Top 7 Best Solar Companies in Florida (2023 Reviews)

How to Save Money When Hiring a Solar Company in Florida

While the installation cost of solar in Florida has dropped significantly, it’s not cheap by any means. The average Floridian will typically face a $29,000 bill for their home solar system before factoring in any solar financial incentives, tax credits or rebates.

The cost of solar per watt ($2.53) in Florida is cheaper than the national average ($2.66), but homeowners in Florida typically need bigger solar systems than the average American does because they consume more energy on average. (It’s likely from cranking that air conditioning all summer!)

The average Floridian installs a 11.5 kilowatt-hour (kWh) system to offset their energy needs compared to the average American who only needs a 9 kW solar panel system. For consistency, the table below reflects average prices for an 11.5 kW system in Florida vs. the average American price tag.

We know these are large numbers, but don’t get scared off. Remember that your solar investment will help you save tremendously on (or even eliminate) your electric bills. Estimated energy savings in Florida range from 80% to 109% according to SunPower, which means you could pay next to nothing to keep your home cool all summer long.² 

Plus, there are plenty of ways you can save money on solar panels in Florida:

• Take advantage of solar financial incentives
• Choose your solar panel company wisely
• Get multiple quotes
• Pay in cash if possible

Take Advantage of Solar Financial Incentives

Every homeowner that installs solar panels in the U.S. is entitled to the federal solar tax credit (ITC), worth 30% of your total system cost. In Florida, that brings your $29,095 system closer to $20,300 — a savings of over $9,000!

Below is a quick overview of some of the Florida solar financial incentives:

Choose Your Solar Panel Company Wisely

If any of the above solar providers are of interest to you, make sure you click the dropdown to learn more cost information about each solar company. 

If you’re looking for the cheapest solar panels, pay attention to the dollar signs we’ve assigned each company. The good news is that Florida sunshine is abundant, so even lower-quality solar panels will still perform well in The Sunshine State.

On the other hand, choosing higher quality panels may save you money by allowing you to install a smaller solar system. For example, SunPower solar panels are more expensive upfront, but they’re the most efficient solar panels on the market, which means you can buy fewer panels and still generate enough electricity to power your home.

Get Multiple Quotes

If two or more solar companies on this list look good to you, it’s not a dilemma. In fact, we recommend reaching out to at least three solar companies.

Solar companies don’t advertise exact prices because every home is different. But nearly all of them will give you a free, no-obligation quote after assessing your household needs. Plus, if you get a lower quote from one company but prefer another, you might be able to get them to match the lower quote.

Pay In Cash (If You Can)

Most people don’t have $29,000 laying around, but the more money you can pay up front in cash, the cheaper your solar system is going to be.

Cash purchases save you the most money over time because they don’t require you to pay interest. On the other hand, solar loans may make your equipment more affordable in the short term, but you’ll pay more for your system in the end because of all the added interest you’ll pay over time.

If you do have to take out a solar loan, shop around before you sign any papers. We also recommend calling some local banks to see if they offer low-interest rate home improvement loans for solar systems.

Discounts & Referral Programs

Once you get into contact with a solar company, ask them about any discounts they’re offering that you may be eligible for. Just like retailers, solar installers sometimes offer seasonal deals as well as discounts for veterans, seniors, etc. You can save a lot on your solar panel installation by taking advantage of discounts.

Know anyone else in your neighborhood who wants to go solar? Many solar companies offer cash for referrals. For example, SunVena offers $500 for two customer referrals, and major perks — like six months of free solar — for three or more referrals.

Why Doesn’t Florida Offer Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)?

Solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) are a type of solar lease agreement. The difference between a PPA and a solar lease is that, with a PPA, your payments purchase the power that the panels create each month, rather than paying a flat monthly price to lease the solar equipment. 

Unfortunately Florida is one of four states that doesn’t allow solar PPAs. That’s because Florida law states that anyone that sells electricity to end-users (customers like you) is a “public utility,” and therefore must follow a set of state laws for public utilities.³

The law’s wording only allows the property owner to build and sell electricity to users, which means that your solar company would not be allowed to sell you your solar electricity while the panels are located on your roof.⁴

Will Solar Increase Your Home Value in Florida?

Multiple studies have shown that solar panels do increase the value of a home, including a 2022 EcoWatch survey in which 63% of respondents said they would pay more for a home with solar panels than a home without.

