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10 Best Solar Companies in Pinole, CA

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Written By David Cusick

Last Updated February 2024

Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular for homeowners in Pinole. A rooftop solar array can help you add value to your property, provide a dependable source of power, and decrease your carbon footprint. Transitioning to solar energy can reduce your monthly energy expenses and shrink your carbon output. Before you get started, you want to make sure you find a qualified installer. Luckily, we’ve analyzed local solar installers and put together a guide to the best solar companies in Pinole. These trusted providers are reliable options known for their quality 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 Pinole

SunPower Corporation

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880 Harbour Way S Suite 600, Richmond, CA 94804 (510) 540-0550 us.sunpower.com

Reliable customer support

Free quotes

Clear pricing policy

Informative resources

Services Offered

Consultation
Battery storage
Residential panels
Financing assistance

SunPower by The Solar Quote

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2819 W March Ln #154, Stockton, CA 95219 (888) 944-6765 sunpowerbythesolarquote.com

Informative resources

Clear pricing policy

Prompt service delivery

Free quotes

Reliable customer support

Services Offered

Maintenance
Battery storage
Consultation
Commercial panels
Residential panels

Ally Electric And Solar Inc

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855 Marina Bay Pkwy #280, Richmond, CA 94804 (510) 559-7700 allyelectricandsolar.com

Reliable customer support

Informative resources

Clear pricing policy

Free quotes

Services Offered

Residential panels
Commercial panels
Ev charger
Maintenance
Solar panel upgrades
Battery storage
Tesla powerwall

Save a Lot Solar

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1201 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94706 (833) 876-5272 savealotsolar.com

Prompt service delivery

Free quotes

Informative resources

Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Services Offered

Commercial panels
Battery storage
Residential panels
Permit assistance
Off-grid solar systems

Three D Electric

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4690 E 2nd St STE 4, Benicia, CA 94510 (707) 746-0349 threedelectric.com

Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Free quotes

Services Offered

Residential panels
Commercial panels
Consultation
Full-service

Solar Optimum

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6012 Egret Ct, Benicia, CA 94510 (707) 238-7300 solaroptimum.com

Reliable customer support

Free quotes

Informative resources

Clear pricing policy

Services Offered

Tesla powerwall
Financing assistance
Commercial panels
Solar panel upgrades
Residential panels
Battery storage

GRID Alternatives

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1171 Ocean Ave UNIT 200, Oakland, CA 94608 (510) 731-1310 gridalternatives.org

Reliable customer support

Informative resources

Services Offered

Residential panels
Battery storage
Commercial panels

Sun First Solar

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136 Mitchell Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94903 (415) 458-5870 sunfirstsolar.com

Reliable customer support

Clear pricing policy

Free quotes

Informative resources

Services Offered

Commercial panels
Permit assistance
Residential panels
Battery storage
Consultation
Emergency services
Financing assistance

Got Watts?

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2045 Commerce Ave, Concord, CA 94520 (925) 421-0411 gotwatts.com

Prompt service delivery

Informative resources

Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Services Offered

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

Bay Valley Solar Roofing

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1820 Arnold Industrial Way Ste A, Concord, CA 94520 (925) 428-6614 bayvalleyroofing.com

Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Informative resources

Free quotes

Services Offered

Skilled repairs
Emergency services
Commercial panels
Residential panels
Financing assistance
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

Going solar can be a great way to reduce electricity costs and help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint using renewable energy. Here are some key factors to consider when deciding if a solar installer is reliable.

Check Licensing

It's important to hire a licensed solar installer. This helps ensure that the work is done correctly using current best installation practices. There are five specific levels 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 experience as an apprentice or journeyman, and pass written exams.

Read Customer Reviews

Check review sites like TrustPilot, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Google Reviews to see customer feedback about local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a company's reliability and customer service. Use caution with installers that have very few reviews or mostly negative ones.

Compare Multiple Quotes

Get free, detailed quotes from 3–5 solar companies. The quotes should list all costs and identify the exact solar parts included. Looking at several quotes can help you find the best value for your budget.

Ask About the Warranty

Quality solar installations should have strong workmanship and performance warranties. A workmanship guarantee covers any installation defects (such as poor wiring, poor alignment, or cracks in the panels), while a performance guarantee ensures a certain level of energy production. Strong guarantees show that a company is confident in its work.

Evaluate Financing and Incentives

Solar energy can help decrease your electric bills over time. When evaluating the total price and value of solar panels, make sure to consider these factors.

  • Research federal and state tax credits: A 26% federal tax credit on total solar system costs is available through 2032. Many states offer incentives, too. The credits can lead to substantial savings for solar buyers.
  • Compare system purchase options: Solar panels may be paid for upfront or financed over time with leases or loans. Check key financing details like payment schedule, fees, annual percentage rate (APR), and ownership implications when financing solar panels.
  • Look into utility rebates: Local power companies may offer additional rebates to encourage homeowners to adopt solar panels. Check the eligibility rules and rebate values with your local utility provider to find out what your savings could be.

Cost of Solar Installation in Pinole

Pinole homeowners typically spend about $7,395 on home solar systems after federal tax refunds. Solar arrays in Pinole cost roughly $3,470 per kilowatt, with the average residential solar system being 3.0 kilowatts. A personalized estimate from a local solar provider will include costs for preliminary work, labor, and permit fees, and will account for your system's capacity, size, and panel type. Some homeowners prefer to lease their solar panels to reduce upfront costs.

Pinole 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 Pinole, CA

Generally speaking, a solar photovoltaic (PV) array can be used to power any household appliance or system that uses electricity. In the simplest case, you can use a solar water heater.

With home solar panels, you can save money on your energy bill, lower your home's carbon footprint, and gain additional energy independence.

It depends on your home's 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 achieve peak performance until summer arrives.

Your payback period is the time to achieve an ROI on your solar panels. It will vary based on their rated capacity, the average sunlight in your area, and the rate your utility charges per kilowatt of power. Pinole has extremely high daily sunlight levels, so you could recoup your investment in as little as 7.0 years per 5 kW of rated capacity.

Your recommended maintenance will vary based on the type of solar panels you have. With any system, you should clean and inspect each panel every three months. Your solar energy company might offer comprehensive plans where they'll do the maintenance on your behalf.

Net metering is a power purchasing policy that allows solar energy system owners to get paid 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.

The answer will depend on your specific needs and goals. Generally, monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient for Pinole homes. However, if you're looking at a more frugal option, then you could polycrystalline or thin-film solar panels. When selecting a solar company, make sure to ask about the brand names and models of solar panels an installer offers and the benefits and drawbacks of each.

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