Top 10 Best Solar Companies in Texas (2023 Review)

How Can You Save Money On Texas’s Best Solar Companies?

At only $2.69 per watt, the cost to go solar in Texas is below the national average. More savings can be applied after the 30% federal solar tax credit, which can take the cost of the average 7 kW system down from $18,830 to $13,181.

Even though the federal solar tax credit takes the edge off the sticker shock, the total cost of a solar system can still seem steep. There are more ways to save money when installing your solar system, including:

• Texas solar incentives and tax credits
• Type of solar panel
• System size

Utilize Texas Solar Incentives and Tax Credits

Even though Texas does not have any state-wide solar rebate programs, homeowners will qualify for the federal solar tax credit, local net metering programs, rebate programs and other local incentives. Texas residents should talk to their solar installer to make sure they benefit from all these money-saving incentives.

Consider Type of Solar Panel

The type of solar panel you choose can also impact the overall price of your solar system. Some states need more powerful solar panels because they don’t have access to abundant sunshine, but Texas is positioned perfectly for solar power.

Instead of purchasing the most expensive and efficient solar panels available, Texans can opt for the more affordable solar panels. This choice will drastically lower the cost of your solar system.

Evaluate Your System Size

It may seem intuitive, but the size of your solar system should reflect your energy goals. If you plan to rely completely on solar power, then you’ll want a system big enough to offset your energy costs. But if you want only partial solar power, then you’ll need a smaller size.

Your solar installer will help you determine which size you need, but you should take the necessary steps to figure out how much energy you consume each month so that you don’t invest in a system that’s too large.

Learn More: Watch below to learn how your neighbors have been eliminating their electric bills entirely by going solar.

Will Solar Increase Your Home Value In Texas?

On average, solar panel installation increases the value of a home by about 4.1%. Given that the average value of a home in Texas as of 2022 is $257,628, Texas homeowners can add as much as $10,562 to their home’s value.

Not only will your home’s value increase, but the addition of solar panels is often seen as a buying point for potential buyers. A study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that solar homes sell up to 20% faster than comparable non-solar homes^[1], which makes the addition of solar panels boost home value in more ways than one.

DIY vs Professional Solar Installation in Texas

DIY solar panel installation has become increasingly popular among homeowners in the United States because it can be much cheaper than professionally installed panels. Although DIY installation can still result in energy savings, it’s not always suitable for all projects, especially for large-scale home installations.

As you weigh your pros and cons for professional installation and DIY, make sure you consider the following in your decision:

• Sourcing equipment
• Time of installation
• Permit applications and permission to operate

You’ll Have to Source Equipment

The installation of solar panels requires more than just the panels themselves — you’ll need an arsenal of tools and equipment, including but not limited to:

• Digital multimeter
• Battery operated drill
• Hack saw
• Pry bar
• Caulk gun
• Conduit blender
• Screwdrivers
• Wire stripper
• Wire cutter
• Tape measure
• Solar panel hanger

If you have all of these tools on hand, then you’re at least in a good position to start solar installation. But if you need to purchase each of these items, it can add cost and inconvenience to your DIY installation.

Quicker Installation for Professional Install

If you are the sole person responsible for the installation of your solar system, then it may take you a long time to install all the panels necessary to power your entire home. By hiring a professional installation company, you will ensure that your project is installed quickly and correctly.

Permit Applications and Permission to Operate

Unlike smaller home solar projects such as solar lights and solar water pumps, large solar projects require permits, licenses and permission to operate from your city. You can absolutely apply for these permits by yourself, but professional solar companies are pros at making sure your solar system is up to code and passes inspections.

Best National Provider

5/5

National coverage Great warranty coverageMost efficient panels

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Solar Veteran

4/5

Quick installationsFlexible financing optionsStrong production guarantee

Get Free Quote

Best Regional Coverage

4.5/5

Great warranty coverageLocal level expertiseConcierge service

Get Free Quote

What Should Texas Residents Look for In a Solar Installer?

There are many quality solar installers in Texas, but the final decision to choose one company over another can be tricky. As you browse through top providers in the solar industry, always make sure your company has the following:

• Local reputation and reviews
• Solar pricing and financing
• Services offered
• Warranty coverage
• Company experience
• Brand quality

Local Reputation and Reviews

A company’s reputation can say a lot about the quality of service and workmanship. To assess whether a company is high quality, we take into account its Better Business Bureau Rating (BBB), certifications and affiliations with industry-leading associations, such as the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

A company’s quality is only as good as its sustainability and ethical procedures. From manufacturing ethics to ESG reports, Texas residents should review all available information about a company to ensure they invest in sustainably-sourced products and services.