Research from Zillow shows that, on average, homes with solar panels typically sell for 4% more compared to homes without. However, that amount was even higher in Florida, with homes in Orlando selling for 4.6% more, according to the study.⁵

The average Florida home sold for roughly $315,000 in 2022. Adding solar panels would increase this home value by about $12,600.

Should Florida Residents Hire a Professional Solar Installer or DIY?

If you consider yourself a YouTuber extraordinaire, you might be wondering if you could watch some videos and complete a DIY solar panel installation to save yourself some money on labor costs.

Be aware that installing solar panels is a much trickier home improvement task than fixing a leaky sink or replacing a roof shingle. It involves electrical work, permitting, grid interconnection and many other tasks you may not be up for.

Let’s take a look at some advantages and disadvantages of DIY solar panel installation.

Advantages of DIY Solar Installation in Florida

You Can Save Money

To state the obvious, when you hire a solar contractor, you’re paying them for their time and services, like solar panel design and installation labor. You can save some money by eliminating these two expenses and doing it yourself.

You Can Start Small

Want to try out solar without installing an entire solar panel system? A DIY solar panel kit is a great way to “test drive” the solar lifestyle.

Winter Weather Isn’t an Issue

Aside from hurricane season, Florida weather stays pretty mild, which means you won’t have to navigate weather challenges if you’re trying to install solar panels during the fall or winter.

Disadvantages of DIY Solar Installation in Florida

You Face Safety and Structural Risks

If you’re not confident in what you’re doing, the dollars you’ll save by installing your own solar panels will just turn into more money spent on repairing or replacing equipment, and potentially your roof as well. Worst case scenario: you’re also facing medical bills for treating injuries you incurred climbing up on a roof with heavy solar equipment.

You Won’t Have Strong Warranty Coverage

Solar panels are typically covered under 25-year manufacturer warranties, and inverters and batteries will have warranties ranging from 10 to 25 years as well. However, many of these manufacturers only honor those warranties under the condition the equipment was installed by a professional, licensed contractor. Therefore you may not have warranty protection with a DIY solar system setup.

You Have to Take Care of Permitting, Inspections and Interconnection

Depending on where you live, you may need to be a certified electrician to install your solar panel system. Even if that’s not the case, you’ll still need permits and to figure out grid interconnection, which requires specialized knowledge and expertise in the State of Florida.

The smallest things can go wrong and lead to rejection of permits by your local government, or worse, a major electrical mishap. Plus, professional solar installers have years of experience with solar energy in Florida, so they’ll be able to get you set up with better incentives or solar equipment rebates that you may not know about if you’re going solar on your own.

Bottom line: If you’re considering a DIY solar installation, we still recommend talking with a few certified solar installers first. They’ll survey your house to make sure you’re even a good candidate for solar panels, and most solar installation companies offer consultations for free. That way, even if you do decide to take on solar panel installation on your own, you’ll have more insight on what the process of going solar looks like.

What Should Floridians Look For in a Solar Installer?

If you want to go solar in Florida, picking the best solar installer for your needs is a top priority. These are the most important solar company qualities for Florida homeowners specifically:

• Strong warranty coverage
• Years of experience
• Favorable customer reviews
• Cost and financing options
• Industry affiliations

Strong Warranty Coverage

After shelling out thousands of dollars, you want to protect your solar investment as best you can — especially living in a state like Florida where you see quite a few severe storms.

Unfortunately solar warranties don’t always cover weather-related damage (although your homeowner’s insurance should). But if your panels are underperforming or need repair, you can likely still have them fixed under your solar installer’s workmanship warranty.

Company Years of Experience

Solar is getting more and more popular in Florida, which means there are too many fly-by-night solar companies trying to cash-grab, often burning their customers in the process.

Florida installers are competing against 200-some other companies. So if a company — especially a local Florida solar company — has been able to stay relevant and retain customers for 10-plus years, it says a lot about its customer care and satisfaction.

Customer Reviews

Solar companies often have shiny websites talking about how much they love and value their customers, but how much of it is true? Check third-party sites for customer reviews and make sure you read the good and the bad so you know what you’re getting yourself into.

However, it’s important to remember that not everyone is going to have the best experience, even when working with one of the best solar companies in Florida.

Cost and Financing Options

Money isn’t everything, but it’s definitely something. Floridians have higher energy needs compared to other Americans, so it’s important to choose a solar installer that’s going to offer you the best cost value for your system.

