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5 Best Solar Companies in Kentucky (2024 Guide)

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Author Image Written by Tamara Jude Updated 12/09/2024

Kentucky is known for its active storm season, including severe rain, dangerous lightning, and frequent power outages. Installing solar panels can give residents a reliable way to keep their homes running during turbulent weather, and installing a solar battery adds even more backup power. Plus, solar energy provides lower utility costs throughout the year. 

We spent more than 60 hours researching most well regarded solar companies, including nationwide and regional installers. We’ve narrowed down our choices to the best solar companies in Kentucky and included tips on shopping for the right installer.

Compare Solar Companies for Kentucky

Company Star Rating Warranties Payment Options Link
4.4
10–25 years Full purchase, loan GET QUOTE
4.2
25 years Full purchase, loan, lease GET QUOTE
4.4
25–30 years Full purchase, loan, lease, PPA GET QUOTE
4.5
10–25 years Full purchase, loan, lease, PPA GET QUOTE
No results were found.

Kentucky’s Top Solar Energy Companies

Most Reputable: Blue Raven Solar
Most Experienced Kentucky Installer: Venture Solar
Best Local Kentucky Installer: Solar Energy World
Best Solar Tech: Sunrun
Blue Raven Solar Most Reputable
4.4

Blue Raven maintains one of the best reputations in the solar industry, such as recognition for its excellent workplace culture and company success.

Pros and Cons
Pros 18 months of free solar energy for new customers In-house financing options, eliminating third-party lenders One of the most reputable solar companies Cons Limited two-year power guarantee Only two payment options Workmanship warranty lasts only 10 years
Why We Chose Blue Raven Solar

Blue Raven Solar has earned a reputation for trustworthiness from its solar industry peers and corporate staff. The company offers in-house financing options with five years of fixed rates, making going solar more affordable. Blue Raven offers full-service system design and installation from its in-house staff. The company builds custom solar systems with products from leading solar brands, such as Silfab and Q Cells.

Blue Raven Solar is ideal for customers looking for the best financing options. Its BluePower Plus+ financing program requires little to no money down and fixed interest rates. Unlike many other companies, it doesn’t use third-party lenders, making the financing process easier and more straightforward.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty
Blue Raven Solar includes a 25-year system warranty, 10-year workmanship warranty, and two-year production guarantee.

Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

Reputation and Awards

Blue Raven Solar has received numerous awards from Comparably, an organization that evaluates companies’ culture and reputation. Recognitions included Best Operations Team 2022, Best Places to Work in Salt Lake City 2022, and Best Company Outlook 2022. In 2021, Blue Raven Solar placed No. 20 on Glassdoor’s Best Place to Work in the USA.

The company holds BBB accreditation and an A+ rating*. We noted that customers praised the courteous customer service staff and knowledgeable installers but warned of pushy sales tactics from door-to-door salespersons.

Venture Solar

4.2

Venture Solar specializes in installing systems that are perfectly symmetrical and have no visible wiring or mounting devices. This design provides a simple, stylish look tailored to your roof’s appearance. Additionally, Venture offers comprehensive financing options similar to Sunrun, making solar energy more accessible to homeowners.

How We Scored Venture Solar

Venture earned 4.2 out of 5 stars. It gained most of its points due to its flexible financing options paired with an in-house financing department. It also provides plenty of solar services to match most customers’ wants and needs, though it lost points for lacking roofing services, energy audits, and EV charger installations. 

  • Solar Equipment and Services (16 out of 25 points): Venture offers solar panel and battery installation with active monitoring. The company lost points in this category because it doesn’t provide EV chargers, solar roof installation services, energy audits, and roof repairs.
  • Warranty and Performance Guarantees (25 out of 25 points): The company features excellent warranty perks with 25 years on labor, products, and performance. It also includes roof leak protection. 
  • Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (13 out of 15 points): Venture has a great reputation. It features high ratings on its BBB profile with an accreditation and no active issues like lawsuits.
  • Financing Options (14 out of 15 points): Venture provides financing options through an in-house financing team and works with every payment method except PPAs. 
  • Industry Experience (7 out of 10 points): The company holds only eight years of experience in the solar industry.
  • State Availability (7 out of 10 points): Venture has a limited service area of only three states.

