Best Solar Companies in Oregon (2022 Rankings & Reviews)

Plenty of sources online claim to have reviewed the best solar companies in Oregon, but many never consider some of the most important factors for Oregon homeowners in particular. For example, the state gets an average of just 143 sunny days per year — compared to the national average of 205 — so companies that sell high-efficiency panels that offer maximum production to counteract the lack of sun should be rated higher.

The EcoWatch team carefully considers this and many other factors to find the best solar companies specifically for Oregon residents.

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What Are the Top 5 Solar Companies in Oregon?

The table below gives you an “at a glance” look at the best solar companies in Oregon. Below the table, you’ll find a link to our solar company matching tool to help you skip the specs and technical details and get connected with the best installer for your home and needs. Because EcoWatch maintains so much brand authority in the solar space, we can often help our readers get the best deals and pricing on solar conversions from our partners.

Not sure which of the companies above is right for you? Take the quick quiz below to be instantly matched with the ideal solar company for your needs.

After reading through our top five solar panel installation companies, you might be surprised to find that some of the more popular companies — like Vivint — aren’t on our list. This was a purposeful decision on our part. Companies that have ongoing lawsuits with customers, poor customer service in Oregon specifically or other issues that could lead to bad customer experiences have been excluded.

1. Sunlight Solar 

Sunlight Solar is one of the leading solar providers in Oregon, although it’s one of the smaller local companies. It services Bend, Portland and the surrounding areas. As a small company, it provides the kind of customer service and customer care you’d expect, and most customer reviews rave about the company’s fast response times and communication from initial consultation and quote through completion of the installation.

Sunlight Solar provides a great range of services, including the common ones like solar panel and battery installation and electric vehicle chargers. It also provides commercial solar, access to community solar and handles other less common projects, like RV solar and solar awnings.

Sunlight Solar doesn’t have the best warranties, although there are no complaints about working with its warranty department if necessary. It only accepts cash payments and solar loans, so customers looking for leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) will need to look elsewhere.

Pros for Sunlight Solar

Sunlight Solar maintains a long record of positive customer service. Its services and products are plentiful, and its techs can help you take advantage of local solar incentives.

• Great customer service
• Many products and services available
• Knowledge of local incentives and rebates

Cons for Sunlight Solar

Sunlight Solar has relatively short warranty coverage, and it doesn’t accept leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

• Not the best warranties
• No lease options
• No PPAs available

Facts and Figures: Sunlight Solar

Solar Veteran

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2. Best Financing Options: SunPower

SunPower is a massive national company that has been around since 1985. It used to be one of the leaders in solar panel manufacturing, but it recently split into two companies. SunPower now handles installations of its sister company, Maxeon Solar Technologies. SunPower only installs its own equipment, so you won’t have a choice of brand, but it is some of the most technologically advanced solar equipment available.

SunPower is on the expensive end, but it appeals to most customers in Oregon because of its many financing options. It accepts cash purchases, solar loans, leases and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

SunPower includes a robust 25-year, all-inclusive warranty on its products and labor, and the all-inclusive nature of the coverage makes it very appealing to Oregon homeowners.

This company just recently started handling its own installations, as it previously outsourced them to third-party installers. As such, the history of customer service on installations is limited.

Click here for SunPower’s full review.

Pros for SunPower

SunPower provides access to some of the most advanced solar equipment in the industry. It has robust and all-inclusive warranty coverage, and it accepts most payment arrangements.

• Advanced equipment available
• Great warranty coverage
• Many financing options available

Cons for SunPower

SunPower has a limited history of installations, so customer service on labor isn’t well established yet. It is comparatively expensive, and it only stocks one brand of equipment.

• Limited customer service history for labor
• Expensive
• Only one brand of equipment available

Facts and Figures: SunPower

Best National Provider

5/5

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3. Best Up-and-Coming Company: Purelight Power

Purelight Power is one of the few companies established in the past few years to make it onto our radar. This company was only founded in 2019, but it has already made a name for itself with outstanding customer service, fast response times and good communication throughout the entire solar conversion process.

