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10 Best Solar Companies in El Cerrito, CA

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Written By David Cusick

Last Updated June 2024

Year after year, more El Cerrito residents use rooftop solar panels to lower their carbon footprint and provide a dependable source of power. Making the switch to solar power can help cut your utility bills and lower your environmental impact. But you'll want to find a qualified installation company first. That’s why, after properly vetting installers, we compiled a guide to the most reputable solar companies in El Cerrito. These companies consistently deliver dependable quality service.

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Top Pick
4.2/5
  • Long warranty options
  • Insurance available on panels
  • Free Tesla Power Wall maintenance
Best Customer Service
3.9/5
  • Great customer service
  • Good warranty options
  • Excellent industry reputation

Top 10 Best Solar Companies in El Cerrito

Advertisement This site receives compensation from some of the companies featured in this listing, which may impact where and how products appear. When you click "Get Quote," you will be connected with partners who may contact you with information related to your inquiry. This listing doesn't feature all companies, products, or offers that may be available.

SunPower by The Solar Quote

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2819 W March Ln #154, Stockton, CA 95219 (888) 944-6765 sunpowerbythesolarquote.com

Reliable customer support

Informative resources

Free quotes

Clear pricing policy

Prompt service delivery

Services Offered

Battery storage
Grid-tied solar system
Panel installation
Consultation
Cleaning and maintenance

SunPower

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880 Harbour Way S Suite 600, Richmond, CA 94804 (510) 540-0550 us.sunpower.com

Clear pricing policy

Informative resources

Reliable customer support

Services Offered

Panel installation
Battery storage
Consultation

Clean Solar

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1445 Koll Cir, San Jose, CA 95112 (888) 551-7652 cleansolar.com

Prompt service delivery

Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Informative resources

Free quotes

Services Offered

Financing assistance
Battery storage
Consultation
Permit assistance
Tesla powerwall
Skilled repairs
Panel installation

Amy's Roofing and Solar

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320 Jewett Rd, Petaluma, CA 94952 (707) 981-9801 amyrs.com

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Reliable customer support

Clear pricing policy

Free quotes

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Skilled repairs
Solar panel upgrades
Cleaning and maintenance
Battery storage
Financing assistance
Tesla powerwall
Solar carports
Panel installation

Got Watts?

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2045 Commerce Ave, Concord, CA 94520 (925) 421-0411 gotwatts.com

Prompt service delivery

Reliable customer support

Informative resources

Clear pricing policy

Services Offered

Cleaning and maintenance
Financing assistance
Solar panel upgrades
Panel installation
Skilled repairs
Permit assistance
Battery storage

Cinnamon Energy Systems

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809 University Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95032 (408) 883-7000 cinnamon.energy

Reliable customer support

Clear pricing policy

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Services Offered

Solar panel upgrades
Skilled repairs
Tesla powerwall
Battery storage
Financing assistance
Cleaning and maintenance
Permit assistance
Consultation
Panel installation

Bella Hem Solar, Inc.

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7556 Windward Dr, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 (510) 629-0790 bellahem.com

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Battery storage
Consultation
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Skilled repairs
Panel installation
Cleaning and maintenance

Solar Gain West

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1661 Northrop St, Stockton, CA 95206 (209) 479-4897 solargaininc.com

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Skilled repairs
Solar carports
Panel installation
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Complete Solar

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3000 Executive Pkwy Suite 504, San Ramon, CA 94583 (877) 299-4943 completesolar.com

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Cleaning and maintenance
Financing assistance
Battery storage
Panel installation
Permit assistance
Skilled repairs
Consultation

TN Electrical and Solar Services

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1150 Murphy Ave #240, San Jose, CA 95131 (408) 229-3632 tnsolars.com

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Clear pricing policy

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Reliable customer support

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Grid-tied solar system
Panel installation
Battery storage
Consultation
Cleaning and maintenance
Solar panel upgrades
Today's Homeowner Ranking Methodology

Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on solar companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:

  • Company Experience
  • Real User Reviews
  • Company Reputation
  • Accreditations and Licenses
  • Service Area
  • Customer Service
Have questions about our methodology or company ratings? Reach out to FindAPro@TodaysHomeowner.com.

How To Choose a Solar Company

Adopting solar power lets homeowners lower utility bills while benefiting the planet by reducing your carbon footprint using clean energy. If you’re determining whether to go solar, consider these key factors for choosing an installer.

Check Licensing

Make sure you hire a licensed solar installer. This helps ensure that the work is done properly using current installation best practices. There are five distinct classifications of solar contracting licenses in California: boilers, PV electrical, HVAC, thermal, and pool heating. To earn a license, a contractor must take a highly comprehensive educational series, gain four years of field experience, and pass written exams.

Read Customer Reviews

Look at review platforms such as TrustPilot, Google Reviews, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to find out what previous customers say about local solar installers. Reviews can give you an idea of a company’s reliability and customer service. Avoid companies with no reviews or with predominantly negative feedback.

