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Last Updated: February 25, 2025
Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular for San Clemente homeowners. A solar panel array can help you add value to your property, decrease your carbon footprint, and provide a dependable source of power. Adopting solar energy can lower your monthly energy expenses and shrink your carbon output. Before you get started, you want to make sure you find a reputable installer. That’s why we’ve researched the options and assembled a guide to the most reputable solar providers in San Clemente. These top companies consistently deliver high-quality and dependable services.
Our Rating
User Rating
Prompt service delivery
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Prompt service delivery
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Prompt service delivery
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Prompt service delivery
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
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:
Putting solar panels on your roof could lower your electricity payments while benefiting the planet by reducing your carbon footprint through renewable energy use. Key considerations when researching local solar installers are as follows.
Hiring a licensed solar installer is critical. This help guarantee that the work is done correctly using the most up-to-date installation methods. There are five specific levels of solar contracting licenses in California: boilers, PV electrical, HVAC, thermal, and pool heating. To earn licensure, an installer must complete a highly comprehensive educational series, gain four years of field experience, and pass written exams.
Check consumer review platforms like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and TrustPilot to see feedback from past customers about local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a company's dependability and level of service. Use caution with providers that have no reviews or mostly negative ones.
Contact three to five solar companies to get free, detailed quotes. Quotes should clearly outline all costs and specify the exact solar components included. By comparing multiple quotes, you can identify the best value based on your budget.
High-quality solar installations should include robust workmanship and performance warranties. The workmanship warranty covers any installation issues like cracks in the panels, poor alignment, or poor wiring. The output warranty ensures an energy generation baseline. Strong warranties reflect a solar provider's faith in its installations.
Solar power can help reduce your electricity costs long-term. When evaluating solar panel's cost and value, be sure to factor in these considerations.
Solar panel costs vary based on your system's capacity and the solar technology being used. The average solar system in San Clemente has a capacity of 2.9 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area should expect to pay approximately $3,470 per kilowatt; the average San Clemente homeowners spends roughly $7,006 on a new solar system after accounting for federal tax breaks. (Some homeowners prefer to lease solar panels to lower upfront costs.) A personalized quote from a local solar provider will account for factors such as the panel type, capacity, and size of the planned system, and should include prices for preliminary work, permit fees, 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 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 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: PACE Financing
Incentive Amount:
Locally determined
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 heating system for your water.
With home solar energy, you can save money on your energy bill, lower your home's carbon footprint, and gain additional energy independence.
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 San Clemente, the average amount someone can save is $922 per year. With net metering programs offered by many utilities, you could ultimately make a profit from your system after the payback period concludes.
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. San Clemente has extremely high daily sunlight levels, so you could recoup your investment in as little as 7.6 years per 5 kW of rated capacity.
Net metering is a type of "power purchase agreement." If your state or utility offers net metering, you can return the solar energy you don't use to the grid. In return, they'll give you a credit on your power bill.
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.
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