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10 Best Solar Companies in Solana Beach, CA

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Written By David Cusick

Last Updated February 2024

Year after year, more Solana Beach homeowners use rooftop solar panels to lower their carbon footprint and provide a dependable source of power. Adopting solar energy can allow you to save money and shrink your carbon footprint, but you want to make sure you find a trustworthy installer. Luckily, we’ve analyzed local solar providers and compiled a guide to the best solar companies in Solana Beach. These proven and dependable providers are smart choices homeowners can depend on.

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 Solana Beach

SunPower by Milholland Electric

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1475 Cuyamaca St, El Cajon, CA 92020 (619) 732-1198 milhollandelectric.com

Reliable customer support

Informative resources

Clear pricing policy

Free quotes

Services Offered

Tesla powerwall
Residential panels
Consultation
Financing assistance
Full-service

Action Solar

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6339 Nancy Ridge Dr #101, San Diego, CA 92121 (858) 266-9227 actionac.net

Informative resources

Reliable customer support

Clear pricing policy

Free quotes

Services Offered

Solar roof assessment
Permit assistance
Financing assistance
Consultation
Community solar projects
Emergency services
Cleaning
Residential panels
Skilled repairs

Sunline Energy

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7340 Trade St Suite H, San Diego, CA 92121 (858) 252-2280 sunlineenergy.com

Informative resources

Reliable customer support

Free quotes

Clear pricing policy

Family-operated business

Services Offered

Permit assistance
Battery storage
Tesla powerwall
Residential panels
Solar panel upgrades
Consultation
Commercial panels

Soltech Electric

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8910 University Center Ln #400, San Diego, CA 92122 (858) 243-7247 soltechelectric.com

Clear pricing policy

Prompt service delivery

Reliable customer support

Informative resources

Free quotes

Services Offered

Commercial panels
Financing assistance
Battery storage
Consultation
Residential panels
Solar carports

San Diego County Solar

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5145 Avenida Encinas Ste. A, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (760) 230-2220 sandiegocountysolar.com

Informative resources

Reliable customer support

Free quotes

Clear pricing policy

Services Offered

Residential panels
Financing assistance
Skilled repairs
Battery storage
Consultation
Maintenance

SolarMax Technology

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8825 Production Ave, San Diego, CA 92121 (619) 332-1696 solarmaxtech.com

Free quotes

Informative resources

Reliable customer support

Clear pricing policy

Services Offered

Battery storage
Financing assistance
Consultation
Full-service
Residential panels
Commercial panels
Permit assistance

Higher Power Solar

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6105 El Tordo #145a, Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067 (858) 923-5279 higherpowersolar.com

Reliable customer support

Clear pricing policy

Informative resources

Free quotes

Services Offered

Solar panel upgrades
Off-grid solar systems
Residential panels
Cleaning
Maintenance
Battery storage
Consultation

Unified Solar And Roofing

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7905 Silverton Ave Ste #113, San Diego, CA 92126 (858) 382-4532 unifiedsolarandroofing.com

Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Informative resources

Services Offered

Financing assistance
Skilled repairs
Residential panels
Battery storage
Maintenance
Cleaning
Commercial panels

Gecko Solar Energy | Solar Panels

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1902 Wright Pl #200, Carlsbad, CA 92008 (619) 826-6600 geckosolarenergy.com

Clear pricing policy

Reliable customer support

Free quotes

Services Offered

Battery storage
Off-grid solar systems
Solar carports
Commercial panels
Residential panels
Financing assistance

Butler Sun Solutions Inc.

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525 Stevens Ave W, Solana Beach, CA 92075 (858) 259-8895 butlersunsolutions.com

Prompt service delivery

Free quotes

Informative resources

Reliable customer support

Services Offered

Financing assistance
Commercial panels
Solar carports
Residential panels
Consultation
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 lower electricity costs and help the planet by reducing your carbon footprint using renewable energy. Here are some crucial factors to consider when evaluating if a solar installer is reliable.

Check Licensing

Make sure you hire a licensed solar installer. This help guarantee that the work is done properly using the most up-to-date installation methods. There are five distinct levels of solar contracting licenses in California: boilers, PV electrical, HVAC, thermal, and pool heating. To earn licensure, 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 Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, and other review sites to see what past customers have to say about local solar providers. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a provider's integrity and customer service. Stay away from companies with few or mainly poor reviews.

Compare Multiple Quotes

Call three to five solar companies for free, itemized quotes. These quotes should explain all costs and specify the solar equipment included. Reviewing multiple quotes helps you find the most cost-effective option for your budget.

Ask About the Warranty

High-quality solar installations should include robust workmanship and performance guarantees. The workmanship warranty covers any installation issues like poor wiring, poor alignment, or cracks in the panels. The output guarantee ensures an energy generation baseline. Strong guarantees reflect a solar provider's confidence in its installations.

Evaluate Financing and Incentives

Solar energy can help lower your electricity costs in the long run. When evaluating solar panel's cost and value, be sure to weigh these considerations.

  • Look into utility rebates: Local power companies may offer additional rebates to encourage homeowners to install solar panels. Check the qualification criteria and rebate values with your local power company to find out what your savings could be.
  • Research federal and state tax credits: A 26% federal solar tax credit on total system costs is available through 2032. Many states also offer incentives. These credits provide substantial savings for solar customers.
  • Compare system purchase options: Solar panels may be paid for outright or financed through a loan or lease. Check important financing details such as payment schedule, annual percentage rate (APR), fees, and ownership implications when financing your solar system.

Cost of Solar Installation in Solana Beach

The average Solana Beach homeowner will spend around $6,837 on a home solar system after federal tax refunds. Solar arrays in Solana Beach cost approximately $3,470 per kilowatt, with an average size of 2.8 kilowatts. An estimate from a local solar provider will include costs for permit fees, labor, and preliminary work, and will account for your system's size, capacity, and panel type. Some homeowners prefer to lease their solar panels to reduce upfront costs.

Solana Beach 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 Solana Beach, CA

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

There are many advantages of home solar energy. You can raise your property values, reduce emissions, and save money. With the right storage equipment, solar panels can also offer you further energy independence and offer some protection from power outages.

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.

Yes, it's possible to use home solar energy alongside conventional power sources. In many areas, solar panels are designed to supplement your existing energy sources, so you can reap the savings and environmental benefits of solar energy without having to completely switch over.

Your payback period is the time to achieve an ROI on your solar panels. It will vary based on their rated capacity, the rate your utility charges per kilowatt of power, and the average sunlight in your area. Solana Beach has extremely high daily sunlight levels, so you could recoup your investment in as little as 7.4 years per 5 kW of rated capacity.

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.

Yes, solar panels can still provide you with energy during a grid outage. To ensure that your solar system is able to keep working during a power outage, make sure to choose a quality solar provider and look for a solar system that includes a battery backup.

Regarding 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. As for insurance, your monthly premium may be slightly higher because solar panels increase your property's value. You should consult with your accountant or insurance agent for information specific to your case.

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