Compare 5 Best Flexible Solar Panels (2023 Reviews and Buyer’s Guide)
By Christian Yonkers /
In this guide to Nevada’s best solar companies, you’ll learn
Each product and or company featured here has been independently selected by the writer. You can learn more about our review methodology here. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
Nevada is the third sunniest state, making it one of the best places in the country to go solar.1 It also sees hot, dry summers that leave its residents with higher-than-average energy consumption.2
Switching to solar in Nebraska means a potential energy savings of around $1,324 per year and a total savings $18,319 after your system pays for itself.
More and more residents in Nevada are taking advantage of solar energy savings in Nevada, with the residential solar market growing 30% between 2020 and 2021.3 And that also has more solar companies trying to capitalize on the growing business opportunity in the Silver State.
The EcoWatch team has carefully reviewed the dozens of solar installers servicing Nevada and has ranked them based on which provide the most important solar considerations specifically to Nevada residents. These are our top picks for the best solar installers:
Pros
Cons
SunPower offers the most efficient residential panels on the market, manufactured by Maxeon, which allow Nevadans to get more solar production out of fewer panels. In addition, its SunVault battery storage system ensures that Nevada homeowners can use their own solar energy to power their homes at night instead of having to rely as much on their utility company.
What we love most about SunPower is that every single element of its residential solar panel system is designed and protected by the same, industry-leading 25-year warranty (covering panels, inverters, batteries, workmanship and performance). That’s why it’s one of the most trusted solar providers in America and our top pick for Nevada homeowners.
Although it tends to be a more expensive solar option, SunPower makes solar more available by extending several unique financing options, including a new, in-house zero-down loan with SunPower Financial, leases and power purchase agreements (referred to as a PPA).
SunPower also offers online estimates and virtual consultations, so homeowners are aware of all costs involved and never hit with any hidden fees, unlike smaller companies that may not have the technology to offer virtual system walkthrough services.
Despite being a national installer, Nevada customers praise SunPower’s customer service, as well as its expertise in helping homeowners navigate the local complexities of going solar. However, in order to support such a large operation, SunPower outsources its work through its network of certified dealers throughout the country, which has led to a few complaints of spotty customer service regarding post-installation repairs, depending on where you live.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Year Founded |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
Warranty Coverage |
5 |
A+ |
1985 |
$$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, System Monitoring |
SunPower Panels |
25-year all-inclusive warranty |
Pros
Cons
Momentum Solar is one of the most quickly expanding solar installers in the country, aiming to simplify the process for homeowners looking to make the switch to clean energy.
It offers premier products, user-friendly services and financing options that typically provide excellent returns to its homeowner. Momentum chooses to operate strictly in states with valuable net metering programs and generous solar incentives. Nevada is one of those states.
Although it does most of its business on the East Coast, Momentum Solar has proven it can provide reliable installations in Nevada as well. Customer reviews for Momentum are very positive, reflecting an efficient business model, high-quality workmanship and helpful customer service.
Momentum’s biggest goal is to secure a high-value investment for its customers. It does this through its experience in handling solar incentives, offering a variety of solar financing plans and installing only high-quality products.
While it’s an excellent provider, Momentum Solar has received some critical customer reviews citing overzealous sales techniques.
It’s also notable that Momentum Solar is currently facing a proposed class action lawsuit that accuses the company and its management of racial discrimination. As of December 2022, no verdict has been reached. EcoWatch has not independently verified the claims mentioned in this lawsuit but you can find out more information here.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Year Founded |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
Warranty Coverage |
4.5 |
A+ |
2009 |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries |
Q Cells, REC, Trina Solar, Jinko Solar, Canadian Solar and others depending on location |
25-year manufacturer and workmanship warranties |
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
Cons
Intermountain Wind & Solar is a regional solar installer based in Utah. While larger and more experienced than most local Nevada companies, it still provides more localized service compared to most national installers. It maintains overwhelmingly positive reviews online from customers across Nevada, plus an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
One of the best things about InterMountain is that it carries a ton of top-notch solar equipment at lower costs than many competitors. It even offers some of the more popular solar equipment brands — like SunPower, Enphase, LG, and the Tesla Powerwall — plus other options for full customization.
Intermountain Wind & Solar tackles a variety of home solar services, including panel and battery installation, electric vehicle chargers, energy monitoring and more. It has electricians and general contractors on staff to provide general services as well.
