5 Best Solar Companies in Arizona

Few states receive more year-round sunlight than Arizona. The state is ranked fifth in solar investment according to the Solar Energy Industries Association and offers several solar incentives to help you save money when switching to renewable energy. We researched the best solar companies in the country, comparing them on product performance, warranty coverage, customer service, and more. See which made our top five solar companies for Arizona below.

• Sunpower: Best High-Efficiency System
• Elevation: Best Energy-Efficient Upgrades
• Sunrun: Best Solar Panel Leasing
• Blue Raven Solar: Most Reputable
• Palmetto Solar: Best Customer Support

• Sunrun: Best Financing Options
• Elevation: Best for Whole-Home Integration
• Blue Raven Solar: Best Benefits
• Palmetto: Best Customer Service
• Trinity Solar: Most Experienced

Arizona residents can save money going solar by taking advantage of the state’s solar incentives. Some of the most beneficial incentives include:

• Federal solar tax credit: The federal tax credit lets you deduct 30% of your total solar expense from what you owe on your federal income taxes the tax season after installation. 
• Net metering: Net metering programs allow you to sell any excess energy your system generates to your local utility company for credits you can use to pay your bill when you rely on the power grid for electricity during low sun exposure. 
• Property and sales tax exemptions: Arizona waives sales tax on solar equipment, so that’s one way to lessen expenses. The state also doesn’t charge you any additional property tax if your home value increases due to installing solar panels. 
• Residential Arizona solar tax credit: The Arizona state tax credit reimburses you 25% of the cost of your solar panels, up to $1,000, on your personal income tax for the year you install the system.

You may be tempted to choose a solar panel company primarily based on price, but there are several factors you should consider to get the most out of your investment and experience with the provider. Take a look at the following to see how companies’s offerings differ. 

Solar Services

First, look to see if the company handles panel installation in-house or via a third-party. We suggest choosing a company that has its own in-house team because this can improve your customer service experience and simplify warranty coverage.

You should also look to see if the company sells and installs more than just panels. Some providers also have solar batteries, inverters, electric vehicle charges, and more. You may be able to get a bundle discount in this case. 

Lastly, check if the company offers any remote monitoring to help you track your system’s performance. Some companies do this in-house, while others have a mobile app that allows you to keep track on your phone. 

Warranties

Solar warranty types include:

• Manufacturer’s warranty (or product warranty): This protects the solar panel system’s components in case of defects.
• Workmanship warranty: Also known as a labor warranty, this covers installation in case of poor workmanship or faulty installation materials.
• Performance (or power production) guarantee: This guarantees the system’s output functions as outlined in your contract.

We recommend working with a company that offers at least a 10-year labor warranty and 20-year manufacturer’s warranty and performance guarantee. A provider offering 25-year coverage is best. 

Payment Options

Solar companies provide some combination of these financing options:

• Full purchase: Fully purchasing your system gives you immediate ownership and qualifies you for all incentives.
• Solar loan: A solar loan allows you to make monthly payments on your system and still makes you its owner.
• Solar lease: You’ll make set monthly payments with a lease, but you won’t be able to own the system, disqualifying you from most solar incentives.
• Power purchase agreement (PPA): A PPA allows you to make monthly payments with no money down, but you don’t own the system.

Solar leases and PPAs are tempting to save money up-front, but they disqualify you from some solar incentives that could help lower your overall solar panel cost. We recommend purchasing your system in full or through a solar loan so you don’t miss out on valuable tax credits and rebates. 

Customer Support

Check a company’s website to see how many contact points it provides and what its support hours are. We recommend going with a company that’s reachable multiple ways and has at least some evening and weekend availability. Call or write the company a couple times to see how responsive and helpful it is. 

Ideally, a company will offer at least a couple of these contact points:

• Email
• Mobile app
• Online chat
• Online portal
• Phone 
• Website service request form

You can quickly get a solar quote online by following these steps:

1. Locate the Get a Quote button or page on the provider’s website. 
2. Fill out the required information. When we went through the quote process with top providers, most asked for basic contact information, location, property type, roof size and slope. 
3. Check your email or remain on the website for your free quote.

You can also call the company and get a quote over the phone if you prefer.  When we went through the quote process online, getting an estimate took less than 15 minutes. By phone, it took an average of 20 minutes.

We have picked Palmetto Solar as a top choice for Arizona homeowners because of its focus on customer service and creating a seamless installation experience. However, we recommend requesting and reviewing quotes from at least three different solar companies before making a final decision. 

You should also take a close look at your monthly electricity bill and compare it against your state’s average cost of power. If you have consistently high payments or the cost of electricity is more expensive than in other areas, solar panels may be a good solution. If you have relatively low bills or can find ways to cut down electricity usage significantly, you may not see enough cost savings to justify the expense of installing a home solar system. We recommend getting at least three quotes to determine the best rates for your home.

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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.