar panels, the best time is actually winter. You can save money since there's decreased demand during the winter months, and it allows you to be up and running with solar for the higher power bills you may get during the summer.
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.