Best 5 Solar Companies in Little Elm, TX

Little Elm homeowners are lucky to live in plentiful sunlight, both to appreciate and use for energy. Many are working with top solar installers to get panels on their roofs. While switching to solar energy comes with upfront costs, local homeowners could ultimately save $920 per kilowatt on their electric bills. A professional installer can help you select the best panels to maximize your savings. Discover Little Elm's top-rated solar companies and learn essential decision-making tips on this page.

Ranking Methodology

Our team used the following criteria to assess the best Little Elm solar companies.

• Feedback and reviews from customers: Most Little Elm solar providers have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio reflects a company's reliability and responsiveness to issues.
• Certifications and credentials: Each installer on our list complies with state and city licensing requirements and stays up to date with industry best practices. Many of them have served the Little Elm community for a decade or longer.
• Warranty and service offerings: Solar contractors should stand behind their equipment and services with warranties. We evaluated how each installer responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on timeliness and customer happiness.
• Panel quality and brand offerings: The premier solar companies stay up-to-date with new technology, offering equipment from reliable, innovative manufacturers.
• Educational approach: Solar technicians must be excellent teachers. They should tap into their years of experience answer your questions on how to care for your system and maximize its performance.

Benefits of Solar Energy

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

• Reduced carbon footprint: Embracing solar is a surefire way to lower your carbon footprint and home fossil fuel dependency.
• Lowered energy bills: Solar panels let you generate your own energy to power your home, reducing your regular electricity costs. Going off-grid can eliminate your bills completely. Plus, a significant amount of states offer net metering, which permit you to earn money by selling your unused energy back to the grid.
• Better energy independence: Solar panel systems with battery storage systems work through blackouts and emergencies, and you won't have to depend on the grid for your safety and well-being.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Little Elm Homeowners?

Governments and utility companies often incentivize homeowners for adopting solar. Here are some of the rebates, tax credits or other programs you could qualify for.

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Little Elm

The more thorough your company research is, the better your solar installation will ultimately function. Consider all of these criteria in your company search.

Licensing and Training

All solar contractors in Texas must have a state electrical contractors' license from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners regulates plumbing regulations and licensing standards for solar thermal installers. Solar providers can also pursue accreditations from trade groups and standards organizations. The most respected ones in the industry come from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. Most company websites will prominently display earned credentials, but you should also ask your estimator for more information.

Cost of Solar Panels in Little Elm

Different solar panel types look and perform differently. Monocrystalline panels offer the best energy production but cost more than other options and generally have the highest quality. Polycrystalline panels produce less power, but start at a more budget-friendly price point. Thin-film panels work well for small projects like RVs and sheds, but they're not ideal for larger installations due to their low performance.

If you want 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 efficient and convenient to use. Not every solar company provides these add-ons, so look for a company that sells them if it's important for you.

Generally speaking, it will cost about $16,650 for a five-kilowatt solar array in Little Elm. This table displays more specific prices for different solar panel types and system components in your area.

Financing Solar Energy in Little Elm

There are various ways to pay for a solar energy system, and the right one will lower your costs. A few of the most common options include cash payments, loans, power purchase agreements (PPAs), 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 runner-up option. As with a home or auto loan, you'll pay a monthly rate towards system ownership, including interest. You can still apply for cost-saving solar incentives, and depending on your lender, you could put as little as $0 down. 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, akin to an electric bill. We usually don’t recommend these two choices because you won't own the panels and are disqualified from using solar incentives. We advise working with a contractor that offers multiple financing options. Ask each salesperson about what's available, and obtain more than one estimate for the best odds of keeping within your spending limits.

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

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

Sources

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