5 Best Solar Companies in Colorado

Colorado lawmakers have spent the last two decades promoting solar energy throughout the state. Their strong legislation that supports renewable energy, plus 300 sunny days annually, make Colorado the perfect environment for solar panels.
Our team spent 60 hours researching the Centennial State’s best solar companies and compiled a list of top providers, reviewing their pros, cons, and other essential details.

• SunPower: Best High-Efficiency System
• Blue Raven: Most Reputable
• ADT Solar: Best Solar Warranty
• Freedom Solar Power: Best Regional Off-Grid Installer 
• Palmetto Solar: Best Customer Support

All BBB ratings are current as of July 2023.

Colorado solar incentives help offset solar system costs and provide additional long-term savings.

Homeowners apply for the federal solar tax credit, which provides a tax credit equal to 30% of your solar panel installation cost. You also qualify for discounts on standalone energy storage. For example, you could apply the credit to lower your Tesla Powerwall battery cost. To qualify for this tax incentive, you must own your solar panel system.

The Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Equipment protects customers from paying state sales tax on their solar purchases. This exemption only applies to state sales and use taxes; incorporated towns, cities, and counties can still charge city-specific sales taxes for these purchases. Colorado homeowners can also use the Property Tax Exemption for Residential Renewable Energy Equipment. Under this law, Colorado solar customers are 100% exempt from paying property taxes for the solar panels’ added home value.

Energy Smart Colorado, a federally funded program that partners with 10 communities in 25 counties, offers rebates for solar installations. Through these partnerships, solar customers can earn between $400 and $2,500 for residential solar installations. Rebates vary between each county, so check your local program’s details.

Net-metering allows customers to send their system’s excess energy back to the grid. In exchange, they receive credits that can be applied to future utility bills.

Colorado has one of the most favorable net-metering programs for homeowners. It includes the following provisions:

• Every investor-owned utility (IOU) company must provide a net-metering program and offer rebates.
• The net-metering cap is 200%, allowing customers to receive more credits for their excess energy. State programs typically have a much lower cap.
• Excess energy is credited indefinitely, compared to other states that limit credits to a calendar year.

Xcel Energy and Black Hills Energy are two of the largest IOUs in Colorado. Other smaller companies offer net-metering programs as well. The benefits of these programs vary, so check with your utility provider for details.

Use the tool below to find solar incentives in your state. 

When shopping for solar panel companies, look for these key benefits, features, and services.

Solar Services

Solar companies use in-house or third-party contractors for the installation process. In-house teams have the advantage of working directly for the installer, offering better installation quality and communication. Third-party contractors have less quality control, with varying results in different locations. In addition, communication must pass through another point of contact outside the solar provider, making the process more complicated. We recommend using solar companies with in-house teams for the best results.

Some installers may have additional services that support your solar power system. These services include system monitoring and energy-tracking apps. Companies may also offer home upgrades and repair services. Here’s a list of solar and home services commonly offered by solar companies:

• Dedicated mobile app or web portal
• Electrical services
• Energy efficiency audits
• Home energy monitoring services
• Roofing repairs and services
• Smart-home device upgrades and installation
• Solar system monitoring 

Warranties

Since solar panels last around 25 years, look for companies offering warranty coverage for the same time frame. Cheaper solar panels have shorter warranty coverage than high-quality panel options. Your solar company may offer additional coverage to protect panel performance or installation issues. Below is an overview of typical warranty options:

• Manufacturer’s (or product) warranty: This plan offers protection against manufacturing defects.
• Workmanship (or labor) warranty: The company covers any issues originating from a poor installation.
• Power production guarantee: Your solar provider outlines your panels’ expected performance level throughout their warranty and offers repair or replacement coverage if they fall below these outlined levels.

Keep in mind that warranty availability, length, and coverage options vary between providers. We recommend reviewing each company’s warranty plans to find the best coverage.

