5 Best Solar Companies in Pennsylvania

According to the Solar Energy Information Association, the Keystone State has invested more than $3.1 billion into solar energy as of 2022, and there have been over 60,500 total solar installations in the state.

As the solar industry continues to grow in Pennsylvania, now is a good time for homeowners from Harrisburg to Philadelphia to consider transitioning to clean energy. We researched the best solar companies, comparing them on product selection, services offered, pricing, customer reviews, availability, and more. Here are the companies we recommend as Pennsylvania’s top solar providers.

• Sunrun: Best Solar Panel Leasing
• Palmetto Solar: Best Customer Support
• Solar Energy World: Best East Coast Installer
• Sunrun: Best Solar Panel Leasing
• Green Home Systems: Best Solar Roofs

Our Top Solar Company Picks for Pennsylvania

Learn more: Sunrun review

Learn more: Palmetto Solar review

Learn more: Solar Energy World review

Learn more: Sunrun review

Solar panels are expensive, but there are federal, state, and local programs that can reduce solar panel installation costs. Here are the key solar incentives available to Pennsylvania homeowners.

• Federal tax credit: The federal tax credit, also called the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), allows you to receive a tax deduction equal to 30% of your solar installation costs. This rate will reduce to 26% in 2033.
• Net-metering: Some Pennsylvania utility companies have net-metering programs that allow you to sell the excess energy your system produces back to the utility company for credit on your future bills. The Pennsylvania Electric Company (PECO) offers such a program.
• Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Credit program: The Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Credit Program provides credits for specific amounts of energy produced by your system that can be sold to the state or businesses looking to invest in clean energy. Prices for these credits vary.

Solar is a big investment which makes it extra important to choose the right provider. Here are some important factors to consider when comparing companies. 

Solar Services

Check that the company you’re considering doesn’t just sell solar panels but also installs them. We recommend in-house solar panel installation rather than a third party because you’ll likely experience better communication and quality assurance. You’ll also get a more comprehensive labor warranty on the workmanship. 

Check if the provider only installs solar panels or if they install solar batteries, inverters, and other equipment as well. 

Warranties

Solar warranties include::

• Manufacturer’s warranty (or product warranty): This protects the individual solar system components in case of defects.
• Workmanship warranty: This covers installation in case of poor workmanship or faulty installation materials.
• Performance (or power production) guarantee: This guarantees the solar system’s output performs as outlined in your contract.

The best companies offer 25-year warranties in each of these cases, though some limit their workmanship warranty to 10 years. We recommend finding a company that provides at least 20 years for each warranty type.

Payment Options

Solar companies offer a combination of these solar financing options:

• Full purchase: Purchasing your system in full at the time of installation gives you immediate system ownership and qualifies you for further incentives.
• Solar loan: A solar loan allows you to make monthly payments on your system but still lets you own your system. 
• Solar lease: You’ll make set monthly solar system payments with a lease, but you won’t be able to ever own it, which disqualifies you from most solar incentives.
• Power purchase agreement (PPA): A PPA allows you to make monthly payments with no money down, but you won’t own the system.  

We recommend purchasing your system outright or financing through a solar loan if it’s in your budget. Be wary of companies that push solar leases or PPAs without being transparent about the lack of system ownership or incentive disqualification. 

Customer Support

Customer service can make all the difference in whether you have a smooth experience. You want a provider that’s not only friendly but reachable, responsive, and helpful. Companies should provide multiple ways to reach them, such as phone, email, online chat, online portal, or mobile app. They should also be responsive across all of them. 

Try calling, emailing, or messaging the provider and see how long it takes to reach the right person. Look at the customer support hours to see if you’ll be able to reach someone on weekends and evenings. Lastly, consider how supportive customer support is. A provider that thoroughly answers all of your questions, looks for ways to save you money, and takes the time to get the best product for your needs should be at the top of your list.

It’s easy to get a solar quote in Pennsylvania. You can usually do this 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, and roof size and slope. 
3. Get your free quote by email or on the website within minutes. 

You can also call the company for this information and to get a quick estimate. When we went through the process online, it took less than 15 minutes to get a quote. By phone, it took an average of 20 minutes.

Pennsylvania residents have several great solar companies to choose from. The right one for you depends on your budget and priorities. We recommend SunPower as our top choice due to its high-efficiency panels, comprehensive warranty, and stellar reputation. 

Carefully look at a company’s website, warranty, pricing, and customer reviews before making a decision about which to hire for your solar project. We suggest getting a quote from at least three providers to compare price versus product. Check out our guide to how much solar panels cost for what to expect.

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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.