Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular for homeowners in Foster City. A new solar energy system can help you provide a dependable source of power, decrease your carbon footprint, and add value to your property. Adopting solar energy can lower your monthly energy expenses and shrink your carbon output. Before you begin the process, you want to make sure you find a reputable installer. Luckily, we've reviewed the options and compiled a guide to the best and most trustworthy solar installation providers in Foster City.
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
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Reliable customer support
Prompt service delivery
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Family-operated business
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Informative resources
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Free quotes
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Prompt service delivery
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
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:
Going solar can be a great way to lower electricity costs and help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint using renewable energy. Here are some crucial factors to consider when determining whether a solar installer is reliable.
It's important to hire a licensed solar installer. This ensures that the work is done correctly using the most up-to-date installation methods. There are five specific types of solar contracting licenses in California: boilers, PV electrical, HVAC, thermal, and pool heating. For a contractor to earn a license, an installer must take a highly comprehensive educational series, gain four years of field experience, and pass written exams.
Check review sites like TrustPilot, Google Reviews, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see customer feedback about local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a company's dependability and level of service. Use caution with providers that have hardly any reviews or mostly negative ones.
Contact at least three solar companies to receive free, detailed quotes. Quotes should clearly outline all costs and specify the exact solar components included. Comparing multiple quotes helps identify the option that best fits your budget.
Quality solar installations should have strong workmanship and performance guarantees. A workmanship warranty covers any installation defects (such as cracks in the panels, poor alignment, or poor wiring), while a performance guarantee ensures a certain level of energy production. Strong warranties demonstrate a company's confidence in its work.
Going solar can help reduce your energy expenses over time. Be sure to consider these aspects when determining the cost and value of solar panels.
The cost of home solar panels in Foster City varies depending on several factors, including your system's expected capacity and the type of solar technology being used. Generally speaking, a complete solar energy system could range from $3,470 per kilowatt, not including labor, permit fees, or preliminary work. Most solar systems in Foster City are 3.1 kilowatts, and the typical Foster City homeowners spends $7,454 after accounting for federal tax refunds. Some homeowners may prefer leasing their solar panels to reduce upfront costs.
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 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 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
A solar photovoltaic (PV) array can generate power to run any electric system or appliance in your home. If you don't want to use solar power for your entire home, you can install 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 where you live and the kind of panels you plan to use. With the winter months in California being very mild, you have significant leeway 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 Foster City amount to $1,053.
Yes, solar panels can still provide you with energy during a grid outage. To ensure that your solar system is able to keep working during a power outage, make sure to choose a quality solar provider and look for a solar system that includes a battery backup.
The answer depends on your specific needs and goals. In most cases, monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient for homes in Foster City. However, if lowering cost is your top priority, then you could thin-film or polycrystalline solar panels. When selecting a solar company, make sure to ask about the different types of solar panels a contractor offers and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
