Best 5 Solar Companies in Lancaster, PA

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Lancaster

The cost and efficiency of solar panels often hinge on the solar company that installed them. Consider each of these criteria in your contractor search.

Licensing and Training

There are no state-level contracting licenses issued in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, so each city or county can set its own requirements and regulations. Look for private accreditations from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), one of the solar industry's most respected trade groups. Its program includes certifications for both solar photovoltaic and water heating installers.

Cost of Solar Panels in Lancaster

Your photovoltaic panels' model will impact 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 are excellent for non-traditional roof shapes and cost the least, but don't work well for large residential installations.

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

Most Lancaster homeowners choose solar systems sized for five kilowatts (kW) of electrical capacity. These systems cost about $17,750 to set up, considering both materials and labor. You can find more specific solar cost information in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Lancaster

There are a plethora of ways to pay for a solar energy system, and the right one will help you decrease overhead. A few of the most common options include power purchase agreements (PPAs), cash payments, leases, and loans. We advise paying with cash or using 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 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 spend 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 based only on the energy you use, like an electric bill. We typically don’t recommend these two choices because you won't own the system and cannot use solar incentives. We suggest working with a company that offers multiple financing options. Ask each representative about what's available, and secure more than one estimate for the best odds of staying within your financial plan.

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

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