Best 5 Solar Companies in Huntington, WV

With Huntington's clear skies and little rainfall, it's a great area for families and businesses aiming to harness the additional sunlight by purchasing panels from one of the best solar companies. With all the options to choose from in this vibrant community, you might feel overwhelmed searching for a great installer. On this page, we'll show you Huntington's leading solar providers and provide expert advice for your solar journey.

Ranking Methodology

Our team has carefully researched dozens of solar installers near Huntington, with emphasis on the following criteria:

• Educational approach and support: Solar technicians must be excellent teachers. They should use their years of experience address your questions on how to look after your system and optimize its performance.
• Certifications and licenses: Each contractor on our list meets state and city licensing requirements and keeps current with industry best practices. Many of them have served the Huntington community for over 15 years.
• Warranty and service offerings: Solar installers should stand behind their equipment and services with warranties. We evaluated how each installer responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on promptness and customer satisfaction.
• Reviews and feedback from customers: Most Huntington solar companies have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio reflects a company's reliability and responsiveness to issues.
• Panel brands and quality: The top solar companies stay up-to-date with new technology, offering equipment from innovative, dependable manufacturers.

Benefits of Solar Energy

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

• Reduced carbon footprint: Using solar is a surefire way to minimize your carbon footprint and home fossil fuel dependency.
• Better energy independence: Solar panel systems can keep your home running through blackouts and emergencies, giving you additional security. You can use your solar energy anytime with an optional battery storage system.
• Lower energy bills: Sourcing some or all of your own energy will spend less on electricity long-term. Plus, some states provide net metering programs that allow you to sell your unused energy back to the grid, generating additional credits toward your energy bill.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Huntington Homeowners?

Governments and utilities often reward homeowners for switching to solar. Here are some of the tax credits, rebates, or other programs you could qualify for.

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Huntington

Choosing a company is the first step toward a well-oiled and cost-efficient solar array. Make your choice based on the following crucial aspects.

Licensing and Training

Contractors in West Virginia don't need a license to install a solar photovoltaic system, but an electrician licensed by the West Virginia Division of Labor must be the one to connect the system to the grid. For solar thermal systems, anyone working with pipes must be a licensed plumber. You should also visit a company's website to learn about its private credentials. Two of the most recognized are the PV Installation Professional and Solar Heating Installer certificates, backed 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 Huntington

The style of solar panels you choose decides how much electricity you can produce. 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 meant for large home installations, but they're excellent for small projects like sheds and RVs.

You can also add battery backups and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. These will increase your total installation cost, but they can improve your solar system's performance. Not every solar contractor includes these add-ons, so look for a company that sells them if it's important for you.

You can expect to pay about $16,950 on average for a five-kilowatt solar energy system in Huntington. Use the table in this section to get an idea of how much Huntington solar companies might quote for your specific solar system's price.

Financing Solar Energy in Huntington

Choosing the best financing solution will affect your overall solar system cost and expected savings. Common payment options include loans, leases, cash payments, and power purchase agreements. 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 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 money-saving solar incentives, and depending on your lender, you could put as little as $0 down. Solar leases allow you to pay a monthly fee to rent your panels, while a power purchase agreement lets you pay a variable rate based on only the energy you use. We generally don't recommend these options since you will not have ownership of your system and are disqualified from solar incentives, but they might be suitable in certain circumstances. Look for providers that offer two or more payment plans to find the right fit for your budget.

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

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 financing plans and rebates 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