Solar Company Rating Methodology

Our Rating System for Solar Companies

We’ve spoken with solar industry experts and company representatives, surveyed 2,000 homeowners with installed solar systems and spent hours researching market trends to develop a solar methodology centered around what customers care about most. 

We’ve reviewed 62 solar panel installation companies, from large providers such as Sunrun and Freedom Solar to smaller players such as PurePoint Energy. For each provider, we considered many data points, including industry reports and customer review scores. Throughout the process, we scored providers out of 100, and later translated those scores into five-star ratings. Our review process factors in the following criteria.

• Cost and Payment Options
• Services
• Reputation
• Warranty
• Customer Support
• Industry Experience
• Sustainability

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Factors We Use To Score Solar Companies

To rate solar companies, we score providers based on performance across key categories. You’ll find a detailed breakdown of these rating categories and more information on how providers earn points in the sections below.

Cost and Payment Options (20%)

As with other home upgrades, going solar is a major financial decision. For this reason, we review companies based on pricing and available financing options. Here’s what we consider when allocating points for this category:

• Offers cash purchases and loans: We award 15% to companies that offer the two standard payment methods for solar systems — cash purchases and loans.
• In-house loan financing: Solar companies can earn up to 5% additionally for offering other in-house loans, rather than relying on third-party lenders. However, companies earn fewer points (2.5%) for partnering with lenders.
• Bonus points for other financing options: While there are drawbacks to other financing methods like solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs), customers still benefit from having as many financing options as possible. For this reason, companies can earn a bonus 2.5% for offering solar leases or PPAs.

How We Gathered Our Cost Data

We conducted in-depth research and analyzed several factors to determine our solar cost data, which is based on the following resources:

• Conducting surveys: We have conducted two surveys to gather solar cost data for homeowners across the country. Both launched in 2023, the surveys polled 1,000 homeowners who have installed residential solar systems. We compared the results of each survey to determine average pricing based on solar system size, location and installer.
• Researching reliable sources: We gathered information from reliable solar sources like the Solar Energy Industries Administration (SEIA), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Energy Information Administration (EIA) to assess the national average cost of solar panels. We also used these sources to determine the cost of electricity and solar power systems by state.
• Consulting industry experts: We spoke with industry experts, including Jesse Solomon, the co-founder of NCSolarNow, to understand the costs of going solar for both customers and installation companies. We also researched solar products in today’s market, including the cost of solar panels and accessories like solar batteries.

Services (20%)

Many solar companies offer additional services in addition to solar panel installation, which can help boost your home’s energy savings. 

For example, according to our March 2023 survey of 1,000 homeowners with solar panels, 66% of respondents installed a solar battery and 44% of respondents installed an electric vehicle (EV) charger with their solar panels.

Considering the importance of providing additional solar services, we award the most points to companies offering popular solar accessories alongside their solar installations. Companies earn points for offering the following add-ons and extra services, with the potential for 20% total:

• Solar installations (2%)
• Backup battery installations (5%)
• EV charger installations (3%)
• Energy efficiency audits (3%)
• System monitoring (2%)
• In-house solar system installations (5%)

Reputation (20%)

Of the 1,000 homeowners we surveyed, 516 reported that company reputation was one of the most important factors they considered when choosing a solar provider. We evaluate each solar company’s reputation using four metrics:

• Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating: We award 5% to companies with a BBB customer review rating of over 4.5 stars. Companies with a 4- to 5-star rating earn 4%, a 3- to 3.9-star rating earns 3%, a 2- to 2.9 star rating earns 2% and anything under 2 stars does not warrant any points.
• BBB response rate: If a solar company seems to reply to customer complaints on the BBB at least 95% of the time, it earns all 5% in this category.
• Google star rating: We apply the same point scale for Google customer reviews, with the potential for 5% for the highest star ratings.
• North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners^® (NABCEP) certification: Solar companies that have an up-to-date NABCEP certification earn 5% in this subcategory.

Warranty (15%)

There are three important solar system warranties to look for when choosing a solar panel company: a workmanship or service warranty, a product warranty and a performance warranty.

We award solar companies 3% for offering each type of warranty, plus 2% if the warranty meets or exceeds industry standard lengths (10 years for workmanship and product warranties and 25 years for performance warranties). This results in a total of 5% for each type of warranty.

Customer Support (10%)

Considering modern solar panels can last for 25 years or more, it is important to choose an installer with excellent customer service. Companies should respond to issues promptly and help you whenever something goes wrong before, during and after your system installation.

Here’s how we evaluated each company’s quality of customer support:

• Types of service available (5%): We research each company to see if it offers multiple channels of communication, such as virtual consultations, a mobile app and 24/7 customer support. The more support available to customers, the higher a company will score in this subcategory. 
• Backend support (5%): We evaluate a company’s negative reviews on platforms such as the BBB and Trustpilot and pinpoint common pain points for customers. We also assess if the company responds to negative comments with solutions. For instance, a company would lose points in this category if customers frequently reported difficulty getting in touch with customer service or delays when their system needed maintenance or stopped performing.

Industry Experience (10%)

As the solar industry continues to grow, an abundance of new solar companies have hit the market. While not the case for every installer, solar companies with more industry experience may have a deeper understanding of the changing solar market and your needs as a customer.

Newly established solar companies may face a higher risk of going out of business, possibly voiding your solar warranty.

Companies that have been in business for 10 or more years earn full points in this category. We deducted 1% for each year under 10 that a company has been operating (companies operating for nine years earned 9%, for eight years earned 8%, etc.).

Sustainability (5%)

While installing solar alone can help homeowners offset fossil fuel emissions, we reward companies that take extra, actionable steps towards sustainability. To assess this subcategory, we thoroughly research each company’s website and look for the following: 

• Sustainability statements
• ESG disclosures and reports
• End-of-life panel disposal programs 
• Community partnerships

Companies with detailed disclosures and sustainability initiatives earn 5% total.

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The Bottom Line: How To Choose the Right Solar Company

We comprised our rating system and company reviews to offer you guidance in the solar buying process — from initial research to company inquiry and post-installation support. We collect data on the most important aspects of solar installation, including the services a company offers, the price to install solar panels and warranty coverage. Since solar is such a large upfront investment, we also consider a company’s reputation, years of experience and trustworthiness. 

However, while we recommend any of the top companies on our lists, you may find other options in your area better suited to your solar needs. To find the best pricing for your solar project, we suggest you request quotes from at least three installers in your area, including local options. Once you have various offers, you can compare services and price based on the overall system value.