Astrawatt Solar Review: Costs, Quality, Services & More (2025)

EcoWatch Reviews Methodology

I wrote this review of Astrawatt Solar leveraging my expertise as a veteran of the solar industry. I’ve researched and written about dozens of solar companies over the past four years, and I’ve leaned on that experience and knowledge in this guide to explain everything you could possibly want to know about Astrawatt Solar. I’ve also connected with industry professionals who have hands-on experience installing and promoting solar, so I’m intimately familiar with the process from start to finish, as well as the things to watch out for that could help identify a “bad egg” in the industry.

I analyzed the publicly available information about Astrawatt, including the equipment it installs, the financing options it offers, and the reviews it gets from existing customers. I also got firsthand experience interfacing with the company by acting as a secret shopper to assess its customer service and response times. I used my interactions with Astrawatt to provide insight and to supplement and verify the information available in customer reviews.

Finally, I used EcoWatch’s framework for analyzing and comparing solar companies to distill my analysis down into easily digestible scores in the following categories: standard services and financing, extra services, environmental impact and sustainability, equipment quality and reliability, company reputation, and customer service. These categories cover all of the important aspects of a company, and I analyze them one by one in separate sections to make my conclusions clear and understandable.

Astrawatt Solar: A Company That’s Growing Quickly

What I Like About Astrawatt Solar

There’s a lot I like about Astrawatt Solar. First and foremost, the company offers all of the standard products and services I expect to see from a high-quality solar installer. If you’re looking for a straightforward, no-frills solar system, Astrawatt Solar delivers in spades.

One of the coolest things about Astrawatt — and something I haven’t seen elsewhere — is that it offers three different options for scheduling a meeting with the company as a potential customer. Your options include a 15-minute phone call for quick questions, a 30-minute virtual meeting that goes deeper into discussing specific options for your home, or a comprehensive on-site visit once you want an accurate quote. Having these options makes it much easier for you to get in touch with the company regardless of where you are in the process of converting to solar. I think it’s a fantastic idea, and I hope more companies will adopt this approach for added customization and customer comfort.

Another thing I like about Astrawatt is that it offers a selection of solar panels and equipment from high-quality manufacturers like REC, QCells, SunPower (Maxeon), and Silfab. I like that Astrawatt gives you a choice between different brands since that makes it easier to tailor a system to your specific energy needs and budget. For example, you can opt to pay more for Maxeon panels to maximize your production and get ultimate peace of mind with a 40-year warranty, or you could keep costs down by sacrificing a bit of efficiency and warranty length and go with Silfab panels.

Companies without this flexibility often try to shoehorn customers into cookie-cutter system designs based on the manufacturers they partner with and not the brand that would suit the customer best. That approach often winds up costing you more money or prevents you from offsetting 100% of your electricity consumption. This won’t happen with Astrawatt, as it offers several options for the consumer.

I’m also impressed by Astrawatt Solar’s reputation as a business. The company gets excellent customer reviews on several sites, including 5 stars out of 5 and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), 4.1 stars out of 5 with Trustpilot, and 4.9 stars out of 5 on Google Reviews. It has a track record of providing solid customer support and addressing customer issues in a timely fashion. My (admittedly limited) interaction with Astrawatt corroborates its reputation as a friendly, responsive solar company.

Overall, Astrawatt is a solid solar installer that offers high-quality equipment and top-notch customer support.

What I Don’t Like About Astrawatt Solar

Even though I have a favorable opinion of Astrawatt in general, that doesn’t mean it’s all sunshine and rainbows.

I said in the previous section that Astrawatt excels at offering straightforward solar systems. The flip side of that statement is that they don’t offer much in the way of enticing extras or features that are nice to have. The company does install electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, but it doesn’t do its own roofing work or offer energy audits as part of its initial inspection. While neither of those services is strictly necessary, more companies are offering them these days, and they’re certainly nice to have.

Solar companies like Momentum Solar that provide roof services can serve as a one-stop shop for going solar, even if your roof is too old to make installing panels worthwhile. This helps avoid having to coordinate with a second company, which can create headaches and unnecessary delays. Companies like SunRun that conduct energy efficiency audits can help homeowners maximize the benefits they get from converting to solar and further reduce their electric bills and dependency on fossil fuels.