This company puts a lot of stock into making your home more efficient, meaning it understands the bigger picture when it comes to reducing energy costs.
As a downside, Intermountain offers a below-average warranty for workmanship, but its products are also covered by manufacturer warranties. At this time, Intermountain company only accepts cash purchases and solar loans, with no solar lease options.
EcoWatch Rating |
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Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4.5 |
A+ |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, EV Chargers, System Monitoring, Roofing Services, General Contracting |
Local Service
Average cost
Pros
Cons
Sol-Up is a local Nevada company with offices in Reno and Las Vegas, NV. It’s known for providing the outstanding customer service you’d expect from a smaller company.
The attention to detail, communication and technical expertise is top-notch from Sol-Up. Its techs help you take advantage of federal solar tax credits, solar incentives, and rebates to minimize costs while reducing your carbon footprint. Most customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and most customers feel as if they’re in good hands every step of the way with this company.
While Sol-Up provides a 25-year equipment warranty, it unfortunately doesn’t include any warranties for panel production or workmanship. The coverage for the equipment is good, but many customers will want additional guarantees for workmanship, especially in Nevada, where solar energy production is paramount.
Sol-Up only handles panel and solar battery backup installations, so customers looking for additional options will need to turn elsewhere. However, there is a good deal of customization available with the many equipment brands this company carries, but Sol-Up is reportedly a bit pricier than many of its competitors.
EcoWatch Rating |
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Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4.5 |
A+ |
$$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries |
Average cost
Pros
Cons
With nearly a decade of experience helping homeowners go solar in Nevada, Elevation has an excellent reputation. Beyond that, Elevation specializes in other energy solutions like energy effiency audits and smart-home energy monitoring systems. It separates itself from the competition by offering whole-home solutions beyond just slapping an array of solar panels on your roof.
The regional company is headquartered in Arizona but serves neighboring Nevada and California as well as Texas and Florida. While it has certainly grown in size, Elevation still offers best-in-class customer service that will help Nevadans feel well taken care of.
Elevation’s representatives will keep you informed throughout the entire solar installation process and its responsive customer service line is readily available to answer any questions during or after solar panel installation.
Founded in 2014, one of the few downsides to Elevation is that it doesn’t have as much history in Nevada compared to some of the other solar panel companies listed. It also isn’t native to Nevada and customer care may vary based on your local installer.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Year Founded |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
Warranty Coverage |
4 |
A+ |
2014 |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, Energy-Efficiency Upgrades, Smart Home Energy Solutions |
REC, Tesla, SolarEdge |
25-year manufacturer warranty |
Regional Service
Average cost
Pros
Cons
An installer with less than five years of experience will rarely make our top solar companies list, but Kota Energy Group has very rapidly established a great name for itself. It maintains excellent customer service throughout Nevada, has a helpful and communicative staff and is quite involved in the solar industry as a whole. These are strong indicators that Kota Energy is here to stay.
Kota accepts cash purchases, solar loans and power purchase agreements (PPAs) as payment options. While we don’t recommend solar leases or PPAs, we do score companies highly for offering these options because it makes solar more accessible to more people. Kota is on the expensive side, so some homeowners might look elsewhere for more affordable solar options.
Currently, Kota Energy only tackles solar panel and battery installations, but some customization is possible with the equipment brands and options it provides Kota includes solid warranty coverage for the equipment and roof penetration.
Kota is headquartered in California and serves 11 states from coast to coast. With that said, the quality of service you get from your local Kota installer in Nevada may vary.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4 |
A+ |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries |
Watch Below: Learn Why Nevada Is the Perfect State To Go Solar
Going solar in Nevada is less expensive than the average state, but that doesn’t mean it’s cheap. Plus, because Nevadans use a bit more energy than average to combat the intense heat, they typically need more solar panels to power their home.
The average Nevada homeowner will need a 10 kilowatt (kW) solar panel system — about 28 solar panels — to completely offset electricity costs. This costs about $25,200, or $17,640 after applying for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC). Comparatively, the national average cost for a 10 kW solar system is $26,600.
Solar systems are often priced per watt of size, so you can save on solar panels if you use less energy than the average Nevadan. On average, solar costs $2.52 in Nevada, which is much cheaper than the national average of $2.66 per watt.
