Top 5 Best Solar Companies in Kentucky (2024 Reviews)
In this guide to Kentucky’s best solar companies, you’ll learn
- What are the best solar companies in Kentucky?
- How can you save money going solar in Kentucky?
- Can solar panels increase your home value in Kentucky?
Note: In July 2024, SunPower notified dealers it would be halting all new shipments and project installations. The company also noted it would “no longer be supporting new Leases and PPA sales nor new project installations of these financing options.”
What Are Kentucky’s Top 5 Solar Energy Companies?
While renewable energy has been slow to grow in Kentucky, the number of residential solar installations has more than doubled from 2021 to 2024, keeping local solar companies fairly busy. But, why are so many homes going solar?1
S0lar is more expensive in Kentucky compared to other states, coming in around $4,000 above the national average, mostly because Kentucky households have higher electricity consumption than average — 1,073 kWh per home per month as compared to the national average of 881 kWh. Despite this, homeowners are discovering it’s well worth it to install a solar system because panels in Kentucky usually pay for themselves in just 13 years and then save an additional $25,118 on electric bills thereafter. And with electricity rates on the rise, those savings are only expected to increase.
With 15 local solar panel companies in Kentucky plus national and regional installers to choose from, how do you decide who to hire? The EcoWatch Reviews team has analyzed local solar contractors and determined that the best solar installers are:
- SunPower: Best National Provider
- Solar Energy Solutions: Solar Veteran
- Blue Raven Solar: Best Solar Financing Options
- Solar Is Freedom: Outstanding Regional Provider
- Icon Solar: Solar Veteran
Read on to learn more about why these top five companies are the highest rated solar installers in Kentucky.
Blue Raven Solar
Pros
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
Cons
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Solar Energy Solutions
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
- Comprehensive service offerings
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Great warranty coverage
Cons
- No leases or PPAs
Solar Energy Solutions is a local solar installer headquartered in Lexington that also serves Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.
This company has the excellent customer service you’d expect from a smaller solar installer. The techs provide constant communication throughout the entire design and installation process, and most customers are abundantly happy with the customer care provided.
Solar Energy Solutions completes an impressive range of clean energy services. It installs solar panels, solar roofing, solar batteries and electric vehicle chargers. It even does agricultural solar and energy efficiency audits.
Again, the access to batteries is nice to have now, especially since extreme weather in Kentucky causes frequent power outages. But we expect that access to be even more valuable in the future as net metering policies decline.
Best of all for Kentucky homeowners, Solar Energy Solutions backs its many solar products, including some of the most popular home solar panel brands, with a warranty for parts, labor, equipment and performance.
The biggest downside to this company is its warranty only covers labor for three years, which is below the industry average of 10 years. However, its 25-year power production guarantee ensures that your panels will consistently generate energy throughout your system’s lifespan, an important perk for Kentucky residents who use far more electricity than most Americans. Solar Energy Solutions also has no accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Facts and Figures: Solar Energy Solutions
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4.5 |
Not Rated |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, Solar Roof Shingles, EV Chargers, Energy-Efficiency Upgrades |
Blue Raven Solar
Pros
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
Cons
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Blue Raven Solar is a bigger national company serving 17 states, but it still manages to provide outstanding customer service and constant communication throughout the solar conversion process. Due to its size, Blue Raven is able to buy equipment in bulk and offer its services at remarkably low prices. This its great in Kentucky, where the typical solar array required to offset the above average consumption sits around $4,000 above the national average.
Its BluePower+ financing option is one of the top solar loan programs available in Kentucky, offering no-money-down options — similar to leases — but with all the benefits of panel ownership. It doesn’t accept leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs). But, its financing options are better for most customers anyway.
Unfortunately, Blue Raven Solar only installs solar panels at this time, so customers looking for system customization like the addition of solar batteries or electric vehicle chargers will need to turn elsewhere. We expect this will be a bigger sticking point than it currently is once net metering inevitably gets downgraded to a below-retail rate or discontinued altogether. The company has mentioned that it will start offering batteries, but there hasn’t been any update on that front, yet. The warranty coverage on equipment and labor is good, but the production guarantee is lacking.