Compare Multiple Quotes

Get free, detailed quotes from three to five solar companies. The quotes should describe all costs and identify the solar parts included. Comparing several quotes can help you find the best value for your budget.

Ask About the Warranty

Quality solar installations should have comprehensive workmanship and performance warranties. The workmanship guarantee covers any installation problems such as cracks in the panels, poor wiring, or poor alignment. The performance guarantee ensures a specific energy output level. Strong guarantees indicate that a solar installer has faith in its installations.

Evaluate Financing and Incentives

Solar energy can help reduce your electricity costs over time. When considering solar panel's cost and value, be sure to factor in these considerations.

  • Compare system purchase options: Solar panels may be paid for outright or financed over time with loans or leases. Confirm key financing details like payment schedule, fees, annual percentage rate (APR), and ownership implications when choosing to finance solar panels.
  • Look into utility rebates: Some utility companies may provide additional discounts to incentivize homeowners to adopt solar power. Check the requirements and the rebate amounts offered by your local electric utility to estimate the possible savings.
  • Research federal and state tax credits: A 26% federal tax credit on the full cost of solar systems is available through 2032. Many states also offer incentives. These credits can result in substantial savings for solar buyers.

Cost of Solar Installation in El Cerrito

The cost of home solar panels in El Cerrito varies depending on several factors, including the area and generating capacity of your panel array and the type of panels you'll use. Generally speaking, a complete solar energy system costs $3,470 per kilowatt, not including preliminary work, permit fees, or labor. Most solar systems in El Cerrito are 3.0 kilowatts, and the typical El Cerrito homeowners spends $7,395 after accounting for federal tax refunds. Some homeowners may prefer leasing their solar panels to reduce upfront costs.

El Cerrito Solar Incentives Guide

Incentive Type: Property Tax Incentive

Website: boe.ca.gov

Incentive Amount:

100% of system value; 75% of system value exemption for dual-use equipment

Incentive Type: PACE Financing

Website: wrcog.us

Incentive Amount:

Eligible products can be financed for up to 25 years, depending on the useful life of the eligible product.
Minimum financing: $5,000
The financing may not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the market value of the property, up to the first seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000) of the property’s market value, and ten percent (10%) of the remaining value of the Property above seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000) minus any PACE assessment on the propertyThe total amount of any annual property taxes and assessments shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the property's fair market value, determined at the time program financing is approved.

Incentive Type: PACE Financing

Incentive Amount:

Locally determined

Incentive Type: Rebate Program

Website: selfgenca.com

Incentive Amount:

For projects 30 kW or larger, 50% of incentive will be received up-front; 50% will be received based on actual kWh production over the first 5 years. For projects under 30kW, 100% of the incentive will be paid up front.
Incentives will step down over time. See below for incentive amounts.

Incentive Type: Feed-in Tariff

Website: cpuc.ca.gov

Incentive Type: Feed-in Tariff

Website: ladwp.com

Incentive Amount:

$0.17/kWh adjusted by a time of delivery multiplier
Base price will step down over time as certain MW goals are met

Incentive Type: Rebate Program

Website: gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov

Incentive Amount:

Step 1 Incentive Rates (contact utility to determine current incentive levels):
Single Family Residential Incentives:
Systems that displace natural gas: $29.85 per estimated therm displaced
Systems that displace electricity or propane: Funding has been exhausted
Commercial/Multifamily Incentives:
Systems that displace natural gas: $20.19 per estimated therm displaced
Systems that displace electricity or propane: $0.42 per estimated kWh displaced *** Note, funding has been exhausted in this category for SCE and PG&E
Solar Pool heating: $5.00 per estimated therm displaced

Incentive Type: Personal Tax Credit

Website: ecowatch.com

Incentive Amount:

30% federal tax credit for systems placed in service after 12/31/2021 and before 01/01/2033. Good for: solar water heat, solar photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal heat pumps, wind (small), fuel cells using renewable fuels.

Frequently Asked Questions About Solar in El Cerrito, CA

A solar photovoltaic (PV) system can generate power to run any electric system or appliance in your home. A more specific example is installing a solar water heating system.

With home solar PV, you can save money on your energy bill, lower your property's emissions, and be better prepared if there's an outage to the local grid.

It depends on your home's location and what type of panels you're installing. With the winter months in California being very mild, you have a wide time window to install your panels, though they won't hit peak performance until summer arrives.

Your installer can give you an estimate of what your energy bills will look like after you install solar panels. Generally, your energy bills will decrease significantly because you'll be using energy from the sun for free, instead of buying energy from the utility company. The average annual savings in El Cerrito amount to $1,053.

The maintenance you'll need to do will vary based on the type of solar panels you have. At a minimum, you should clean and inspect each panel once per season. Your solar installer might offer comprehensive plans where they'll do the maintenance for you.

Solar panels are gaining traction for their low upkeep costs and high efficiency under a variety of conditions. Depending on how much sunlight your property receives, you may find they're the best performing source of renewable energy compared to others.

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