Astrawatt also doesn’t offer solar leases or PPAs, which limits your options if you’re on a tight budget. I’m torn about whether this is a pro or a con, but I decided its negatives outweigh its positives. On one hand, I don’t recommend leases or PPAs to most potential solar customers. On the other hand, if the only way you can afford to go solar is through a lease or PPA, not having the option means you’ll have to find a different company entirely. While I don’t recommend these financing options, having them available is, generally, a positive thing if the company doesn’t have a history of pushing them on customers, as SunRun does.

One final note is that Astrawatt’s availability is still relatively limited. The company has been around since just 2016, and it only has locations in 11 states. Obviously, that doesn’t matter to you if you live in one of the states within Astrawatt’s service area, but if you’re early in your search for a solar company, know that there might not be an Astrawatt location near you.

Astrawatt Solar Installation Process and Timeline

The Astrawatt solar installation process follows industry standards, with a typical timeline of one to three months from the day you sign your contract to the day your system is active and starts producing power for your home. Here’s a detailed rundown of what to expect throughout the process:

• Initial consultation: The first step is to schedule an appointment with Astrawatt for an on-site visit. Astrawatt typically schedules these visits quickly, so you shouldn’t have to wait more than a week or so for your visit, although wait periods depend on demand. Astrawatt will send a representative to your home to assess your home’s suitability for solar panels. This assessment includes measuring your roof and inspecting it for damage that needs to be repaired before you install solar panels. If you need repairs, you’ll have to hire a third-party roofing company because Astrawatt doesn’t do its own roofing work. Your technician will also need access to your water meter to check for proper grounding and your electrical panel to determine whether your home’s electrical system can handle the addition of a solar system. Plan to provide access to any area where interior components will go, like EV chargers. You should have some copies of recent electric bills on hand to give to your tech during this visit since the company needs information about your electricity usage to design your system and estimate your long-term savings.
• System design: After the initial consultation, Astrawatt will use the information it gathered to design a system tailored to your home. The company will try to use the space available on your roof to reach your desired level of offset. I recommend going for a 100% offset or more if you can afford to, as this will maximize your production and help eliminate or at least significantly reduce your electric bills for decades to come. Designing your system will take a few days. Once your design is complete, Astrawatt will reach out to you with your system’s specs and cost. If you like what you see and decide to go with Astrawatt, you’ll choose whether to pay in cash or to finance your system with a loan.
• Permitting: Once you sign your contract, Astrawatt will start the ball rolling by applying for permits from your local government. You don’t have to do anything during this step besides wait. Unfortunately, it can take anywhere from two weeks to one month or longer to get the permits and approvals you need to move forward with the installation. The waiting period depends on how quickly your local government moves, so there’s nothing Astrawatt can do to expedite the process. The company is known to maintain contact and keep customers updated during this period, which is a nice perk of choosing a company with good customer service. Once Astrawatt receives the permits and approvals you need, a representative will reach out to you to schedule your installation. How far out Astrawatt schedules its installations depends on the volume of jobs it has, but you should expect to get an installation date that’s within a few weeks.
• Installation: Astrawatt’s installations rarely take longer than a few hours, so you’ll only have to endure construction crews at your home for one day. Most installations take a few hours to complete, which is the standard throughout the solar industry. Astrawatt customer reviews suggest that the company’s installations tend to go smoothly, so you shouldn’t have any issues on installation day.
• Grid interconnection and final approval: After your system is installed, there’s one more step before you can turn your system on and start pulling power from your panels. Before you can activate your system, your utility company has to send an electrician to approve the work to ensure your system was installed correctly and safely. Astrawatt is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP), so it’s unlikely that you’ll run into problems at this stage. Assuming the electric company’s electrician signs off on the work, they will connect your system to the grid, and you’ll be ready to start benefiting from your new system.

There’s technically one more step, but since you can use your panels before it’s complete, it’s easier to think of it as an afterthought. Most local governments require a building inspector to approve your system after the installation. This approval involves a brief inspection of your system by someone from your local building department. If your system includes interior components like an EV charger, you’ll have to schedule the inspection so you can grant access to the area where they’re installed. If not, most building inspectors will just complete a drive-by inspection.