Solar Pricing and Financing

Clean energy isn’t free, so solar financing options are key to installing your home solar system. Many companies offer solar loan, solar lease and power purchase agreements to help offset the upfront cost of solar panel systems.

As compared to ADT which only takes full-cash and standard in-home loans, SunPower and Blue Raven Solar do well in this category because they have a full range of payment options that are beneficial to the customer.

Services Offered

The best solar companies in Texas offer more than just solar installation services. When you choose a solar company for your solar needs, make sure they also offer solar backup batteries, energy-efficiency audits and routine maintenance.

Several Texas solar installation companies offer more than just solar installation. The solar panels and battery backup systems are the minimum that should be offered by a given company. Some companies, such as Solartime USA and NRG Clean Power, can do even more. In a state like Texas where electricity rates can fluctuate drastically, it’s important to hire a solar company that offers whole-home services that increase your energy independence and resilience.

Warranty Coverage

Many of the top solar providers offer a robust 25-year warranty program that can come in handy should you experience problems with your solar system. Warranty programs are not only critical for potential solar panel problems, but good warranty programs also indicate the quality of solar products.

The best warranties offer comprehensive coverage, such as SunPower’s warranty program. Unlike make companies — such as Kosmos Solar — offer warranties that come from its manufacturer, SunPower offers one warranty that covers every piece of solar equipment within a system (panels, batteries, inverters and more).

Company Experience

In our review process, we look at the year each company began operation as well as the number of solar panel systems they have installed. We also look at how long a company has been installing solar panels in Texas because each geographic region has different solar needs.

There are more than 450 solar installation companies in Texas, so more experience in the solar industry make certain companies more competitive. SunPower, for example, has been in business since 1985 whereas Astrawatt Solar has only been in the solar industry since 2016.

Brand Quality

Each solar installer offers different brands, so we look at the quality of the brands offered as we assign our ratings. Some companies, such as Blue Raven, have several brands available for installation while others, such as SunPower, only offer one quality brand option.

Best National Provider

5/5

National coverage Great warranty coverageMost efficient panels

Get Free Quote

Solar Veteran

4/5

Quick installationsFlexible financing optionsStrong production guarantee

Get Free Quote

Best Regional Coverage

4.5/5

Great warranty coverageLocal level expertiseConcierge service

Get Free Quote

Methodology: How We Ranked Texas’s Solar Companies

When we rank our top solar companies, we dive deep into the reputation, financing options, customer experience and more. Our goal is to deliver unbiased reports and honest reviews, thus, our methodology is not affected by commercial partnerships and is specifically tailored to Texas homes.

The brands we recommend are only those that we would consider for our own homes, and any commercial partnerships we do make are only with providers we truly trust. We ranked Texas’s solar companies based on the following factors:

• Local reputation and reviews (20%): We take into consideration each company’s BBB rating and research real customer reviews that Texas homeowners have written. Among the positive and negative reviews we also look to see how well these companies respond to customer complaints.
• Solar pricing and financing options (20%): We look at upfront cost, solar loan options, power purchase agreements (PPAs) and solar leases that make solar panels more affordable. If these financing options measure up to or exceed industry standard in Texas, that company receives a better score.
• Services offered (20%): The more services that a company offers, the better they do in this category. We look for solar panel installation, battery back systems, routine maintenance, EV solar installation and home efficiency upgrades to award points.
• Warranty coverage (20%): Many top providers offer a 25-year warranty, but we dive further into that coverage to see what’s truly included. The best companies in Texas have comprehensive warranties beyond what the manufacturer provides.
• Company experience (10%): We prefer to review companies that have at least 10 years of experience, but some newer companies, such as Astrawatt and Elevation, deserve recognition. Older companies typically have installed more solar panel systems, so they tend to do better in this category.
• Brand quality (10%): Every solar installer offers different brands of solar equipment, so we look into each brand and adjust our ratings based on the quality of what’s offered. The quality of the solar panels influences the price, and some companies, such as Blue Raven, have more budget-friendly options whereas SunPower may be more expensive but offer higher-quality panels.

Read More About Going Solar in Texas

• Is Solar Worth It in Texas?
• Texas Solar Incentives Guide
• How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Texas?