Pros and Cons

Pros Provides transparent information about its financing options online Includes remote monitoring Includes a 25-year roof and system warranty with all panel systems Cons Requires your phone number to submit an online quote Reviews mention mixed experiences with customer support Doesn’t work with power purchase agreement

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

Venture offers a 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers workmanship, products, and power output. 

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease

State Availability

Available in: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.

Reputation and Reviews

Venture has an A+ rating and accreditation on its BBB profile. According to customer reviews, the company provides high-quality workmanship on its solar panel systems and good customer support. However, some customers have raised concerns about the pricing and quoting process. They found it confusing to determine the total cost of their system and experienced frequent back-and-forth over pricing.

Some customers also noted that Venture focuses on premium products, leading to higher pricing even when unnecessary. We found several Reddit threads discussing Venture where other solar customers and installers mentioned similar experiences.

Solar Energy World

4.4

Solar Energy World (SEW) is one of the most robust and well-regarded solar installation companies. It boasts several impressive features, such as its 30-year manufacturer’s warranty. Its service area is limited, and it doesn’t offer energy auditing services. We like that SEW discloses what solar panels it primarily works with and that the panels are from trusted, quality brands such as Qcells and Silfab.

Roughly 11% of our surveyed solar users purchased their system from Solar Energy World.

How We Scored Solar Energy World

SEW scored 4.4 out of 5 stars according to our methodology. The company received many points because of its warranty, which is longer than most other solar companies’ warranties. SEW offers a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty on all its solar panels and inverters, whereas many providers only offer 25-year warranties.

  • Solar Equipment and Services (18 out of 25 points): The company is an ideal option for many basic solar products and services, such as solar panels and battery installation. It lost points because it doesn’t install EV chargers or perform energy audits.
  • Warranty and Performance Guarantees (19 out of 25 points): SEW’s manufacturer and labor warranties are standout features, but the company doesn’t include any production guarantees with its work. 
  • Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (15 out of 15 points): The company’s reputation is one of the best, with high BBB and Google Reviews ratings. We also found no active alerts or lawsuits.
  • Financing Options (13.5 out of 15 points): SEW offers all possible solar payment options but doesn’t provide an in-house financing department. 
  • Industry Experience (8 out of 10 points): The company has been in business since 2009, so it received most of the points in this category.
  • State Availability (6 out of 10 points): SEW limits its service area to eight East Coast states.

Pros and Cons

Pros Features an extensive solar product catalog with trusted brands Includes free active monitoring Hires NABCEP-certified installers and designers Cons Reviews mention communication issues with staff Warranty coverage varies by solar panel brand Doesn’t offer a power production guarantee

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

SEW offers a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty on all purchased solar panels and inverters. However, coverage varies by brand, and the company doesn’t guarantee them with every panel option. 

Financing Options

✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
✔ PPA

State Availability

Available in: Washington, D.C, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia

Reputation and Reviews

The company landed on Solar Power World’s 2023 Top Solar Contractors List in the No. 10 spot.

The BBB accredits SEW, and the company holds an A+ rating. Former customers praise the company for its professionalism, assistance with applying for financial incentives, and smooth installation process. However, some reported discrepancies in finances and scheduling.

Sunrun

Best Solar Panel Leasing
4.5
  • Payment options: Full purchase, loan, lease, PPA
  • State availability: 20 states covered plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.

Sunrun offers four financing options, including unique leasing options tailored for homeowners who don’t want system ownership. Prepaid and leased systems get a 25-year warranty that includes 25 years of system service and maintenance plus ongoing monitoring and theft insurance.

