Best 5 Solar Companies in Martinez, CA

With Martinez's clear skies and little rainfall, it's a perfect area for families and businesses hoping to harness the additional sunlight by buying panels from one of the best solar installers. While going solar comes with upfront costs, local homeowners could ultimately save $1,700 per kilowatt on their electric bills. A professional installation team can help you select the best panels to maximize your savings. Discover Martinez's best solar companies and learn crucial decision-making strategies on this page.

Ranking Methodology

We analyzed a multitude of Martinez solar installers, using the following criteria to select the superior:

• Panel brands and quality: The top solar companies remain current on new technology, offering equipment from cutting-edge and trustworthy manufacturers.
• Certifications and licenses: Each provider on our list complies with state and city licensing requirements and stays up to date with industry best practices. Many of them have served the Martinez community for more than a decade.
• Reviews and feedback from customers: Most Martinez solar contractors have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio shows a company's trustworthiness and responsiveness to issues.
• 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 timeliness and customer satisfaction.
• Educational approach: Solar technicians must be knowledgeable. They should tap into their years of experience address your questions on how to maintain your system and maximize its performance.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy comes with multiple advantages. Here are some highlights.

• Better energy independence: Adding a battery storage system lets you have trustworthy energy during grid outages and storms.
• Lowered energy bills: Solar panels allow you to generate your own energy to power your home, decreasing your monthly electricity costs. Going off-grid can eliminate your bills completely. Plus, a significant amount of states offer net metering, which permit you to earn money by selling your unused energy back to the grid.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Using clean solar power reduces your dependence on fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases that damage the environment.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Martinez Homeowners?

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

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Martinez

The cost and performance of solar panels often depend on the solar company that mounted them. 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, water heaters, pool heaters, photovoltaic (PV) systems, and HVAC. Contractors must take 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), among the solar industry's most trusted trade groups. Its program includes certifications for both solar photovoltaic and water heating installers.

Cost of Solar Panels in Martinez

Your photovoltaic panels' type will impact how much energy you can produce. Monocrystalline panels are among the highest quality and cost the most but perform the best. Polycrystalline panels offer you a budget panel with a traditional design, but at the cost of less power generation. Thin-film panels have a low cost and are excellent for non-traditional roofs, but aren't recommended for large home installations.

If you need to charge an electric vehicle (EV) or use your solar power in dark weather, you can pay extra for accessories. By choosing the right components, you can make your system more efficient and user-friendly. Not every solar provider offers these add-ons, so look for a contractor that sells them if it's a priority for you.

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

Financing Solar Energy in Martinez

Solar contractors use 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 suggest paying with cash or using a solar loan for the highest 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 minimize your total costs. Solar loans are another good option if you don’t want to make a big initial investment. You can pay for your system in monthly installments while still benefiting from energy bill savings and solar incentives. However, you’ll spend more in total due to accruing interest. Solar leases allow you to rent your panels for a fixed monthly rate, while PPAs let you pay just for the energy you use, akin to an electric bill. Both options disqualify you for solar incentives and don't grant you system ownership. Solar experts generally don't recommend them, but they might be suitable in some cases. Ask each company you're evaluating about the payment options it offers. A representative can help you determine the optimal option for your pocketbook.

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

A 26% federal solar tax credit applies to recently-purchased solar equipment purchased through 2032. Further incentives may be available through city and state governments, usually in the form of rebates and special financing programs.

Sources

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