Astrawatt’s installation process is very similar to that of most national solar installers. The company’s customer service and responsiveness are better than what you’ll get from some of the bigger companies, but the overall experience is similar.

Astrawatt Solar Standard Services & Financing

20/25

Astrawatt Solar scores well in this category and only loses five points for not offering leases or PPAs. I mentioned briefly in the section on what I don’t like about the company that I’m torn over whether offering leases and PPAs matters that much. I’ll explain a bit more in the next section on financing. For now, all I’ll say is that it restricts access to solar for people on tight budgets.

Other than financing, Astrawatt scores full points in this section. It gets a full ten points for using in-house installation teams instead of contracting its installations out to third-party installers. In-house installations tend to go more smoothly and have fewer issues than third-party installations since the installation team is tightly coupled to the rest of the company. Communicating with a third-party installer is more difficult than interfacing with an in-house team, and you’re more likely to encounter delays when you need to coordinate your installation with a separate company. Plus, with an in-house installer, you always have a single company to hold responsible if something goes wrong.

I give Astrawatt five points for offering mobile app monitoring via the Enphase app, which lets you view your system’s production statistics and your energy usage patterns in real time. Virtually every solar company offers some form of system monitoring — either its own app or through one of the equipment manufacturers it works with — and I view it as a necessity at this point. Monitoring lets you detect problems with your solar system before they get out of hand, saving you money and headaches. If you notice that your panels aren’t producing as much energy as they were previously, you can reach out to Astrawatt and have someone come take a look.

Astrawatt also gets five points for installing solar batteries, which is something many smaller companies don’t offer. Solar batteries let you store electricity to use later, which means you won’t lose power during blackouts. Batteries also let you take advantage of the renewable energy your panels produce even when the panels themselves are not producing electricity, such as at night or on cloudy days. This can help smooth out your savings over time. Solar batteries have become more popular in recent years, so I consider them a standard feature and not merely a nice-to-have.

In fact, solar batteries are becoming more and more of a necessity because they help you save money if you don’t live in a state with a net metering program. Net metering programs (sometimes called net energy metering (NEM) programs) let you send extra energy your panels produce back to the grid for a credit. You can use those credits to offset electricity you pull from the grid at a later date, so you indirectly benefit from any electricity your panels produce, even above and beyond your usage.

If you live somewhere with a net metering program, I recommend not buying solar batteries since they’ll cost you $11,000 each, on average, and they won’t save you more money than you’ll save with net metering. You’ll get the perk of maintaining electricity during power outages, but for most homeowners, that small incentive isn’t worth the high installation cost.

Unfortunately, the trend over time has been to reduce net metering credits. Last year, California updated its net metering program from NEM 2.0 to NEM 3.0, reducing the credit solar customers get from excess energy by 75%. Early net metering programs paid customers the same rate for the electricity their solar systems produced that they would be charged to pull electricity from the grid, but that’s no longer the case in many places.

In the past, many states have followed in the footsteps of California regarding solar incentives, and I expect the same to happen with NEM 3.0. If your state has net metering, you’ll be grandfathered in at the current rate, so you won’t have to worry about rate changes down the line. If your state doesn’t have a net metering program, solar batteries will likely be worth the cost, in my opinion, especially if you live in a state with above-average electricity prices, like Hawaii or California.

Cost and Financing Options

Astrawatt Solar lets you pay for your system in cash or finance the purchase with a solar loan, but it doesn’t offer leases or PPAs. I agonized over how many points to take off for this but settled on five. Let me explain why.

I don’t recommend leases or PPAs to most people because they drastically reduce your savings potential compared to cash purchases and loans. The average U.S. homeowner who purchases their panels up-front with cash saves $31,513 over a 25-year period, according to our research. That savings is on top of paying back their system, which costs $29,970 on average. Financing your purchase with a solar loan reduces your lifetime savings by about $5,000 because of the interest you’ll pay on top of your system costs. That means that taking out a loan to purchase a solar system leaves you with $26,513 worth of savings in the long run, based on our data.

By contrast, leasing your panels will only save you roughly $5,000 over 25 years, and entering into a PPA will only save you around $4,000, on average. You’re effectively leaving between $20,000 and $25,000 worth of savings on the table if you opt for a lease or PPA. If you can afford to pay cash or get approved for a loan, you should, even though the up-front cost is significantly higher.

