15 Best Solar Companies in San Francisco, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in San Francisco based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for San Francisco, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average San Francisco homeowner saves $2,580/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in San Francisco
Looking to go solar but trying to figure out which company would be best for you? Although it can be difficult to decide on a solar company, the effort will pay off because going solar has many good perks. Because San Francisco has a very high capacity for solar energy generation, switching to solar is financially rewarding for many homeowners.
Here, we’ll make a list of some of the top solar companies in San Francisco to make your choice a bit easier.To get free quotes from the best solar companies in San Francisco, you can click "get quote" below.
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 San Francisco
SunPower
Informative Resources- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Battery Storage- Panel Installation
- Consultation
SunPower by The Solar Quote
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
CivicSolar, Inc
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
SolarUnion
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Consultation
GRID Alternatives
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Save a Lot Solar
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
All Bay Solar Construction
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Pac Solar Corporation
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Solar Panel RoofNSave Alameda
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
Occidental Power
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
SolarLine SolarPanals
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
CITY SOLAR
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
NEXT SOLAR
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Ally Electric And Solar Inc
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Tesla Powerwall
Source Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in San Francisco
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in San Francisco 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 San Francisco
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 San Francisco
For many people considering switching to solar, the decision of which solar installer to hire comes down to costs.Some key factors that affect the cost of installing solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time include:
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop doesn’t see much direct sunlight, your solar system won’t be able to make as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on energy bills than someone with a roof that gets plenty of sunlight.
- Incentives: One thing that can save you money on 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 utility bills, which can lead to an average of $31,000 of savings over 20 years.
- The type of solar panels you want: More efficient panels cost more, so that will shape your budget for your solar project.
- Your energy bills: This will determine how much you can save. In San Francisco, the average resident can save about $1,400 a year on their electricity bills.
Thanks to the cost of solar panels being lower than before as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a sound investment for most homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in San Francisco
Although installing solar panels is typically a large investment, it can save you a substantial amount of money over time because of reduced energy bills and government incentives.When you install solar panels on your house, you can take advatage of the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you reduce your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. In addition, there may often be some local incentives that you can take advantage of to further cut back on the cost of solar of solar panels. For comprehensive information about incentives that apply to you, see our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in San Francisco
If you’re considering adding solar panels to your home, one of the major reasons why may be to reduce your reliance on nonrenewable energy.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in San Francisco, though. Something that can severely affect your carbon footprint is how long your commute is and how much you drive overall. If you switch to solar power and have an electric car, you can greatly cut back on your carbon dioxide emissions by charging your car at home.In San Francisco, the average person can lower their carbon footprint by 50 pounds a year after going solar. As you can see, going solar has so many other perks beyond saving money. One of the main 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 San Francisco, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar panel installer in San Francisco?
In San Francisco, 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 planning on installing solar panels on your house.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panels?
Making solar panels uses chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be harmful for the environment, which is the main drawback of solar panels.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels can be a good investment for most homeowners, but truthfully, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your electricity bills are already fairly low, solar panels might not be for you.
How often do solar panels have to be replaced?
Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely. What this means is their energy production will have decreased by about 0.8% each year since installing them. You can replace them after having them for that long or you can continue to use them at a lower efficiency after that time.
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.