Best 5 Solar Companies in Delano, CA

Delano homeowners are increasingly using solar panels to power their homes and heat their water. If you're considering going solar, you might be worried about expensive upfront costs. By working with a professional installer, you'll have both the economic and technical support you need for a successful transition. In this guide, we'll show you Delano's best solar providers and offer tips for your company choice, so you can find the perfect one for your household.

Ranking Methodology

Our team focuses on the following criteria to assess the best Delano solar companies.

• Certifications and licenses: Each provider on our list meets state and city licensing requirements and stays up to date with industry best practices. Many of them have served the Delano community for more than a decade.
• Educational programs and business model: Solar technicians must be knowledgeable. They should utilize their years of experience answer your questions on how to look after your system and optimize its performance.
• Service offerings and warranties: Solar companies should stand behind their systems and services with warranties. We evaluated how each company responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on promptness and customer happiness.
• Customer feedback and reviews: Most Delano solar companies have both positive and critical reviews. However, a good review ratio indicates a company's reliability and responsiveness to issues.
• Panel quality and brand offerings: The top solar companies keep up with new technology, providing equipment from reliable, innovative manufacturers.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy provides several advantages that will enhance your home for years to come.

• Lowered energy bills: With a solar array, you generate power without paying the tacked-on costs of grid-tied power. Going off-grid can eliminate your bills completely. Plus, a significant number of states offer net metering, which permit you to earn money by selling your unused energy back to the grid.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Adopting solar is a surefire way to decrease your carbon footprint and home fossil fuel dependency.
• Better energy independence: Adding a battery backup or storage system lets you have reliable energy during storms and grid outages.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Delano Homeowners?

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

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Delano

Choosing a company is the first step toward an effective and valuable solar array. Consider all of these elements in your company search.

Licensing and Training

California requires solar companies to hold licenses for each type of equipment they install, which can include solar pool heaters, water heaters, HVAC, boilers, 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. Look for private accreditations from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), one of the solar sector's most reputed trade groups. Its program includes certifications for both solar photovoltaic and water heating installers.

Cost of Solar Panels in Delano

Different solar panel types look and perform differently. Monocrystalline panels offer the best energy production but cost more than other options and generally have the highest quality. Polycrystalline panels provide a lower price point but produce less power. 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.

If you want to charge an electric car or use your solar power in dark weather, you can pay extra for accessories. By selecting the right components, you can make your panel array more effective and user-friendly. Not every solar company provides these add-ons, so look for a provider that installs them if it's crucial for you.

If you're a resident of Delano and want a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could plan to spend about $17,350 for parts and installation. See more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Delano

Solar providers offer multiple different financing options to increase your savings and lower your costs. Though some providers offer unique payment plans, the most common are cash payments, solar loans, power purchase agreements (PPAs) and solar leases. We advise paying with cash or securing a solar loan for the best return on investment (ROI). Cash payments require a hefty sum up-front, but you’ll pay the least long-term by avoiding interest. You’ll also have full ownership of your system and can apply for solar panel incentives to cut your total costs. Solar loans are another solid option if you don’t want to make a big initial investment. You can pay for your system in installments while still benefiting from energy bill savings and solar incentives. However, you’ll pay more in total due to accruing interest. Solar leases allow you to pay a monthly fee to rent your panels, while a PPA lets you pay a fluctuating rate based on only the energy you use. We generally don't recommend these options since you won't own your system and are disqualified from solar incentives, but they might be suitable in certain circumstances. We advise working with an installer that offers multiple financing options. Talk to each consultant about what's available, and get more than one estimate for the best odds of keeping within your budget.

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

The IRS allows you to claim a 26% federal tax credit for solar panels on your new solar panels, so long as you purchase it before 2032. City and state governments and utilities might also offer their own financing programs, rebates, and incentives that could save you more money.

Sources

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