This company handles solar panel and battery installations, as well as energy monitoring. However, homeowners looking for electric vehicle chargers or other services will need to turn elsewhere. Aside from the somewhat limited services, customization options for your solar project are plentiful, as Purelight stocks many equipment brands.

In addition to the great service upfront, your equipment will also be covered by extensive warranties guaranteeing longevity, production, parts and labor. Unfortunately, Purelight only accepts cash purchases and financed deals.

Pros for Purelight Power

Purelight Power has a strong reputation for great customer service and good communication. It stocks many different equipment brands, and it backs all of them with robust warranties.

• Good customer service
• Many products to choose from
• Great warranty coverage

Cons for Purelight Power

Purelight Power has minimal history as a new company in the solar industry. It doesn’t have a great range of services, and it doesn’t accept leases or Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs).

• Minimal company history
• Few services provided
• No leases or PPAs

Facts and Figures: Purelight Power

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4. Best Protection: Blue Raven Solar

Blue Raven Solar is a large national company that serves all of Oregon, including Portland, Oregon City, Tualatin, Gresham, Hillsboro, Bend and more. Despite its size, it maintains some of the best customer service of any larger solar installer. Most customers that review this company note how impressed they were with communication and customer care.

Blue Raven stocks many of the more popular solar panel brands to provide some customization options. However, it’s limited in its service profile and only handles solar panel installation. Customers looking for solar batteries, electric vehicle chargers or other services will need to opt for another installer.

Blue Raven is well-known for its warranty options. It covers the equipment and installation for 25 years and offers a 10-year workmanship warranty and 2-year production guarantee.

Blue Raven only takes cash purchases and loans.

Click here for Blue Raven Solar’s full review.

Pros for Blue Raven Solar

Blue Raven Solar has some of the best customer service for a larger national company. It stocks many brands of panels, all of which are covered by great warranties.

• Excellent customer service
• Good product selection
• Promising warranties

Cons for Blue Raven Solar

Blue Raven Solar is limited to solar panel installations, so any other services will have to be handled by another company. It only accepts cash purchases and solar loans.

• Limited service options
• No leases
• No PPAs available

Facts and Figures: Blue Raven Solar

Best Solar Financing

4.5/5

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5. Best Availability: Tesla 

Tesla is best known for its line of luxury electric vehicles, but it also manufactures some of the most advanced equipment in the solar industry as well. As a tech company, the panels, roofing and batteries it makes for solar power have above-average durability, quality and power production, making them ideal for homeowners in Oregon.

Tesla outsources installation to local third-party companies, so your customer service experience can vary quite a bit both before and after installation.

Tesla’s equipment is comparatively expensive, and it’s only attainable via cash purchases or solar loans. However, everything is covered by a decent warranty.

Tesla only stocks its own equipment, so customization options are limited. However, as a manufacturer only, its products are some of the most widely available.

Click here for Tesla’s full review.

Pros for Tesla

Tesla makes some of the most advanced and energy-efficient solar equipment in the industry. It offers good warranty coverage and has better availability than many competitors.

• Advanced and efficient equipment
• Good warranties provided
• Great availability

Cons for Tesla

Tesla uses third-party installers for all labor, so customer service is spotty in some situations. It only carries its own equipment, and it is rather expensive.

• Spotty customer service
• Only one solar brand available
• Expensive

Facts and Figures: Tesla

Best Technology

4.5/5

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EcoWatch Criteria for Selecting the Top Solar Company in Oregon

The EcoWatch team uses an in-depth assessment strategy to find the best solar companies in Oregon. The most significant factors will be discussed below, but you can check out our methodology page to see all of the criteria we use during our ranking process.

Warranty

Solar warranties typically cover either equipment or labor, and some companies offer both types of coverage. Labor warranties are always important no matter where you live, as they protect you from roof damage from installation, poor installation methods and some hardware issues.

