Best 5 Solar Companies in Kannapolis, NC

With Kannapolis' clear skies and little rainfall, it's a perfect area for homeowners and businesses seeking to harness the extra sunlight by purchasing panels from one of the best solar installers. While embracing solar power comes with upfront costs, local homeowners could ultimately save $900 per kilowatt on their electric bills. A professional installer can help you choose the best panels to maximize your savings. Discover Kannapolis' best solar companies and learn essential decision-making strategies on this page.

Ranking Methodology

We analyzed a multitude of Kannapolis solar installers, using the following criteria to determine the finest:

• Experience and professional licensure: Each company on our list meets state and city licensing requirements and keeps current with industry best practices. Many of them have served the Kannapolis community for more than a decade.
• Panel quality and brand offerings: The best solar companies remain current on new technology, providing equipment from innovative, dependable manufacturers.
• Customer reviews and feedback: Most Kannapolis solar companies have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio reflects a company's reliability and responsiveness to issues.
• Educational programs and business model: Solar technicians must be excellent teachers. They should tap into their years of experience address your questions on how to look after your system and optimize its performance.
• Warranty and service offerings: Solar providers should stand behind their systems and services with warranties. We evaluated how each company responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on promptness and customer happiness.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy provides multiple benefits. Let's look at a few of them.

• Better energy independence: Adding a battery storage system lets you have dependable energy during grid outages and storms.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Using clean solar power lowers your dependence on conventional, less environmentally-friendly sources.
• Reduced energy costs: Sourcing some or all of your own power will cut power costs long-term. Plus, some states provide net metering programs that enable you to sell your extra energy back to the grid, generating additional credits toward your energy bill.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Kannapolis Homeowners?

North Carolina homeowners who upgrade to solar could qualify for reimbursements, rebates, tax credits and special financing. Here are just a few of the region's incentive programs.

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Kannapolis

The cost and efficacy of solar panels often depend on the solar company that installed them. Here are some important factors to consider while shopping for a solar company.

Licensing and Training

A licensed electrical contractor in North Carolina may supervise home solar PV installations in North Carolina if they have the appropriate classification from the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. 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 Kannapolis

The style of solar panels you choose determines how much energy you can generate. Monocrystalline panels and high-quality and give you the best performance but cost more upfront. Polycrystalline panels work with a tried-and-true mechanism and cost less, but produce less power. Thin-film panels aren't the best for large residential installations, but they are excellent accessories for non-traditional roofs.

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

If you're a resident of Kannapolis and are considering getting a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could expect to pay about $17,550 for materials and labor. Find more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Kannapolis

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 cash payments, solar loans, solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs). Though it involves a large up-front payment, cash is the most affordable choice because it doesn't accrue interest and qualifies you for incentives. Solar loans are the runner-up option. As with a car loan or mortgage, you'll pay a monthly rate towards system ownership, including interest. You can still apply for valuable solar incentives, and depending on your lender, you could put as little as $0 down. Solar leases allow you to pay a monthly rate to rent your panels, while a power purchase agreement lets you pay a variable rate based on only the energy you use. We generally advise against these options since you won't own your system and are disqualified from solar incentives, but they might be suitable in certain circumstances. Look for providers that offer multiple payment plans to find the right fit for your financial needs.

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

A 26% federal solar tax credit applies to new residential solar equipment purchased through 2032. Further incentives may be available through local 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