Blue Raven Solar is a somewhat young company that is relatively new to Kentucky, so you might run into some slower-than-average installation timelines as a result.
Facts and Figures: Blue Raven Solar
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Year Founded |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
Warranty Coverage |
4.5 |
A+ |
2014 |
$$ |
Solar Panels, System Monitoring |
Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, SolarEdge, Silfab, SunPower |
25-year manufacturer warranty; 10-year workmanship warranty, 2-year production guarantee |
Solar Is Freedom
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Many years of experience
Cons
- Limited warranty coverage
- Relatively young company
- Slightly limited service offerings
If you’re looking for a company that can provide great service and communication throughout the entire process — even after installation — then Solar Is Freedom might be the ideal solar panel installation company for you.
Solar is Freedom serves all of Ohio and Kentucky, plus parts of Indiana, yet still maintains near-perfect reviews on most consumer websites. This is especially impressive given that it’s listed as the top residential solar installer in terms of kilowatts (kW) installed in Kentucky.
Solar Is Freedom has an excellent range of products available, including some of the most affordable solar panel brands on the market. Unfortunately, this company only handles installations for panels, so customers looking for customization options in terms of solar batteries, electric vehicle chargers or other products will have to find another installer. Once again, that’s going to be a bigger issue, we expect, if the NEM policy takes a hit, as it has in many other states.
The warranties provided by Solar Is Freedom are below the industry standard, although most customers don’t run into equipment or installation issues, including roof leaks. Additionally, this solar installation company is relatively new and has limited experience compared to other installers, which may lead to delays in the conversion process.
Facts and Figures: Solar Is Freedom
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4 |
Not Rated |
$$ |
Solar Panels |
Icon Solar
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
- Many years of experience
- Comprehensive service offerings
- Great warranty coverage
Cons
- No leases or PPAs
Icon Solar has one of the longest installation histories in Kentucky, with local experience since 2009. As such, it has forged relationships with local utility companies and permitting agencies and is likely to be able to expedite your installation process.
Perhaps because of its local experience, Icon Solar understands the risk of roof leaks in Kentucky and offers a warranty specifically for this issue. It also provides solar equipment and labor warranties for ultimate peace of mind. This is especially nice in an area like Kentucky, where extreme weather and above-average rainfall can put panels at an elevated risk of damage and leaking.
Icon Solar installs panels and solar batteries, and it carries a decent product selection to help you find a solar panel system that suits your needs and fits within your budget. It only accepts cash purchases and solar loans, so customers looking for a power purchase agreement (PPA) or lease will need to go with another installer.
If and when the net metering policy gets downgraded and batteries become more of a necessity to see substantial long-term savings, this is going to be a bigger issue than it is now. The reason is because batteries bump up installation costs by between $10,000 and $20,000 in most cases, which makes systems less accessible — especially in an already high-cost area like Kentucky. Leases and PPAs will always provide lower overall solar savings, but they might become more relevant and beneficial in the future when system costs go up because of batteries.
Icon Solar also earns some bonus points for its membership of the Green Umbrella Regional Sustainability Alliance.
Facts and Figures: Icon Solar
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4 |
A+ |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, Energy-Efficiency Upgrades |
Watch Below: Learn What To Know Before Going Solar in Kentucky
How Can You Save Money When Hiring A Solar Company In Kentucky
The average solar customer in Kentucky pays around $33,660 for an 11 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system, or $23,562 after the federal tax credit is taken into consideration.
The total solar installation cost in Kentucky tends to be higher than the U.S. average ($29,970 before the credit and $20,979 after the credit), but that’s because energy needs are higher in Kentucky than average. While the average American consumes 881 kWh per month and only needs a 9 kW system to offset their electricity, the average Kentucky resident consumes 1,073 kWh per month and needs an 11 kW system.
