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Nov 20, 2023

The 7 Best Solar Companies in Florida of June 2023

There's a reason Florida is known as the Sunshine State: It gets an average of 237 sunny days per year, making it an ideal place to switch to solar power and harness the sun's energy.

There are more than 370 solar panel companies in Florida, each of which meets varying needs. We at the Guides Home Team have thoroughly researched the best solar companies in the United States. This guide covers the pros, cons and costs of Florida's top seven solar companies.

Based on our extensive research, these are the seven best solar companies in Florida.

Founded in 1985, SunPower is a pioneer in the residential solar energy industry with decades of experience. The company offers a wide range of options for its solar energy systems, energy storage and additional services.

SunPower's solar panels are some of the most efficient. They’re sourced from Maxeon, an offshoot of SunPower that became a separate entity in early 2022. The companies still work closely together.

SunPower is available in all 50 states but does not service all areas, so confirm that the company operates in your ZIP code.

SunPower offers three payment options: full payment, solar loan or solar lease. Qualifying customers can receive $0 down financing.

Elevation offers a unique service called the Elevated Home that transforms your entire home into a renewable energy machine. The company performs an energy audit, then creates a custom, fully integrated solar energy system. These systems are made of monocrystalline solar panels, microinverters, solar batteries and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. The Elevated Home service also includes duct sealing and insulation services.

All products offered by Elevation conform to strict EnergyStar and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) performance standards.

Elevation only offers two payment options: full payment or solar loan. Though this excludes more affordable options such as solar leases, it ensures you own your system and have access to cost-saving incentives.

Sunrun made solar power more accessible by becoming one of the first companies to offer a leasing program. It provides two leasing options: a monthly payment or a prepaid lease. The monthly payment is comparable to other solar companies, while the prepaid lease includes a 25-year service plan with free monitoring and maintenance.

Sunrun also offers an optional 10-year bumper-to-bumper system warranty. This warranty includes insurance coverage for your panels, proactive system monitoring, and free equipment replacement and repair for leases.

Though Sunrun offers two leasing options, customers can also purchase their solar panels up-front. Some customers may qualify for $0 down in-house financing.

Momentum Solar strives to make switching to solar energy interactive and accessible. The company handles all aspects of the installation process and provides educational materials. Although Momentum is more expensive than competitors, it provides full-service support from consultation and design to permitting and financing.

Momentum offers a range of solar panels from various manufacturers to customize your system. To maximize savings, it limits its services to states with established net-metering programs. These programs allow you to sell excess power generated by your system back to the grid. The amount metered is applied as a credit to your future utility bills.

Momentum Solar offers three payment options to Florida homeowners. Those who want to own their system can pay in full or through a solar loan. Loans require a monthly fee similar to a home or auto loan.

Those who don't want to commit to owning their system can select a solar lease and pay a monthly fee. This helps you avoid up-front costs but disqualifies you from state and federal solar incentives because a third party owns the panels.

Momentum also offers Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), which involve paying a monthly fee based on the energy your solar panels produce. However, Florida does not allow PPAs.

Blue Raven Solar's solar loan program, BluePower Plus+, offers eligible customers a free solar system for the first 18 months of service. Representatives are also well-versed in state and federal solar incentives and tax rebates, so they can customize your plan to maximize savings.

Blue Raven Solar offers monocrystalline solar panels from a range of manufacturers. It uses the reputable SunVault solar battery for solar storage. The company provides a multitude of services, from single-day installation to managing the permitting process.

Blue Raven customers can purchase their systems up-front or use the BluePower Plus+ financing plan. BluePower Plus+ customers receive their first 18 months of energy free.

Vision Solar offers high-quality monocrystalline solar panels. It also limits its service to select states to ensure its customers receive dedicated support.

Vision's installations are completed within a 24-hour time frame. The company also handles permitting and paperwork. The Vision Solar app provides post-installation support. Vision will call you to schedule repairs if the app detects any issues or damages.

Vision Solar offers solar leases. It also offers PPAs, but they’re not allowed in Florida.

Tesla is one of the biggest names in renewable energy. Though the company is well-known for its electric vehicles, it also offers cutting-edge solar products, such as its solar roof.

The solar roof is made of solar shingles that mimic the look of traditional shingles while acting as individual solar panels. This is a more aesthetically pleasing option than traditional solar panels.

Tesla is also known for the Tesla Powerwall, a popular solar battery that stores backup energy to power your home at night or during power outages. Tesla's mobile app provides system monitoring from any location in the world.

Tesla offers two payment options: full payment or solar loan. The company also offers an online cost estimate tool.

Florida residents can take advantage of several solar incentives to reduce installation costs.

There are several factors to consider when selecting a solar company:

The best solar company in Florida depends on your home and individual energy needs. Elevation is an excellent choice for Floridians looking for whole-home integration and energy efficiency audits. Vision Solar is a great option for those who want extensive customer support, and Momentum is ideal for homeowners who want seamless app integration and interactive monitoring.

Use our tool below to get matched with top solar companies in your area:

Yes, Florida is a good state for solar homes. It has plenty of sunshine, lower than average prices for solar equipment and several cost-saving tax incentives.

The main benefits of going solar in Florida are lowering your electricity bills and reducing your carbon footprint. The state also has many state and federal tax credits discussed in this article.

The average solar panel cost in Florida is between $11,000 and $15,000, or $2 to $3 per watt. However, the total cost depends on several factors, including solar panel type, home size and roof type.

PPAs are prohibited in Florida because State Statute 366.02 places strict regulations on any entity selling electricity. This statute leads to high administrative costs and considerable regulatory hurdles that make it difficult for many solar developers in the state to provide PPAs. Several bills have been brought forward in an attempt to change this legislation.

We closely evaluated seven crucial factors according to our solar panel installation company methodology to rank the best providers in the industry. Based on a 100-point scale, we came up with each provider's score out of five stars. Here's how we assessed each company:

Dana Getz is a seasoned editor with nearly a decade of experience writing and editing content. She has a background in journalism and worked as a fact-checker for prestigious magazines such as New York and Chicago. She holds a journalism and marketing degree from Northwestern University and has worked across numerous categories within the home services space.

Karsten Neumeister is an experienced energy professional with subject-matter expertise in energy policy and the solar and retail energy industries. He is currently the Communications Manager for the Retail Energy Advancement League and has prior experience writing and editing content for EcoWatch. Before EcoWatch, Karsten worked for Solar Alternatives, curating content, advocating for local renewable energy policy and assisting the solar engineering and installation teams. Throughout his career, his work has been featured on various outlets including NPR, SEIA, Bankrate, PV Mag and the World Economic Forum.

SunPower: Our top pick Warranty Cost Read Review Warranty Cost Read Review Warranty Cost Read Review Warranty Cost Read Review Warranty Cost Read Review Warranty Panel Type Warranty Cost Powerwall Review Cost and payment options (20 points): Services (20 points): Reputation (20 points): Warranty (15 points): Customer Support (10 points): Industry Experience (10 points): Sustainability (5 points): Dana Getz Karsten Neumeister
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