Ranked & Reviewed
Find top-rated solar providers for panels, batteries, and more. Compare providers and learn how incentives and policies can help you save.
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Finished solar panels often sit idle for weeks because the last approval belongs to your utility, not your installer. Here is exactly who does what between contract and power-on, how long each stage takes according to federal data, and the response deadlines utilities are actually held to.
Read guideIn every major solar state, the law answers this question mostly in your favor: HOAs generally cannot prohibit solar, only regulate it within specific limits. But the limits differ sharply by state, and Nevada quietly rewrote its rules in 2025. Here is what the statutes actually say in California, Texas, Florida, Arizona, and Nevada, and how to get an application approved.
Read guideSurprise: a standard grid-tied solar system goes dark the moment the grid does. That is a deliberate safety feature, not a defect. Here is why inverters shut down during outages, what battery setups can actually keep running and for how long, the little-known daytime-only backup feature some inverters offer, and what happens when the grid comes back.
Read guideThe export rate your utility pays is now the single biggest variable in whether solar panels pay off. This article corrects the most common myths about net metering, NEM 3.0, and solar economics in 2026, and shows what the math actually looks like when your utility pays 3 cents instead of full retail.
Read guideSolar panel costs in 2026 typically run $2.50 to $3.80 per watt installed; many common residential systems fall around $15,000 to $30,000, while larger or more complex systems can cost more, before any state incentives. The federal residential solar tax credit expired for homeowners buying or financing systems placed in service on or after January 1, 2026, which changes the payback math significantly. This guide walks you through real costs, honest payback calculations, and a practical framework for deciding if solar makes sense for your household right now.
Read guideRun honest payback math, look up what your utility really pays for exports, and get the straight answers.
Self-used and exported power valued separately, your utility's real export rate, panel degradation, and no phantom federal credit.
Run the numbers → CalculatorTurn 12 months of kWh into a system size, panel count, and roof footprint before anyone quotes you anything.
Size your system → Data17 major utilities: real rate histories from federal data, current plans, and exactly what each one pays for exported solar.
Find your utility → AnswersThe 2026 credit, export rates, batteries, HOAs, and honest quotes: the questions people actually ask, answered directly.
Get answers →Rankings are a starting point, not a verdict. Whichever companies quote you, the comparison comes down to four checks anyone can run:
For the full head-to-head process with a worked example, read our guide to comparing solar companies, and see how we rank for exactly what our own ratings weigh.
Solar 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.
State-specific guides covering local rules, programs, and what to know where you live.
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.