Top 5 Best Solar Companies in Utah (2024 Reviews)

In this guide, you’ll learn:

  • What are the most reliable and reputable solar companies in Utah?
  • How can you save money when hiring a solar installer in Utah?
  • What should you consider when choosing a solar company to install your equipment in Utah?
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Note: In July 2024, SunPower notified dealers it would be halting all new shipments and project installations. The company also noted it would “no longer be supporting new Leases and PPA sales nor new project installations of these financing options.”

Utah is the ninth sunniest state in the country and has some of the best state-level solar incentives. The average Utah household can expect to save an average of $14,751 by switching to solar, and that’s after the panels pay for themselves. Deciding to go solar in Utah is a no-brainer, but choosing one of the 60 solar installers available in the Beehive State, on the other hand, can be tough.

To make your life a little bit easier, we’ve gone ahead and analyzed the top solar providers in Utah, using our expertise to rank them based on the equipment they install, their familiarity with solar power in Utah, the customer service they provide and more. Here are the seven solar companies in Utah that have the most to offer.

What Are the Best Solar Companies in Utah?

We’ve spent hours upon hours looking at different solar companies in Utah to recommend. The following seven are the ones we believe are the best solar companies in Utah as a whole:

  • Blue Raven Solar: Best Financing Program
  • Smart Wave Solar: Best Regional Installer
  • Mynt Solar: Best for System Customization
  • ES Solar: Best Local Installer
  • Creative Energies Solar: Best Customer Service

Compare Utah’s Top-Rated Solar Providers

Blue Raven is a excellent solar company in Utah. If you want to do business with a more Utah-centric company, check out Smart Wave Solar or ES Solar.

The following table provides a high-level overview of each company to give you a sense of how they stack up against one another side by side.

Solar Providers Superlative Our Score Avg Cost Warranty Financing Options Get Quote
Blue Raven Solar Best Financing Program 4.5/5 $$ 25 years for equipment and efficiency, 10 years for workmanship Cash or solar loan Get Quote
Smart Wave Solar Best Regional Installer 4/5 $$$ 25 years for equipment, production and workmanship Cash or solar loan Get Quote
Mynt Best for System Customization 4/5 $$ 25 years for equipment, production and workmanship Cash or solar loan Get Quote
ES Solar Best Local Installer 4.5/5 $$$$ 25 years for equipment and production, lifetime workmanship coverage Cash or solar loan Get Quote
Creative Energies Solar Best Customer Service 4.5/5 $$$$ 25 years for equipment and production Cash or solar loan Get Quote
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Blue Raven Solar

Best Solar Financing

Regional Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Read full review

Pros

  • Industry-leading in-house financing
  • Competitive pricing
  • Excellent reputation

Cons

  • Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Badge icon

Smart Wave Solar

Outstanding Local Installer

Local Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Pros

  • Installations include backup power guarantee
  • Outstanding customer service
  • Offers rewards for customer referrals
  • Great warranty coverage

Cons

  • Limited brands of solar equipment available
Badge icon

Mynt Solar

Outstanding Regional Installer

Regional Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Pros

  • Outstanding customer service
  • Speedy and efficient installations
  • Representatives are experts on local policies

Cons

  • Relatively young company
  • Limited power production warranty
Badge icon

ES Solar

Outstanding Local Installer

Local Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Pros

  • Representatives are experts on local policies
  • Lifetime workmanship warranty
  • Outstanding customer service

Cons

  • No leases or PPAs
  • Energy audits only available 12 months after installation
Badge icon

Creative Energies Solar

Solar Veteran

Regional Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Pros

  • Certified B Corp
  • Outstanding customer service
  • Many years of experience
  • Multitude of products and services

Cons

  • No leases or PPAs
  • Slightly expensive

Watch Below: Is Solar Actually Worth It? What’s True vs What’s a Myth

How Can You Save Money When Hiring A Solar Company In Utah?best solar companiesin utah

Utahns pay an average of $3.15 per watt for solar equipment and require systems that total around $25,200 before any incentives. Despite being below average for the U.S., this is still prohibitively expensive for many homeowners to pay initially.

