Best 5 Solar Companies in Aloha, OR

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Aloha

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

Licensing and Training

Solar companies in Oregon must be licensed and bonded according to the terms of the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. For PV installations, each standard journeyman on the job will have at least 8,000 hours of hands-on experience and must keep up with continuing education requirements. Installers of solar thermal systems must be either a plumbing journeyman and a licensed solar heating installer. Check a company's website 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 Aloha

Your photovoltaic panels' style 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.

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

Most Aloha homeowners opt for solar systems designed for five kilowatts (kW) of electrical capacity. These systems cost about $17,500 to set up, considering both materials and labor. You can see more specific solar cost information in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Aloha

There are numerous ways to pay for new solar panels, and the right one will lower your costs. A few of the most common options include power purchase agreements (PPAs), loans, cash payments, and leases. Though it involves 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 second most effective option. As with a car or home loan, 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 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 do not provide you system ownership. Solar experts generally don't recommend them, but they might be suitable in some cases. Look for companies that offer multiple payment plans to find the right fit for your wallet.

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

A 26% federal solar tax credit applies to new home solar systems purchased through 2032. Additional incentives may be available through city and state governments, usually in the form of rebates and special financing programs.