14 Best Solar Companies in California, PA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 14 in California based on:
- Customer review scores
- Service area for California, PA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average California homeowner saves $976/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in California
Looking for energy freedom in California? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding investment since you can enjoy a lot of benefits when you switch to solar power. Because California has a good capacity for solar power generation, switching to solar is financially rewarding for many homeowners.
As you set out on your search for the best solar companies in California, you might see that there are many providers to choose between. So, we’ve accumulated an expertly curated list of the top solar companies in the area.To help you figure out if solar panels are worth it for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in California by clicking the button below.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Solar Veteran
Trinity Solar
- Many financing options
- Family-owned and -operated
- Makes charitable contributions
- Limited service area
- Relatively short workmanship warranty
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in California
Pennsylvania Solar Energy Company Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
Energy Independent Solutions
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
Elysium Solar Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Family-Operated Business
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Battery Storage
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Consultation
Green Rack Contracting
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Raycycle
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Connected Energy Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
JB Solar LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Bluebird Sky Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Envinity Solar | Pittsburgh
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Carports
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
Green Solar Systems LLC
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Scalo Solar Solutions
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Carports
- Panel Installation
Solbridge Energy Advisors
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Boom Pow DIY Solar LLC
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Greentech Renewables - Pittsburgh
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in California
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in California 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 California
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Pennsylvania 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 California
Even though solar panels can help save you a decent chunk of change on power bills over time, it’s necessary to know the startup costs.There are several factors you should consider when determining costs and your potential savings, such as:
- Your income and budget: This guides what type of solar panels you can get.
- Incentives: Something that can reduce the cost of your solar project 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 generate an average of $12,000 of savings over 20 years.
- The cost of energy for you: If your local energy rates are high, there's a better chance you'll end up with a higher return on your investment in a solar system. In California, you can save an average of $1,083 a month on your electricity bills.
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: If your roof doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, your solar panels won’t be able to generate as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on electric bills than someone with a roof that gets plenty of sunlight.
Thanks to solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as various solar incentives, they are a worthwhile investment for the majority of homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in California
Since solar power is a cleaner source of energy than traditional energy sources, there are various government incentives available to encourage people to make the switch.These incentives usually consist of cash rebates, tax credits and/or solar renewable energy credits. They can cut how much you pay for going solar by 0, upwards of 50% depending on where you live. Check out our article on solar incentives to find out what incentives you can benefit from.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in California
Lots of people want to do their part to help protect the planet, which in many cases is the prime reason they’re interested in installing a solar system.Something many homeowners might have in mind is how much can they really help save the environment by switching to solar power anyway? Using renewable energy for electricity rather than relying on nonrenewable energy sources is an impactful way to lower your carbon footprint if you're conscious of California's sizable level of greenhouse gas emissions.While making solar panels emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by greatly decreasing the amount of CO2 you would have produced if you still used traditional energy. In California, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 80 pounds a year with solar panels. Since solar power is abundant and makes electricity without CO2 emissions, making the switch to solar power is one easy step you can take to help protect the environment.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Solar Veteran
Trinity Solar
- Many financing options
- Family-owned and -operated
- Makes charitable contributions
- Limited service area
- Relatively short workmanship warranty
EcoWatch's California, PA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best in California?
The top local solar company in California is Pennsylvania Solar Energy Company Inc., with a rating of 4.90 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panels?
Manufacturing solar panels needs to use chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be dangerous for the environment, which is the main negative thing about solar panels.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my house?
Solar panels need a large upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a variety of factors like the cost of electricity near you and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
How efficient are solar panels?
Usually, solar panels are about 15 to 25% efficient, which means they can convert that percentage of the energy from the sun into usable electricity.
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.