Pennsylvania may rank 23rd for solar power in the United States, but it’s poured a surprising amount of resources into the solar industry. According to the Solar Energy Information Association, the Keystone State has invested more than $2.6 billion into solar energy as of 2022, and there have been nearly 45,000 total solar installations in the state.

As the solar industry continues to grow, now is a good time for homeowners from Harrisburg to Philadelphia to consider transitioning to clean energy. The This Old House Reviews Team has researched the top-rated solar energy companies in the United States and narrowed this list down to the top providers in Pennsylvania.

 


 

Pennsylvania’s Top Solar Energy Companies:

Compare Solar Companies Across PA

Star Rating Superlative Location Presence BBB Rating Link
SunPower
Best High-Efficiency System 50 States A+
Momentum
Best Solar Panel Installation 11 States A+
Sunrun
Best Solar Panel Leasing 20 States A+
Palmetto
Best Customer Support 24 States A+
Trinity
Best Certified Installer 9 States A+
Green Home Systems
Best Solar Roofs 10 States A+
Tesla Solar
Best Solar Tech 50 States NR
SunPower
Logo SunPower
Star Rating
Superlative Best High-Efficiency System
Location Presence 50 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Quote
Momentum
Logo Momentum
Star Rating
Superlative Best Solar Panel Installation
Location Presence 11 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Quote
Sunrun
Logo Sunrun
Star Rating
Superlative Best Solar Panel Leasing
Location Presence 20 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Quote
Palmetto
Logo Palmetto
Star Rating
Superlative Best Customer Support
Location Presence 24 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Quote
Trinity
Logo Trinity
Star Rating
Superlative Best Certified Installer
Location Presence 9 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Quote
Green Home Systems
Logo Green Home Systems
Star Rating
Superlative Best Solar Roofs
Location Presence 10 States
BBB Rating A+
Get Quote
Tesla Solar
Logo Tesla Solar
Star Rating
Superlative Best Solar Tech
Location Presence 50 States
BBB Rating NR
Get Quote

 


Our Top Solar Company Picks for Pennsylvania

Sunrun Best Solar Panel Leasing
4.4
  • Why We Picked It: Sunrun has flexible financing, including two options for lease customers: a full lease and a monthly lease. Both plans come with free maintenance, monitoring, and insurance.
Pros and Cons
Pros Brightbox Tesla batteries available for storage Purchase, loan, and two lease options 10-year warranty on all parts and labor plus roof leaks Cons Limited product information available online No PPA option
Sunrun Solar Details

Sunrun begins the installation process with a virtual consultation that includes the company’s Automated Site Modeling tool. This program can design a system that fits your home perfectly while maximizing solar energy production.

Sunrun doesn’t provide much information about its products online, other than it offers the popular Tesla Powerwall battery. However, you can use the website’s product selector to look at options that may work with your home.

One of Sunrun’s unique offerings is its comprehensive bumper-to-bumper warranty, which covers parts and labor if anything breaks within the first 10 years of ownership. This guarantee also covers roof leaks or holes. The company’s leases come with insurance coverage for theft or damage.

Learn more: Sunrun review

 


 

Palmetto Best Customer Support
4.4
  • Why We Picked It: Palmetto Solar has excellent customer service and comprehensive offerings. In addition to solar panel installation, Palmetto provides pest abatement, panel cleaning, and roofing services.
Pros and Cons
Pros App for monitoring energy savings and system performance Smart battery storage 25-year performance guarantee on panels Cons No lease or PPA options Charges an additional fee for monitoring
Palmetto Solar Details

Palmetto Solar offers an online calculator that allows you to estimate your potential solar savings by inputting your address and average electric bill. The company claims its Pennsylvania customers save an average of $13,455 over 25 years.

Palmetto has multiple customer support options via phone, email, or online chat. It provides a 12-year product warranty and a 25-year performance guarantee. Though the company doesn’t include pricing on its website, it says its Pennsylvania systems are available for as little as $85 per month via loan.

