Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated June 2024
A new solar energy system will provide you with a renewable power source that will eventually pay for itself. Adopting solar energy can help you save money and reduce your carbon footprint, but you want to make sure you find a qualified installer. Luckily, we've done the research and created a guide to the best and most dependable solar installation providers in Palos Verdes Estates.
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Award_winning
Services Offered
Free quotes
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Family-operated business
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
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 save money on electricity costs and help the planet by reducing your carbon footprint using renewable energy. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating if a solar installer is trustworthy.
Hiring a licensed solar installer is critical. This ensures that the work is done properly using current best installation practices. There are five distinct levels of solar contracting licenses in California: boilers, PV electrical, HVAC, thermal, and pool heating. To earn a license, an installer must complete a highly comprehensive educational series, gain four years of field experience, and pass written exams.
Check TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, and other review sites to see what past customers are saying about local solar providers. Detailed reviews on these platforms can help you evaluate a provider's integrity and customer service. Stay away from companies with few or mainly poor reviews.
Get free, detailed quotes from at least three solar companies. The quotes should outline all costs and identify the solar parts included. Comparing several quotes can help you find the option that best fits your budget.
Top-notch solar installations should come with strong workmanship and performance warranties. A workmanship warranty covers installation issues, such as cracks in the panels, poor wiring, or poor alignment. A performance warranty ensures a minimum energy output. Comprehensive warranties indicate that a solar company believes in its work.
Solar energy can help reduce your electric bills over time. When weighing the total price and value of solar panels, make sure to consider these factors.
The cost of solar panels varies based on system capacity and the technology being used. The average solar system in Palos Verdes Estates has a capacity of 2.8 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area should expect to pay around $3,470 per kilowatt; the average Palos Verdes Estates homeowners spends roughly $6,920 on a new solar system after accounting for federal tax breaks. (Some homeowners prefer to lease solar panels to reduce their upfront costs.) A personalized quote from a local solar installer will account for factors such as the panel type, size, and capacity of the planned system, and should include fees for permit fees, preliminary work, and labor.
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.
There are a number of benefits to home solar energy. You can raise your property values, qualify for tax benefits, 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 significant leeway to install your panels, though they won't reach peak performance until summer arrives.
Your payback period is the time to achieve an ROI on your solar panels. It will vary based on the rate your utility charges per kilowatt of power, their rated capacity, and the average sunlight in your area. Palos Verdes Estates has extremely high daily sunlight levels, so you could recoup your investment in as little as 9.2 years per 5 kW of rated capacity.
Net metering is a type of "power purchase agreement." If your utility or state offers net metering, you can sell the solar energy you don't use to your provider. In return, they'll give you a credit on your power bill.
While solar energy is a valuable option for many, it might not be ideal for homeowners in wet, dark areas. In these cases, you could consider other forms of renewable energy, such as wind or geothermal power, as a primary source. It is also important to speak to a qualified installer to determine if their solar system is compatible with the climate and environment of your area. Even if you choose a different form of renewable energy altogether, you'll still lower your emissions and could still qualify for distributed generation or other money-saving programs.
