Top 7 Best Solar Companies in Arizona (2024 Reviews)

Tesla provides some of the most impressive technology available. Its panels have outstanding performance specifications and above-average efficiency ratings and work seamlessly with other Tesla products.

Tesla runs into some issues with customer service because it outsources its installations, but overall, we think it provides outstanding value for the money.

Why We Chose Tesla for the Best Technology

As one of the largest tech companies in the country, it should come as no surprise that Tesla puts out some pretty impressive technology. That includes its panels, which have efficiency ratings, temperature coefficients and efficiency degradation rates that are all better than average. It also manufactures the Powerwall, which is one of the best solar batteries on the market, especially for the money.

Tesla is one of the few installers that offer price matching, which means its average price is below average. Not only does the overall affordability make Tesla accessible, but the company also accepts cash purchases, loans, leases and PPAs to keep solar available to virtually all Arizona customers, despite above-average local installation costs.

Tesla also offers its solar roof shingles, which most manufacturers don’t produce. These are popular among Arizona homeowners who want to take advantage of solar energy but don’t like the look of panels on their roofs.

What We Don’t Like

The biggest downside to working with Tesla, in our opinion, is the potential for poor customer service. Tesla handles the manufacturing of all of its products, but it outsources panel installation to third parties. Those companies don’t go through a terribly rigorous vetting program, so some don’t offer the best service and can lead to delays in the process.

Tesla also only installs its own products, so there’s no variety, and you’ll be locked into a single brand rather than having your choice of a brand that meets your energy needs or budgetary constraints.

Read our full review of Tesla for more information.

Solar Products

As mentioned above, Tesla only installs Tesla-branded panels. These have better performance specs than most other brands, but this is a downside since you can’t optimize your system to suit your specific needs.

Tesla panels have above-average efficiency ratings that can help you take advantage of the abundant sunlight in your area. Most importantly, they have a below-average temperature coefficient, which means they’ll lose less efficiency in the hot Arizona climate than most other brands.

In addition to panels, Tesla also offers the following products:

• Tesla solar roof shingles
• Tesla Powerwalls
• Tesla EV chargers
• The Tesla app, which lets you monitor your home energy usage, your solar energy production, your solar storage and your EV charging all from one place

Financing Options

Tesla not only has below-average pricing and price matching, but it also keeps renewable energy accessible by accepting all four solar payment options.

As is the case with other installers, we strongly suggest a cash purchase for the highest long-term savings. If you can’t afford to pay for your system upfront — which is likely, given the high installation costs in Arizona — then we suggest a loan.

Leases and PPAs have lower returns on investment (ROI) and don’t let you take the ITC, an average value of around $9,000 in Arizona.

Warranty Information

Tesla’s panels come with three separate warranties, all of which are right in line with the industry averages. The equipment itself is covered for 25 years, the panel performance is guaranteed for 20 years and the labor is covered for ten years.

While this coverage is average, it’s not nearly as robust as what you’d find from companies like SunPower or ADT Solar, so it pales in comparison to the top-rated national providers. Generally speaking, though, your Tesla panels should last for around 25 years.

Click here for a free quote from Tesla.

Elevation Solar offers a more hands-on approach, and its representatives understand the local needs of Arizona customers and can help you file for local incentive programs to save money.

Elevation Solar doesn’t have as much experience as many other providers in the area, but we still feel it’s a reliable installer.

Why We Chose Elevation Solar as the Best Regional Provider

Elevation Solar services five states and is headquartered in Chandler, AZ. With nearly a decade of localized experience in the Valley and Tucson areas, Elevation’s representatives are able to provide a more customized and localized approach to solar in the Grand Canyon State.

It’s known for great customer service, and its representatives are willing and able to assist you in taking advantage of all of the solar incentives Arizona has to offer. Ultimately, that could mean additional savings you might not get with other providers.

The company has high ratings on Google Reviews and with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which also speaks to the company’s commitment to customer service.

We’re also pleased to note that Elevation provides quite a few efficiency upgrades and home improvements in addition to installing solar equipment. This is great news for Arizonans, who are often concerned with energy efficiency, given the extreme climate in the area.

What We Don’t Like

Elevation has under a decade of experience. While this might be enough to be familiar with local incentive programs, it also means it has less experience than many competitors that have been around long enough to garner a solid and long-lasting reputation.

Elevation Solar also only accepts cash purchases and loans, which means anyone who can’t afford an upfront purchase or qualify for a loan won’t be able to go solar with this provider. With Arizona’s large system size requirements and high total conversion costs, this can alienate a good portion of the population looking to go solar.

Solar Products

Elevation Solar installs panels from Tesla and REC. These are both great options for Arizonans, as they have above-average efficiency ratings to take full advantage of the abundant sunlight.

The REC panels will generate more power to offset your above-average energy bills, but the Tesla panels are a little more affordable and will likely keep upfront costs down. We would recommend REC panels for the efficiency and superior warranty unless you have a tight budget.