If you have lower energy needs, you can get away with installing a much smaller, cheaper system. Solar is priced on a per watt basis, and in Kentucky that cost is $3.06 per watt — much lower than the national average of $3.33 per watt.
There are plenty of ways you can save money going solar in Kentucky, including:
- Only installing as many panels as you need
- Taking advantage of local and federal solar incentives
- Putting as much money down as you can
Only Install As Many Panels As You Need
The average Kentucky homeowner needs to install an 11 kW solar system — about 32 panels — to offset their monthly energy consumption of 1,073 kilowatt-hours (kWh).2 But you may not be on par with average.
Before you install solar panels, it’s important to check your electric bill to figure out your monthly energy consumption. For example, if your household uses 800 kWh of energy per month, you’ll only need an 8 kW system (about 23 panels), which costs $24,480 in Kentucky, or $17,136 after the federal tax credit is applied.
Size of Your Solar Power System | Total System Price Before Any Rebates or Credits | Total System Price After Federal Tax Credit |
8 kW | $24,480 | $17,136 |
9 kW | $27,540 | $19,278 |
10 kW | $30,600 | $21,420 |
11 kW | $33,660 | $23,562 |
12 kW | $36,720 | $25,704 |
13 kW | $39,780 | $27,846 |
14 kW | $42,840 | $29,988 |
Take Advantage of Local and Federal Solar Incentives
We’ll be honest: Kentucky doesn’t have as many solar incentives compared to some other states. But there are still some programs to capitalize on.
The federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is the best financial incentive available to Kentucky homeowners. It’s a tax credit worth 30% of your total solar system cost, which in Kentucky comes out to about $10,098 — higher than the national average of $8,991.
To be clear, this isn’t a rebate — it’s a reduction to the federal taxes you owe and rolls over for up to five years. But most people in Kentucky take around 13 years to pay off their system, so the $10,000+ discount will surely help. If you owe at least $2,019 per year for five years following your installation, you should be able to take full advantage of this incentive.
Put As Much Money Down As You Can
Solar panel systems cost between $18,000 and $30,000 on average in Kentucky in most cases — that’s not cheap. We understand if you don’t have that kind of cash lying around ready to invest in solar panels.
Paying with a solar loan is a popular and more accessible option. However, the more you pay upfront, the more money you’ll save on going solar in the long run.
As you can see in the chart above, paying in cash allows you to save thousands of dollars that would otherwise cover the interest over the lifetime of a solar loan. Plus, you to begin saving money right away with your solar production rather than waiting for your monthly energy savings to cover your loan payments.
See Also: Calculate How Much You Can Save By Going Solar
Will Solar Increase Your Home Value In Kentucky?
Many homeowners are surprised to learn that solar panels can increase the value of your home. According to SunPower, installing solar in Kentucky can add up to $8,059 to your home’s resale value.3
Data from Zillow also backs this up. In a study, the real estate entity found that solar panels boost home value by 4.1% on average.4 With the average home value in Kentucky sitting at $194,848 as of January 2024, that’s an average expected value bump of $7,988.
Unfortunately the state of Kentucky does not offer a property tax exemption for solar homeowners, which means that your property taxes could increase alongside your home value increase, but it shouldn’t be more than a few hundred dollars a year, so the other perks should more than make up for that.
Should Kentucky Residents Hire a Professional Solar Installer Or DIY?
In the world of HGTV and YouTube, many of us like to tackle our own home improvement projects. But we wouldn’t suggest it when it comes to installing your own solar panels.
Here are the top reasons why DIY solar installation is a risky idea:
- Installing solar is a complex process
- You lose crucial warranty protection
- The savings likely don’t outweigh the workload
Installing Solar is a Complex Process
Solar installations are a lot more complicated than just nailing a solar panel onto a roof. Along with the panels, you have the mounting hardware, cables and inverters (also called charge controllers) that must be set up properly. One wrong move will not only inhibit your solar panels ability to generate electricity, but could also be extremely damging to your roof or home.
