15 Best Solar Companies in Santa Monica, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Santa Monica based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Santa Monica, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Santa Monica homeowner saves $2,737/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Santa Monica
Looking for the best solar companies in Santa Monica? Installing a solar panel system is an exciting venture that many homeowners find rewarding for their wallets, communities and the planet. While solar power is a sizable investment, you’ll be able to make that amount back and then some, all while doing your part for the environment. In fact, you could be looking at saving about $33,000 over 20 years.
If you want to start making use of the great amount of perks of solar, we’re here to help you narrow down your options to find the Santa Monica solar installer that’s right for you.If you want to receive free, no-obligation quotes from the top Santa Monica solar installers, 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 Santa Monica
SunPower by Sun Solar-OC
Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Consultation- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
SunPower by True Power Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Helios Energy Global
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
ProSolar California
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Powerfull Solar, Inc
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Solar Carports
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
California Home Solar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
AmeriGreen Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Planet Connection Inc
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Solar Carports
- Panel Installation
Best Solar Power
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
Imperium Energy
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
Imperial Solar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Green Integrations and Management Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Solar Discovery
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
Green Solar Technologies
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
AWS Solar
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Santa Monica
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica
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 Santa Monica
For many homeowners, the decision to invest in solar panels depends the most on the cost.There are quite a few factors you should take into consideration when trying to determine costs and your potential savings, such as:
- Average daily sunlight: Since Santa Monica gets lots of sunlight, your solar panel system will most likely be able to generate enough energy to power your whole home, which affects how much you can save on your energy bills.
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you want will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also lead to more savings over the lifetime of your system. If you don’t need to maximize efficiency, you can opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- Your home's power bills: Due to fairly high monthly power bills in Santa Monica, you could save about $1,300 a year with solar.
- 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’s equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save money on your power bills, which can lead to an average of $33,000 of savings over 20 years.
So are solar panels worth it? Whether you hope to lower your electric bills, carbon emissions or both, solar panels are a worthwhile investment for many Santa Monica homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Santa Monica
If you’re thinking about switching to solar energy, several government incentives and subsidies can drastically bring down your project costs and expedite the return on your investment.You can qualify for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your solar panels. You can also potentially stack the ITC with other state and city incentives. You can find out about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Santa Monica
One of the reasons so many consider installing solar panels is to help reduce their environmental impact.Something many might be asking themselves is how much can they really help the environment by switching to solar power anyway? For homeowners and business owners who are concerned about global warming, using solar power is an easy decision, especially since Santa Monica produces a fair amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation.In fact, if you install solar panels, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. If you want to do your part for the environment, you’ll most likely understand that there are many benefits of adopting solar power other than just saving money on bills. 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
EcoWatch's Santa Monica, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar company in Santa Monica?
In Santa Monica, SunPower by Sun Solar-OC is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a great choice if you're looking to install solar panels on your home.
What are the best and worst things about solar power?
The greatest advantages of solar power are that it can reduce or, for some, 100% cut your electricity bills, raise your home’s value and lower your carbon footprint. The biggest disadvantages are that solar panels can be expensive to install, you may not save a lot if you don’t use a lot of electricity and it doesn’t work for all roof types and locations.
Is it worth putting solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels require a significant upfront investment that usually costs at least ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a range of factors like how much you pay for electricity and the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
How much solar panel capacity do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is how much energy the panels can create under ideal conditions (a sunny day around noon). The average household requires between 20 and 35 panels to account for their typical energy usage.
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.