Best 5 Solar Companies in Plant City, FL

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Plant City

Choosing a company is the first step toward a well-oiled and cost-efficient solar system. Here are some essential aspects to bear in mind while shopping for a solar company.

Licensing and Training

Once an electrical professional in Florida has four years of field experience, including one year as an apprentice, they can take two exams to earn a CV license with the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board. The Sunshine State also allows electrical contractors to install solar panels, but they may need to subcontract some tasks to a licensed roofer. Look for private accreditations from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), among the solar sector's most trusted trade groups. Its program includes certifications for both solar photovoltaic and water heating installers.

Cost of Solar Panels in Plant City

Your solar panels' model will affect how much power you can generate. 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.

Additional system add-ons, such as battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) chargers, will increase your overall installation costs. However, they might make your solar system more efficient and convenient to use. Not every solar provider provides these additional features, so look for a contractor that sells them if it's essential for you.

You can plan to spend about $16,050 on average for a five-kilowatt solar energy system in Plant City. Use the table in this section to get an idea of how much Plant City solar companies might quote for your specific solar system's price.

Financing Solar Energy in Plant City

There are various ways to pay for a new solar system, and the right one will lower your costs. A few of the most common options include cash payments, loans, leases, and power purchase agreements (PPAs). We suggest 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 own your system and can apply for solar panel incentives to reduce 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 monthly installments while still enjoying energy bill savings and solar incentives. However, you’ll pay more in total due to accruing interest. Solar leases involve paying a set monthly rate to use rooftop panels. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) allows you to pay a monthly rate based only on the energy you use, akin to an electric bill. We usually don’t recommend these two options because you won't own the panels and are disqualified from using solar incentives. Look for providers that offer several payment plans to find the right fit for your budget.

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

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