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
As a homeowner in Santa Monica, you may be considering switching to solar and curious about the best solar companies in your local area. Solar could be a fantastic idea since it has many benefits. You may have to spend a decent amount of money upfront for solar panels, but adopting solar will save you money on your energy bills over time. In fact, you can expect to save about $33,000 over 20 years.
The cost of installing solar panels can vary a lot according to your home’s layout and your overall energy requirements.To start getting free quotes from the best solar companies in Santa Monica, 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 Santa Monica
SunPower by Sun Solar-OC
Informative Resources- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Cleaning and Maintenance- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
SunPower by True Power Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Helios Energy Global
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
ProSolar California
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Tesla Powerwall
AmeriGreen Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Planet Connection Inc
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Carports
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Best Solar Power
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Imperium Energy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Imperial Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Battery Storage
Powerfull Solar, Inc
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Solar Carports
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Green Integrations and Management Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
California Home Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
Green Solar Technologies
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Solar Optimum
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Tesla Powerwall
Sunko Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Carports
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing 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 the majority of homeowners, whether or not you should invest in solar energy comes down to the cost.Some important things that impact the cost and possible savings include:
- Whether or not your roof gets a lot of direct sunlight: This, and how your roof is set up, affects affect how much electricity your solar panels can make.
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you need will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels are more expensive upfront but can also save you more money 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: With fairly high monthly power bills in Santa Monica, you could save about $1,300 a year with solar.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, lets you deduct 0 of the cost of your solar system installation from your taxes. In addition, not including incentives, you can save about $33,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
Even though 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, like the angle of your roof and your energy consumption.
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Solar Incentives in Santa Monica
If you’re planning on making the switch to solar energy, various government incentives and tax credits can immensely reduce your project costs and speed up the return on your investment.State and city solar incentive programs depend on the location and, sometimes, utility company. A lot of states offer rebates for solar panels, in addition to the federal solar tax credit. Our article on solar incentives has more detailed information on the incentives you can take advantage of in Santa Monica.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Santa Monica
There are lots of reasons to trade traditional energy for solar power, like saving money on utility bills and helping to lower your carbon footprint.You may be curious – how much does making the switch do for the planet anyway? For homeowners who are concerned about global warming, using solar power is a no-brainer, especially since Santa Monica produces a fair amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation.Since solar panels don’t release greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere when creating electricity, they’re a good trade for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. Since solar energy is abundant and generates electricity without releasing carbon emissions, installing solar panels is one easy step you can take to help protect the environment.
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 Santa Monica, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best in Santa Monica?
In Santa Monica, SunPower by Sun Solar-OC is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a great choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your house.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it decreases your power bills, it’s a sustainable source of energy, and it can provide a decent return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t work as well when there’s limited direct sunlight, they cost a lot upfront and solar panels can be an eyesore.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a beneficial investment for a majority of homeowners, but admittedly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your energy bills are already fairly low, solar panels might not be for you.
How much solar panel capacity do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is rated based on the amount of power they produce under standard testing conditions. Since each panel can usually produce about 250 to 400 watts per hour, the average household will need 20 to 35 panels.
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.