Luckily, there are a few things you can do to keep your costs when searching for an installer and throughout the conversion process. We’ll discuss these money-saving tips below.

  • Make sure to take advantage of solar benefit programs
  • Choose a panel with a high efficiency rating
  • Get free quotes from a few different installers

Take Advantage of Utah’s Solar Incentive Programs

By far, the best thing you can do to bring down your effective solar panel cost is to file for all of the incentives you have available to you. The table below includes a quick look at some of the more beneficial incentives, but you can check out our complete guide to solar incentives in Utah for more information and instructions on how to apply for these.

Solar Benefit Program Program Description
Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) The federal solar tax credit is for 30% of your entire system value, including panels, batteries and inverters. The credit gets applied to your income tax liability, which means your tax bill will decrease by the credit amount. This can effectively save you an average of $7,560 in UT.
Utah Renewable Energy Systems Tax Credit (RESTC) This is a state credit that works similarly to the ITC; a certain percentage of your system value is credited to your state income tax burden and effectively reduces your system cost. The credit is for 25% of your system or $400, whichever is lower. This is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2023, so it will no longer be available in 2024 or beyond.
Rocky Mountain Power Wattsmart Battery Program This perk is for customers of Rocky Mountain Power only. It provides a rebate for solar storage solutions to bring down the upfront cost of installing a solar battery backup alongside your panels.
Net Metering Net metering credits you for the energy you generate that you don’t use right away and instead send to the electric grid. You can use your earned credits to reduce future bills for periods when you have to pull energy from the grid. The net metering program isn’t mandated in the state, so only some power companies will offer it.

Choose a Panel With a High Efficiency Rating

Another great way to save money in the long run in Utah is to choose a panel brand that has a high efficiency rating — like  Tesla, REC, Panasonic or Qcells. The efficiency rating is a measurement of how much of the available sunlight the panel can convert into electricity. The higher the rating, the more power your panels will generate in all conditions. This means that the more efficient your panels are, the fewer you’ll need to purchase.

The efficiency rating of your panels is important no matter where you live, but it’s especially crucial in an area like Utah. Utah property owners can experience wildly different climates depending on their area, with some receiving far more snow or rainfall relative to the rest of the country. The state as a whole sees around 60 inches of snow, which is more than double the national average, and some cities see far more than that.2

When significant snow falls on your panels, it will obstruct the sunlight from getting to them and reflect a good portion of it away from your home. A reduction in the available sunlight when your panels are covered will lead to overall lower amounts of electricity generated with your system, and high-efficiency panels can help maximize the amount you produce year-round.

This helps boost your long-term savings, which maximizes your return on investment.

Get Multiple Solar Quotes

Finally, we recommend calling a handful of companies to get estimates for your solar energy system. Utah is home to around 50 installers, all of which can come up with a different price for your system.

Most companies offer free quotes, and many can get roundabout estimates using satellite imaging of your property. You can get a few different prices without having to have multiple companies come out to your home.

We suggest getting a few quotes and then choosing the one that suits your budget and is likely to meet your energy needs.

You can use our solar calculator to get an idea of how much your solar system will cost and estimate how much you’ll save by going solar in Utah.

Will Solar Increase Your Home Value In Utah?

Yes! Converting to solar not only saves you an average of over $10,000 on energy bills after your panels pay for themselves, but your system will also raise your property value.

Research from Zillow suggests that homes with solar installed sell for 4.1% more.3 Given the average home value of $557,171, that’s a typical increase of approximately $22,844.4

In some cases, panels can make your home a bit less desirable to some buyers who don’t like the appearance of rooftop solar panels, if that is your worry there are solar shingle options like Tesla’s solar shingles that can be a good alternative to panels. However, Utah is a relatively eco-friendly state and has long been an adopter of renewable energy.5 It’s likely that more homeowners in Utah will be accepting of solar and see it as a valuable asset when buying a home.

Additionally, we should mention that solar is more popular in some areas of Utah than others. Heavy clean energy adopters include Alta, Park City, Oakley, Ogden, Moab, Springdale, Salt Lake City and more.6 Panels are popular outside of these areas as well, but you’re most likely to see the biggest property value bump in these areas.

Should Utah Residents Hire a Professional Solar Installer Or DIY?

