5 Best Solar Companies in Kentucky (2023)

Kentucky is known for its active storm season, including severe rain, dangerous lightning, and frequent power outages. Installing solar panels can give residents a reliable way to keep their homes running during turbulent weather, and installing a solar battery adds even more backup power. Plus, solar energy provides lower utility costs throughout the year. 

We spent more than 60 hours researching top solar companies, including nationwide and regional installers. We’ve narrowed down our choices to the best solar companies in Kentucky and included tips on shopping for the right installer.

Here’s a closer look at the top Kentucky solar installer.

• SunPower: Best High-Efficiency System
• Blue Raven Solar: Most Reputable
• Tesla: Best Solar Tech
• Solar Energy Solutions: Most Experienced Kentucky Installer
• Icon Solar: Best Local Kentucky Installer

All BBB ratings are current as of June 2023.

Kentucky offers limited solar credits and incentives to help lower solar panel installation costs. We’ve highlighted the top residential incentives below. 

With the federal tax credit, homeowners receive up to 30% off total costs. At tax time, the credit applies to your owed federal taxes to help reduce or eliminate them. Although all Kentucky homeowners can apply for this credit, you must legally own your system to qualify. The federal tax credit applies to most photovoltaic (PV) equipment, including solar shingles and panels, plus standalone solar batteries. 

Kentucky’s net-metering program offers additional electric bill savings for excess energy. When homeowners return extra energy to the grid, they receive credits for future bills. The Kentucky government mandates this program to all state utility companies except Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). All included companies must issue payouts at the full retail pricing. This policy ensures customers receive a payment equal to their initial electricity rate. 

Local utility companies also offer additional rebates for energy efficiency upgrades to your home. Though they aren’t solar-specific, they could provide extra energy savings along with your solar energy system. For more details on available solar and efficiency incentives, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) website.

Since renewable energy conversion requires a considerable investment, picking the right installation company is important. To help with your search, we’ve compiled the following key consideration factors when shopping for solar panel installation companies. 

Solar Services

Most providers use two types of teams for their solar panel installations: in-house installers or third-party contractors. In-house installers work directly with the company and offer better installation quality and direct communication. Third-party installers vary in service quality per area, leading to inconsistent quality. They also involve a different point of contact, making communication more difficult. We recommend using solar companies with in-house teams for a smoother process. 

Homeowners should also look for additional solar services offered by the company. These services could help protect your system, improve your home efficiency, or provide assistance with other home services. Examples of these services include the following:

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

Warranties

Since many solar panel systems last 25 or more years, look for warranty coverage that matches this expected life span. Most companies offer at least two warranties for product or workmanship, while others include additional coverage for panel performance. Here’s an overview of typical warranty coverage:

• Manufacturer’s (or product) warranty: This warranty offers coverage for manufacturer defects or issues. 
• Workmanship (or labor) warranty: The plan covers problems caused by poor installation. 
• Power performance guarantee: This less-common warranty provides additional guarantees for your panel’s linear performance. Companies will repair or place your equipment if panels perform below these guidelines. 

Although warranty coverage length varies between solar providers and manufacturers, high-quality home panels offer the longest warranty length compared to cheaper panels. 

Payment Options

Most solar companies offer two or more solar financing options to help customers find the right plan for their budget. We’ll detail the most common payment options below.

• Up-front (or cash) payments: Homeowners pay for the full project up-front in full, eliminating the need for long-term payments and interest rates. Cash payments make you the legal system owner, qualifying you for solar incentives. 
• Solar loans: This payment option requires a small down payment and monthly payments with interest rates. This option also makes you the legal owner and qualifies you for solar incentive savings. 
• Solar leases: Homeowners pay a small or zero down payment and make monthly payments to the provider. Since you aren’t the legal system owner, you don’t qualify for incentives. 
• Power purchase agreements (PPAs): Customers rent their system from the solar provider but only pay for the solar energy they use, not the system. This financing option also disqualifies you from most solar incentives, credits, and rebates. 

We recommend cash payments or solar loans over leasing for the best long-term financial benefits.

Customer Support

Look for solar companies that offer multiple communication channels with customer support. While phone and email contact is typically offered, some companies also provide SMS or online chat options. During secret shopping, we noticed many online chats used a line agent, auto-generated responses, or a mixture of both. Additional contact methods may include in-app communication with tech support teams. 

You should choose multiple potential companies and request solar quotes from each provider. To help prepare you for the quote process, we’ve created the below guide of what to expect during a typical solar consultation. 

1. Contact each provider: Check each provider’s website and use the available tools to start the quote process. You may find online forms or phone numbers, while other companies use online calculators to start the process. 
2. Schedule the consultation: Most companies offer in-house or virtual consultations. Some consultations’ can take up to two hours. 
3. Find your latest energy bill: Installers build your solar panel system based on your home energy needs. Have your latest bill on hand for your consultation. Depending on the solar company, the representative may ask for multiple months of bills to further analyze your average energy usage.
4. Determine your roof space: The representative will check your roof for structural issues, complex designs, and available space. They’ll also find the ideal location for your solar panel with minimal shading. Since solar panels work best with direct sunlight, you’ll need an area free of shading. 
5. Build your solar system: Next, you’ll create the solar energy system based on the previous assessments. During this step, you can choose your solar panel type, brand, components, and upgrades, such as solar batteries and EV chargers. 
6. Review your final quote: Finally, you’ll receive an itemized quote detailing all equipment, pricing, labor charges, and warranty coverage. You’ll also get details on your financing options and estimated solar payback period. Compare each quote to determine which company is the best fit for you.

Our team selected SunPower as the best Kentucky installer. The company offers some of the most efficient solar power systems available, ensuring you get the best performance. SunPower also includes a 25-year comprehensive warranty, protecting your investment for over two decades. 

We recommend getting at least three quotes from potential solar companies. Compare the product selection, warranty coverage, and offered services before committing.

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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.