Another reason that I recommend cash purchases and loans over leases and PPAs is that the federal government offers a major tax incentive for people who purchase solar systems. If you buy your system up-front in cash or finance your purchase with a loan, you’re eligible for the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC). The federal ITC lets you claim 30% of your system’s total cost as a credit to reduce your federal income tax for the year when you have your system installed — or in pieces spread out over five years from the installation. For an average-cost $29,970 system, the ITC amounts to a potential effective savings of $8,991. You’d leave that on the table if you opted for a loan or PPA.

With that said, I understand that getting approved for a loan is not possible for some people, much less paying in full up-front. Leases and PPAs have their place since they’re the only ways some people can afford to make the switch. That’s why I decided to deduct five points from Astrawatt for this section. Leases and PPAs are often misrepresented by shady solar companies looking to make money on uninformed customers, but they’re also a legitimate way to make solar more accessible with the right installer.

Astrawatt Solar Extra Services Offered

1/5

I’ve already hinted that Astrawatt Solar doesn’t offer much in the way of extra services. The only service the company offers that I consider an add-on is EV charger installation. Electric vehicles are becoming more popular, so I like seeing that Astrawatt offers this. Of course, if you don’t have an electric vehicle and aren’t planning on getting one soon, this doesn’t matter to you.

Unfortunately, Astrawatt doesn’t offer any additional services and loses the four remaining points in this section. Some solar installers have in-house roofing teams that can repair or replace your roof if the initial inspection deems it necessary. It’s much more convenient to have your solar installer do any preliminary work on your roof because you don’t have to worry about scheduling jobs with separate teams. Often, juggling an independent roofing contractor and your solar company leads to delays.

Astrawatt also doesn’t perform energy audits or energy efficiency upgrades. Some solar companies can assess your home’s overall energy efficiency and highlight any improvements you can make to reduce the burden on your solar panel system once it’s installed. Typical improvements include replacing old windows and doors, upgrading outdated appliances to ones certified by the Energy Star program, and installing smart thermostats. These are worthwhile upgrades even if you aren’t switching to solar, but they can reduce the cost of going solar by helping you get by with a smaller system in some cases.

Finally, Astrawatt doesn’t monitor your system’s performance itself, which means that you’re responsible for detecting and reporting issues you notice through your monitoring app. Some companies are starting to monitor the systems they install remotely to help catch issues early and take the burden off of the homeowner. This isn’t strictly necessary since you should be able to detect problems yourself, but having a trained eye on your system is definitely nice.

Despite the score I gave Astrawatt Solar in this category, I want to emphasize that, overall, I think the company is a solid provider without any deal-breaking gaps in its service. While it doesn’t offer all of the latest and greatest services you’ll get from a larger company like Trinity Solar or Blue Raven Solar, it does provide the most essential services, in my opinion. Offering high-quality panels, solar batteries, and EV charging stations covers the majority of what most customers look for from a solar provider.

Astrawatt Solar Environmental Impact & Sustainability Practices

7.5/10

Astrawatt Solar is an environmentally conscious solar installer, something it makes clear by highlighting its environmental impact on its About Us page. Since its inception in 2016, Astrawatt Solar has installed more than 900 solar systems across 300 communities. Those installations offset the same amount of carbon as 8,841 acres of forest each year and have the same impact as reducing the emissions from more than 13 million miles of driving by the average passenger vehicle. Astrawatt is still growing, so its positive effect on the environment is likely just getting started.

Besides the direct impact Astrawatt’s installations have on the environment, it also sources its equipment from companies that have the overall sustainability of the solar industry in mind. Astrawatt Solar primarily installs panels from REC and QCells, and both companies have end-of-life (EoL) recycling programs and use recycled materials to manufacture new panels. The waste from solar manufacturing is a real concern for the long-term viability of residential solar, so it’s important for companies to support responsible manufacturers.

Astrawatt loses two-and-a-half points in this category for using panels and equipment that are manufactured overseas. That’s a potential problem because it makes it much harder to track supply chains to determine whether or not the equipment is actually made with sustainability in mind.

You can learn more about the overall sustainability of the solar industry by watching the video below.

