- Why We Picked It: Sunrun is ideal for Florida residents looking for a wide range of financial options. The company offers four payment options to suit most customers’ budgets. However, note that the company leads with leasing offers, which will render you ineligible for the federal solar tax credit.
Since Florida moved into the solar industry in 2009, solar companies have expanded throughout the state. It makes sense; Florida ranks as the 10th sunniest state in the U.S., so transitioning to solar energy benefits Florida homeowners everywhere from Jacksonville down to the Keys.
Solar energy helps lower electric bills, while solar incentive programs create additional savings. Florida also offers the Solar and CHP Sales Tax Exemption and the Property Tax Abatement for Renewable Energy Property to encourage residents to begin using solar power.
Finding the best solar companies for your needs may seem like a daunting task. However, we’ve reviewed some of the top solar companies in Florida to streamline your search.
Compare Solar Companies in Florida
Star Rating | Superlative | Location Presence | BBB Rating | Link | ||
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SunPower |
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4.5/5
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Best High-Efficiency System | 50 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Momentum |
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4.5/5
|
Best Solar Panel Installation | 11 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Sunrun |
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4/5
|
Best Solar Panel Leasing | 20 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Palmetto |
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4/5
|
Best Customer Support | 24 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Blue Raven |
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4/5
|
Most Reputable | 22 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Trinity |
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4/5
|
Best Certified Installer | 9 States | A+ | Get Quote |
Tesla Solar |
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4.5/5
|
Best Solar Tech | 50 States | NR | Get Quote |
SunPower | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4.5/5
|
Superlative | Best High-Efficiency System |
Location Presence | 50 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Momentum | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4.5/5
|
Superlative | Best Solar Panel Installation |
Location Presence | 11 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Sunrun | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4/5
|
Superlative | Best Solar Panel Leasing |
Location Presence | 20 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Palmetto | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4/5
|
Superlative | Best Customer Support |
Location Presence | 24 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Blue Raven | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4/5
|
Superlative | Most Reputable |
Location Presence | 22 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Trinity | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4/5
|
Superlative | Best Certified Installer |
Location Presence | 9 States |
BBB Rating | A+ |
Tesla Solar | |
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Logo |
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Star Rating |
4.5/5
|
Superlative | Best Solar Tech |
Location Presence | 50 States |
BBB Rating | NR |
Florida’s Top 4 Solar Energy Companies:
- Sunrun: Best Solar Panel Leasing
- Blue Raven Solar: Most Reputable
- Palmetto Solar: Best Customer Support
- Momentum: Best Solar Panel Installation
Our Top Solar Company Picks for Florida
Homeowners can use Sunrun’s product selector tool to determine their solar system eligibility based on home size, roof type, and other external factors. Customers then begin a seven-step process which includes a site evaluation, custom system design, permit requests, and the final installation.
Sunrun offers the following four financing options:
- Full purchase: Consumers can buy their system at full cost.
- Monthly loan: Customers make monthly payments with interest.
- Monthly lease: Homeowners rent their system for as little as $0 down and a fixed monthly rate.
- Full lease: You pay for a 25-year lease up-front.
Sunrun customers can choose from two Brightbox batteries: the Tesla Powerwall and the LG Chem. These lithium-ion batteries have longer battery life and are more efficient than other battery options. In addition, both batteries come with a 10-year manufacturer warranty and have accompanying apps.
- Why We Picked It: Blue Raven Solar limits its Florida coverage to Orlando and the surrounding areas, but customers in its service area can take advantage of the company’s exclusive benefits, including solar output guarantees and 18 months of free solar power.
Blue Raven Solar analyzes your roof, current energy costs, and surrounding area. It then provides a 3D model of your finalized system including its black-on-black monocrystalline solar panels.
Although it doesn’t offer a solar loan or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) option, Blue Raven Solar’s BluePower Plus plan includes 18 months of free solar energy. Its SmartStart program keeps payments at a fixed interest rate over five years. The company also promises to keep your energy bill costs lower than your original rates during that initial period.
Customers receive a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty on their solar panels and a two-year power production guarantee. If customers don’t receive their estimated amount of energy, the system will be upgraded at no additional charge.
- Why We Picked It: Palmetto Solar provides the most extensive customer service contact options of all the companies we reviewed for Florida. The company also offers a dedicated app to accompany its solar service. Customers have one-click access to the customer experience team via phone, email, or online chat. They can also place service or maintenance requests without speaking to a representative.
