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10 Best Solar Companies in Escondido, CA

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Written By David Cusick

Last Updated February 2024

A rooftop solar array will provide you with a renewable power source that will pay for itself in time. Solar power can cut your energy costs and lower your carbon footprint. However, it's important to choose a qualified solar installer. That’s why we’ve researched the options and assembled a guide to the most reliable solar installation companies in Escondido. These top providers offer high-quality and reliable services.

Our Recommended Providers

Best Overall
4.7/5
  • High-quality Maxeon solar panels
  • Nearly 30 years in business
  • Great customer service
Best Solar Panel Leasing
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 Escondido

SunPower by Milholland Electric

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1475 Cuyamaca St, El Cajon, CA 92020 (619) 732-1198 milhollandelectric.com

Reliable customer support

Free quotes

Clear pricing policy

Informative resources

Services Offered

Full-service
Residential panels
Financing assistance
Consultation
Tesla powerwall

Cosmic Solar and Roofing

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943 Poinsettia Ave STE 401, Vista, CA 92081 (760) 749-1111 cosmicsolar.com

Clear pricing policy

Informative resources

Reliable customer support

Free quotes

Services Offered

Financing assistance
Residential panels
Skilled repairs
Commercial panels
Maintenance
Battery storage
Permit assistance

Baker Home Energy

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2120 Harmony Grove Rd, Escondido, CA 92029 (877) 409-0341 bakerhomeenergy.com

Informative resources

Reliable customer support

Clear pricing policy

Services Offered

Solar panel upgrades
Financing assistance
Residential panels
Skilled repairs
Maintenance
Cleaning
Battery storage

Gen819 Roofing & Solar

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1235 Activity Dr STE E, Vista, CA 92081 (760) 420-0166 gen819.com

Informative resources

Prompt service delivery

Free quotes

Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Services Offered

Home installations
Integrated roofing
Skilled repairs
Energy storage solutions
Residential panels
Expert panel installation
Tailored solutions
Business installations

180 Solar Power

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334 W 3rd Ave, Escondido, CA 92025 (760) 264-4012 180solarpower.com

Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Free quotes

Family-operated business

Informative resources

Services Offered

Emergency services
Residential panels
Skilled repairs
Battery storage
Commercial panels
Cleaning
Financing assistance

G C Electric Solar

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934 S Andreasen Dr Suite E, Escondido, CA 92029 (858) 999-3929 usa-gce.com

Reliable customer support

Informative resources

Free quotes

Clear pricing policy

Prompt service delivery

Services Offered

Residential panels
Consultation
Commercial panels
Financing assistance
Permit assistance

Palomar Solar and Roofing

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1526 Sterling Ct, Escondido, CA 92029 (760) 504-0388 palomarsolar.com

Informative resources

Clear pricing policy

Free quotes

Reliable customer support

Services Offered

Commercial panels
Financing assistance
Solar panel upgrades
Residential panels
Battery storage

Sol Nova Electric LLC

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330 Rancheros Dr, San Marcos, CA 92069 (833) 765-6682 gosolnova.com

Clear pricing policy

Free quotes

Reliable customer support

Informative resources

Services Offered

Financing assistance
Commercial panels
Residential panels
Solar panel upgrades
Consultation
Permit assistance

Precision Solar

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979 Woodland Pkwy #101-28, San Marcos, CA 92069 (760) 884-6106 precisionsolar.net

Family-operated business

Clear pricing policy

Prompt service delivery

Informative resources

Reliable customer support

Free quotes

Services Offered

Solar panel upgrades
Commercial panels
Skilled repairs
Residential panels
Financing assistance

Higher Power Solar

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6105 El Tordo #145a, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 (858) 923-5279 higherpowersolar.com

Free quotes

Clear pricing policy

Informative resources

Reliable customer support

Services Offered

Maintenance
Off-grid solar systems
Solar panel upgrades
Battery storage
Consultation
Cleaning
Residential panels
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

Putting solar panels on your roof could reduce your electricity payments while helping the environment by reducing your carbon footprint through renewable energy use. Key considerations when looking at local solar installers are as follows.

Check Licensing

It's important to hire a licensed solar installer. This helps ensure that the work is done correctly using current installation best practices. There are five distinct levels of solar contracting licenses in California: boilers, PV electrical, HVAC, thermal, and pool heating. To earn a license, a contractor must complete a highly comprehensive educational series, gain four years of experience as an apprentice or journeyman, and pass written exams.

Read Customer Reviews

Check consumer review platforms like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, and Google Reviews to see feedback from past customers about local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a company's dependability and level of service. Use caution with providers that have very few reviews or mostly negative ones.

Compare Multiple Quotes

Call 3–5 solar companies for free, itemized quotes. A quote should explain all costs and list the solar equipment included. Reviewing multiple quotes helps identify the option that aligns with your budget.

Ask About the Warranty

Top-notch solar installations should include strong workmanship and performance guarantees. A workmanship warranty covers installation defects, such as cracks in the panels, poor wiring, or poor alignment. A performance guarantee ensures a minimum energy output. Comprehensive guarantees indicate that a solar company believes in its work.

Evaluate Financing and Incentives

Solar power can help decrease your electricity costs long-term. When weighing solar panel's cost and value, be sure to factor in these considerations.

  • Look into utility rebates: Local power companies may have extra discounts to motivate homeowners to install solar panels. Review the qualification rules and rebate amounts with your local provider to figure out your potential savings.
  • Compare system purchase options: Solar panels may be paid for outright or financed over time through a lease or loan. Verify all terms when financing, such as payment schedule, annual percentage rate (APR), fees, and ownership implications.
  • Research federal and state tax credits: There’s a 26% federal tax credit available for total solar system costs until 2032. Many states also provide incentives. The credits can add up to significant savings for solar buyers.

Cost of Solar Installation in Escondido

The cost of home solar panels in Escondido varies depending on several factors, including your system's expected capacity and the type of solar technology being used. Generally speaking, a typical solar energy system could range from $3,470 per kilowatt, not including labor, permit fees, or preliminary work. Most solar systems in Escondido are 2.8 kilowatts, and the typical Escondido homeowners spends $6,837 after accounting for federal tax refunds. Some homeowners may prefer to lease solar panels and reduce upfront costs.

Escondido Solar Incentives Guide

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 property The 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: 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: 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: 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: 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

Incentive Amount:

Locally determined

Incentive Type: Feed-in Tariff

Website: cpuc.ca.gov

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 Escondido, 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 heating system for your water.

With home solar energy, you can recoup the cost of the system over time, lower your home's carbon footprint, and gain additional energy independence.

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 lengthy window to install your panels, though they won't hit peak performance until summer arrives.

Of course. The grid in Escondido already uses a large share of renewable energy sources, and you may be able to sell your excess generated energy to your utility for additional cost savings.

You might be pleasantly surprised at how short it takes to get a return on investment from your solar panels. In perennially-sunny Escondido, you could make enough from your solar panels to recoup your investment in 7.4 years per 5 kW of rated capacity at maximum.

Net metering is a power purchasing policy that allows solar energy system owners to receive bill credits or payments for the amount of energy they put back into the grid. It's available in most states and is a great way to reduce energy costs.

Some frequently-used types of home solar panels in Escondido include polycrystalline, monocrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline panels are balanced and efficient, while polycrystalline and thin-film panels pair good performance with greater upfront value. Ask your local provider about which solar panels they work with.

Solar energy can be more efficient than other forms of renewable energy. They have inexpensive upkeep and today's systems can generate and manage energy under more conditions.

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