The best solar panels can last for more than 25 years, but getting a professional installation is equally important. If you’re considering a home solar system, this article will help you answer an important question: “How can I find the best solar installers near me?”

Homeowners who are considering solar power should look for a Certified PV Installation Professional endorsed by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). You should also read previous customer reviews to get an idea of the company’s track record. We recommend getting several solar offers so you can find a reputable installer who meets your budget requirements.

There are excellent solar installation companies of all sizes. Small installers who focus on local markets often have lower prices, and you can easily contact them for technical support. Small installers are also more familiarized with local solar incentives such as rebates and tax credits.

Large installers have higher overhead costs, but they often have attractive financing options that are rarely available from small companies. A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) found that national solar installers have higher prices 70% of the time, and their offers are 10% more expensive on average.

National installers also have a broader supply chain, and they may offer a wider variety of solar panel brands. However, large companies often rely on local subcontractors to keep up with demand, which means they don’t have direct control over many of their installations.

We recommend comparing quotes from multiple solar installers to make sure you get a good deal that fits your needs. The following are some ways to identify solar companies near you:

• Getting recommendations from neighbors who already own solar panels
• Web research, including reading company reviews
• Visiting a clean energy trade show or conference

You can also input your ZIP code in the box below to contact our recommended solar installers.

Before choosing a solar installation company, you should make sure they meet at least three basic requirements:

• Have a licensed to perform electrical work in your state
• Have liability insurance
• Hold professional certifications such as NABCEP

Rooftop solar systems need a construction permit in most locations, and you will only get the permit if you hire a licensed contractor. Also consider that many home solar systems participate in net metering, where surplus solar power is exported to the local electric grid in exchange for bill credits. Utility companies will only allow an interconnection if the system is installed by professionals.

Most solar panel installations are completed without major issues when qualified professionals are in charge. However, accidents and property damage can happen on rare occasions, and they may affect third parties. Contractor insurance is very important, since it also protects you from fines and other types of legal action.

Depending on the state where you live, the NABCEP certification may be mandatory for solar contractors operating locally. There are also solar incentive programs that have this requirement. Even when professional certifications are optional, they demonstrate that an installer has been approved by a recognized solar industry organization.

There are many ways to tell if a solar installation company has a successful track record. Searching online is a great starting point, since you can check the average scores of solar installers based on customer reviews. Many solar companies also have reviews on their websites, but keep in mind these could be filtered or even fake.

NABCEP has a professional directory where you can find certified solar installers by city. The directory will display the names of solar PV professionals near you, along with their certifications and the names of their companies. If you get offers from solar installers who claim to be NABCEP-certified, you can look them up in the official directory to confirm.

In addition to customer reviews, you may also find case studies. These give you an idea of typical solar installation costs and electric bill savings, but make sure the source can be trusted. The following are excellent resources if you’re looking for detailed information about solar power and other renewable technologies:

Comparing offers from multiple solar installers is strongly recommended before proceeding with an installation. The first proposal you get could be overpriced, or you could be getting a cheap offer with low-quality solar panels. This is only evident when you compare multiple solar quotes.

NREL and SEIA provide average solar quotes by market segment, which are excellent references when comparing offers. You can identify overpriced and underpriced offers by comparing them with the average prices reported for the residential sector.

The SEIA estimates a higher average price, since they focus on high-end solar panels. The NREL considers a wider product variety, including less efficient PV modules, and their estimated costs are lower as a result.

Based on NREL estimates, you can expect to pay around $17,700 for a 6-kW home solar system (before subtracting incentives). Some variation above and below the average price is normal when comparing solar installers, but offers that are excessively cheap or expensive should raise suspicion.

When contacting a solar installation company, always ask for a detailed breakdown of all the equipment and services included in their offer. This allows for a better comparison, since you can check if the higher-priced offers include additional features.

• Consider that a home battery can add over $10,000 to the cost of a home solar system.
• If one of your solar offers has a much higher price, check if batteries are included.

The NREL study also analyzed the market price of home batteries, and they determined that you can expect to pay around $1,503 per kilowatt-hour of electricity storage capacity. This means a 10-kWh solar battery can be expected to cost around $15,030 (before incentives).

Testing Knowledge of Local Incentives

Good solar installers will be familiar with current incentive programs available in the states where they operate. Solar rebate programs have limited funding, and many of them offer higher incentives for early adopters. Some incentive programs renew their budget each year, but others close permanently when funds are depleted. Ideally, you should hire a solar installer who will help you qualify for all the incentives available.

If you get familiarized with local solar incentives before contacting installers, you can test their knowledge. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) is an excellent resource, where you filter incentives by state or by technology (including solar, wind, batteries, heat pumps and more).

If you’re going solar, you should look for an installation company who is licensed in your state and covered by liability insurance. Depending on where you live, the NABCEP Certification may also be mandatory.

• Small solar installers generally have lower prices than national installers, and they may have more knowledge of local incentives and their requirements.
• National installers have higher prices, but they may offer solar loan and lease options that small companies cannot afford.

According to the NREL, you can expect to pay $2.95 per watt of solar photovoltaic capacity, before subtracting incentives. The following table summarizes the average prices you can expect for common solar PV system sizes:

Actual prices vary, and you can expect to pay more when using high-efficiency monocrystalline panels. However, the figures above are a useful reference for comparison. Note that your out-of-pocket cost will be lower after subtracting the 30% federal solar tax credit and local incentives.

Leonardo David is an electromechanical engineer, MBA, energy consultant and technical writer. His energy-efficiency and solar consulting experience covers sectors including banking, textile manufacturing, plastics processing, pharmaceutics, education, food processing, real estate and retail. He has also been writing articles about energy and engineering topics since 2015.

Sabrina Lopez is an editor with over six years of experience writing and editing digital content with a particular focus on home services, home products and personal finance. When she is not working on articles to help consumers make informed decisions, Sabrina enjoys creative writing and spending time with her family and their two parrots.