We’ll list the other products and services Elevation Solar offers below, which you can use to improve your home’s energy efficiency or customize your solar array:

• Tesla Powerwalls
• Generac PWRCells
• Smart home energy solutions, like Energy Star products and smart thermostats
• Energy efficiency home improvements, including air sealing and insulation replacement

Financing Options

Unfortunately, Elevation Solar only accepts cash purchases and solar loans, which means you’re out of luck if you’re looking for a lease or PPA.

In an area like Arizona, where the average installation cost is around $7,000 higher than the national average due to the required system size, we really love to see lower-cost and instant-savings options like leases and PPAs for accessibility.

Still, we do recommend cash purchases and loans over any other option.

Warranty Information

Elevation Solar provides outstanding warranty coverage to keep your system and your home protected from damage.

The coverage includes a 25-year warranty for the equipment and the panel performance. The equipment warranty is average, but the performance warranty is five years longer than most other companies offer.

You also get a 30-year workmanship warranty, which is outstanding and three times longer than most companies offer. This isn’t terribly valuable in Arizona, where rainfall and the risk of roof leaks from poor installation is minimal, but it’s still nice to have for the peace of mind.

Click here for a free quote from Elevation Solar.

Solar Optimum provides outstanding customer service and customer care. We’d strongly recommend considering Solar Optimum if you’re looking for industry-leading service and communication throughout the installation process.

Solar Optimum is quite expensive, but we feel it’s worth the investment for the service alone.

Why We Chose Solar Optimum as the Best for Customer Service

Solar Optimum is a regional company, but it’s still small enough to provide hands-on services, fast communication, rapid responses to warranty claims and unmatched customer service overall. If you’re looking for a company that will provide a small-town feel with the resources of a larger national provider, we think Solar Optimum might be the ideal installer for your solar project.

In addition to industry-leading customer service, Solar Optimum also offers excellent warranty coverage that meets or exceeds what you’d find from most other installers. The panel performance warranty, in particular, is helpful for making sure your panels continue to produce power to offset your above-average energy bills and continue to meet your energy demands.

Solar Optimum also accepts all financing options, so it’s going to be more accessible than companies like ADT Solar and Elevation Solar that don’t accept leases and power purchase agreements.

What We Don’t Like

In our opinion, the most significant downside of working with Solar Optimum is the price. It’s about the most expensive installer you can choose in Arizona, and while you get outstanding customer service for the money, it might not be worth the extra money to you.

Above-average installation costs are especially problematic in areas like Arizona, where larger and more costly systems are necessary to offset the high energy needs. Not only will your installation costs be higher than in most other states, but they’ll also be comparatively high within the state if you choose Solar Optimum.

Solar Products

Solar Optimum installs panels from Panasonic and Tesla, both of which are high-efficiency options that should produce plenty of power to offset the above-average electric bills in Arizona.

Of these two options, we’d recommend Panasonic if you’re looking for maximum energy production and Tesla if you’re looking to keep installation costs low. Panasonic panels have a peak efficiency rating of 22.2%, which is above what most other manufacturers offer. Tesla, on the other hand, has a lower cost per watt installed, so it’s better for budget-conscious Arizonans.

In addition to these two panel brands, Solar Optimum offers the following products and services, which are more plentiful than most other companies:

• Tesla Powerwalls
• Enphase IQ solar batteries
• Tesla and Enphase solar monitoring apps
• Roofing, which most installers don’t offer

Financing Options

Solar Optimum is above average in price, but it does aim to keep its products and services accessible by accepting all four payment options. We recommend choosing a cash purchase or solar loan if you can afford them and/or qualify, but the leases and PPAs are great $0-down options that most Arizona residents will be able to qualify for.

Warranty Information

Solar Optimum offers a comprehensive 25-year warranty package that covers panel damage, issues arising from poor installation technique and the panel performance. We love to see installers providing such robust coverage to customers, especially in areas like Arizona, where the investment into a solar array is quite a bit above the national average.

The equipment warranty is in line with the industry average, but the efficiency warranty is five years longer than most, and the workmanship warranty is 15 years longer than most.

Click here for a free quote from Solar Optimum.

Sun Valley Solar Solutions only operates in Arizona, so you’ll get the expertise of an installer that understands local power needs and can help you navigate state incentives and rebate programs.

This installer doesn’t have the best workmanship warranty and doesn’t accept PPAs, but we still think it’s an outstanding option.

Why We Chose Sun Valley Solar Solutions as the Best Local Installer

Sun Valley Solar Solutions is based right in Chandler, Arizona, and it has been servicing the surrounding areas, including Phoenix and Tucson, since 2006. Its representatives solely work with customers and systems in Arizona, which means they have experience with meeting the high local electricity demands and helping customers navigate local incentives and rebate programs.

The representatives at Sun Valley not only provide outstanding customer service throughout the installation process, but they’re also communicative and helpful afterward. If you have issues with your system or production or you need help filing for tax incentives and credits, you can bet that the reps will be there for you.

To match its localized customer service, Sun Valley Solar Solutions provides warranty coverage that’s in line with the industry averages. In fact, the power production coverage — which we believe is the most valuable in AZ — is slightly longer than what you’d expect from most other installers.

