Ranked & Reviewed
Find top-rated solar providers for panels, batteries, and more. Compare providers and learn how incentives and policies can help you save.
Big federal changes in 2025 are reshaping solar incentives. Here’s what’s ending for homeowners, what may remain for third-party ownership, and how PPAs could change—pricing, escalators, tax equity, and timelines.
Read guideSolar panels generate DC power, inverters convert to AC for home use, and net metering or export credits determine what you receive for excess energy. Batteries can store surplus for outages or peak-rate periods.
System size (kW), equipment choices (modules, inverters, batteries), roof complexity, permits, and labor all affect price. Savings depend on usage, utility rates (including time-of-use), export rules, shading, and incentives.
Federal and state/local incentives can reduce out-of-pocket cost. Policies vary by location and may change; verify eligibility before signing a contract.
Each structure trades upfront cost, ownership of incentives, maintenance responsibilities, and long-term savings differently. Compare total cost of ownership and contract terms.
Modules: power rating, efficiency, temperature coefficient.
Inverters: string vs micro vs hybrid; rapid shutdown.
Batteries: capacity (kWh), power (kW), usable depth, warranty cycles.
Check licensing, NABCEP certification, workmanship and roof warranties, monitoring platform, and clear line-item proposals. Ask for recent installs in your utility territory.
Understand panel efficiency, power rating, temperature coefficient, inverter types, and how equipment choices affect performance.
What drives cost and savings: system size, equipment choices, incentives, net metering, financing, and realistic payback.
Federal tax credit, state and utility programs, how to verify eligibility, and battery-specific incentives.
How export rules impact savings, interconnection basics, time-of-use rates, and how to read production estimates.
Compare financing options: ownership of incentives, escalators, buyout options, and how financing affects ROI.
Licensing, NABCEP certification, warranties, equipment, monitoring, contract terms, and red flags to avoid.
Battery specs, backup circuits vs whole-home, TOU arbitrage, and how to size a battery for your goals.
Solar savings without a rooftop system: how subscriptions work, credits on your bill, eligibility, and how to compare offers.
At ClearChoiceRadar we apply a rigorous, multi-factor evaluation framework to assess residential solar providers. Each company is scored across these key criteria:
Years in business & Experience: Stability of the installer, track-record in your region (permits completed, years active).
System performance & technology: Efficiency of panels/inverters, warranty coverage (e.g., performance guarantee, workmanship), clear specification disclosure.
Savings transparency & financing: Clear breakdown of upfront cost, financing options (loan, lease, PPA), estimated payback period, escalation clauses, savings compared to utility bills.
Service & warranty support: Local installer presence, responsiveness for monitoring/maintenance, availability of battery and add-ons, transferability of warranties.
Customer satisfaction & complaint history: Verified user feedback, complaints or regulatory actions in state licensing boards, responsiveness of provider to issues.
Licensing & compliance: Proper state licenses, insurance, in-house versus subcontracted labor, adherence to permitting and inspection protocols.
We assign weights to each category and normalize scores so you can compare providers across the board. Ranking results include an overall score, plus sub-scores. We update our data quarterly to reflect current performance and track record.