However, physical protection is usually far more important for Oregon residents. Protection can keep your panels safe from falling tree limbs or extreme weather, which does occur occasionally throughout the state. Most homeowners in Oregon care most about power production warranties, which guarantees maximum solar energy production to help you save money on your electric bills even during the abundant cloudy weather.

Companies that offer both warranties and long coverage periods always get a boost in ranking.

Year Founded

As solar power gains popularity in Oregon, more and more “fly by night” companies are popping up throughout the state to capitalize on demand. Unfortunately, these companies are often driven by nothing more than profit, and their longevity in the industry is severely limited.

This is an issue for two reasons. First, it typically means poor customer service, especially after installation. Second, it means your warranties will be voided if the company goes out of business.

We give precedence to companies that have more than five years in the industry, and especially to those that have decades of experience and a proven history.

Services Offered

Some solar companies are considered “full-service” installers because they handle solar panel, battery and electric vehicle charger installations, along with additional equipment or labor that is less common in the industry. Other companies — like Blue Raven Solar — only offer solar panel installations or minimal services in an effort to keep things simple.

If you’re looking for just the basics, most reputable companies should be able to serve you. Those homeowners looking for greater customization options for their solar energy systems will need to choose their installer based on what they provide.

Brands of Solar Equipment Offered

In addition to varying services, solar panel installation companies don’t all offer the same brands of equipment. Some companies stick to just one or two brands, while others have many to choose from. A wider array of equipment brands typically leads companies to score higher in our rankings because they allow more customers to balance specific energy needs, durability and budget.

If you’re not sure what equipment would suit you best, opting for any of the reputable companies on our list will probably be fine. If you’re looking for specific equipment like Tesla Powerwalls or you want the most efficient solar panels or most affordable solar panels, you might need to choose your installer based on what it carries.

Industry Affiliations

Some solar electric companies are heavily invested in providing clean energy for a healthier environment or have philanthropic mission statements that suggests they don’t just care about profit. A good way to determine if a company aligns with these worthwhile values is to look at affiliations with solar organizations and associations.

Companies that are affiliated with organizations like the Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association (OSEIA) and the Oregon Solar and Storage Industries Association (OSSIA) usually rank higher in our ratings for these reasons.

Size of Company

The size of the solar installer you choose to work with can have a substantial impact on your experience. Larger national companies often have lower pricing and better availability because they buy equipment in bulk and have greater resources for scheduling and installing. However, they usually come with less appealing customer service and might not have the same knowledge of local solar incentives.

Smaller local companies typically have superior customer service and maintain better communication throughout the installation process, but they almost always come at a higher price and have less availability. Smaller companies are better for some homeowners looking for more guidance when applying for the federal tax credit (ITC) or local rebates, and they tend to have better customization options for your solar project. Some can also expedite net metering or grid connection because they have better relationships with local utility providers, like PGE.

Solar Pricing and Financing

Finally, the EcoWatch team carefully considers a company’s pricing model and its financing options.

Solar energy solutions are expensive, so companies with more affordable solar panel costs usually score higher in our ratings. Companies that make renewable energy more accessible with multiple payment options — like cash purchases, low-APR or no-money-down solar loans, leases, and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) also get higher rankings when it comes to affordability and accessibility.

Finding a company that ticks all of your boxes can be challenging, but the simple solar quiz below makes the process a breeze by connecting you with your ideal installer in just a few minutes and helping you get a quote.

EcoWatch Preferred Partners

Here is a list of preferred partners in this area.

Solar Veteran

4.5/5

Get Free Quote

Regional Service

Best National Provider

5/5

Get Free Quote

Nationwide Service

Best Solar Financing

4.5/5

Get Free Quote

Regional Service

VIEW MORE

See also: Calculate how much you can save by going solar

Read More About Going Solar

• What Should You Know About Oregon’s Solar Market?
• Find Cost Savings on Solar in Oregon
• Is Solar Worth It in Oregon?