Payment Options

Solar installers typically offer two or more solar financing options to better accommodate customer budgets. Some options, such as up-front payments and solar loans, make you the legal system owners, a requirement for most solar incentives. We’ve outlined the most common solar financing options below:

• Up-front (or cash) payments: Homeowners pay for the entire solar system up-front.
• Solar loans: This option includes an initial down payment and smaller monthly payments with interest for a certain time frame.
• Solar leases: You pay little to no money down and make monthly payments to rent the system from the installer.
• Power purchase agreements (PPAs): Homeowners make monthly payments for their solar energy use only.

Your solar provider retains system ownership with solar leases and PPAs, disqualifying you from solar incentives. These payment options work best for homeowners uninterested in owning their own solar equipment. For the best return on investment and maximum savings, we recommend choosing an up-front payment or solar loan.

Customer Support

After analyzing solar company reviews, we learned that customers mentioned excellent customer service as a standout feature for a solar company. Your selected company should provide customer support through various contact options. Some typical contact methods include the following options. 

• Email 
• Phone
• Online chat
• Online forms
• Text messaging 
• In-app messaging

Check online customer reviews for any callouts about a company’s poor customer service, including unreturned calls or delayed responses.

We recommend getting free quotes from multiple companies to find the right solar system for your home. After speaking with multiple professional solar installers and conducting secret shopping, we created the below guide outlining the typical solar quote process.

1. Schedule your solar consultations: You’ll schedule an in-person or virtual consultation with each company. Block off at least two hours for each appointment.
2. Find your latest energy bill: Solar companies build their solar energy solutions to match customers’ energy usage. Have your latest bill on hand for each consultation.
3. Analyze your roof design: Each installer will conduct an in-person or virtual roof analysis. They will determine your roof’s structural integrity and available space. You may need ample space for your solar array depending on your solar panel type.
4. Build your solar project: Based on their previous reviews, each solar provider will create your system. You can choose your solar panel type, inverter brand, system components, and upgrades, including solar batteries and electric vehicle (EV) chargers.
5. Review the finalized quote: You’ll receive finalized quotes for your solar energy solution, with details on equipment fees, installation costs, labor charges, and warranty coverage. Your quote will include any system upgrades and add-ons. Your quotes will also detail your financing options and estimated payback period. Compare these quotes to find the best deal.

Before signing a contract with a solar installer, ask these essential questions.

Is the company licensed and insured?

It’s crucial to ensure your solar installer has the proper licenses to conduct installations. Check the Interstate Renewable Energy Council’s (IREC) solar licensing database to see if the company you’re interested in has the correct licenses for Colorado. In addition, ask the installer about their insurance.

What type of solar panels and equipment does the company use?

Ask the installer what solar panels and equipment it uses to see if they’re quality products. It’s normal for an installer to use solar panels from multiple brands. Ask if the company offers monocrystalline solar panels with microinverters. In addition, check if the company installs solar batteries. These products create the most efficient solar panel systems.

What is the total cost and what financing options are available?

Ask for a detailed estimate of your system’s total cost. A solar company should be able to provide an itemized quote. If not, it might be a sign you should avoid that company. Also, ask which financing options are available so you can find the right payment plan for your budget.

What is the expected timeline for installation and maintenance?

Ask the installer what the timeline for installation is. Don’t be surprised if the answer is longer than six months. Receiving permitting and permission to operate (PTO) can take a long time, depending on your local legislation. You might want to avoid a company if it seems too eager to get up the system too fast. In addition, ask how often you should get maintenance on your system and whether the company provides this service.

SunPower stands out as the top solar installation company in Colorado thanks to its high-efficiency systems and excellent power production. High-performance systems help homeowners maximize their energy savings long-term. SunPower also provides a 25-year comprehensive warranty package that protects your system components and performance.

We recommend getting quotes from at least three companies in your area to compare pricing and services before deciding accurately.

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The This Old House Reviews Team is committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. After over a thousand hours of research on solar companies, interviews with experts, and common customer needs, we’ve created a detailed rating system for solar providers based on six factors:

• Solar equipment, installation, and services (25%)
• Warranty and performance guarantees (25%)
• Brand reputation and certifications (15%)
• Financing options (15%)
• Experience (10%)
• Availability (10%)

Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.