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10 Best Solar Companies in Interlaken, CA

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Written By David Cusick

Last Updated April 2024

Solar is one of the most easily accessible forms of renewable energy for Interlaken homes. Switching to solar energy can lower your monthly energy expenses and decrease your carbon output. Before you begin the process, you want to make sure you find a trustworthy installer. That’s why, after conducting thorough research on installers, we compiled a guide to the most reliable solar companies in Interlaken. These installers offer excellent service.

Our Recommended Providers

Top Pick
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 Interlaken

Quality Home Services

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11485 Commercial Pkwy Ste. 10, Castroville, CA 95012 (800) 985-8103 qualityhomeservices.com

Clear pricing policy

Informative resources

Free quotes

Reliable customer support

Services Offered

Panel installation
Skilled repairs
Tesla powerwall
Battery storage
Cleaning and maintenance

Premo Solar

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11520 Commercial Pkwy Suite A, Castroville, CA 95012 (831) 215-5443 premosolar.com

Informative resources

Free quotes

Reliable customer support

Clear pricing policy

Services Offered

Tesla powerwall
Battery storage
Financing assistance
Panel installation
Consultation

Greentech Renewables Santa Cruz

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420 Kennedy Dr, Capitola, CA 95010 (831) 471-7410 cedgreentech.com

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Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Services Offered

Panel installation
Battery storage

Coastwide Electric

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16936 Cory Dr, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 (408) 500-9622 coastwideinc.com

Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Free quotes

Services Offered

Panel installation

Nomadic Solar

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1146 Soquel Ave #4203, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (831) 222-0119 mynomadicsolar.com

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Reliable customer support

Clear pricing policy

Services Offered

Battery storage
Panel installation
Solar panel upgrades

Solar Electric Supply, Inc.

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108 Whispering Pines Dr #235, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (831) 462-8243 solarelectricsupply.com

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Free quotes

Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Services Offered

Permit assistance
Panel installation
Grid-tied solar system
Off-grid solar systems
Solar carports
Consultation
Battery storage
Financing assistance

Solar Technologies Santa Cruz

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705 N Branciforte Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (831) 425-9431 solartechnologies.com

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Clear pricing policy

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Free quotes

Services Offered

Consultation
Financing assistance
Battery storage
Panel installation

Allterra Solar

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125-B McPherson St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 425-2608 allterrasolar.com

Reliable customer support

Clear pricing policy

Informative resources

Free quotes

Services Offered

Tesla powerwall
Panel installation
Financing assistance
Battery storage
Consultation

Sandbar Solar & Electric

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2656 Mission St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 469-8888 sandbarsc.com

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Reliable customer support

Clear pricing policy

Services Offered

Battery storage
Cleaning and maintenance
Consultation
Financing assistance
Panel installation

Scudder Solar Energy Systems

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3342 Paul Davis Dr, Marina, CA 93933 (831) 384-3900 scuddersolar.com

Free quotes

Informative resources

Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Services Offered

Panel installation
Solar carports
Financing assistance
Consultation
Tesla powerwall
Battery storage
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 evaluating if you want to go solar, consider these key factors for choosing an installer.

Check Licensing

It's important to hire a licensed solar installer. This help guarantee that the work is done properly using the most up-to-date installation methods. There are five different 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 Google Reviews, TrustPilot, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to find out what previous customers have to say about local solar installers. Reviews can give you an idea of a company’s trustworthiness and customer service. Be wary of companies with no reviews or with predominantly negative feedback.

Compare Multiple Quotes

Call at least three solar companies for free, itemized quotes. These quotes should describe all costs and specify the solar equipment included. Reviewing multiple quotes helps identify the best option that fits your budget.

Ask About the Warranty

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

Evaluate Financing and Incentives

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

  • Research federal and state tax credits: A 26% federal tax credit for the full solar system cost is available through 2032. Many states provide incentives, too. The credits can lead to substantial savings for solar buyers.
  • Compare system purchase options: Homeowners may purchase solar panels outright or finance payments over time with a loan or lease. Be sure to check key details like fees, payment schedule, annual percentage rate (APR), and what ownership means when financing solar panels.
  • Look into utility rebates: Some energy providers may provide additional rebates to incentivize homeowners to install solar panels. Check the requirements and the rebate amounts offered by your local electric utility to determine the possible savings.

Cost of Solar Installation in Interlaken

In Interlaken, solar panels cost an average of $3,470 per kilowatt, with an average system size of 3.1 kilowatts. The typical Interlaken homeowner spends $7,464 on their solar array after federal tax refunds. An estimate from a local provider will consider additional information based on your desired system's size, required preliminary work, capacity, and panel type. In some cases, homeowners may prefer to lease solar panels to reduce upfront costs.

Interlaken 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 Interlaken, CA

A solar photovoltaic (PV) array can generate power to run any electric system or appliance in your home. More specifically, you can install a solar water heating system.

There are many advantages of home solar energy. You can raise your property values, save money, and reduce emissions. With the right storage equipment, solar panels can also give you additional energy security and offer some protection from power outages.

It depends on your location and the kind of panels you plan to use. 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.

Yes, you can use home solar energy alongside conventional power sources. In many areas, solar panels are designed to supplement your existing energy sources, so you can reap the savings and environmental benefits that come from using solar energy without having to completely switch over.

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 Interlaken amount to $1,053.

While solar energy might not be the best performing choice for some in dark or wet areas, the latest generation of equipment and energy storage systems could boost your property's solar viability enough where you could achieve a return on investment. A contractor could also recommend a different primary source of renewable energy like wind or geothermal to boost your generation.

The answer depends on your specific needs and goals. Generally speaking, monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient for Interlaken homes. However, if you're looking at a more frugal option, then you could thin-film or polycrystalline solar panels. When you're gathering estimates, make sure to ask about the different types of solar panels an installer offers and the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Solar panels are on par with other forms of renewable energy. They have low maintenance costs and today's systems can stand up to the worst conditions.

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