18 Best Solar Companies in Raleigh, NC (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 18 in Raleigh based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Raleigh, NC
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Raleigh homeowner saves $1,443/year with solar panels
Updated May 04, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Raleigh
As a homeowner in Raleigh, you may be interested in switching to solar and wondering about the best solar companies in your city. Solar could be a great choice since it has many perks. Since Raleigh is a city with great potential for solar power, it's no wonder you're looking into installing solar panels.
In this article, we'll let you in on the top Raleigh solar installers so you can make the best decision for your home's sustainable energy needs. Interested in seeing how much it'd cost to install solar panels on your roof? Click "get quote" below to get a free, no-obligation quote from a highly rated Raleigh solar installer.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Raleigh
Average Cost
SunPower
-
Most efficient panels on the market - National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
-
Expensive - Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
-
Solar Panels - Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- System Monitoring
Average Cost
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- System Monitoring
Average Cost
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Roofing Services
- Energy-Efficiency Audits
8MSolar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Recognized Excellence
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Professional reinstallation
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
- Skilled repairs
Average Cost
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
Average Cost
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
- Maintenance & Repairs
Average Cost
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Solar Roof Shingles
- System Monitoring
Quick Solar Solutions
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
NC Sustainable Energy Association
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Energy storage solutions
Solar System Co USA
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
ISSU Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Integrated roofing
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Oakhurst Energy Development
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Business installations
Boss Energy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Business installations
- Home installations
NC Solar Now
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
Oakhurst Energy
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Business installations
Oakhurst Energy
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
Sundance Power Systems
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Recognized Excellence
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Skilled repairs
- Integrated roofing
- Energy storage solutions
- Business installations
Wiring Solutions Plus LLC
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Integrated roofing
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Raleigh
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Raleigh 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 Raleigh
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for North Carolina 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 Raleigh
Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you must first pay to install your system. Some significant things that influence how much it will cost and how much you could save include:
- The kind of solar panels you have the money for: This depends on your income and budget.
- Incentives: Something that can make your solar project cost less 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 result in an average of $17,000 of savings over 20 years.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Raleigh gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally generate enough energy to power your whole home, which impacts how much your electricity bills will be.
- Your energy bills: This will dictate how much you can save. In Raleigh, the average resident can save about $1,300 a year on their electricity bills.
As a result of solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a worthwhile investment for most homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Raleigh
Because solar power is more sustainable than traditional energy sources, there are quite a few government incentives available to encourage people to make the switch. On top of the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some local programs, which in most cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you can save even more. Our article on solar incentives has more information on the incentives you can take advantage of in Raleigh.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Raleigh
There are tons of reasons to trade traditional energy for solar energy, like saving money on utility bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint. You may be curious — how much does going solar do for the planet anyway? The more energy you use, the the more the environment will benefit if you switch to solar since you won't have to burn as many fossil fuels. Since solar panels don't release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they're a good trade for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 60 pounds each year. As you can see, trading traditional energy for solar has so many other benefits besides saving money. One of the most important ones is that you can help save the environment too.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's Raleigh, NC Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best in Raleigh?
The highest-rated local solar company in Raleigh is EcoEthic Solar LLC, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of installing solar panels?
The main advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, for some, totally eradicate your electricity bills, raise your home's value and bring down your carbon footprint. The main disadvantages are that solar panels can be costly to install, you may not save a lot if you don't use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels require a large upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a collection of factors like local electricity rates and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
What is the best kind of solar panel?
The different types of solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient but also more expensive. Polycrystalline panels cost less but also less efficient than monocrystalline. Thin-film solar panels are flexible, so they can be used where the other kinds can't, like on curved surfaces or cars, but they are also less efficient. The best one for you depends on your budget, roof configuration and how much energy generation you want.
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.