The desert oasis of Nevada currently ranks sixth in the country in solar generating capacity [1]. The state ranked 10th in this statistic in 2021 which demonstrates how eagerly Nevada homeowners are embracing the most popular form of renewable energy [2].
In dry Nevada residents enjoy a delightful 252 days of sunshine each year, which is 25 more than the national average [3]. With the cost of solar panels declining by more than 50 percent over the last decade, Nevada homeowners can now plan a solar installation knowing it will be a true money saver over the long haul [4].
Electricity prices have spiked in Nevada recently, reaching 17.16 cents per kilowatt-hour consumed in the spring of 2023 (up from just 13.57 cents per kilowatt-hour in August 2022) [5]. This is notably higher than the cost of electricity in the United States as a whole (15.85 cents per kilowatt-hour) [6].
A full-sized solar energy installation could eliminate most or all of these energy costs—which translate to a monthly electricity bill of $158 a month for the average Nevada homeowner—overnight [7].
While the upfront investment is significant, a recent study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that the average monthly payment for a solar loan is just $78 per month [8]. And Nevada homeowners who pass on loans and purchase rooftop solar panels outright can expect to save $24,432 on electricity over a 20-year period, which is a truly astounding and exciting figure [9].
Best solar companies in Nevada
Solar Company | Greentumble Rating Score |
---|---|
SunPower | 5.0 |
ION Solar | 4.8 |
Sol-Up | 4.7 |
Solar Optimum | 4.7 |
Sun Source Energy | 4.7 |
Sunrun | 4.5 |
IntegrateSun | 4.3 |
Elevation | 4.3 |
Palmetto Solar | 4.2 |
Nevada Solar Group | 4.0 |
Best solar company in Nevada: SunPower
Continuing a legacy that extends back to the 1980s, SunPower represents the cream of the crop among solar energy companies that manage installations in the state of Nevada. Based in southern California, SunPower specializes in western solar energy projects and has more experience installing high-quality solar panels in Nevada than any of its competitors.
For Nevada homeowners, SunPower offers access to:
#1 Industry-best solar panels: SunPower’s Equinox solar panels have achieved a sunlight-to-energy conversion level of 22.8 percent, which makes them the most productive solar panels in the industry.
#2 Comprehensive battery storage capacity: When merged with an Equinox solar panel array, the high-capacity SunVault Battery Storage system will allow you to complete your separation from the grid once and for all.
#3 Integrated systems installations: On its own or in conjunction with its sister company Maxeon, SunPower manufactures solar panels, inverters, mounting equipment and battery storage systems that are designed for seamless integration.
#4 Do-it-yourself installation planning: SunPower’s user-friendly Design Studio app will assist you in planning a customized solar installation for your home, which the company’s installation experts will then use as their guidepost.
#5 Personalized digital system control: Through the mySunPower app, you’ll be able to monitor your solar panel array’s performance and adjust its battery settings from your mobile device, whether you’re at home or away.
#6 Expert home evaluations: SunPower will dispatch an installation expert to your home to perform a complete evaluation of your rooftop and a thorough assessment of your solar equipment needs. This service is offered at no charge.
#7 Long-term warranties on everything: Because they are so confident in the superior quality of their services and equipment, SunPower offers clients a 25-year warranty that covers every aspect of their solar installation, including the solar panels and all supporting parts and labor.
SunPower has been handling small- and large-scale solar installations for decades, and that unmatched record of experience gives them the edge in Nevada.
Runner Up: ION Solar
After completing more than 85,000 solar panel installations in the United States and over 5,000 in Nevada, ION Solar has gained a universal reputation for professionalism and excellence. In Nevada their ascent to the top of the list of most respected solar installers has been rapid, which highlights their impressive knowledge of the market.
To put its clients at ease, ION Solar assigns a personal installation coordinator to each one. This person’s job is to manage each stage of a solar panel installation. ION installs superior-quality panels and equipment that meet the highest industry standards for performance efficiency, and their clients rave about both the quality and speed of their installation services.
ION Solar has earned an A-plus rating from the Better Business Bureau, which should reassure Nevada homeowners who want to deal with companies they know are reliable. ION also gains points for offering the most substantial warranties found anywhere in the solar industry: 30 years on its solar panels, 25 years on its microinverters, and 10 years on the quality of its workmanship.
How to choose the best solar company in Nevada
More than 100 solar energy companies are now doing business in Nevada [10]. This will give you plenty of options to choose from, and it will be up to you to narrow the possibilities down to a manageable few.
For starters, do your own research on what solar panels does your house need. You can watch this video we made to guide you when choosing what works the best for your needs. By having this background information, you will be able to narrow down your search for the suitable solar company and have an easier selection process.