Pros and Cons

Pros Provides system monitoring that signals issues with your system Offers diverse financing options to suit various budgets Provides EV and solar battery solutions Cons Requires added costs for the same coverage plans as leased and prepaid customers Solar and battery availability varies by state

Warranty and Financing

Sunrun backs its systems with a 10-year comprehensive warranty which includes product, roof penetration, and workmanship coverage.

Reputation and Awards

The company earned DroneDeploy’s 2022 Guardian of Safety Award for incorporating drone technology in its site assessments. In 2021 and 2022, Sunrun was recognized by Comparably with 14 awards. Its accolades include Best CEOs for Diversity 2022, Best Company Culture 2021, and Best Company for Women two years in a row.

Sunrun currently holds an A+ rating with BBB and is accredited. Customers praised the comprehensive coverage for leased systems but complained about delayed installations, poor customer service, and poor communication with project managers.

Areas of Coverage

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Florida
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • Texas
  • Vermont
  • Wisconsin
  • Puerto Rico
  • Washington, D.C.

Note: In July 2024, SunPower notified dealers it would be halting all new shipments and project installations. The company also noted it would “no longer be supporting new Leases and PPA sales nor new project installations of these financing options.


What Are the Available Solar Incentives in Kentucky?

Kentucky offers limited solar credits and incentives to help lower solar panel installation costs. We’ve highlighted the top residential incentives below. 

With the federal tax credit, homeowners receive up to 30% off total costs. At tax time, the credit applies to your owed federal taxes to help reduce or eliminate them. Although all Kentucky homeowners can apply for this credit, you must legally own your system to qualify. The federal tax credit applies to most photovoltaic (PV) equipment, including solar shingles and panels, plus standalone solar batteries. 

Kentucky’s net metering program offers additional electric bill savings for excess energy. When homeowners return extra energy to the grid, they receive credits for future bills. The Kentucky government mandates this program to all state utility companies except the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). All included companies must issue payouts at the full retail pricing. This policy ensures customers receive a payment equal to their initial electricity rate. 

Local utility companies also offer additional rebates for energy efficiency upgrades to your home. Though they aren’t solar-specific, they could provide extra energy savings along with your solar energy system. For more details on available solar and efficiency incentives, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) website.


What Should You Look For in a Solar Company?

Since renewable energy conversion requires a considerable investment, picking the right installation company is important. To help with your search, we’ve compiled the following key consideration factors when shopping for solar panel installation companies. 

What Should You Look For in a Solar Company?

Consider the following factors to help you choose between solar providers.

Solar Services

Most providers use two types of teams for their solar panel installations: in-house installers or third-party contractors. In-house installers work directly with the company and offer better installation quality and direct communication. Third-party installers vary in service quality per area, leading to inconsistent quality. They also involve a different point of contact, making communication more difficult. We recommend using solar companies with in-house teams for a smoother process. 

Homeowners should also look for additional solar services offered by the company. These services could help protect your system, improve your home efficiency, or provide assistance with other home services. Examples of these services include the following:

  • Dedicated mobile app or web portal
  • Electrical or roofing services
  • Energy efficiency audits
  • Home energy monitoring
  • Smart-home device installation 
  • Solar system monitoring

Warranties

Here’s an overview of typical warranty coverage:

  • Manufacturer’s (or product) warranty: This warranty offers coverage for manufacturer defects or issues. 
  • Workmanship (or labor) warranty: The plan covers problems caused by poor installation. 
  • Power performance guarantee: This less-common warranty provides additional guarantees for your panel’s linear performance. Companies will repair or place your equipment if panels perform below these guidelines. 

Although warranty coverage length varies between solar providers and manufacturers, high-efficiency solar panels for homes offer the longest warranty length. In exchange for shorter warranties, the top performing cheap solar panels provide lower initial costs.

Payment Options

Most solar companies offer two or more solar financing options to help customers find the right plan for their budget. We’ll detail the most common payment options below.

