Best 5 Solar Companies in Hickory, NC

With Hickory's clear skies and little rainfall, it's an ideal area for homeowners and businesses aiming to harness the added sunlight by buying panels from one of the best solar companies. While going solar comes with upfront costs, local homeowners could ultimately save $940 per kilowatt on their electric bills. A professional installation team can help you select the best panels to maximize your savings. Discover Hickory's top-rated solar companies and learn key decision-making strategies on this page.

Ranking Methodology

Our team focuses on the following criteria to determine the best Hickory solar companies.

• Warranty and service offerings: Solar providers should stand behind their equipment and services with warranties. We evaluated how each company responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on promptness and customer satisfaction.
• Professional licenses and credentials: Each provider on our list complies with state and city licensing requirements and keeps current with industry best practices. Many of them have served the Hickory community for a decade or longer.
• Educational programs and business model: Solar technicians must be good teachers. They should use their years of experience address your questions on how to care for your system and maximize its performance.
• Panel quality and brand offerings: The best solar companies stay up-to-date with new technology, offering equipment from reliable, innovative manufacturers.
• Customer reviews and feedback: Most Hickory solar companies have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio demonstrates a company's reliability and responsiveness to issues.

Benefits of Solar Energy

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

• Reduced energy costs: Generating some or all of your own electricity will cut power costs long-term. Plus, some states provide net metering programs that make it possible for you to sell your unused energy back to the grid, generating extra credits toward your energy bill.
• Better energy independence: Adding a battery backup or storage system lets you have dependable energy during grid outages and storms.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Utilizing solar is a surefire way to decrease your carbon footprint and home fossil fuel dependency.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Hickory Homeowners?

Governments and utilities often incentivize 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 Hickory

The purchase price and efficacy of solar panels often depend on which company installed them. Consider each of these aspects in your service provider search.

Licensing and Training

A licensed electrical contractor in North Carolina may supervise home solar PV installations in North Carolina if they have the relevant classification from the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. You should also visit a company's website to learn about its private accreditations. Two of the most respected are the PV Installation Professional and Solar Heating Installer certificates, granted 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 Hickory

Your photovoltaic panels' style will affect 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 are excellent for non-traditional roof shapes and cost the least, but don't work well for large residential 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 company includes these optional components, so look for a company that sells them if it's a priority for you.

Generally speaking, it will cost about $17,550 for a five-kilowatt solar array in Hickory. This table displays more specific costs for different solar panel types and system components in your area.

Financing Solar Energy in Hickory

There are numerous ways to pay for new solar panels, and the right one will help you decrease overhead. A few of the most common options include cash payments, power purchase agreements (PPAs), loans, and leases. We advise 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 reduce 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 installments while still benefiting from 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) permits you to pay a monthly rate determined by the energy you use, similar to an electric bill. We generally don’t recommend these two options because you won't own the panels and cannot use solar incentives. We recommend working with an installer that offers multiple financing options. Speak with each representative about what's available, and acquire more than one estimate for the best odds of staying within your budget.

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

You can claim a 26% federal solar tax credit from the IRS for new residential solar systems purchased before 2032. Additionally, utilities and local governments may have their own rebates and financing plans that could reduce your total cost even more.

Sources

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