You should solicit several bids, and compare them not just for cost but for their strength of their warranties, the quality of their solar panels and other equipment, and the willingness of their representatives to meet with you and answer questions in a direct and detailed manner.
You should be able to meet with their installers and not just with management, and those installers should be able to verify their training and experience during your encounters.
Competitive prices are important. But a bid that is much lower than those of other solar energy contractors should be viewed with suspicion, as it likely hides a lack of experience or an intention to cut corners on equipment and labor. Your choice should be a company that has been well-reviewed online by its clients, has a clean record with the Better Business Bureau, and has already successfully installed panels for homeowners in your area.
Choosing the right solar contractor requires diligence. You should read read all the fine print on any installation contract before you sign it, to make sure all expenses have been accounted for and that your rights as a solar energy consumer have been acknowledged.
Solar incentives in Nevada
The state government of Nevada has demonstrated an interest in promoting the growth of solar energy. Much of what has been done has been undertaken by the state’s utility companies, which offer locally and regionally based programs to encourage solar technology purchases.
If you decide to become a solar homeowners in Nevada, you may be able to take advantage of the following initiatives:
#1 Solar Energy Systems Incentive Program
Currently set to expire at the end of 2025, this legislative edict requires all Nevada utility companies to launch rebate programs to reward new solar homeowners [11]. The specifics of the rebate programs are left to the discretion of the individual electricity providers, meaning the help available to you will vary depending on where you live.
#2 NV Energy Storage Incentive Program
The state’s largest utility company offers a generous rebate to solar homeowners who add battery storage capacity [12]. NV Energy customers with a time-of-use rate plan who purchase solar batteries can receive a $3,000 rebate, while customers on other rate plans can claim a rebate of $1,500.
If their batteries cost less than $6,000 and $3,000 respectively, they will be limited to claiming half of the cost of their storage systems instead.
#3 Nevada Net Metering
Solar homeowners in Nevada receive credits for the excess electricity they reroute back to the grid, at a reimbursement rate of between 75 and 95 percent of the current retail cost of electricity (solar energy systems installed longer ago are rewarded more generously) [13].
#4 Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit
Anyone who installs solar panels on their rooftop or elsewhere on their property may be able to deduct up to 30 percent of the costs of the project from their federal income taxes [14]. The deductible amount would be less if your federal tax liability is less than that 30 percent figure.
Saving money from the sun in Nevada
Solar energy is ascending in Nevada, as its sun-drenched citizens are enjoying the money-saving wonders of a technology that restores their energy independence.
The potential for continued expansion is undeniable. According to a study by Google’s Project Sunroof, 95 percent of the buildings currently standing in Nevada are capable of supporting solar panels [15]. With electricity costs rising in the state, this should be welcome news to the state’s homeowners, who could benefit tremendously by switching to solar right away.
Factoring in the federal solar tax credit, the average cost of a solar panel installation project in Nevada ranges from $10,920 for a six-kilowatt system to $18,200 for a 10-kilowatt system [16]. The typical Nevada homeowner can expect their solar energy array to pay for itself through energy savings in 9.52 years, which is less than half the lifespan of a properly maintained solar power system [17].
Solar energy is a smart investment everywhere, but it is especially wise in locations that receive abundant sunlight, as is the case in Nevada.
[2] https://www.seia.org/sites/default/files/2022-09/Nevada%20State-Factsheet-2022-Q3.pdf
[3] https://www.bestplaces.net/climate/state/nevada
[4] https://www.seia.org/solar-industry-research-data
[5]https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/browser/#/topic/7?agg=1,0&geo=g0000000002&endsec=8&linechart=ELEC.PRICE.US-RES.M&columnchart=ELEC.PRICE.US-RES.M&map=ELEC.PRICE.US-RES.M&freq=M&start=200101&end=202208&ctype=linechart<ype=pin&rtype=s&maptype=0&rse=0&pin=
[6] https://www.energybot.com/electricity-rates-by-state.html
[7] https://www.electricchoice.com/blog/electricity-on-average-do-homes/
[8] https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/83586.pdf
[9] https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-panel-cost/nv/
[10] https://www.seia.org/state-solar-policy/nevada-solar
[11] https://puc.nv.gov/Renewable_Energy/Renewable_Programs/Solar_Energy/
[12] https://www.energysage.com/local-data/storage-rebates-incentives/nv/
[13] https://puc.nv.gov/Renewable_Energy/Renewable_Programs/Solar_Energy/
[14] https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-federal-tax-credit-solar-photovoltaics
[15] https://sunroof.withgoogle.com/data-explorer/place/ChIJcbTe-KEKmYARs5X8qooDR88/
[16] https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-panel-cost/
[17] https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-panel-cost/nv/