Astrawatt Solar Review: Costs, Quality, Services & More (2024)

Astrawatt Solar Review: Costs, Quality, Services & More (2024)

In this review of Astrawatt Solar (formerly RisingSun Solar), we’ll cover:

  • Is Astrawatt Solar a legit company?
  • What does the installation process look like with Astra Watt Solar?
  • Is Astra Watt Solar expensive?
  • What do customers have to say about Astra Watt Solar?

 

 

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Few other companies have witnessed growth as explosive as Astrawatt Solar’s — with hundreds of solar installations in just over six years and a plethora of impressive awards. This Astrawatt Solar review will explore important aspects of the company such as its offerings, pricing, customer experiences and more.

Is Astrawatt a Good Solar Company?

Formerly known as Risingsun Solar, Astrawatt is one of the fastest growing solar company in the United States, in fact according to its website, Astrawatt is the third fastest-growing solar company U.S., growing rapidly since its founding in 2016. Astrawatt combines the best of two worlds by being a large, organized company with solid credentials while still being a local company with expertise in city-specific policies and regulations. These qualities, along with an extraordinary warranty and competitive pricing, make Astrawatt a great solar power company.

What Should You Know About Astrawatt Solar?

Astrawatt Solar was founded in Kansas City, MO by solar professional Keith Murphy in 2016 with a mission of providing better solar experiences for customers. The company did that by focusing its sales process less on selling and more on educating customers.

Through honest, non-pushy marketing, Astrawatt rose to become one of the best solar companies in Missouri, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma — the four states it operates in.

In a remarkably short period, Astrawatt has garnered several accolades — the 2022 Sustainability Award by Best Company, a Momentum 100 award, the Kansas City Business Journal’s Fast 50 fifth-fastest-growing privately held company in the metropolitan area, and its name in the Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Companies in the U.S.

Astrawatt now also provides franchise opportunities to newcomers in the industry who want to benefit from its experience and expertise.

Astrawatt Solar Fast Facts
Year Started 2016
Service Areas Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma
Services Offered Solar panel and solar battery installations; energy efficiency audits
Types of Solar Equipment Offered Enphase, IronRidge, Panasonic, SolarEdge, REC, Silfab, Solaria
Certifications Tesla Powerwall certified installer; Panasonic Solar authorized installer; REC Gold Partner certified solar professional; Enphase Gold Partner certified installer; Evervolt certified installer, technicians certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP); member of Solar Energy Industries Association
Better Business Bureau Rating A+
Badge icon

Astrawatt Solar

Outstanding Regional Installer

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Pros

  • Comprehensive service offerings
  • Excellent reputation
  • Award-winning company
  • Educational, no-pressure sales approach

Cons

  • Limited service area
  • Relatively young company

AstraWatt Solar Services and Installation

Astrawatt Solar offers high-quality solar systems to homeowners who want to slash their electricity bills. The company also provides battery installations for resilience against power outages and is a certified installer for the popular Tesla Powerwall.

Astrawatt is a “vertically integrated” company, meaning it does not subcontract parts of its projects to other companies, but handle everything in-house. This includes design, engineering, permitting, utility net meter applications and the installation of solar systems.

Solar Installation Experience

Here’s a summary of what to expect when you choose Astrawatt to install your PV system (photovoltaic system).

  1. You’ll first submit your latest electricity bill, address and phone number to Astrowatt.
  2. Based on the analysis of your electricity consumption and house/roof layout, Astrawatt’s design team will determine how big a system you will need, how it will be laid out and what it should cost you. A salesperson will reach out to you with a proposal and answer all the questions you have.
  3. If you’re satisfied with the information and the pricing, you sign a contract and choose a purchasing option.
  4. Astrawatt will handle all the permits for your solar project applying for them at your local governing authorities. The company will also apply for available solar incentives and rebates you’re eligible for.
  5. Once the necessary permits are received, Astrawatt will schedule an installation date with you. On that day its installation crew and electricians will arrive at your house with all the equipment and tools to install your system. The installation should take one to three days based on the size and complexity of your system.
  6. The installed system needs one final approval from the local body, which conducts an inspection for regulatory norms and safety standards. Once you get the final nod, your solar panel system is switched on, providing you clean energy for around the next three decades while also bringing other benefits like increased home value.

Astrawatt Solar Customer Service

Astra Watt has made a name for itself in the solar industry thanks primarily to its impressive customer service. In Astrawatt’s own words, “We view our relationships with our customers and their experience working with us as the number one driver of new business.”1

Astrawatt Solar Costs and Financing

We’ve rated Astrawatt Solar’s costs at 3.5 out of 5 stars because the installer’s pricing is slightly on the higher side. However, most solar experts will tell you that when it comes to solar energy systems, you get what you pay for.

