15 Best Solar Companies in Carlsbad, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Carlsbad based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Carlsbad, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Carlsbad homeowner saves $2,619/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Carlsbad
As a homeowner or business owner in Carlsbad, you may be considering switching to solar energy and curious about the best solar companies in your city. Solar could be a good choice since it has lots of perks. One of the main reasons those living in Carlsbad, where the average energy bill is high, want to go solar is to lower their monthly expenses.
Here, we’ll list out some of the best solar companies in Carlsbad to make your choice much easier.Continue reading to see our picks for the top solar companies in the city, or get connected with a vetted solar company near you right away by clicking the button below.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Carlsbad
SunPower by Milholland Electric
Clear Pricing Policy- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Tesla Powerwall- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
Precis Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Sol Energy Systems LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
SunPower by Sun Solar-OC
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Green Earth Electric
- Family-Operated Business
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
San Diego County Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- System Decommissioning
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Cosmic Solar and Roofing
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
Stellar Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Tesla Powerwall
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
Eminent Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
Carlsbad Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Family-Operated Business
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
Baker Home Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
SolHome
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Magic Solar San Diego
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
SolarHub - Best Price & 30 YR Roof Warranty
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
G C Electric Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Carlsbad
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Carlsbad based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Carlsbad
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for California solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Carlsbad
For many people, the decision of which solar installer to choose comes down to pricing.A few key factors that affect how much it will cost to install a solar panel system on your home and how much money you could save over time are:
- Your income and budget: This guides what model of solar panels you can purchase.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Carlsbad gets lots of sunlight, your solar panel system will most likely be able to generate enough energy to power your whole home, which impacts how much you can save on your energy bills.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to reduce your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state and even local utility companies may also have incentives and rebates that you can take advantage of. In addition, you can save about $31,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, without incentives.
- Energy consumption: Solar may be too pricey an investment for homes that don’t need a lot of energy a month.
So is a solar system worth it? Whether you hope to decrease your electric bills, greenhouse gas emissions or both, solar panels are a solid investment for many Carlsbad homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Carlsbad
Because solar power is more sustainable than burning fossil fuels, there are various government incentives available to encourage people to make the switch.These incentives usually consist of cash rebates, tax breaks and/or solar renewable energy credits. They can cut the cost of going solar by 0, upwards of 50% depending on your location. You can find out about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Carlsbad
There are a few important reasons why homeowners are considering solar energy: for the good of their bank accounts and the planet.But you may be wondering – how much exactly can you help the planet by using solar power? Switching to solar power is a sustainable choice for the environment, due to the fact that the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation – all of which can be powered by solar instead.In Carlsbad, the average person can lower their carbon footprint by 50 pounds a year once they go solar. The perks of solar power are abundant — just like solar power is! That's why so many homeowners have been happy with using solar energy.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Carlsbad, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar installer in Carlsbad?
In Carlsbad, SunPower by Milholland Electric is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.80 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're looking to install solar panels on your house.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lets you spend less on your electricity bills, it’s a sustainable source of energy, and it can provide a good return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t produce electricity at night, there is a high upfront cost and solar panels can be an eyesore.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after buying solar panels?
Solar panels usually pay for themselves in about 7.4 years, but your solar payback period will depend on your utility costs. The higher your typical power bill, the faster your solar panel system will pay for itself.
How often do solar panels have to be replaced?
On average, solar panels can last about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency goes down by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a higher level of energy production.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.