If you’re installing your own panels, you’re also the sole person in charge of securing the necessary permits, setting up interconnection and net metering with your utility company and seeking out solar incentives. If you hire a solar company, it will will take care of this for you.
You Lose Crucial Warranty Protection
If you buy solar panels for your home instead of hiring a solar panel company, there’s a chance the equipment you purchase will be covered under the product manufacturer’s warranty. But most solar manufacturers have a warranty clause that the panels must be installed by a professional solar technician. So if you’re installing them yourself, you’ll be out of luck here (unless you’re a solar technician).
Some solar panel brands may also offer a performance warranty, which typically guarantees 90% of solar electric production for 10 years and 80% at 25 years. And as we mentioned, workmanship and roof leak warranties are crucial in Kentucky to protect your payout in the event of a roof leak.
The Savings Likely Don’t Outweigh The Workload
The number one reason people try to DIY a solar panel installation is to save on installation labor costs. Well, let’s figure out how much labor costs to install solar panels in Kentucky.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, labor typically accounts for at least 10% of the total cost of solar installation.5 In Kentucky where the average installation costs $33,660, you stand to save about $3,366
That’s a pretty tempting savings. But, remember that the electricity savings potential from having professionally installed and designed panels in Kentucky is upwards of $25,000.
Ultimately, it’s up to you whether or not you want to install your own panels or hire professionals. But we definitely recommend the latter.
What Should Kentucky Residents Look For in a Solar Installer?
Kentucky has 15 solar installers to choose from according to the SEIA. While most people focus on finding the best price, there are other factors you should consider when looking for a solar company to hire in Kentucky.
When looking for a solar installer in Kentucky, you should hire a company that has:
- A roof leak guarantee or strong workmanship warranty
- High efficiency solar panels
- Licensed electrician certificate
A Roof Leak Guarantee or Strong Workmanship Warranty
One of the most important considerations for Kentucky homeowners wanting to install solar is a roof leak guarantee. Kentucky is the twelfth rainiest state, and unfortunately, roof leaks can become an issue when installing solar.
On this list of best solar companies in Kentucky, Icon Solar is the only company that has a specific roof leak warranty, regardless of your roofing material.
We encourage you to ask your solar installer about coverage in the event of a roof leak. If they offer any kind of roof leak protection, make sure it’s included in your contract.
If they don’t have roof leak protection, make sure they have a strong workmanship warranty. Roof leaks are often the result of faulty solar installation and workmanship warranties cover improper installations.
High-Efficiency Solar Panels
Because Kentucky sees above-average rainfall and below-average sunshine, it’s beneficial to install high-efficiency solar panels. The higher the efficiency of the panel, the more energy they’re going to produce in shorter periods of time.
If you’re new to solar, think of it this way: one hour of sunlight with a high-efficiency panel may produce as much energy as three hours of sun as a panel with a lower efficiency.
The best solar panels on the market have an output of around 330 watts (W) to 360 W each, while the output of less-efficient panels can be as low as 250 W.
It’s also worth mentioning that most customers won’t need an installer that provides solar batteries right now because Kentucky currently has a statewide net metering program. However, with NEM 3.0 rolling out in California and other states seeing similar declines in their policies, we expect the future of NEM to have a similar fate in Kentucky. If and when the policy gets downgraded, batteries will become more of a necessity. At that point, you should consider choosing a company that offers solar batteries and paying more for solar storage.
Licensed Electrician Certificate
In Kentucky, a licensed electrician must be involved with the solar installation process.6 Your solar installation company should have a licensed electrician on staff, otherwise, you risk hiccups with permitting for your installation.
Methodology: How We Ranked Kentucky’s Solar Companies
When we rank our top solar companies, we start by identifying the factors that matter most when ensuring that 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).
Our goal is to deliver unbiased reports and honest reviews, thus, our methodology is not affected by commercial partnerships and is specifically tailored to Kentucky homes.
