Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Last Updated: February 25, 2025
Year after year, more Millbrae residents adopt rooftop solar panels to add value to their property and provide a dependable source of power. Going solar allows you to cut your utility bills and shrink your environmental impact. But you'll want to find a trustworthy installation company first. Luckily, we've reviewed the options and created a guide to the best and most dependable solar installation providers in Millbrae.
Our Rating
User Rating
Prompt service delivery
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Prompt service delivery
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Prompt service delivery
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Informative resources
Prompt service delivery
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
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:
Adopting solar power lets homeowners cut utility bills while benefiting the planet by reducing your carbon footprint using clean energy. If you’re deciding whether to go solar, consider these key factors for choosing an installer.
Verify that your solar installer is properly licensed. This helps ensure that the work is done correctly using current installation best practices. There are five different 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 complete a highly comprehensive educational series, gain four years of experience as an apprentice or journeyman, and pass written exams.
Check review sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, and Google Reviews to see customer feedback about local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a company's dependability and customer service. Use caution with companies that have barely any reviews or mostly negative ones.
To find a solar installer that works with your budget, ask for free, detailed quotes from three to five providers. The quotes should list all costs as well as all solar equipment included. Comparing several quotes helps you identify the option that best fits your budget.
Top-notch solar installations should have strong workmanship and performance warranties. A workmanship warranty covers installation issues, such as poor alignment, poor wiring, or cracks in the panels. A performance guarantee ensures a minimum energy output. Comprehensive warranties show that a solar company believes in its work.
Installing solar panels can help reduce your electric bills over time. When considering the total price and value of solar panels, be sure to consider these factors.
The average Millbrae homeowner will spend around $7,454 on a home solar system after federal tax refunds. Solar arrays in Millbrae cost roughly $3,470 per kilowatt, with the average residential solar system being 3.1 kilowatts. An estimate from a local solar provider will include costs for preliminary work, labor, and permit fees, and will account for your system's panel type, size, and capacity. Some homeowners prefer to lease 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
Generally speaking, a solar photovoltaic (PV) system can be used to power any household system or appliance that uses electricity. In the simplest case, you can use a solar water heater.
There are many advantages of home solar energy. You can qualify for tax benefits, save money, and reduce emissions. With the right storage equipment, solar panels can also provide you with further energy independence and offer some protection from power outages.
Generally speaking, your energy bills will decrease significantly after you install solar panels. This is because you're using the energy you generate for free rather than buying it from your power company. In Millbrae, the average amount someone can save is $1,053 per year. With net metering programs offered by many utilities, you could ultimately make a profit from your system when your payback period is done.
You might be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can get a return on investment from your solar panels. In perennially-sunny Millbrae, you could make enough from your solar panels to recoup your investment in 7.1 years per 5 kW of rated capacity at maximum.
With respect to taxes, the federal government offers a tax credit of up to 30% of the panels' cost. Depending on where you live, you could also claim or apply for state or property tax incentives. Regarding insurance, your monthly premium may be slightly higher because solar panels increase your property's value. You should speak with your accountant or insurance agent for information specific to your case.
The best type of residential solar panel depends on your specific needs and goals. For a typical home, monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient for houses in Millbrae. However, if you're looking at a more frugal option, then you could polycrystalline or thin-film solar panels. When you're gathering estimates, make sure to ask about the types of solar panels a contractor offers and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
