15 Best Solar Companies in San Marcos, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in San Marcos based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for San Marcos, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Average San Marcos homeowner saves $2,619/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in San Marcos
Searching for the top solar companies in San Marcos? Installing a solar panel system is an exciting project that many homeowners find rewarding for their wallets, communities and the planet. While solar power is a large investment, you’ll be able to make that amount back and then some, all while living more sustainably. In fact, you could be looking at saving about $31,000 over 20 years.
To help you comb through the huge number of San Marcos solar installers, we’ve come up with a list of the top ones.To get an idea of what it might cost to install solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to get a quote from a certified installer near you.
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 San Marcos
SunPower by Milholland Electric
Reliable Customer Support- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Tesla Powerwall- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Precis Solar
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
Sol Energy Systems LLC
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Eminent Energy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
San Diego County Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- System Decommissioning
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
Cosmic Solar and Roofing
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
SolHome
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Baker Home Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
Green Earth Electric
- Family-Operated Business
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
G C Electric Solar
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Palomar Solar and Roofing
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
Stellar Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Carlsbad Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Family-Operated Business
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
SolarHub - Best Price & 30 YR Roof Warranty
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
Magic Solar San Diego
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in San Marcos
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in 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 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 San Marcos
For lots of homeowners, whether or not to invest in solar energy depends the most on the cost.Some key things that affect how much it will cost and how much you could save include:
- Incentives: One thing that can reduce the cost of your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your energy bills, which can result in an average of $31,000 of savings over 20 years.
- System size and type: Some models are more expensive than others, so the one you get can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need to buy, the more it'll cost.
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: Due to San Marcos’s very high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a lot on your electricity bills.
- How much power your household needs: If your family uses a lot of energy, you'll see more savings from switching to solar.
There are many great benefits of solar despite the upfront cost of installation. It can help the Earth and your finances. Plus, it can increase the value of your home, resulting in even more benefits if you decide to sell your home later.
Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}
If you're wondering what your impact could be if you switch to solar, you can use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for San Marcos, CA.
| {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} -year savings | {{ solarcalc.total_savings()|currency }} |
| Estimated cost | {{ solarcalc.array_cost() | currency }} |
| Estimated incentives | {{ solarcalc.incentive_savings() | currency }} |
| Payback period | {{ solarcalc.payback_period()|number:1 }} years |
| CO2 emissions prevented | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()|number:0 }} lbs |
| Miles driven equivalent | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()/0.78|number:0 }} mi |
Switching to solar in {{ solarcalc.name }} can save you {{ solarcalc.total_savings() | currency }} over the course of {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} years.
Solar Incentives in San Marcos
One of the great things about installing a solar panel system is earning federal and potentially state incentives.When you install a solar panel system on your home, you can take advatage of the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently reduces your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. Additionally, there are often some state and city incentives that you can use to further save. Our article on solar incentives has more in-depth information on the incentives you can benefit from in San Marcos.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in San Marcos
One reason so many homeowners consider switching to solar power is to help lower their environmental impact.But how much can installing solar panels actually help the environment? 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.After you go solar, your carbon emissions can be reduced by about 50 pounds a year. The good things about solar power are infinite — just like solar power is! That's why so many San Marcos residents 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 San Marcos, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best near me?
In San Marcos, SunPower by Milholland Electric is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.80 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your home.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?
The main advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, for some, 100% erase your electricity bills, raise your home’s value and reduce your carbon footprint. The biggest disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey to install, you may not save a lot if you don’t use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
Is it worth putting solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels can be a great investment for many homeowners, but honestly, 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.
When is the best time of year to install solar panels?
Despite summer being the most popular time people install solar panels, the optimal time is actually winter. You can save money since there's less demand during the winter months, and it allows you to be up and running with solar for the higher power bills you may get during the summer.
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.