Best 5 Solar Companies in Bel Air South, MD

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Bel Air South

The purchase price and efficiency of solar panels often hinge on the provider that installed them. Consider all of these criteria in your contractor search.

Licensing and Training

A Maryland solar PV installation team must include a Home Improvement Commission-licensed contractor and a master electrician with at least seven years of experience. The contractor installs the panels, while the master electrician pulls permits and connects the system to the grid. If you're installing a solar water heater, your contracting team must include a master plumber for utility connections and permits. Check a company's website for private accreditations from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), among the solar industry's most reputed trade groups. Its program includes certifications for both solar photovoltaic and water heating installers.

Cost of Solar Panels in Bel Air South

The type of solar panels you purchase dictates how much power you can produce. Monocrystalline panels and high-quality and cost more but give you the best performance. Polycrystalline panels produce less power, but they're worth it if you want a traditional panel style without the high cost. Thin-film panels aren't meant for large home installations, but they're excellent for small projects like sheds and RVs.

If you need to charge an electric car or use your solar power in dark weather, you can pay extra for add-ons. By choosing the right components, you can make your panel array more effective and convenient to use. Not every solar contractor offers these additional features, so look for a provider that installs them if it's important for you.

Generally speaking, it costs about $17,700 for a five-kilowatt solar array in Bel Air South. This table shows more specific costs for different solar panel types and system components in your area.

Financing Solar Energy in Bel Air South

Solar contractors 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 loans, solar leases, power purchase agreements (PPAs) and cash payments. Though it requires a large up-front payment, cash is the most economical choice because it doesn't accrue interest and qualifies you for incentives. Solar loans are the runner-up option. As with a car or home loan, you'll pay a monthly rate towards system ownership, including interest. You can still apply for money-saving solar incentives, and depending on your lender, you could put as little as $0 down. Solar leases let you rent your panels for a set 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 don't grant you system ownership. Solar experts generally don't recommend them, but they might be suitable in some cases. We advise working with an installer that offers multiple financing options. Speak with each representative about what's available, and obtain 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 Bel Air South.

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