Palmetto Solar’s optional Palmetto Protect Plan, offered to both customers and non-customers, is available in the following four tiers:
- Free Plan: Real-time system monitoring, monthly consumption analysis, and service network access
- Essentials Plan: Free Plan benefits plus 24/7 monitoring, monthly system review, and prioritized customer support
- Standard Plan: Essentials Plan benefits plus annual, in-person system checkups and diagnosis along with exclusive service provider discounts
- Premium Plan: Standard Plan benefits with annual panel cleaning or one free service visit, confirmed appointments within 24 hours, and savings consultations for a battery, smart device, or electric vehicle options
Palmetto Solar offers a 25-year panel warranty and a 10-year installation warranty. It also provides a 10-year warranty for the inverter.
Palmetto offers services for diagnosing or repairing roofing issues, including roof leaks. Additional services include pest inspection and abatement services that remove any nesting birds or other damage caused by local wildlife.
- Why We Picked It: Momentum Solar tops our list of best solar companies in Florida thanks to its customer-focused installation process. The company guides new customers through the entire process, from the initial site inspection to the solar panel installation.Most notably, Momentum’s mobile app displays the listed steps in the installation process and highlights the progress in real-time. Customers can view critical dates on the events calendar and make changes to the installation schedule as needed. The app also delivers solar consumption data for their homes and provides options to connect with Momentum’s customer service department.
Momentum provides a variety of options with seven solar panel brands to choose from, including LG, Q Cells, and REC. The company considers how much power your home needs, your roof’s design, and other factors that could affect your solar panels’ efficiency before recommending the final setup of your system.
Momentum offers four solar plan choices, including purchasing, financing, or leasing options that fit most customers’ budgets. Those who purchase panels up-front or take out a loan can take advantage of the two solar incentives available in Florida and through the federal government’s ITC program.
Momentum conducts business in states that offer net-metering programs. Net-metering allows homeowners to sell excess energy their system generates and cannot use. In exchange, customers receive a credit on their utility bills and may receive a payout at the end of the year if they have accumulated enough credits.
Homeowners can also purchase a solar battery from Momentum to store excess power for use during low sunlight days, at night, or during outages.
- Arizona Solar Companies
- California Solar Companies
- Colorado Solar Companies
- Connecticut Solar Companies
- Florida Solar Companies
- Georgia Solar Companies
- Illinois Solar Companies
- Maryland Solar Companies
- Massachusetts Solar Companies
- New Jersey Solar Companies
- New Mexico Solar Companies
- New York Solar Companies
- North Carolina Solar Companies
- Pennsylvania Solar Companies
- South Carolina Solar Companies
- Texas Solar Companies
- Utah Solar Companies
Our Conclusion
Momentum Solar is our top choice for solar providers in Florida. The company keeps homeowners updated throughout the entire installation process with a comprehensive and customer-focused approach, eliminating the need for constant follow-ups about your project’s progress.
If various payment options are important to you, Sunrun provides four financing options to suit its customers’ budgets. On the other hand, Blue Raven offers exclusive benefits not typically available from other solar companies.
Transitioning to solar energy isn’t right for every home. Many factors go into the initial evaluation process, including home size, roof style, and estimated energy savings. If your home doesn’t meet one of these criteria, a solar energy system might not suit you. However, any reputable solar company will help you make the best choice based on your needs.
We recommend comparing at least three providers to find the right fit for your home.
Solar Incentives in Florida
Though adding a solar system increases your home value, Florida residents don’t have to worry about increased property taxes. Florida’s Property Tax Abatement for Renewable Energy Property policy prevents you from paying additional property tax after installing a new solar system.
Florida also has a Solar and CHP Sales Tax Exemption that protects residents from being charged sales tax on solar products. Residents can check with their local electric cooperatives or city utility companies for additional rebates to offset solar panel system costs.
Although Florida’s state-based incentives are limited compared to other states, residents can take advantage of the federal government’s Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This provides a tax credit equal to 30% of your solar panel installation costs. This incentive is only available if you purchase your solar power system outright or take out a loan. Residents who choose to lease a new system or enter into a PPA are disqualified.
FAQs About Solar Companies in Florida
A PPA is a financing option that allows you to pay for only the solar energy you use per month while your solar provider retains ownership of the system. However, Florida doesn’t permit PPAs. Through State Statute 366.02, Florida places strict regulations on any entity selling electricity, including solar developers. This statute leads to high administrative costs and large regulatory hurdles that make it difficult for many solar developers in the state to provide PPAs.
By installing a solar power system with a battery unit, homeowners can use stored solar energy and keep the power on in their homes during outages. In addition, residents can choose which appliances will receive priority with the stored power (e.g., keeping your fridge or freezer connected to keep food from spoiling).
Additional factors affect how long your battery will keep your home running efficiently. These factors include the number of panels on your home, the amount of sunlight directed at those panels before the outage, and your battery size.
No, Florida doesn’t have its own solar tax credit. However, residents can apply for the federal solar tax credit, which lets homeowners deduct 30% of their solar system installation costs from their federal taxes.
Our Rating Methodology
The This Old House Reviews Team is 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 Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.