  • Up-front (or cash) payments: Homeowners pay for the full project up-front in full, eliminating the need for long-term payments and interest rates. Cash payments make you the legal system owner, qualifying you for solar incentives. 
  • Solar loans: This payment option requires a small down payment and monthly payments with interest rates. This option also makes you the legal owner and qualifies you for solar incentive savings. 
  • Solar leases: Homeowners pay a small or zero down payment and make monthly payments to the provider. Since you aren’t the legal system owner, you don’t qualify for incentives. 
  • Power purchase agreements (PPAs): Customers rent their system from the solar provider but only pay for the solar energy they use, not the system. This financing option also disqualifies you from most solar incentives, credits, and rebates. 

We recommend cash payments or solar loans over leasing for the best long-term financial benefits.

Customer Support

Look for solar companies that offer multiple communication channels with customer support. While phone and email contact is typically offered, some companies also provide SMS or online chat options. During secret shopping, we noticed many online chats used a line agent, auto-generated responses, or a mixture of both. Additional contact methods may include in-app communication with tech support teams. 


How To Get a Solar Quote in Kentucky

You should choose multiple potential companies and request solar quotes from each provider. To help prepare you for the quote process, we’ve created the below guide of what to expect during a typical solar consultation. 

  1. Contact each provider: Check each provider’s website and use the available tools to start the quote process. You may find online forms or phone numbers, while other companies use online calculators to start the process. 
  2. Schedule the consultation: Most companies offer in-house or virtual consultations. Some consultations’ can take up to two hours. 
  3. Find your latest energy bill: Installers build your solar panel system based on your home energy needs. Have your latest bill on hand for your consultation. Depending on the solar company, the representative may ask for multiple months of bills to further analyze your average energy usage.
  4. Determine your roof space: The representative will check your roof for structural issues, complex designs, and available space. They’ll also find the ideal location for your solar panel with minimal shading. Since solar panels work best with direct sunlight, you’ll need an area free of shading. 
  5. Build your solar system: Next, you’ll create the solar energy system based on the previous assessments. During this step, you can choose your solar panel type, brand, components, and upgrades, such as solar batteries and EV chargers. 
  6. Review your final quote: Finally, you’ll receive an itemized quote detailing all equipment, pricing, labor charges, and warranty coverage. You’ll also get details on your financing options and estimated solar payback period. Compare each quote to determine which company is the best fit for you.

Our Conclusion

Our team selected Blue Raven as the best Kentucky installer. The company offers some of the most efficient solar power systems available, ensuring you get the best performance. 

We recommend getting at least three quotes from potential solar companies. Compare the product selection, warranty coverage, and offered services before committing.

Other Kentucky Home Service Resources


FAQ About Solar Companies in KY

Is going solar with it in Kentucky?

Yes, it is worth it to go solar in Kentucky. Although the state offers few solar incentives, Kentucky residents still have access to the federal solar credit that provides 30% off installation costs. Since the state receives 189 sunny days yearly, you’ll have ample sunlight to power your panels. You’ll also save more money by moving from costly fossil fuels and tapping into an infinite clean energy source. 

How many solar companies are there in Kentucky?

There are 47 solar companies throughout the state, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). 

Do solar panels add home value to Kentucky homes?

Yes, solar panels do add home value in Kentucky. Zillow found that solar-powered homes sell for 4.1% more than comparable homes. However, Kentucky does not offer a property tax exemption for solar installations, so your property taxes will increase after your conversion. 

How do I get free solar panels in Kentucky?

Unfortunately, you cannot get free solar panels in Kentucky. Instead, homeowners can use the federal solar tax credit to lower installation costs. Kentucky also offers loans through its PACE programs with lower interest rates and down payments, making it more affordable to go solar. 


Our Rating Methodology

We are committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. After over a thousand hours of research on solar companies, interviews with experts, and common customer needs, we’ve created a detailed rating system for solar providers based on six factors:

  • Solar equipment, installation, and services (25%)
  • Warranty and performance guarantees (25%)
  • Brand reputation and certifications (15%)
  • Financing options (15%)
  • Experience (10%)
  • Availability (10%)

Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.