Palmetto also offers a unique Protection Plan to customers and non-customers alike. The plan comes with system monitoring, detailed performance reports, regular inspections, and support.

Learn more: Palmetto Solar review

 


 

Green Home Systems Best Solar Roofs
4.6
9/10
  • Why We Picked It: Green Home Systems offers a variety of high-quality solar panels, inverters, batteries, and optimizers. The company specializes in solar roofing systems.
Pros and Cons
Pros Extensive product information online Lengthy output and performance warranties High customer ratings Cons Only five years in business No lease or PPA options
Green Home Systems Details

Green Home Systems designs state-of-the-art residential solar systems backed by strong warranties anywhere from 10 to 25 years. In addition to solar panels, the company offers high-tech solar roof shingles and tiles, which function as solar panels but blend in more seamlessly with your roof. It also sells backup generators to keep your home’s electrical system up and running.

Though Green Home Systems has only been around since 2017, it has many positive customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

 


 

Trinity Best Certified Installer
4.2
  • Why We Picked It: Trinity Solar has 28 years of experience in the solar industry, the longest of any company on our list. It has installed more than 77,000 solar power systems across nine states.
Pros and Cons
Pros Excellent customer reviews Family-owned business Most experience of any company on this list Cons Workmanship warranty only lasts five years Little product information available on its website
Trinity Solar Details

Trinity Solar has a decades-long history of serving solar customers. It offers high-quality solar panels from Q Cells plus dependable solar panel batteries from top-name brands, including Tesla and Generac. It also performs installations directly.

Trinity Solar offers different warranties for each of its four payment options. Customers who purchase their systems receive a 5-year workmanship warranty. Those who select a lease get workmanship coverage through the end of their contract. All customers get a 25-year equipment warranty.

 


 

Momentum Best Solar Panel Installation
4.4
  • Why We Picked It: Momentum Solar is user-friendly, making it perfect for homeowners new to solar. The company has a full-service, in-house installation process and takes care of everything from design to applying for incentives.
Pros and Cons
Pros All-in-one residential solar solutions Mobile app for monitoring installation and system performance Wide variety of brands Cons No battery storage No performance guarantees on panels
Momentum Solar Details

Momentum Solar designs, installs, monitors, and maintains solar energy systems. A representative will walk you through every step of the process, including handling permitting paperwork and helping you apply for cost-saving solar incentives.

The company also frequently updates its blog with educational information and provides an interactive mobile app for system monitoring. It offers a 25-year warranty on its panels and four financing options: full purchase, loan, lease, and power purchase agreement (PPA).

Most companies offer at least two of these options. A full purchase means buying your system in one lump sum, while a loan involves paying a monthly rate toward ownership, including interest. A lease allows you to rent your system, while a PPA allows you to pay for only the energy you use, similar to an electric bill. Both a lease and PPA have little to no up-front costs but disqualify you from accessing incentives.

Learn more: Momentum Solar review

 


 

Solar Incentives in Pennsylvania

Solar panels are expensive, but there are federal, state, and local programs that can reduce solar panel installation costs. Here are the key solar incentives available to Pennsylvania homeowners.

  • Federal tax credit: The federal tax credit, also called the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), allows you to receive a tax deduction equal to 30% of your solar installation costs. This rate will reduce to 26% in 2033.
  • Net-metering: Some Pennsylvania utility companies have net-metering programs that allow you to sell the excess energy your system produces back to the utility company for credit on your future bills. The Pennsylvania Electric Company (PECO) offers such a program.
  • Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Credit program: The Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Credit Program provides credits for specific amounts of energy produced by your system that can be sold to the state or businesses looking to invest in clean energy. Prices for these credits vary.

 


 

Our Conclusion

Several national solar companies serve Pennsylvania in addition to regional providers, such as Exact Solar. The right installer for you will ultimately depend on your specific home, energy needs, and priorities, but the companies on this list are a good place to start. We recommend requesting at least three quotes from different providers before deciding.

 


 

FAQs About Solar Companies in Pennsylvania

 


 

Our 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.