Astrawatt Solar Equipment Quality & Reliability

16.9/25 

Astrawatt Solar’s equipment quality and reliability are decent, and its score of 16.9 is right around the industry average. To understand this section’s score, you need to have some background information about how I value and rank solar panels. The following bullet points explain the criteria I use to compare solar panels:

• Average efficiency rating: Solar panels are not 100% efficient as some energy is lost when converting sunlight to electricity. Most tier 1 residential solar panels have efficiency ratings between 20% and 22%. In general, the higher the efficiency rating, the better a panel is, although high-efficiency panels are more expensive than low-efficiency panels. This category measures the average efficiency of all of the panels an installer offers, including those made by different manufacturers. An installer that offers more panels with higher efficiency ratings is considered better. A company must have an average efficiency rating greater than 22% to receive full points in this section.
• Maximum efficiency rating:  This category is similar to the average efficiency rating but only looks at the highest efficiency option a company offers. A company that offers a wide range of panels might have a low average efficiency rating but a high maximum efficiency rating, meaning you’ll want to be a bit more discerning when it comes time to choose a panel brand from the company. A company’s score in this section is a convenient way to compare it to other companies quickly based on the highest efficiency panels each offers. To receive full marks in this section, a company must offer at least one panel with an efficiency rating of at least 22.8%, which represents peak efficiency in the industry.
• Negative/positive power tolerance: Solar panels come with a listed energy-production rating, but their real-world performance varies slightly. The positive and negative power tolerance ratings quantify how much a panel’s output varies in real-world settings. The average tolerance ratings in the industry are -0%/+5%, which means that a panel is guaranteed to produce at least as much as its output rating (-0%) and up to 5% more than that (+5%). Panels with ratings of -0% and at least +5% get perfect scores in this section. Lower quality panels typically have lower negative ratings — for example, -1% — and lower positive tolerances — for example, +3%.
• First-year degradation: All solar panels lose efficiency as they age. What might surprise you is that they lose more efficiency during their first year in operation than they lose in subsequent years. The lower the first-year degradation, the better. In practice, I consider any panel that has a first-year degradation rate of 1% or less to be excellent, and I score these panels the highest. Degradation rates are inextricably linked with efficiency ratings since a low degradation rate doesn’t matter as much if the panel starts out with a low efficiency. Conversely, a panel with a higher degradation rate may still be superior over the long run if it starts out with a high-efficiency rating.
• Subsequent year degradation: This category is very similar to the previous one. After the first year in operation, solar panels lose efficiency at a lower, steady rate per year. The average degradation rate in subsequent years across the industry is 0.33%. We consider panels with degradation rates below 0.25% to be excellent and give them the most points in this section. Panels with degradation rates between 0.26% and 0.33% still score well in our rankings but don’t receive full marks. We consider panels with degradation rates above 0.33% to be of slightly lower quality, so they lose the most points here. It’s worth mentioning that a panel with a higher degradation rate can still be a good option if it also has a high starting efficiency.
• Max wind load: You should pay close attention to a panel’s max wind load rating if you live somewhere that gets extreme winds. This rating measures how well a solar panel can withstand high winds without sustaining damage. Max wind load ratings are usually listed in units of pressure called Pascals (Pa), but you can easily convert them to wind speeds using this online wind load calculator. Solar panels with max wind load ratings of 3,000 Pa can withstand wind speeds up to 156 mph and are suitable for homes in areas with frequent extreme weather like hurricanes, tropical storms, or tornadoes. A wind load rating of 2,000 Pa means that a panel can hold up against 127 mph winds, which is still suitable for most areas. If you live somewhere that doesn’t experience high winds, you can get away with panels that have max wind load ratings below 2,000 Pa. Panels with max wind load ratings greater than or equal to 3,000 Pa get the most points in this section.
• Max snow load: The max snow load rating is similar to the max wind load rating but measures the maximum pressure a panel can withstand from piled-up snow instead of from sustained winds. It is also measured in Pascals. A max snow load rating greater than 7,000 Pa means that a panel can withstand up to 9.5 to 10 feet of snow safely. We consider panels with ratings of at least 7,000 Pa to be excellent and give them full points for this category. The average snow load rating across the solar industry is 5,800 Pa, but anything above 2,000 or 3,000 Pa is likely going to suit you unless your area sees heavy snowfall. Homeowners in southern states that rarely see snow usually don’t have to worry about this rating at all.
• Equipment warranty: Your solar panels will be protected by the manufacturer’s warranty regardless of what installer you purchase them through. The industry average equipment warranty lasts for 25 years, and we give panels with at least a 30-year equipment warranty the most points in this category. It’s important to understand that equipment warranties don’t cover labor, which is up to your installer to provide. It also doesn’t cover efficiency, which the manufacturer usually provides under a separate warranty. Equipment warranties are important because they protect you from faulty panels and manufacturing defects, but, in my opinion, they’re not as important as labor warranties that can protect you from roof leaks and water damage.
• Efficiency warranty: Efficiency warranties vary by manufacturer, so it’s important to choose a solar company that offers panels with an efficiency warranty that makes you feel comfortable. Many efficiency warranties last for 25 years, but you also need to know what level of power production they guarantee to assess their worth properly. For example, a 25-year warranty that guarantees your panels won’t fall below 80% of their listed production rating is not as good as a 25-year warranty that guarantees that your panels will maintain 92% of their initial efficiency. Power production warranties that guarantee around 90% efficiency after 25 years are excellent and get full points in this category.

