How Can You Save Money When Hiring a Solar Company in New Mexico? 

The average size solar panel system needed to meet a household’s energy needs is 7 kilowatts (kW). Given that going solar costs around $2.68 per watt in New Mexico, the average total cost of a solar panel system is $18,760 before applying any New Mexico solar incentives or rebates.

Are you thinking of going solar but hesitant about the price tag? There are plenty of ways to save money when going solar in New Mexico, including:

• Taking advantage of New Mexico’s abundant solar incentives
• Getting several quotes and doing your own research
• Putting more money down when possible or paying for your system in cash

Take Advantage of New Mexico’s Abundant Solar Incentives

New Mexico has several generous solar incentives that make rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems significantly cheaper. The state offers net metering, a statewide tax credit and tax exemptions on top of the 30% federal tax credit on all solar electric systems. Not to mention, you’ll no longer have to pay an electric bill to your utility company if your solar panels generate enough energy to meet your home’s needs.

Get Several Quotes and Do Your Own Research

The solar industry in New Mexico is thriving, meaning you have many options for solar companies in the state. It may be tempting to go with the first estimate you receive, but before you commit to a solar installer, call around and get several quotes. Most solar companies will visit your house and give you a free quote with no obligation.

You can save money and trouble in the long run by doing your research beforehand. Read reviews on reputable customer review sites like TrustPilot or the BBB, speak with representatives and compare quotes to make sure you’re getting the best service and deal possible.

Put More Money Down When Possible or Pay For Your System in Cash

We acknowledge that paying for the entire cost of a solar panel system upfront is not feasible for all homeowners. However, homeowners that do pay for their system in cash will start saving money faster and save more over time by avoiding interest payments on a solar loan.

But even if you don’t pay in cash, you will still be able to save a significant amount of money on electricity costs just by installing a rooftop solar system and generating clean energy. With a loan, the more money you put down upfront and the more you pay each month, the less you’ll end up paying in interest.

There are also plenty of affordable solar loans available in New Mexico, like the mosaic loan. You can speak with your local solar installer to learn more about what options you have.⁷

See Also: Calculate How Much You Can Save By Going Solar

Will Solar Increase Your Home Value in New Mexico?

One of the reasons why going solar in New Mexico is worth it is because installing solar panels will likely increase your home’s value. According to a Berkeley National Lab study of 20,000 homes in the U.S., your home’s value will increase by an average of $3.78 per watt of solar energy installed. So if your home has a 7-kW system, the average size for New Mexico, that would be a $26,460 increase in value.⁸

Should New Mexico Residents Hire a Professional Solar Installer or DIY?

You may be wondering if you can save money by installing solar panels on your home yourself. Although it may be relatively straightforward to install smaller solar panel setups that power RVs, boats or small appliances, we strongly recommend going with a professional if you want to power your entire home with solar.

For starters, labor costs typically make up only 10% of the total cost of your solar installation. Considering that the average solar panel system in New Mexico costs around $18,760, you could save around $1,876 when you DIY your home’s solar installation. The majority of your total system cost is the solar equipment itself, which you will still need to purchase whether you DIY or not.

If one or more of these qualifications do not apply to you, we highly recommend going with a professional:

• You feel comfortable standing and working on your roof;
• You are willing to take the time to apply for and secure the proper permitting and zoning necessary to install solar panels;
• You have prior experience with electrical work;
• You have all the proper equipment and tools, and;
• You are willing to apply for solar incentives, tax credits and rebates in New Mexico yourself.

What Should New Mexico Residents Look For in a Solar Installer?

When we selected our top-recommended solar companies in New Mexico, we considered several factors that every homeowner should also consider when looking for a solar installer.

The most important factors to think about when choosing a solar installation company is whether or not it:

• Has necessary solar licenses and certifications
• Provides top-notch customer service
• Offers the solar brands, products and services you need

Solar Licenses and Certifications

In New Mexico, contractors need an electrical or mechanical license to install solar panels. Anyone doing hands-on work and dealing with electrical wiring in the state must have a journeyman certification.

Optional certifications through the SEIA, NABCEP or another organization are also a bonus.

Ask your solar installer about their certifications and qualifications before you begin your project. Your solar company should also assist you with applying for interconnection and other solar incentives available in New Mexico.

Provides Top-Notch Customer Service

A solar company could offer an excellent lineup of products and warranties, but that is pointless without quality customer service to back it up. Of course, when dealing with any solar company, you want its representatives to communicate with you throughout the installation process, have extensive knowledge and experience with solar and be available even after the installation.

But how do you know if a company will offer great customer service? Every company is going to claim they have the “best” service, but not all of them follow through.

The best way to avoid poor service is to do your research ahead of time. Read online reviews from reputable websites like the BBB, Trustpilot or Google Reviews. Make sure to read both negative and positive reviews, and see what the most recent reviews have to say.

Offers the Solar Brands, Products and Services You Need

Although all of our top companies sell and install solar panels, you may want additional solar products like EV chargers, solar batteries, solar carports, inverters and more. Or, you may have your heart set on a certain brand or product, like the sought-after Tesla solar shingles.

Not every company offers the same solar lineup, so you’ll want to take each company’s offerings into consideration. Larger companies like ADT Solar offer more solar products and brands in New Mexico than locally-owned companies like OE Solar.

However, even the smaller solar companies on our list offer a great selection, and a locally-owned company may be able to work with you on a more personal level to get exactly what you want.

Best National Provider

5/5

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Nationwide Service

Oustanding Local Installer

4.5/5

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Local Service

Solar Veteran

4.5/5

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Regional Service

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Methodology: How We Ranked New Mexico’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 solar reviews, thus, our methodology is not affected by commercial partnerships and is specifically tailored to New Mexico 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

A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers: 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.

In New Mexico, ADT Solar and OE Solar excel the most in this category, offering a wide array of solar services, including EV Charger stations, solar batteries and energy efficiency upgrades.

Qualifications, Reputation & Certifications

A company earns a perfect score in this category if it is: NABCEP-certified, has a minimum of 4 stars over its last 100 reviews on Google, an A+ rating with the BBB and 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 with the Building Performance Institute (BPI). We flag a company for further review if it has any track record of lawsuits or customer rights violations.

In New Mexico, NM Solar Group ranked the highest in this category, holding certifications with the SEIA, Home Advisor and UL. OE Solar also ranked highly, holding NABCEP certification.

OE Solar is not yet ranked by the BBB, and ADT Solar has an A- rating with the BBB and lower customer reviews. As such, these companies lost points in these categories.

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 in terms of honoring its warranties.

Of our top-ranked solar companies in New Mexico, SunPower offers the best warranty, with 25 years of all-inclusive coverage. ADT Solar also has an excellent warranty. However, because some ADT Customers reported slow response times to warranty claims, SunPower ranked the highest in this category.

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 partner organizations. 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.

Of the top solar companies in New Mexico, Solar Works and SunPower offer the best selection of solar financing options.

Experience in New Mexico

A company earns a perfect score in this category if it has 10+ years of experience installing solar. The industry standard that we measure against is at least five years of experience.

OE Solar has been operating the longest in New Mexico, so it ranked highest in this category.

Availability

A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers services in the majority of New Mexico.

All of our top picks for solar companies in New Mexico offer services throughout the state, but NM Solar Group ranked the highest because it has offices in Las Cruces, Alamogordo and Albuquerque.

Environmental, Social & 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 communities that it serves.

SunPower ranked the highest in this category because its solar panels are Cradle to Cradle certified, which ensures products are safe and responsibly made.