15 Best Solar Companies in Merced, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Merced based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Merced, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Merced homeowner saves $2,740/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Merced
As a homeowner or business owner in Merced, you may be considering switching to solar and curious about the best solar companies in your local area. Solar could be a great choice since it has a lot of benefits. On average, your family can save $33,000 over 20 years by using solar power. And since solar panels have a lifespan of about 25 to 30 years, the amount of money you'll save in the long run will be much higher than that overall.
Here, we’ll narrow down some of the top solar companies in Merced to make your choice a bit easier.To receive free quotes from the best solar companies in Merced, you can click "get quote" below.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Merced
SunPower by Quality Home Services
Clear Pricing Policy- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Family-Operated Business
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Permit Assistance- Financing Assistance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
APG Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Clear Solar Solutions, Inc
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Solar Installation Group, Inc.
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Family-Operated Business
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Brighthouse
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
Supreme Solar & Electric
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
Together Earth
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
SunMade Energy - Fresno Solar Company and Backup Battery
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Better Solar Solution
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Solar Negotiators
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
Bright World, LLC
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Stellar Solar, Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Family-Operated Business
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
US Renewable Energy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Offline Solar Electric
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Solar Carports
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Battery Storage
Upscale Energy Inc
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Merced
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Merced based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Merced
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for California solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Merced
The cost of installing a solar panel system has decreased immensely over the past few years, but it’s still a large investment for most homeowners.The cost of solar and the savings it generates vary depending on some important factors such as:
- Your location: This affects the average daily sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- Electricity consumption: The average home in Merced doesn’t use much energy, and so may not see as many savings on their power bills.
- Incentives: Those who purchase and install a solar energy system this year can save 0 of their overall solar costs by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $33,000 on your energy bills over 20 years not including incentives.
- System size and type: Some models are more costly than others, so the one you choose can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need to get, the more it'll cost.
So is a solar system worth it? Whether you’d like to reduce your energy bills, greenhouse gas emissions or both, solar panels are a worthwhile investment for many Merced homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Merced
There are a lot of reasons why adopting solar power is beneficial. One of them consists of some government incentives you can take advantage of.In addition to the federal tax credit incentive, there are also some local programs, which in the majority of cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you get to save even more. In our article on solar incentives, you can see the incentives you qualify for in Merced.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Merced
One of the most compelling reasons to embrace solar power is to reduce your dependence on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are harmful for the environment.Something many people might be wondering about is how much can they really help save the environment by going solar anyway? A significant thing to think about is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if your commute is very long, your footprint may be larger, so switching to solar energy for your house can help offset that.Since solar panels don’t release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when producing electricity, they’re a good trade for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. Since energy from the sun is renewable and makes electricity without free from carbon dioxide emissions, making the switch to solar power is one easy step you can take to help the environment.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch's Merced, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar company in Merced?
The best local solar company in Merced is SunPower by Quality Home Services, with a rating of 4.70 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panels?
Solar panels can be harmful for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the construction. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 7.1 years, but the exact period is influenced by local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
What is the efficiency of solar panels?
For the most part, solar panels are about 15 to 25% efficient, which means they can convert that percentage of the energy from the sun into usable electricity.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.