With that in mind, we can look at the specific ratings for the panels Astrawatt Solar installs. I should point out that the company doesn’t specifically list the panels it installs on its website, but it does indicate that REC and QCells are common popular panel options that it provides. Third-party information from independent forums, like the solar community on Reddit, also indicates that REC is a common panel brand that Astrawatt Solar installs. 

Below are REC’s panel specs:

• Average efficiency rating: 21.62%
• Maximum efficiency rating: 22.6%
• Negative/positive power tolerance: -0%/+10%
• First-year degradation: 2.0%
• Subsequent-year degradation: 0.25%
• Max wind load: 4,000 Pa
• Max snow load: 7,000 Pa
• Equipment warranty: 25 years
• Efficiency warranty: 25 years

And here are QCells’ panel specs:

• Average efficiency rating: 21.23%
• Maximum efficiency rating: 22%
• Negative/positive power tolerance: -0%/+5%
• First-year degradation: 1.5%
• Subsequent-year degradation: 0.33%
• Max wind load: 3,600 Pa
• Max snow load: 8,100 Pa
• Equipment warranty: 25 years
• Efficiency warranty: 25 years

A quick glance at the above specs reveals that REC and QCells panels are quite similar. Their average and maximum efficiency ratings are within a few percentage points of each other, although REC has a slight edge in both categories. REC panels lose more efficiency in the first year but less in subsequent years than QCells options, but keep in mind that they start out with slightly higher efficiency, which makes them slightly favored over the long run. 

Both companies also offer durable panels that should be able to withstand virtually anything Mother Nature can throw at them, with REC’s panels being slightly more resilient against wind and QCells’ panels standing up better to heavy snow.

The only other difference worth mentioning is that REC’s panels have a higher positive tolerance than QCells’ panels. While that technically means that there’s a chance that panels from REC will outperform similar panels from QCells, it’s not enough of a difference to move the needle on its own.

If you’re worried about your budget, know that that QCells’ panels are a bit more affordable than REC’s. The typical price for QCells panels is $3.47 per watt vs. $3.67 per watt for REC’s panels, based on our research. Twenty cents per watt might not sound like much, but it adds up when you consider that the average system size in the U.S. is nine kilowatts (kW), which is the equivalent of 9,000 watts. That’s a difference of $1,800 in the final numbers.

Warranties and Guarantees

Whether you go with REC or QCells, you get a 25-year equipment and production warranty either way. However, there are slight differences between the energy efficiency guarantees you get from each company.

REC’s panels come with the following guarantees: 98.0% production after the first year and 92.0% production after 25 years. QCells’ guarantee is almost as good at 90.58% guaranteed after 25 years. Whether or not 1.42 percentage points is worth the difference in price depends entirely on your preference.

Most importantly, in my opinion, Astrawatt offers a 25-year labor warranty that covers the workmanship and solar panel installation labor. This is the only portion of the warranty coverage that comes directly from the installer, not the manufacturer, so it’s a positive reflection specifically on Astrawatt. A workmanship warranty ensures that your panels, inverters, and other equipment are all installed properly so as not to cause roof leaks or damage to your system. Roof leaks can lead to devastating water damage and massive repair bills, so the fact that Astrawatt offers this is outstanding. Plus, it’s longer than the industry average of 20 years.