Here are the top ways you can save money going solar in Nevada:
The huge electricity savings that Nevadans see from going solar are usually enticing enough on their own, but there are even more ways you can save money on solar in Nevada.
Each Nevada resident that installs solar panels is eligible to claim the federal solar tax credit, worth 30% of your total solar energy system cost. In Nevada, that comes out to roughly $7,600.
It’s worth noting that this isn’t a rebate but a reduction on the federal income taxes you owe starting the year your solar panels are installed. You won’t get the full 30% if you don’t owe that $7,600. But the good news is that the credit can be rolled over for five years.
Your solar panels will also save you money by earning energy credits for the energy your panels produce and send to your local utility grid. Below we’ve outlined a few other solar incentives available in Nevada.
NEVADA SOLAR INCENTIVE | DESCRIPTION |
Federal Solar Tax Credit (ITC) | The federal solar investment tax credit, or ITC, allows homeowners to claim 30% of their solar photovoltaic (PV) system costs as a credit against the federal taxes they owe. U.S. residents are eligible for the 30% tax credit through 2032. It will decrease to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034 before expiring in 2035.4 |
Net Metering | Nevada has a great net metering system, awarding solar users for any additional energy they produce and send to the grid. As it currently stands, utility companies will give customers energy credits for 75% of the retail electricity rate for the excess power they provide to the electric grid.5 |
Nevada Energy (NV Energy) Storage Incentive Program | Similar to net metering, NV customers who install a solar-integrated energy storage system, like a solar battery, are eligible for incentives if they allow NV Energy to use their storage electricity during high demand periods.6 |
Local Solar Rebates | NV Energy and Southwest gas both offer rebate programs for customers who install solar water heaters.7, 8 |
Renewable Energy Systems Property Tax Exemption (commercial only) | Nevada offers a property tax exemption for renewable energy systems, but unfortunately not for residential properties. Qualifying solar projects are those used for commercial, industrial and agricultural purposes.9 |
The average Nevada household needs to install a 10 kW solar panel system to offset the 959 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity it consumes per month.10 But these are just averages — it’s not a one-size-fits-all.
Take a look at your utility bill. Do you consume less than 959 kWh of electricity per billing period? If so, you can probably get away with installing a smaller solar power system, therefore saving money on panels.
Thanks to Nevada’s abundance of sunshine, you don’t have to install the highest-efficiency solar panels to get the most energy production.
Typically, solar panel prices increase alongside efficiency. So in this case, it may be better for your wallet to install mid-tier solar panels as long as they still produce enough energy to meet your household needs.
On the other hand, you may also be able to save by choosing a high-effiency solar panel brand — like the ones from SunPower — because you can install less of these panels and still get the same energy output.
We encourage you to ask about the different solar panel brands available to you, their energy outputs and price tags to ensure you’re getting a good price on your solar installation.
Comparing solar panels is great if you know what you’re looking for, but most solar users aren’t solar experts — and that’s okay!
That’s why it’s so important to find a reputable solar installation company in Nevada — one that knows the climate, the best positioning for maximum sunshine and the local policies and incentives available to solar homeowners.
We recommend getting at least two different quotes from the top solar companies in Nevada we’ve outlined on this page.
See Also: Calculate How Much You Can Save By Going Solar
Yes, adding solar panels can increase your home value in Nevada. Data from Zillow suggests that the average U.S. home jumps around 4.1% in value.11
That means solar panels could increase your home’s value by roughly $18,266 in Nevada where the average home is $445,515.12
Of course, the value increase may be even higher if you live in a higher-priced city like Elko, Sparks or Henderson.
If you’re looking for a solar panel system to power your entire home, we recommend hiring a professional solar installer in Nevada. Sure, it’s a bit more expensive, but solar installers have state-of-the-art technology to ensure that your panels will be placed at the proper angle and direction to maximize your solar energy generation.
There are many other benefits to hiring a solar company to install your panels, including:
If you’re a handy homeowner, you may be considering installing solar panels yourself to save on installation. Labor costs usually make up 10% of the total cost of a solar installation, which comes out to about $2,520 for the average 10 kW solar system in Nevada.
Sure, those savings are decent, but do they outweigh the risks involved? In our opinion, the biggest risk is that most solar panel warranties will only replace faulty equipment if a certified solar technician installed it. In a sense, you’re gambling with a $25,200 solar investment to save $2,520, which isn’t the safest move.