It’s always tempting for prospective solar adopters to consider DIY solar installation. Doing the installation yourself is significantly more affordable, but there are a few reasons we strongly recommend hiring a professional instead. These include:

  • Panel efficiency is lower for DIY equipment
  • Permitting can be expensive and require strict adherence to the guidelines
  • DIY warranties are much less appealing

We’ll discuss these points in greater detail below.

Panel Efficiency Is Lower for DIY Panel Brands

One of the primary reasons we recommend against DIY solar installations in Utah is that the DIY panels available for homeowners to install have a much lower efficiency rating than professionally-installed options.

As mentioned above, efficiency is a crucial thing to consider in Utah. Although the Beehive State sees more sunny days per year than most states, snow coverage is also above-average in UT and will naturally decrease production throughout the winter.7 We recommend opting for professionally-installed panels to maximize production and long-term savings.

Permitting Is Challenging If You Lack Experience

All municipalities in Utah require solar panels to be permitted before installation. Pulling permits isn’t terribly time-consuming or difficult, but installing your panels according to your city’s guidelines can be a challenge, especially if you have no experience doing so.

Professional solar panel installation companies work with building departments every day and know how to get things done correctly the first time. If you choose a DIY installation to save money but don’t follow the permitting guidelines exactly, you could end up with a solar panel system that needs to be reinstalled or adjusted by a professional anyway.

We recommend going with a professional from the get-go. This will be more expensive, but you’ll at least know things are installed properly and safely.

Warranty Coverage is Lacking for DIY Solar Equipment

Finally, a DIY installation won’t come with any warranty for the labor, and the coverage for the equipment and power production is usually lacking.

A guarantee that your panels are installed properly is always helpful but especially in UT. Above-average amounts of snowfall and rainfall in the area can leave your roof prone to leaking and your photovoltaic (PV) system prone to damage. Ultimately, that damage can end up being far more costly than it would be to pay a professional installer in the first place.

Plus, you’ll likely pay around $10,000 for a DIY system and get between five and ten years of protection for your equipment and just a few years covering efficiency. Professional systems are about double the price once you factor in materials and labor, but you get protection for three times as long in many cases.

The peace of mind of hiring a solar professional is worth it in Utah, in our opinion, but you could also end up saving money, as the DIY panels would need replacement in a shorter amount of time.

What Should Utah Residents Look For in a Solar Installer?

top utah solar installers

With a wide variety of installers to choose from in Utah, picking the one that meets your needs and fits into your budget best can be a time-consuming process. There are a lot of factors you should consider when choosing an installer, but we’ll include what we believe are the most important below.

  • Warranty coverage
  • Local experience
  • Panel brands offered

Warranty Coverage Provided

First off, we recommend prioritizing the warranty coverage offered by different solar panel companies. Solar power systems are expensive in UT, so having a complete protection plan for yours can provide peace of mind and can end up saving you money if you ever need repairs or replacements.

We suggest prioritizing the warranties offered for efficiency and workmanship since UT doesn’t experience much in the way of extreme weather that can damage your panels.

These types of coverage will help ensure your panels produce sufficient energy to offset losses when it snows and will keep your home protected from the snow and rain that is so common in the area.

Breadth of Experience

Solar has become increasingly popular in Utah over the past decade, and with an increase in demand has come a slew of new installers popping up to capitalize. Unfortunately, young solar companies are far more likely to go out of business, at which point your warranties will be voided.

For this reason, we recommend choosing a company that has years of experience — at least five but ideally more than ten — in solar. This will also help ensure you get a company that understands the needs of Utah property owners specifically and will size your system appropriately for your energy needs and your property’s sun exposure.

Panel Brands Offered

Finally, we suggest looking carefully at the panel brands offered by the companies you’re considering. Every installer carries a specific set of panel brands that vary in their efficiency rating, durability and price.

We suggest prioritizing the efficiency rating of the panels offered first, especially if your roof is medium or small in size. High-efficiency options are more likely to generate enough energy to offset your electric bills in Utah, even through the winter, when production naturally drops due to snow coverage.