- Solar Services (20%): Every solar company installs panels, but we add additional points for companies like Solar Energy Solutions, SunPower and Icon Solar who offer additional services like energy storage and EV chargers.
- Qualifications, Reputation & Certifications (20%): Solar contractors that have affiliations with renewable energy organizations usually rank higher because it’s a good sign that they are invested in the industry and aren’t in existence just to turn a profit. Some affiliations we look for are with the Kentucky Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) and the KY Conservation Committee.
- Solar Warranty & Customer Support (15%): Warranties provide peace of mind that your investment is protected for years to come. Production and roof leak guarantees are especially important in Kentucky because of the abundance of rain throughout the state, so we award higher scores for those offerings. But a warranty is only as good as the company’s customer service — if no one answers the phone for your claim, you may not get it covered.
- Solar Financing Options (15%): The cost of going solar in Kentucky is prohibitively expensive for many homeowners to pay in cash. Therefore, each solar panel company’s financing options are carefully considered to determine how likely it is to suit your budget.
- Experience (10%): With so many solar companies popping up, we give higher rank to those who have a bit more longevity in Kentucky.
- Availability (10%): Kentucky is a decent-sized state with many rural areas. As such, we award companies that serve more areas of Kentucky.
- Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Factors (10%): While going solar is great for money-saving benefits, we prioritize people and the planet alongside your profit. As such, we take each company’s ecological and ethical standards into account when ranking our top providers.
The cost information presented in this article is derived from a comprehensive analysis, incorporating data from multiple industry sources. The average cost per watt per state was calculated based on figures from Consumer Affairs, Energy Sage, and Berkeley Lab’s Electricity Markets & Policy Department. Additionally, monthly energy consumption and the average monthly cost of electricity were sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensuring a well-rounded and accurate representation of the information presented.
EcoWatch FAQ: Best Solar Companies in Kentucky
The EcoWatch team gets many questions about the process and price of going solar in Kentucky. Below are some of the questions we see most often, along with our responses. If you have specific questions that aren’t answered here, reach out to our team of solar experts at solar@ecowatch.com.
Based on our reviews above, we have determined that Solar Energy Solutions is the most reputable solar energy system installer in Kentucky. This company maintains abundantly positive customer reviews, provides numerous solar solutions above and beyond the standard panel and solar battery installation, and has excellent warranty coverage suitable for Kentucky homeowners.
Our EcoWatch rating is a single score that gives you instant information about how likely you are to be pleased by a solar installer. To arrive at this score, we compare companies in Kentucky based on all of the criteria mentioned above, plus many other factors. For a complete review of how we determine a company’s EcoWatch score, check out our methodology page.
For most homeowners in Kentucky, panel efficiency and warranty coverage are the most crucial factors to consider when going solar.
Kentucky residents experience rainfall well in excess of the national average. Not only does rain mean less sunlight hitting your panels and a lower rate of production, but it also puts homes at risk of roof leaks. High-efficiency panels will help make eliminating energy bills in Kentucky more attainable, and roof leak warranties will provide peace of mind and potentially save you thousands of dollars in repairs.
Solar Is Freedom is often credited with the highest solar power system installation numbers in terms of kW in Kentucky, meaning this company is technically the most experienced with PV systems. Also in the running is Icon Solar, with over 10 years of local experience.
According to data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), there are 50 solar companies in Kentucky, 24 of which are dedicated to installing photovoltaic equipment.
We get this question often from Kentucky residents because of the abundant rainfall in the area. Your solar panels will still produce energy when it’s cloudy or raining, but it will be less than when it’s sunny outside. For that reason, Kentucky homeowners typically opt for a high-efficiency panel brand to maximize the production even when the weather isn’t optimal.
Related articles
Top Solar Installers in Kentucky Cities
Comparing authorized solar partners
-
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
A+Best Solar Financing2014Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, SolarEdge, Silfab, SunPower25-year manufacturer warranty; 10-year workmanship warranty, 2-year production guarantee
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