That said, the cheapest solar company isn’t always the best solar company, which is why solar financing options are crucial. If you had a great experience with a solar company but can’t afford to pay them $30,000 for their system this year, see if they’ll be willing to work on different financing options.

Industry Affiliations

We like to see solar companies that are members of a national solar organization (like SEIA), boast NABCEP-certified technicians and have badges from top solar panel brands on their website. It’s a good sign of credibility and expertise.

We also recommend choosing installers that are affiliated with local organizations. For example, Solar-Ray scored well with EcoWatch Reviews because it’s a preferred solar service provider of Duke Energy, Orange County Public Schools, Orlando Utility Commission and University of Central Florida.

Best National Provider

5/5

National coverageGreat warranty coverageMost efficient panels on the market

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Best Warranty Coverage

4/5

Industry-leading warranty coverageExpansive service areaExcellent customer service

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Best Regional Coverage

4.5/5

Great warranty coverageRepresentatives are experts on local policiesResponsive concierge service

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Our Top Solar Installer in Florida

These nine solar companies are the best solar installers in Florida, but SunPower reigns supreme for our EcoWatch rankings.

SunPower has the most efficient panels, which allows Floridians to save money on solar installations because they can install smaller systems and still get maximum energy production. On top of that, every element of your system is protected under a 25-year warranty that protects equipment, power production and workmanship.

Although Florida doesn’t allow PPAs, SunPower offers all of the other available solar financing options — cash purchase, loans and leases — which makes going solar more accessible to more Floridians. As such, we think it’s the best solar company in Florida.

However, just because SunPower is the best solar installer in Florida doesn’t mean it’s the best solar company for your needs. That’s why we recommend you reach out to multiple installers and compare quotes and offerings.

Methodology: How We Ranked Florida’s Solar Companies in 2023

When we rank our top solar companies, we start by identifying the factors that matter most when ensuring our readers find a trustworthy, reliable and environmentally responsible installation. We’ve listed those factors as categories below. We then weigh these factors against the industry benchmark (a company meeting the industry standard in all categories would earn 4 stars in our rating system). We also researched over 15 providers (national and local) and selected the top 7 based on a variety of superlatives we felt could help guide a user to their choice. 

Our goal is to deliver unbiased reports and honest reviews, so our methodology is not affected by commercial partnerships and is specifically tailored to Florida homes.

• Solar Services (20%)
• Qualifications, Reputation & Certifications (20%)
• Solar Warranty & Customer Support (15%)
• Solar Financing Options (15%)
• Experience (10%)
• Availability (10%)
• Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Factors (10%)

Solar Services

Florida solar companies will earn a perfect score in this category if they offer in-house installations, energy storage systems (solar batteries) and home-efficiency audits or upgrades. A company can earn bonus points if it offers additional services that we don’t consider essential, including electric vehicle chargers, home thermostats, etc. The industry standard that we measure against includes solar panel and backup battery installations only.

Qualifications, Reputation and Certifications

A company earns a perfect score in this category if it is NABCEP-certified, has a minimum of four stars over its last 100 reviews on Google, is rated A+ with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has 4 or more stars on Glassdoor to reflect employee satisfaction and low turnover rate. We give bonus points for additional certifications, such as LEED or Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification or any from local Florida sources. On the other hand, we flag a company for further review if it has any track record of lawsuits or customer rights violations.

Solar Warranty & Customer Support

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, specifically to Florida homeowners, in terms of honoring its warranties.

Solar Financing Options

A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers multiple financing options, including in-house options in addition to those with partner organizations like regional and local Florida banks. As many solar companies choose not to offer leases and PPAs in the interest of consumer well-being, we do not dock points for companies that don’t offer them, although we will mention it.

Experience

For this list, a company earns a perfect score in this category if it has 10-plus years of experience installing solar in the State of Florida. The industry standard that we measure against is at least five years of experience.

Availability

A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers service to the entire state of Florida. The standard we rate against is servicing the majority of the state or at least two major metropolitan areas.

Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Factors

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 State of Florida or the local communities that it serves.

Read More About Going Solar in Florida

• Is Solar Worth It in Florida?
• Florida Solar Incentives Guide
• Find Cost Savings on Solar Panels in Florida
• What to Know Before Buying Solar Panels in Florida