Astrawatt Solar Company Reputation

22.5/25

Astrawatt Solar has an excellent company reputation and scores well above average in this category. The company has only been in business for eight years, which costs it one point, and it only has locations in 11 states, which costs it another point-and-a-half. Otherwise, it gets full points for its review scores and BBB rating.

I dock points for having a limited service area and under 10 years in business because companies often encounter issues as they grow, not because being a new installer or servicing only a few states are inherently bad things. Additionally, newer companies are more likely to go out of business if they struggle to adapt to a rapidly evolving industry like the solar industry, so longevity is a good sign that your company is around for the long haul (and you can count on their warranties).

Astrawatt maintains an A+ rating with the BBB and has a 5-star rating out of 5. The only caveat is that the company only has one review on the BBB website, which is unusual. In my experience, reviews of solar companies tend to skew toward the negative since disgruntled customers are more likely to go out of their way to air their grievances. One review is as small of a sample size as you can get, but I interpret the lack of complaints and negative reviews on the BBB website as a positive sign, even if there aren’t actual written reviews.

Astrawatt also gets good reviews on Trustpilot, with an average score of 4.1 stars out of 5 across 66 reviews. I’ll analyze Astrawatt Solar’s customer reviews in more detail in the next section, but for now, note that this is well above the industry average and showcases the kind of stellar customer service you can reasonably expect from Astrawatt.

Astrawatt is certified by NABCEP and is a member of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), which helps it stay up-to-date on the best practices for solar installers. I strongly recommend going with a NABCEP-certified installer since it increases the odds of having your installation go smoothly. Installation crews with NABCEP certification are held to a higher standard than those that lack certification, which is good news when you’re spending thousands on a solar system.

Consumer Reviews and Testimonials

The following sections examine Astrawatt Solar’s customer reviews. The company doesn’t have as many reviews as some older, larger solar companies, but it has more than enough reviews to extract some patterns and common themes.

Positive Reviews

Some of the common themes I found throughout the positive reviews include the following:

• High-quality equipment
• Professionalism throughout the entire process
• Good prices
• Efficient installation
• Responsive communication

Here is a curated list of reviews that demonstrate some of these themes:

“Professional, competitive pricing, with very good support. Two systems added to maximize solar output.” – Mark Wurtz on 5/1/23 via Trustpilot

“After much research and meeting with many companies, I felt Astrawatt was the most knowledgeable and informative. The installation was the best and the crew was exceptional — very friendly, polite and courteous. Such a fun project and all that I hoped it would be. This is definitely the company you should choose!” – Sue on 3/1/24 via Trustpilot 

“Astrawatt is great! They helped me through my HOA which were against solar panels over the course of two years. They proactively informed me when new law were enacted to allow solar panels despite such HOA. The installation itself took only two days and has been running smoothly since. They also helped answer some questions which helped me to get the tax credit. Overall great service and dedication.” – Eric on 3/1/23 via Trustpilot

“Astrawatt’s work crew has been responsive, proficient, and getting the job done the best they can, and that’s why I gave my second solar project to Astrawatt again. Thanks to the lady project manager who has been very attentive to my phone calls. Astrawatt’s Houston division CEO is professional and knowledgeable.

I [will] come back to Astrawatt for any additional solar needs.” – Paul Yin on 2/24/24 via Trustpilot 

Negative Reviews

A few of the negative patterns that emerged from my analysis of the negative reviews of Astrawatt Solar include the following:

• Weak project management
• Defective equipment
• Difficulty getting responses for problems
• Poor inter-company communication

The following reviews provide examples of specific customers who experienced some of those issues:

“Reid was very helpful when we installed our solar a year or so ago. Called to talk about adding batteries. I prefer an in-person appointment but was scheduled for an online appointment. That appointment was forgotten. Then Reid called back and said he would send a proposal based on the information I sent. It’s been 3 weeks without a word.” – Gary Rummel on 2/28/24 via Trustpilot

“After the install I had some issues and needed assistance. Had to make several calls about the issues. Finally got through & complained about the issues. They said someone would call me; no one did, then they would not answer the phone. (I know this because I called back from a different number and they picked up immediately). Finally had someone call back and he offered several solutions and said he could call back after speaking with higher ups. Again, crickets. Would never recommend this company.” – Jeri Van Regenmorter on 12/13/23 via Trustpilot

