Best 5 Solar Companies in East Los Angeles, CA

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in East Los Angeles

The more thorough your company research is, the better your photovoltaic system will ultimately work. Consider all of these criteria 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 boilers, photovoltaic (PV) systems, HVAC, water heaters, and pool heaters. Contractors must complete a highly comprehensive educational series, gain four years of experience as an apprentice or journeyman, 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 Solar Heating Installer and PV Installation Professional certificates, awarded 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 East Los Angeles

Your photovoltaic panels' type will influence how much energy you can generate. Monocrystalline panels are among the highest quality and perform the best but cost the most. Polycrystalline panels generate less, but they're a great traditional option for low budgets. Thin-film panels are excellent for non-traditional roof shapes and cost the least, but don't work well for large residential installations.

If you'd like to charge an electric vehicle (EV) 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 efficient and user-friendly. Not every solar company provides these extras, so look for a company that installs them if it's important for you.

You can expect to pay about $17,350 on average for a five-kilowatt solar energy system in East Los Angeles. Use the table in this section to get an idea of how much East Los Angeles solar companies might quote for your specific solar system's price.

Financing Solar Energy in East Los Angeles

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 solar leases, cash payments, power purchase agreements (PPAs) and solar loans. Most solar experts recommend paying cash or using a solar loan. Cash payments require a large up-front sum, but they save you from 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. Much like a car or home loan, you'll pay a set monthly rate with potentially $0 down. Solar leases involve paying a set monthly rate to use rooftop panels. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) lets you pay a monthly rate determined by the energy you use, like an electric bill. We generally don’t recommend these two choices because you won't own the solar system and are disqualified from using solar incentives. We suggest working with a contractor that offers multiple financing options. Speak with each agent about what's available, and acquire more than one estimate for the best odds of keeping within your financial plan.

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

A 26% federal solar tax credit applies to new home solar systems purchased through 2032. Additional incentives may be available through city and state governments, usually in the form of rebates and special financing programs.