Astrawatt offers some of the best solar panels, inverters and batteries on the market. They’re installed by a trained crew with exceptional customer service. Altogether, despite the somewhat high costs, Astrawatt’s services are worth it.

Financing Options Through Astrawatt Solar

Choosing solar over your local electric company is a proven way to save huge amounts of money, but paying a few thousand dollars up-front can feel daunting. Most solar companies offer several purchasing options to choose from, including a number that require you to pay nothing up-front.

Astrawatt does not offer solar lease and PPA options, but it does offer a solar loan for those wanting to pay in installments. Below we’ve compared some important aspects of a solar installation from Astrawatt in terms of purchasing options.

Cash Purchase Solar Loan
System Ownership
Upfront Cost
Added Property Value
Eligible for Tax Credit
Payment Due to Solar Installer Loan Provider

Every purchasing model comes with its own advantages and limitations. Check out our guide on solar financing to figure out which option is the best for you.

Astra Watt Solar Panel Warranty

What makes Astrawatt so reliable as an installer is not just quality equipment and workmanship, but an incredible 25-year workmanship warranty. While other companies are offering 10-year — or even five-year — workmanship warranties, Astrawatt’s 25-year warranty asserts its confidence in the quality of its installations.

Besides the workmanship warranty, Astrawatt also passes through equipment warranties as provided by the original manufacturer. Solar panels and inverters typically come with a 25-year warranty, while the Tesla battery comes with a 10-year warranty.

Astra Watt Solar Reviews

Nearly all of Astrawatt Solar’s customer reviews are positive. The company frequently receives praise for its transparency and its informative sales approach. 

Positive Astrawatt Solar Reviews

Here are a couple of examples of the positive reviews Astra Watt has received:

“…[Astrawatt’s] designers and installers are experienced and incredibly qualified. It is so nice to have your system custom-designed to address your situation. Not only that, they are more than willing to help you find the appliances to fit your system. I had great discussions on heating and cooling systems and hot water heaters. The system went active in November and they were wonderful in getting permits with all the government bodies that regulate these installs…”

– Michael G. via Best Company

“Before selecting [Astrawatt, formerly RisingSun] to do our solar installation, I had interviewed and received several other quotes from larger companies in the Kansas City area. I decided to go with RisingSun because of their expertise and thoroughness in quoting and designing our system. They did a detailed analysis of our energy usage to size the system right for our usage (a very important detail!).  Their price was also extremely competitive. The installation of the system was flawless…”

– Jennifer M. via Yelp

Negative Astrawatt Solar Reviews

Although there are practically no negative reviews for Astrawatt, we could find a portion of a mixed review by a customer:

“…When the material arrived, there were some problems.  The order was not complete and some of the material was incorrect.  The installers corrected most of the problems quickly.  They started on Dec. 14 and completed all they could on Dec. 17…”

– Tom via Google

Solar Energy Provider Comparison

Below is a side-by-side comparison of Astrawatt and several other solar companies serving the lower Midwest and Texas regions.

Astrawatt Solar Zenernet Longhorn Solar
EcoWatch Rating 4.5 4 4.5
Year Started 2016 2017 2009
Services Offered Solar panel and solar battery installations; energy efficiency audits Solar panel, solar battery and EV charger installations; removals and reinstallations Solar panel, solar battery installations
Service Areas KS, MO, TX, OK CA, AZ, CO, TX, MO, IL, FL, NJ, CT, MA, RI TX
BBB Rating A+ A+ A+
Payment Options Cash, loan Cash, loan Cash, loan

Frequently Asked Questions: Astra Watt Solar (RisingSun Solar)

We’ve covered most of the most commonly asked questions about Astra Watt Solar throughout this review. If you have specific questions that weren’t answered here, reach out to our team of solar experts at solar@ecowatch.com.

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Article author
Aniket Bhor is a solar engineer who has spent nearly a decade studying and working in the solar power sector in the European, Asian and North American markets. He recieved his Master’s degree in Renewable Energies from Germany at Technische Fachhochschule Wildau. He has since worked in the industry in a variety of capacities including Solar Energy Consultant, Business Development Head, Solar Entrepreneurship Trainer, and more recently writing for solar organizations including Venuiti Solutions, Green Integrations, Solengy, Ecotality.com. Overall, he is a climate enthusiast and avid cyclist, and he also loves to lose himself in books and cooking.
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Expert reviewer
Andrew Dunn is a veteran journalist with more than 15 years of experience reporting and editing for local and national publications, including The Charlotte Observer and Business North Carolina magazine. His work has been recognized numerous times by the N.C. Press Association and the Society of American Business Editors and Writers. Andrew earned a degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as a certificate in business journalism and a minor in Spanish. He's also an avid outdoorsman, an Eagle Scout and volunteer leader in the Boy Scouts of America. He lives in Charlotte, N.C.