Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
A new solar energy system could give you a renewable power source that will pay for itself in time. Adopting solar energy can reduce your monthly energy expenses and decrease your carbon output. Before you begin the process, you want to make sure you find a reputable installer. That’s why we’ve reviewed the options and assembled a guide to the most dependable solar installation companies in San Fernando. These top companies consistently deliver high-quality and dependable services.
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Services Offered
Free quotes
Prompt service delivery
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Family-operated business
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Prompt service delivery
Free quotes
Services Offered
Free quotes
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Prompt service delivery
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Free quotes
Family-operated business
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Informative resources
Prompt service delivery
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
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 evaluating if you want to go solar, consider these key factors for choosing an installer.
It's imperative that your solar installer has the proper licensing. This helps ensure that the work is done properly using current best installation practices. There are five distinct types of solar contracting licenses in California: boilers, PV electrical, HVAC, thermal, and pool heating. To earn licensure, a contractor must take a highly comprehensive educational series, gain four years of field experience, and pass written exams.
Check review sites 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 reliability and customer service. Use caution with companies that have very few reviews or mostly negative ones.
Get free, detailed quotes from three to five 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.
Quality solar installations should have strong workmanship and performance guarantees. A workmanship warranty covers any installation defects (such as poor alignment, cracks in the panels, or poor wiring), while a performance guarantee ensures a certain level of energy production. Strong guarantees demonstrate a company's confidence in its work.
Solar energy can help decrease your energy expenses over time. Be sure to consider these aspects when determining the cost and value of solar panels.
The cost of home solar panels in San Fernando varies depending on several factors, including your system's expected capacity and the type of solar technology being used. Generally speaking, a typical solar energy system could range from $3,470 per kilowatt, not including preliminary work, labor, or permit fees. Most solar systems in San Fernando are 2.8 kilowatts, and the typical San Fernando homeowners spends $6,920 after accounting for federal tax refunds. Some homeowners may prefer to lease solar panels and 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) array can be used to power any household appliance or system that uses electricity. In the smallest case, you can use a solar water heater.
With home solar PV, you can save money on your energy bill, lower your home's carbon footprint, and be better prepared if there's an outage to the local grid.
It depends on where you live and what type of panels you're installing. With the winter months in California being very mild, you have a lengthy window to install your panels, though they won't achieve peak performance until summer arrives.
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 San Fernando amount to $863.
While solar energy might not be the best performing choice for some in wet or dark areas, the latest generation of equipment and energy storage systems could increase 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 ultimately depends on your specific situation. You'll be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to 30% of the system's cost, as well as state or local incentives depending on where you are. As for insurance, you'll need to inform your insurance company about your new solar panels. Your premium may increase due to added property values, but you'll have peace of mind if a covered event happens to the system.
The best type of residential solar panel will depend on your specific needs and goals. For a typical home, monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient for San Fernando homes. However, if lowering cost is your top priority, 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.
