Top 6 Best Solar Companies in Utah (2023 Reviews)

How Can You Save Money When Hiring A Solar Company In Utah

Utahns pay an average of $2.68 per watt for solar equipment and require systems that total around $21,440. 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.

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 SunPower, 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 professional is worth it, 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?

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.

Best Solar Financing

4.5/5

Competitive pricingExcellent reputationIndustry-leading in-house financing

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Outstanding Local Installer

4.5/5

Representatives are experts on local policiesOutstanding customer serviceLifetime workmanship warranty

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Best National Provider

5/5

National coverageGreat warranty coverageMost efficient panels on the market

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Methodology: How We Ranked Utah’s Solar Companies

When we’re reviewing and ranking solar companies in Utah, we begin by looking at the factors we believe matter most to locals. We then weigh these factors based on how likely we believe they are to have an impact on your overall experience. Our weighting system is as follows:

• Solar Warranty & Customer Support (20%)

• Qualifications, Reputation & Certifications (20%)

• Solar Payment Options (15%)

• Experience (15%)

• Availability (10%)

• Solar Services (10%)

• Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Factors (10%)

A company meeting the industry standard for one of these factors would receive four out of five stars in that category, while a company exceeding it would get five stars. Since transparency is our goal 100% of the time, we never let commercial partnerships affect our methodology or ranking process.

Solar Warranty and Customer Support

First and foremost, we prioritize warranty coverage and customer support post-installation for Utah property owners. We believe companies that provide robust coverage help keep Utah residents protected from above-average amounts of snowfall and rainfall. They also help guarantee sufficient power production even in non-ideal conditions, which are common in the area.

We also read through dozens of customer reviews for each company to get a sense of how quickly and often they respond to warranty claims. A 25-year warranty for power production is great, but if the company doesn’t respond when you make a claim, then it’s not worth much.

Qualifications, Reputation & Certifications

Next, we look at the overall reputation of the company and any certifications that make it stand out. Utah is home to around 50 installers, some of which are new and have inexperienced solar contractors that can put your system and home at increased risk of damage.

Companies that have employees that are NABCEP-certified (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners), are accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and have other certifications like the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the Building Performance Institute (BPI) will always get ranked higher.

We also often knock points off in this category if a company has a history of customer complaints or lawsuits, like Vivint and Sunrun.

Solar Payment Options

Solar systems in UT average over $20,000 before tax credits and other benefits. At around the median income per individual in the area, this is far too expensive for most homeowners to pay for at once.⁸ That’s why we look for companies that offer good payment options to keep initial installation costs to a minimum.

Most installers accept cash purchases and solar loans from third-party financiers. Those that provide access to in-house financing with low downpayment requirements and affordable interest rates get bonus points in our rankings. Since we don’t typically recommend leases or PPAs, we don’t take points off if a company chooses not to offer them.

Experience in Utah

Next, we look at a company’s experience installing solar in UT, specifically. Utah is unlike a lot of states where solar is popular because it receives above-average sunny days per year but well above-average snowfall and rainfall as well.

Companies that have experience in Utah, specifically, are most likely to size your system appropriately. That means you could spend less upfront for a smaller system but also have enough power generation to maximize your long-term savings.

Companies that have at least five years in the industry receive four stars in this category, while those with over ten years working with solar get a perfect score.

Availability

Many installers operate in specific cities and their surrounding areas. This is common in Utah, where a significant portion of the population resides solely in the major cities. For example, more than a third of the entire state’s population lives in Salt Lake County.⁹

We consider the service area of each company and rank those higher that provide systems throughout the entire state.

Solar Services Offered

We always look at the services provided by companies as well, as more services and products offered means the company will appeal to more customers.

The industry standard we use is if a company offers panels and battery installations. Companies like Blue Raven — which only offers panels — rank below-average while those that provide full-service solar installations and power solutions get five stars. Some other things we look for include:

• Energy audits
• Electric vehicle (EV) chargers
• General and electrical contracting
• Solar monitoring

Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance Factors

Finally, as a website focused on environmental issues and eco-friendliness, we prioritize companies that have a positive impact on the environment, as well as the community as a whole. Companies that make charitable donations and are obviously committed to renewable energy as a whole rather than just profit get higher scores in this category.