15 Best Solar Companies in Lake San Marcos, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Lake San Marcos based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Lake San Marcos, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Lake San Marcos homeowner saves $2,619/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Lake San Marcos
Choosing the right solar panel installation company for your roof is an important decision, but it's one that can pay off big in Lake San Marcos. After 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar system, you can save about $31,000 on your power bills.
If you’re thinking about going solar, the first step you should take is to find the best solar companies in Lake San Marcos and compare quotes. The great news is we did the hard work and came up with a list of the best solar companies so you don’t have to.To help you find out if solar panels are something you should get for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in Lake San Marcos 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 Lake San Marcos
SunPower by Milholland Electric
Reliable Customer Support- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
Precis Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
Sol Energy Systems LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Eminent Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
San Diego County Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- System Decommissioning
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Green Earth Electric
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Family-Operated Business
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
Cosmic Solar and Roofing
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
SolHome
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Baker Home Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Stellar Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Tesla Powerwall
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
G C Electric Solar
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Palomar Solar and Roofing
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Carlsbad Solar
- Family-Operated Business
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
SolarHub - Best Price & 30 YR Roof Warranty
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
Magic Solar San Diego
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Lake San Marcos
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Lake San Marcos 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 Lake San Marcos
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 Lake San Marcos
For many people considering switching to solar, the decision of which solar installer to go with comes down to how much it’ll cost.The installation cost is just one important factor you should take into account when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things such as:
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you get will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels are more expensive upfront but can also save you more money over the lifetime of your system. If you don’t need to maximize efficiency, you can opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: Due to Lake San Marcos’s very high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a lot on your power bills.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently lets you decrease your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state may also have various incentives that you can use. Plus, you can save about $31,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, without incentives.
- Energy consumption: Installing solar panels may be too steep of an investment for households that don’t consume a lot of energy per month.
Due to solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a worthwhile investment for the majority of homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Lake San Marcos
One of the good things about installing a solar panel system is earning government incentives.No matter what state you live in, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will allow you to claim 0 of how much your solar project cost on your tax return, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. In addition, there may be some local incentives that stack with the ITC too. Our article on solar incentives has more information on the incentives you can find in Lake San Marcos.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Lake San Marcos
There are lots of reasons to make the switch to solar energy, like saving money on utility bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Lake San Marcos, though. A significant thing to be mindful of is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you have a long commute, your footprint may be bigger, so adopting solar energy for your home can help offset that.Once you go solar, your carbon emissions can be lowered by about 50 pounds a year. As you can see, using solar power has so many other rewards besides saving money. One of the most important ones is that you can help save the planet too.
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 Lake San Marcos, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar installation company in Lake San Marcos?
In Lake San Marcos, SunPower by Milholland Electric is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.80 stars, so it's a good choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your house.
What are a few of the main pros and cons of going solar?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lowers your power bills, it’s a sustainable source of energy, and it can provide a decent return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t work as well when there’s limited direct sunlight, they cost a lot upfront and solar panels aren’t always aesthetically pleasing.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a good investment for lots of homeowners, but frankly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your power bills are already fairly low, solar panels might not be for you.
How often do solar panels need to be replaced?
On average, the lifespan of solar panels is about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency decreases by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a higher amount 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.