5 Best Solar Companies in New Jersey (2023)

With over 250 solar companies throughout the state, picking the right New Jersey solar company can be daunting. To help you find the right solar company, our team spent 60 hours researching leading solar installers serving the Garden State. Discover the best solar companies in New Jersey and learn how to choose the best option for your home.  

Here is an overview of the top New Jersey solar installers:

• Sunpower: Best High-Efficiency System
• Sunrun: Best Solar Panel Leasing
• Blue Raven Solar: Most Reputable
• Palmetto Solar: Best Customer Support
• Solar Energy World: Best East Coast Installer

The state of New Jersey provides a few federal and state solar incentives to help offset solar panel costs. Here’s an overview of available New Jersey solar incentives for homeowners. 

• Federal solar tax credit: Qualifying residents can receive a credit for up to 30% of New Jersey solar system costs. This credit applies to help reduce or eliminate owned federal taxes. New Jersey residents must own their solar energy system to qualify for these savings. 
• Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems: This exemption allows homeowners to benefit from the added home value of solar panels without increasing property tax. Residents receive a 100% property tax exemption for new solar solution installations. 
• Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) Program: This program works similarly to solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) that offer payouts for your generated energy. New Jersey’s SuSI Program, or SREC-II, provides one energy credit for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) your system generates. Homeowners can then sell these credits for a $90 fixed payout rate. 
• Solar Energy Sales Tax Exemption: New Jersey residents also receive a sales tax exemption for their solar equipment. You won’t pay the state’s 6.625% rate on solar-related purchases, helping reduce installation costs. 
• Net-metering: With net-metering, residents earn energy bill credits for sending their excess energy back to the power grid. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ-BPU) mandates net-metering for all utility companies. Homeowners receive one credit for their returned electricity at the full retail electricity rate.

If you plan to go solar, it’s important to compare solar installation companies to find the best fit for your needs. Keep the following factors in mind when shopping for your solar provider. 

Solar Services

Typically, solar companies use in-house or third-party contractors for their installations. In-house installers work directly for the company. They often have better communication and solar installation quality, leading to fewer problems during installation. With third-party teams, companies have contracts with local installers, leading to varying installation quality by area. You may have separate contacts between the installers and solar providers, leading to more complicated communication. We recommend choosing an installer with an in-house team. 

Some providers offer additional perks and benefits beyond installation services. These solar services could include system monitoring or dedicated apps that improve system performance. Companies may also provide home upgrade services like energy audits or roofing services. We’ve listed some typical solar services below:

• Dedicated mobile app or web portal
• Electrical or roofing services
• Energy efficiency audits and upgrades
• Home energy monitoring equipment
• Smart home upgrades
• Solar system monitoring 

Warranties

Many solar panels have an average life span of 25 years, so you’ll want warranty coverage to match that life expectancy. Many high-quality residential panels have warranty coverage for 25 years or longer, while cheaper solar panels receive coverage for 15 years or less. Solar companies usually offer one or more warranty plans for your panels and components. We’ve outlined the typical warranty types below:

• Manufacturer’s (or product) warranty: This plan protects your system against manufacturing defects. 
• Workmanship (or labor) warranty: This coverage includes any installation-related issues. 
• Power performance guarantee: This plan guarantees a certain energy production level through your system’s lifetime and includes repair or replacements when your panels fall below those specifications. 

You’ll find that warranty length, coverage, and availability varies between solar providers. We recommend reviewing each company’s warranty offerings for the best system protection. 

Payment Options

Companies offer two or more solar panel financing options for their installations. Certain payment options, such as cash payments and solar loans, grant you full system ownership. This ownership qualifies you for federal and state solar incentives that help lower your initial solar investment. Below is an overview of the most common financing options: 

• Up-front (or cash) payments: Homeowners pay the full system costs up-front. 
• Solar loans: After making an initial down payment, you’ll continue monthly payments until you pay for your system. 
• Solar leases: You make monthly payments to “rent” the system from the provider. 
• Power purchase agreements (PPAs): Homeowners make monthly payments for their solar energy use, not the system. 

Under solar lease and PPA plans, the solar provider owns the system, disqualifying you from solar incentive savings. Homeowners should only consider leasing options if they cannot or don’t want to own their system. Otherwise, we recommend choosing up-front payments or solar loans for the best return on investment. 

Customer Support

Consider solar companies that offer multiple contact options with their customer support team. Your selected company should offer one or more of the following options: 

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

Check third-party review sites for ongoing complaints about unreturned calls, unfriendly representatives, and delayed responses.

We recommend requesting free quotes from several solar installers and comparing product catalogs, warranty lengths, and pricing. We’ve outlined a typical solar quote process to help you prepare for your solar consultations. 

1. Schedule a solar consultation: Reach out to each solar installer and schedule a virtual or in-person consultation. Set aside two hours for each appointment. 
2. Have your latest electric bill handy: Most installers request your latest energy bill to determine your average electricity use. This information helps them build a system that matches your household energy needs. 
3. Review your roof design: The consultant will conduct an in-person or virtual roof assessment to gauge available space and identify any restrictive design elements. They will also choose the ideal placement for your solar panels. 
4. Design your solar panel system: The solar installer will design your system after completing their assessments. During this step, you can choose your solar panel type, components, and add-ons, such as solar batteries and EV chargers. 
5. Review your final quote: You’ll receive a final quote and contract for your new system. Your quote should outline your system equipment with costs, labor charges, and warranty coverage. You’ll also receive financing details and an estimated solar payback period. Compare each complete quote to find the best offer.

We selected SunPower as the top pick for New Jersey solar providers thanks to its high-efficiency solar panels and custom-built systems. Its systems offer excellent energy production and optimal cost savings. In addition, SunPower includes a 25-year comprehensive warranty that protects your system for over two decades. 

As you search for the right solar company, we recommend getting quotes from at least three companies and comparing their services.

Solar panels can be a beneficial long-term investment for your home. In addition to generating savings on utility bills, a residential solar system will likely increase your property value. However, your success with solar power depends on the angle and slope of your roof, your home’s sunlight exposure, and your average electricity usage.

It’s also important to determine what incentives, if any, your state offers for solar energy, including a net metering program and tax credits. You can only benefit from solar tax incentives if you own your panels, so you should consider this when deciding whether to buy or lease panels.

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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.