Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular for homeowners in Summit. A new solar energy system can help you provide a dependable source of power, decrease your carbon footprint, and add value to your property. Going solar can help cut your utility bills and reduce your environmental impact. But you'll want to find a qualified installation company first. That’s why, after conducting thorough research on installers, we assembled a guide to the most trusted solar companies in Summit. These installers have a reputation for high-quality service.
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Family-operated business
Free quotes
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Free quotes
Informative resources
Prompt service delivery
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Prompt service delivery
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
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:
Installing solar panels can cut your electricity costs and help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. When deciding if a solar provider is the best option for you, consider these key factors.
Hiring a licensed solar installer is critical. This ensures that the work is done properly using current installation best practices. Licensing requirements mean that your New Jersey solar installation team will likely have a variety of different professionals, including . The most experienced professionals on the team will also liaise with your local government and utility on permit matters.
Check the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, 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 reliability and customer service. Be wary of providers with few or mainly poor reviews.
To find a solar installer that works with your budget, get free, detailed quotes from at least three providers. The quotes should list all costs as well as all solar equipment included. Looking at several quotes helps you identify the option that best fits your budget.
Top-notch solar installations should include strong workmanship and performance warranties. A workmanship guarantee covers installation defects, such as cracks in the panels, poor alignment, or poor wiring. A performance warranty guarantees a minimum energy output. Comprehensive guarantees show that a solar company believes in its work.
Solar energy can help decrease your electricity costs long-term. When evaluating solar panel's cost and value, be sure to factor in these considerations.
Summit homeowners typically spend about $11,528 on home solar systems after federal tax refunds. Solar arrays in Summit cost approximately $3,530 per kilowatt, with the average residential solar system being 4.7 kilowatts. An estimate from a local solar provider will include costs for labor, permit fees, and preliminary work, and will account for your system's capacity, size, and panel type. Some homeowners prefer to lease their solar panels in order to reduce upfront costs.
Incentive Type: Sales Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
100% exemption
Incentive Amount:
Net-Metered Residential: $90/SREC-II
Small Net-Metered Non-Residential located on Rooftop, Carport, Canopy and Floating Solar
Projects smaller than 1 MW (dc): $100/SREC-II, $120 for public entities
Projects 1 MW to 5 MW (dc): $90/SREC-II, $110 for public entities
Net Metered Non-Residential Ground Mount
Projects smaller than 1 MW (dc): $85/SREC-II, $105 for public entities
Projects 1 MW to 5 MW (dc): $80/SREC-II, $100 for public entities
Community Solar LMI: $90/SREC-II
Community Solar Non-LMI: $70/SREC-II
Incentive Type: Property Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
100% of value added by renewable system
Incentive Amount:
Rebates
Single family : $2,000 to $4,000
Multi-family : $500-$1,500 per unit
Rebates for single family and multi-family should not exceed 50% of the cost of the measures used to calculate total estimated savings (TES)
See table below for details
Loans
Single-family: $5,000 (Tier II) or $10,000 (Tier III)4.99% interest loans up to $15,000 (where utility 0% financing is unavailable)
Incentive Amount:
Residential Electric Customers (including municipal utility customers):
Solar Hot Water Heater: $1,200
Heat Pump Water Heater: $500
Geothermal Heat Pump: $500
Air-Source or Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump: $300- $500
Residential Gas Customers (including propane):
Gas Furnace: $250- $500
Gas Boiler: $300
Gas Water Heater: $300
Solar Hot Water Heater: $1,200
Oil Heating Customers:
Oil Furnace: $250
Oil Boiler: $300
Combination Rebate
Boiler and Water Heater Combination Rebate: $700
Furnace and Water Heater Combination Rebate: $700- $950
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 heating system.
There are a number of advantages of home solar energy. You can reduce emissions, raise your property values, and save money. With the right storage equipment, solar panels can also give you further energy independence and offer some protection from power outages.
Yes. The grid in Summit already uses a large share of renewable energy sources, and you may be able to sell your excess generated energy to your utility for additional cost savings.
Generally speaking, your energy bills will significantly decrease 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 Summit, the average amount someone can save is $681 per year. With net metering programs offered by many utilities, you could ultimately make a profit from your system when your payback period is done.
You might be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can get a return on investment from your solar panels. The sun shines frequently in Summit, meaning your payback period could last 16.9 years per 5 kW of capacity on the high end.
The maintenance you'll need to do 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 for you.
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.
The answer ultimately depends on your specific situation. You can take advantage of 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 notify your insurer 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.
