Best Solar Companies in California

In solar energy, California is the king of all states and has been for quite some time. No American state has maintained such a consistent commitment to solar power or come closer to meeting its stated goals in the renewable energy sector.

At the municipal and state levels support for solar initiatives and incentives has remained strong, and this along with California’s warm days and naturally sunny skies has helped solar energy prosper.

California currently gets about one-third of the state’s electricity from renewable energy sources [1]. The percentage provided by solar is just slightly above 27 percent, according to the most up-to-date statistics [2]. On a nationwide basis the cost of a complete solar energy installation has declined by 53 percent over the last decade, spurring development in California as well as elsewhere in the United States [3].

More than 1.5 million California homeowners and business owners have gone solar already, and as impressive as this sounds it is only the tip of the iceberg of what is possible [4].

Research by Project Sunroof found that a stunning 91 percent of California buildings have roofs that could support solar panels [5]. This testifies to the enormous untapped potential for solar energy in the state, despite how far the technology has progressed already.

Best solar companies in California

Solar Company	Greentumble Rating Score
	5.0
Solar Optimum	4.8
Momentum Solar	4.7
Next Solar	4.7
Tesla	4.5
AWS Solar	4.5
LA Solar Group	4.3
Renova Energy	4.2
G C Electric Solar	4.0
Sunrun	4.0

SunPower – Winner

Headquartered in San Jose, SunPower honed its expertise in its home state, and while the company has become a force nationally it still has a special relationship with the people of California.

The company's understanding of the needs of California homeowners is unsurpassed in the industry, and it has proven its ability handle a full range of rooftop or ground-based installations on residential properties throughout the state.

Some of the factors that set SunPower apart from the competition in California include:

#1 Superior quality solar panels: SunPower solar panels meet the highest industry standards for energy efficiency and effectiveness. They have received even the highest rating on our list of the Best Solar Panels for Homes in 2023, specifically for their outstanding performance with 22.8 percent efficiency.

#2 Flexible and convenient home evaluations: The initial SunPower evaluation of your home’s suitability for solar panels can take place in person or online.

#3 Virtual installation simulations: The company’s innovative Design Studio app will let you construct your own customized solar array and show you exactly what solar panels will look like on your home.

#4 Fully integrated battery storage: SunPower’s Equinox solar energy system can be combined with the company’s SunVault Storage system to create the most comprehensive off-the-grid energy solution available.

#5 Minimalist design features: SunPower is a pioneer in the art of minimalism, as its streamlined, supremely well-designed products that blend seamlessly and unobtrusively with your home’s architectural design.

#6 Generous financing options: SunPower sponsors its own in-house solar energy financing program, which is designed to help all prospective solar homeowners get the financial support they require to proceed with their solar installation.

#7 Longest warranty in the business: SunPower’s 25-year warranty on equipment performance plus parts and labor is the most generous available in the solar energy industry, and the company is the only solar provider to offer full coverage for both solar panel arrays and battery storage systems.

The California solar market is the most competitive in the nation, and SunPower has risen to the top based on its sterling record of delivering superior services and high-quality products.

Solar Optimum – Runner-Up

Active in the California solar market since 2008, Glendale-based Solar Optimum has established a strong presence and impeccable reputation throughout the state, and throughout the southwestern region of the United States as a whole.

Solar Optimum has installed more than 300 MW of solar energy capacity for home and business owners in California, Nevada and Arizona, and currently offers its expert installation services through 11 offices located throughout Southern and Northern California.

From 2020 through 2022, Solar Optimum was named the top solar installer in the state of California by both Solar Power World and Panasonic.

Solar Optimum standout features include:

Solar Optimum is not just surviving but thriving in California’s highly competitive solar energy sector, which is a testament to the company’s professionalism and commitment.

How to choose the best solar company in California

Before choosing any solar company to handle the installation of panels on your home, you should check their reviews carefully to make sure their past clients recommend them highly. Ideally, you’ll find solar homeowners in your neighborhood or community who can share their first-hand experiences with different companies.

You should certainly seek out bids from more than one contractor before proceeding, so you can compare the types of service packages they can offer.

Your solar installer should impress you with their honesty and integrity, along with their willingness to stand behind their work and equipment with iron-clad guarantees. They should be upfront and forthright with you throughout the evaluation process, giving you a realistic assessment of what your final costs will be and of how long it will take them to finish the job.

When a California solar company’s representatives are communicative and open, and can offer you high-quality equipment backed by good customer reviews and years of experience,  they will earn your trust and your business.

Solar incentives in California  

California offers some generous incentives, credits and rebates to solar homeowners, including those who have already installed solar panels in addition to those who plan to do so in the near future.

Some of the highlights include:

#1 Disadvantaged Communities/Single-Family Solar Homes (DAC-SASH) Program

Homeowners classified as low income and living in economically disadvantaged communities in California are eligible for upfront rebates that can make solar panel installations more affordable [6].

#2 Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP)

Homes and businesses that install battery storage systems for solar energy can receive rebates of up to $200 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of stored energy capacity purchased [7].

#3 Equity Resilience Incentives

Homeowners classified as low-income, or who live in areas with high risk of fire, can receive additional benefits under the SGIP if they install battery banks to store solar energy. The rebate offered can go as high as $1,000 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of storage capacity installed [8].

#4 Solar Energy System Property Tax Exclusion

Running only through 2025, this special tax credit ensures a homeowner’s property tax assessment will not increase if they install rooftop solar panels [9].

#5 California Net Metering

Throughout the state of California, you can export any excess solar energy your grid-tried solar array produces back to your utility company in return for credits on your electricity bill [10].

#6 Municipal and County Governments Rebates and Energy Bill Credits

Many California communities offer extra financial incentives to encourage residents to install solar panels and/or battery storage systems. 

In addition to these California-specific benefits, all homeowners in the United States are eligible for the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This popular program allows you to deduct up to 30 percent of the cost of a solar energy system installation from your federal income taxes [11].

Becoming a solar homeowner in California

The state of California has set a goal of becoming 100-percent renewable energy dependent by the year 2045 [12]. Unlike other localities that have expressed similar ambitions, California has implemented policies that are fostering the growth of solar energy and other renewable technologies, to the extent that reaching this milestone seems fully achievable.

At the current time California residents are paying an average of $210 per month ($2,520 per year) for electricity imported from the grid, which is nine percent higher than the national average [13].

If you’re a homeowner in the state, solar panels backed by battery storage have the potential to rescue you from these prodigious energy costs. Solar power in California could mean energy independence for you and your family, saving you more than enough money in the long run to offset the initial costs of a solar panel installation.