In our opinion, you should only DIY your solar installation if it’s a small solar project needed to power something like a few small appliances or an RV.
There are more than three dozen solar installers in Nevada and several more that serve the Silver State, so you certainly have options even beyond our top six. When choosing a solar company in Nevada, you should hire a company that that:
Some of the companies that made our top national solar companies list didn’t make the cut for Nevada. That could be because they didn’t quite meet the needs of Nevada homeowners, or perhaps their Nevada-based technicians aren’t the best representatives of their brand.
You want to pick a company that has a proven track record of quality service in Nevada. All but one of the installers in this review have at least five years of experience (the exception being Kota Energy Group). Because solar is such a massive business opportunity in Nevada, there are too many “fly-by-night” companies popping up that could serve you today and be gone tomorrow — along with their warranty protection. So it’s important to choose a company that’s stood the test of time.
When you receive a solar installation quote, don’t be afraid to ask your installer for customer testimonials or references near you.
The cost of going solar in Nevada can range between $15,000 to $35,000. That’s a hefty investment, so you want to make sure it’s protected.
A solar electric system should last you at least 25 years, so you shouldn’t accept a solar panel warranty that’s any less than that. But the more robust the warranty, the better.
For example, SunPower and Momentum scored high with EcoWatch because they both offer 25-year product and workmanship warranties. This not only protects your equipment if it malfunctions but can also protect you in the event of a faulty installation or a roof leak caused by solar panels.
We recommend choosing a solar company that has a 25-year product warranty and at least a 10-year workmanship warranty.
Again, going solar is a huge investment. But some companies take extra steps to make sure it’s accessible to as many homeowners as possible.
While you’ll see the biggest return on investment for paying upfront, the majority of Nevadans don’t have $15,000 to $35,000 on hand to pay for their solar system in cash or credit. Choose a solar company that offers a solar financing program that best suits your needs.
While solar is rapidly growing in Nevada, there were clear winners when it comes to finding the top six 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 Nevada homes.
Read More About Going Solar in Nevada
The EcoWatch team gets tons of questions from Nevada residents about the costs and processes of going solar. Below are some of the questions we see most frequently, along with our responses.
If you have specific questions that we don’t answer here, reach out to our team of solar experts at solar@ecowatch.com.
Based on our in-depth reviews above, we have determined that SunPower is the most reputable solar installer in Nevada. This is a national company that is known for providing outstanding customer service, a comprehensive warranty and the highest-quality solar equipment.
SunPower also has longevity in the industry, which means its technicians are experienced, and the company provides great communication throughout the whole process.
Yes, absolutely. Not all solar contractors provide access to the same equipment, and many customers in Nevada, specifically, choose their installation company based on the quality of the panels offered.
Nevada gets an abundance of intense sunlight, which makes some people believe they don’t need high-efficiency panels to offset electric bills. However, the hot summers mean that most customers will be running air conditioners constantly to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature. As such, Nevada homeowners have unusually high energy bills, so a company that offers high-efficiency panels is typically better in the area.
Finding the most trustworthy solar installer to meet your needs and expectations is a challenging process. Ideally, you’ll consider many different factors in your search, including the overall cost, the value provided, equipment and service options, warranty coverage, customer service, and more. Interviewing multiple companies based on these criteria can quickly become time-consuming and overwhelming.
Alternatively, you can use our EcoWatch rating to determine the best company for your solar conversion. We consider all of the factors above, plus many others, to determine a company’s likelihood of delivering quality service that exceeds your expectations.
Based on data from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), there are 87 solar companies in Nevada, which includes 37 dedicated to solar panels and solar equipment installation. However, there many be additional companies that are not located in Nevada but serve the state.
The answer to this question really depends on your budget, your energy consumption, and your expectations. Both smaller local companies and larger national companies have their upsides and downsides in Nevada.
Smaller local companies are usually best if you’re looking for constant communication and top-tier customer service. These companies often have better relationships with local power providers as well, so if you’re in a rush to get interconnection and net metering set up via your inverter, a smaller local company might be better for you.
Larger national companies often have lower pricing and are more likely to fit within your budget. They also have more resources and sometimes more flexibility when it comes to installation.
The choice between a large and local company isn’t trivial, so you’ll have to decide which is best for you.
Comparing authorized solar partners
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