What We Don’t Like

While Sun Valley’s warranty coverage is in line with the industry averages, we’d love to see a better workmanship warranty, as it only lasts for ten years. This isn’t a huge deal since the risk of roof leaks in Arizona is low because of the minimal annual rainfall, but it is a minor downside.

As a small, local company, Sun Valley Solar Solutions also has a limited service area. If you don’t live in Phoenix, Tucson or the immediately surrounding areas, there’s a good chance this company won’t be able to service your home.

Finally, Sun Valley doesn’t accept PPAs, which limits accessibility a bit.

Solar Products

Sun Valley Solar Solutions provides access to quite a few panel brands, including SunPower/Maxeon, QCells and Tesla, three of the best solar panel brands available.

We strongly recommend the SunPower panels. Although they’re the most expensive, they also have the best performance specifications and are the most likely to meet and exceed your energy demands and save you money over time. If you’re looking for upfront savings, we’d recommend the more affordable QCells panels.

Sun Valley Solar Solutions also provides the following products and services:

• Tesla Powerwalls
• Generac PWRCell batteries
• Tesla solar monitoring app
• Commercial solar, including large solar carports and industrial solar projects.
• Solar panel service, removal and reinstallation services.
• EV charging station installations or electric hookup services for plug-and-play EV chargers.
• Roof replacement

Financing Options

Sun Valley Solar Solutions accepts cash purchases, loans and leases. Cash will provide the greatest savings over time, leases are the most accessible and solar loans offer a good balance between accessibility and long-term benefits.

Sun Valley doesn’t accept PPAs. We don’t recommend these anyway, as leases are nearly just as accessible and offer more savings over time, but it would be nice to have the option.

Warranty Information

Sun Valley Solar Solutions provides the average 25-year coverage for the equipment it installs and a slightly above-average 25-year warranty for the panel production, which is great to have in an area with high energy demands, like Arizona.

The workmanship warranty lasts for just 10 years. This is average, but it’s not nearly as impressive as the coverage you’d get from some other providers in the area.

Click here for a free quote from Sun Valley Solar Solutions.

Verde Solar Power provides outstanding customer service and high-quality products, all at prices that help combat the naturally high installation costs in your area.

The workmanship warranty isn’t ideal, and the company doesn’t accept PPAs, but it’s still an affordable company that delivers excellent customer care.

Why We Chose Verde Solar Power as the Most Budget Friendly

Most importantly, Verde Solar Power has below-average pricing. Affordability is important no matter where you live, but it’s especially crucial in areas where installation costs are unusually high, like Arizona.

Residents in the Grand Canyon State use more electricity than most Americans per month, which means they need larger and costlier systems to offset consumption. The average system in Arizona costs around $30,000 before incentives, compared to the $23,000 to $24,000 most U.S. residents spend. Verde’s relatively low per-watt prices help maintain more accessible conversion costs.

Verde Solar Power is also a small, local installer based in Cornville, AZ. Much like Sun Valley Solar Solutions, it offers excellent customer service and localized experience. Its techs and salespeople regularly help solar customers save more by taking advantage of solar incentives and rebate programs that larger companies may not have the resources to apply for.

What We Don’t Like

Verde Solar Power doesn’t accept leases or power purchase agreements, so while its low prices help make its systems and services more affordable than most installers, some customers still won’t be able to afford clean energy through this provider.

Additionally, Verde Solar Power only offers a 10-year workmanship warranty. This is in line with the industry average, but we’d still prefer to see an above-average warranty, especially since Arizonans pay more than most for solar panel systems and typically like to see robust coverage for their investment.

Finally, Verde Solar Power only offers one panel brand: SolarEdge. We usually prefer options so customers can choose what suits them best.

Solar Products

As mentioned above, Verde Solar Power only installs SolarEdge panels. These panels interface nicely with inverters to boost efficiency and overall performance, and they max out at an above-average 21.25% efficiency. However, they will lose more efficiency in Arizona’s hot climate, as they have a higher temperature coefficient (0.34%) than many other tier-one options.

Verde Solar Power also installs some other products, which we’ll list below:

• SMA inverters, which can route power from your panels to your home even in the event of a blackout, regardless of whether you have a battery installed.
• Solar batteries; the only options are small, mobile batteries that won’t be sufficient for powering your home but could be used for smaller applications.
• Solar water pumps.

Financing Options

Verde Solar Power accepts cash purchases and solar loans, which limits your payment options. Cash purchases are ideal in terms of savings over time, but they come with unrealistically high costs for many homeowners. Loans are a more affordable option, but they require that you have at least decent credit.

Leases and PPAs are more accessible but aren’t offered by Verde.

Warranty Information

Verde Solar Power includes a 25-year warranty for the equipment and the panel performance, which is excellent. The equipment warranty is average, but the production guarantee is slightly longer than average.

The company also offers a 10-year workmanship warranty. This is also average in the solar industry, but we generally prefer companies that have above-average coverage for the labor, as it instills more confidence in the work and provides more peace of mind for customers.

Click here for a free quote from Verde Solar Power.