Next, we suggest sorting by overall price and the quality you get for the cost. Panels are a bit more expensive in Utah on a per-watt basis than they are in most other states, so opting for an affordable brand of solar panels that provides good quality is wise.

 

The cost information presented in this article is derived from a comprehensive analysis, incorporating data from multiple industry sources. The average cost per watt per state was calculated based on figures from Consumer Affairs, Energy Sage, and Berkeley Lab’s Electricity Markets & Policy Department. Additionally, monthly energy consumption and the average monthly cost of electricity were sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensuring a well-rounded and accurate representation of the information presented.

Methodology: How We Reviewed the Best Solar Companies in Utah

We analyzed a significant fraction of the 128 solar installers that work in Utah to bring you only the best of the best. Our analysis was fine-tuned to address the specific needs of Utah residents and optimized to select companies that work best for a majority of people.

The following list describes the six primary criteria we used to rank companies, including the individual weights we used to arrive at our final scores.

  • Local reputation and reviews (20%): Given the increased interest in renewable energy sources, Utah has seen major growth in its local solar industry. Some companies intend to capitalize on this boom without focusing on customer service and quality. We thoroughly examined customer reviews to identify companies that are consistent in delivering excellence and meeting or exceeding customer expectations.
  • Pricing and financing (20%): The cost of solar equipment is lower in Utah than it is in many states, but it is still a large investment for most households, with an average pre-incentive installation cost of $21,440. Companies that offer competitive pricing without compromising quality are given preference in our ratings. Additionally, with Utah’s range of income brackets, we also prioritize companies that provide various financing options that make solar energy more accessible to a larger fraction of the state’s population.
  • Services offered (20%): Utah has a varied geography and climate, which can affect the output of your solar panels. We rank companies that offer services like backup batteries, energy management systems and other add-ons higher than companies with fewer options. Electric vehicle (EV) charging systems are also growing in popularity in Utah, in particular, so companies offering EV charging stations score better in our lineup.
  • Warranty coverage (20%): Utah experiences a variety of weather conditions ranging from heavy snow in the mountains to hot summers in the valleys. We value companies that offer comprehensive warranties, especially workmanship warranties, that ensure your system is protected against a variety of weather-related damages. Efficiency and equipment warranties are also important to ensure the system performs optimally over time but have less variation between companies and therefore have a smaller effect on our ranking.
  • Company experience (10%): With Utah’s unique geographic conditions and regulatory landscape, experience in the local market is extremely important. We prioritize companies that have operated in the Utah market for a substantial period and understand the intricacies of the state’s solar industry. Their longevity often indicates a stable business and a better chance of honoring long-term warranties.
  • Brand quality (10%): We assess the quality of the brands offered by each provider, with a preference for companies that offer high-efficiency panels suitable for Utah’s varying conditions. A selection of brands that offer several cost-effective and high-efficiency options is also important for catering to different customer requirements in the state.

FAQ: Best Solar Companies in Utah

Below, we’ll answer some of the questions we see most frequently about choosing a solar installer in UT.

Blog author image
Article author
Dan Simms is an experienced writer with a passion for renewable energy. As a solar and EV advocate, much of his work has focused on the potential of solar power and deregulated energy, but he also writes on related topics, like real estate and economics. In his free time — when he's not checking his own home's solar production — he enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, skiing and rock climbing.
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Expert reviewer
Karsten is an editor and energy specialist focused on environmental, social and cultural development. His work has been shared by sources including NPR, the World Economic Forum, Marketwatch and the SEIA, and he is certified in ESG with the CFA Institute. Before joining EcoWatch, Karsten worked in the solar energy sector, studying energy policy, climate tech and environmental education. A lover of music and the outdoors, Karsten might be found rock climbing, canoeing or writing songs when away from the workplace.

Comparing authorized solar partners

EcoWatch rating
Average cost
Pros
Cons
BBB Rating
Year founded
Service Area
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
Warranty Coverage
  • 4.5
    • Industry-leading in-house financing
    • Competitive pricing
    • Excellent reputation
    • Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
    A+
    Best Solar Financing
    2014
    Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, SolarEdge, Silfab, SunPower
    25-year manufacturer warranty; 10-year workmanship warranty, 2-year production guarantee

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