Best 5 Solar Companies in Camarillo, CA

Camarillo homeowners experience an average of 191 sunny days per year, making the city a suitable environment for solar power. Many are hiring top solar installers to get panels on their roofs. Local homeowners might opt for solar to break free of high power costs from sources like natural gas. A professional solar company can help you set up and adjust a system that fulfills your energy needs without costing a fortune. Discover Camarillo's best solar companies and learn crucial decision-making strategies on this page.

Ranking Methodology

Our team focuses on the following criteria to determine the best Camarillo solar companies.

• Certifications and credentials: Each provider on our list meets state and city licensing requirements and keeps current with industry best practices. Many of them have served the Camarillo community for more than a decade.
• Customer reviews and feedback: Most Camarillo solar providers have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio reflects a company's dependability and responsiveness to issues.
• Service offerings and warranties: Solar contractors should stand behind their equipment and services with warranties. We evaluated how each provider responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on timeliness and customer satisfaction.
• Educational approach: Solar technicians must be knowledgeable. They should utilize their years of experience address your questions on how to care for your system and improve its performance.
• Panel brands and quality: The leading solar companies keep up with new technology, offering equipment from innovative, dependable manufacturers.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy comes with multiple advantages. Let's look at a few of them.

• Reduced carbon footprint: The sun is the universe's most abundant clean energy source, meaning you can minimize or conquer your home's dependence on non-renewable sources.
• Better energy independence: Solar panel systems can keep your home running through emergencies and blackouts, giving you additional security. You can use your solar energy anytime with an optional battery backup system.
• Lowered energy bills: Solar panels let you generate your own energy to power your home, decreasing your regular electricity costs. You can eliminate your bills completely if you go off-grid. Plus, a significant amount of states offer net metering, which permit you to earn money by selling your unused energy back to the grid.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Camarillo Homeowners?

Governments and utility companies often incentivize homeowners for switching to solar. Here are some of the tax credits, rebates, or other programs you could qualify for.

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Camarillo

The more thorough your company research is, the better your solar system will ultimately function. Make your choice based on the following key factors.

Licensing and Training

California requires solar companies to hold licenses for each type of equipment they install, which can include solar boilers, pool heaters, HVAC, water heaters, and photovoltaic (PV) systems. Contractors must complete a highly comprehensive educational series, gain four years of field experience, and pass written exams to earn licensure. You should also visit a company's website to learn about its private certifications. Two of the most respected are the PV Installation Professional and Solar Heating Installer certificates, backed by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Some companies don't publish this information online, so you should also ask your estimator about them.

Cost of Solar Panels in Camarillo

Different solar panel types look and perform differently. Monocrystalline panels cost more than other options, but they generate the most power and generally have the highest quality. Polycrystalline panels produce less power, but start at a more budget-friendly price point. Thin-film panels work well for small projects like RVs and sheds, but they're not ideal for larger installations due to their low performance.

You can also add battery backups and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. These will increase your total installation cost, but they can enhance your solar system's efficiency. Not every solar company includes these additional features, so look for a contractor that sells them if it's a priority for you.

If you're a resident of Camarillo and want a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could expect to pay about $17,350 for materials and labor. See more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Camarillo

There are a plethora of ways to pay for a new solar system, and the right one will minimize your overhead. A few of the most common options include power purchase agreements (PPAs), loans, leases, and cash payments. Most solar experts recommend a cash payment or using a solar loan. Cash payments require a large up-front sum, but they help you avoid paying interest, grant you system ownership, and qualify you for cost-saving solar incentives. Solar loans have the same benefits, though you'll pay more in total due to interest and fees. Like a home or car loan, you'll pay a set monthly rate with as little as $0 down. Solar leases let you rent your panels for a fixed monthly rate, while PPAs let you pay only for the energy you use, similar to an electric bill. Both options disqualify you for solar incentives and do not provide you system ownership. Solar experts generally don't recommend them, but they might be suitable in some cases. Look for companies that offer several payment plans to find the right fit for your wallet.

The table below lists the average payback periods for different capacities of solar systems in Camarillo.

You can claim a 26% federal solar tax credit from the IRS for new residential solar systems purchased before 2032. Additionally, local governments and utilities may have their own financing plans and rebates that could reduce your total cost even more.

Sources

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• U.S. Department of Energy