“No one contacts me when there is an issue with my system. It currently says it isn’t fully functional and after leaving a voicemail, they haven’t called back.” – Elijah Minnick on 2/1/24 via Trustpilot

“Your company made promises about the output of the solar and even put it in the contract and could never deliver the promise despite repeated complaints.” – Gail Pichowsky on 3/25/23 via Trustpilot

Astrawatt Solar Customer Service

8/10

Astrawatt Solar reviews paint a picture of a responsive company that values providing good customer service. Several reviews mention issues with scheduling, and a few complain about having to chase down representatives to get questions answered, but many more praise the company for having quick responses and excellent communication.

My only personal interaction with Astrawatt Solar is as a secret shopper. My experience was positive, albeit unremarkable. The representatives I spoke with were kind and helpful. I didn’t choose Astrawatt Solar when I was shopping for a solar system for my own home, but that was mainly because the company doesn’t service the area where I reside.

Astrawatt Solar Comparison

Here’s a table that compares Astrawatt Solar with two other solar providers of similar size serving in the same areas.

Who is Astrawatt Solar Best For?

Astrawatt Solar is best for people who can afford to pay for their solar system up-front or have good enough credit to get approved for a loan. As long as you’re okay with not getting some modern additional services like energy efficiency upgrades or remote monitoring, Astrawatt is more than capable of designing a high-quality system that meets your needs and, ultimately, saves you money over time. The company’s limited service area makes it less well-known than larger companies like SunPower and Blue Raven Solar, but the quality of its products and services is right up there with the best installers in the industry, in my opinion.

Astrawatt isn’t a great option for you if you need a low-cost lease or PPA since the company doesn’t offer either of those financing options.

The variety of panels that Astrawatt offers makes it easy to customize your system to prioritize long-term savings or to keep up-front costs under control. You can decide whether you’d like to splurge for REC panels to squeeze a bit more efficiency out of your system or go with a QCells system to save a bit of money up-front. Either option will serve you well in the long term, especially since both companies back their panels with 25-year equipment and production warranties.

What’s Next? 

If you like what you’ve read about Astrawatt Solar, your next step is to get in touch with the company. Astrawatt offers three different levels of appointments, so you can choose whether you want to go straight for an on-site visit and free quote or if you’d rather start things off with a quick call. This flexibility is refreshing and makes it easier to get started even if you aren’t ready to commit to a full-scale home visit.

Even if you think Astrawatt is the right company for you, I recommend scheduling appointments with other solar companies in your area as well. Having more information is never a bad thing, and getting multiple quotes from different companies makes it more likely that you’ll get a good deal. If you get similar quotes from several companies, you’ll feel more confident that the system you get is fairly priced and well-suited for your area.

Don’t worry if you’re still not sure if Astrawatt Solar is the right company for you. If you’re not ready to schedule any consultations, you can continue your research by reading some of our reviews of other solar companies. We have tons of reviews, including a review of SunPower and a review of Blue Raven Solar, as well as head-to-head comparisons between companies like SunPower vs. Tesla and Sunrun vs. SunPower.

We also have an overview of the best solar companies and a solar savings calculator if you need to take a step back and assess your move to solar in more general terms. Don’t feel like you need to rush to make a decision. Take your time and make the best choice using the available information. You have 25 to 40 years to reap the benefits of switching to solar. Waiting a few weeks or months to make sure you make a good decision won’t affect your savings much in the grand scheme of things.

When you decide to start calling companies and scheduling free quote consultations, don’t forget to have copies of your electric bills on hand to give to each company’s representatives. I recommend having enough electric bills to give each company enough data to see how your electricity usage varies by season, unless your power company includes history on your bills. You don’t want to size your system based only on your usage in the winter if you use twice as much energy during the summer.

One final note: Think about how your electricity consumption is likely to change in the future. If you’re thinking about getting an electric vehicle in the next few years, you might want to get a slightly larger system to cover the energy you’ll need to charge it at home. Similarly, if you’re planning on having more kids, you might want to account for a higher usage down the road since you should expect your solar system to last for at least 25 years.