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?
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.”
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+ |
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Astrawatt Solar
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).
- You’ll first submit your latest electricity bill, address and phone number to Astrowatt.
- 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.
- If you’re satisfied with the information and the pricing, you sign a contract and choose a purchasing option.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Astrawatt Solar (formerly RisingSun Solar) has been in operation for over half a decade now, and operates legally with all the necessary certifications and licenses. It is also the recipient of several prestigious awards. It can safely be said that Astrawatt is a legit company.
If you consider Astrawatt’s remarkable warranty, competitive pricing and unmatched customer service, it becomes clear that Astrawatt is a great company and definitely a good deal for homeowners.
Every solar panel installation that is properly oriented and is done based on the energy needs of a house reduces your electricity bills by a significant amount.
Astrawatt’s pricing is not the lowest among the solar companies in the states it operates in. However, where solar is concerned, value for money is a better selection parameter than just prices quoted. Astrawatt has pricing that is slightly on the higher side, but considering its features and reliability, it should be described as competitive.
Astrawatt Solar began as RisingSun solar in Kansas City, Missouri, and now also operates in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. The company address is 3525 Roanoke Rd., Suite 110, Kansas City, MO 64111.
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