Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Our editorial team is committed to creating independent and objective content focused on helping our readers make informed decisions. To help support these efforts we receive compensation from companies that advertise with us.
The compensation we receive from these companies may impact how and where products appear on this site. This compensation does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides within our content. We do not include all companies, products or offers that may be available.
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Written By David Cusick
Last Updated June 2024
Year after year, more Saratoga Springs residents install rooftop solar panels to provide a dependable source of power and add value to their property. Making the switch to solar power allows you to cut your utility bills and lower your environmental impact. But you'll want to find a reputable installation company first. Luckily, we've done the research and created a guide to the best and most dependable solar installation companies in Saratoga Springs.
Price_transparency
Award_winning
Customer_service
Free_inspection
Ed_content
Services Offered
Customer_service
Free_inspection
Ed_content
Services Offered
Free_inspection
Price_transparency
Charitable_giving
Services Offered
Price_transparency
Customer_service
Ed_content
Free_inspection
Services Offered
Ed_content
Timeliness
Free_inspection
Customer_service
Price_transparency
Services Offered
Timeliness
Ed_content
Price_transparency
Services Offered
Ed_content
Free_inspection
Award_winning
Charitable_giving
Timeliness
Price_transparency
Family_owned
Customer_service
Services Offered
Free_inspection
Customer_service
Charitable_giving
Price_transparency
Ed_content
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.
Hiring a licensed solar installer is critical. This helps ensure that the work is done properly using current installation best practices. The New York state government does not issue licenses to contractors, so you should check with your city or county government for its specific regulations and requirements.
Look at review platforms such as Google Reviews, TrustPilot, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to find out what previous customers are saying about local solar companies. Reviews can give you an idea of a company’s trustworthiness and customer service. Avoid companies with no reviews or with predominantly negative feedback.
Get free, detailed quotes from 3–5 solar companies. A quote should list all costs and identify the solar parts included. Comparing several quotes can help you find the best value for your budget.
Quality solar installations should have comprehensive workmanship and performance warranties. The workmanship guarantee covers any installation issues such as poor wiring, poor alignment, or cracks in the panels. The performance warranty promises a specific energy output level. Strong warranties indicate that a solar installer trusts its installations.
Switching to solar power can help decrease your energy expenses over time. Be sure to consider these aspects when judging the cost and value of solar panels.
The cost of solar panels varies based on your system's capacity and the solar technology used. The typical Saratoga Springs solar array has a capacity of 4.5 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area can expect to pay around $3,650 per kilowatt; the average Saratoga Springs homeowners spends about $11,457 on a new solar array after accounting for federal tax breaks. (Some homeowners prefer to lease solar panels to reduce their upfront costs.) A personalized quote from a local solar provider will account for things like the size, capacity, and panel type of the planned system, and should include costs for preliminary work, labor, and permit fees.
Incentive Type: Corporate Tax Credit
Incentive Amount:
$0.01/gallon for each percent of biodiesel
Incentive Type: Sales Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
100% exemption
Incentive Type: Sales Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
Upon local authorization, 100% exemption from local sales tax
Incentive Amount:
Incentive rates step down over time as MW goals are met. Incentive rates as of 11/27/2019 are:
Residential:
Long Island Region: $0.00/W (MW blocks have been fully subscribed)
Con Edison Region: $0.30/W
Upstate Region: $0.35/W
Low-to-Moderate income customers: $0.80/W (up to 10 kW)
Small Commercial (Non-Residential):Long Island Region: $0.00/W (MW blocks have been fully subscribed)
Con Edison Region: $0.60/W
Up State Region: $0.45/W
Multifamily Affordable Housing Adder: additional $0.40/W (up to 50 kW)
Incentive Amount:
Tier I: 10,000 kWh of expected annual energy production: $3.50/annual kWh
Tier II: 10,000 kWh - 125,000 kWh of expected annual energy production: $1.00/annual kWh
Tier III: 125,000 kWh - 1,000,000 kWh of expected annual energy production: $0.30/ annual kWh
Tier IV: Greater than 1,000,000 kWh of expected annual energy production: $0.15/ annual kWh
These incentives are additive.
Incentive Amount:
Generally speaking, a solar photovoltaic (PV) system 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.
With home solar PV, you can recoup the cost of the system over time, lower your property's emissions, and gain additional energy independence.
It depends on your location and what type of panels you're installing. Saratoga Springs can experience long, hard winters, so we recommend installing your system in the spring months to maximize your generation for the year.
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 Saratoga Springs amount to $626.
You might be pleasantly surprised at how short it takes to get a return on investment from your solar panels. In areas like Saratoga Springs with moderate sunlight, the period could last 18.3 years per 5 kW of power, but may be shorter if you have low electricity costs or a smaller energy capacity.
Net metering is a power purchasing policy that allows solar energy system owners to receive bill credits or payments 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.
While solar energy is an ideal option for many, it might not be ideal for homeowners in wet, dark areas. In these cases, a contractor might recommend 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 help the environment and could still qualify for distributed generation or other money-saving programs.
