Florida Solar Incentives (Rebates, Tax Credits & More in 2024)
By Karsten Neumeister /
In this guide to Florida’s best solar companies, you’ll learn:
Note: In July 2024, SunPower notified dealers it would be halting all new shipments and project installations. The company also noted it would “no longer be supporting new Leases and PPA sales nor new project installations of these financing options.”
As the third most popular state to go solar, it should come as no surprise that Florida is home to more than 200 solar installers, all offering different products, warranty packages and customer service. While it’s great to have options for your installer, having so many can quickly make deciding which one is best a real challenge.
In this guide, we’ll discuss and review what we believe to be the best solar companies in Florida and why we think they’re a great option to hire for your home solar conversion. We’ll also explain what we recommend looking for in a Florida solar installer to make sure you have the best experience — and get the highest savings — possible.
We’ve spent hours researching and reviewing solar installation companies in Florida. After comparing them based on the factors we believe are most important, we’ve found that the following seven are the best solar companies in the area:
Overall, we recommend most Floridians go solar with SunPower or ADT Solar, but we also are confident that all of the providers above can meet and even exceed your expectations. The table below provides some side-by-side facts and figures for our top providers to help you decide which might be right for your solar project.
Solar Providers | Superlative | Our Score | Avg Cost ($–$$$$$) | Warranty | Financing Options | Get Quote |
SunPower | Best National Provider | 5/5 | $$$$ | Varies – minimum of 25 years for equipment, workmanship and production | Cash, solar loan, solar lease, PPA | Get Quote |
ADT Solar | Best Warranty Coverage | 4/5 | $$$ | 25 years for equipment, workmanship and production | Cash or solar loan | |
Blue Raven Solar | Best Financing Options | 4.5/5 | $$ | 25 years for equipment and performance; 10 years for workmanship | Cash and solar loans | Get Quote |
Momentum Solar | Best Regional Provider | 4.5/5 | $$$ | 25 years for equipment, workmanship and production | Cash, solar loan, solar lease, PPA | Get Quote |
Elevation Solar | Best Customer Service | 4/5 | $$ | 25 years for equipment and performance; 30 years for workmanship | Cash or solar loan | Get Quote |
Solar Source | Best Local Installer | 4.5/5 | $$$ | 25 years for equipment and performance; 1 year for and workmanship | Cash and solar loans | Get Quote |
Solar Bear | Best for Whole-Home Efficiency | 4/5 | $$$ | 30 years for equipment and performance; 25 years for workmanship | Cash and solar loan | Get Quote |
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
Blue Raven Solar is highly accessible thanks to its innovative financing program. It also provides outstanding customer service, despite its large size, and it has good warranty coverage.
Blue Raven currently only installs solar panels, so its services are limited, but we still recommend it for homeowners who just want the basics.
Blue Raven is best known for its BluePower Plus+ financing program, which revolutionized how homeowners paid for solar panels. Rather than offering typical solar loans, Blue Raven offered $0-down loans with no interest for 18 months. This made solar far more accessible and allowed those who couldn’t previously afford solar to achieve panel ownership.
Blue Raven Solar’s financing is particularly helpful in areas like Florida, where larger system size requirements mean above-average installation costs and naturally make solar less viable for more homeowners. We anticipate that this program will be a huge deal for Floridians once batteries are required to offset consumption. Currently, Blue Raven only offers panels, but it does plan on adding a battery to its offerings.
Blue Raven’s technicians are also very hands-on, friendly and knowledgeable. You’re very likely to get great customer service, as well as help with filing for local solar incentives. Specifically, you could get guided through the process for applying for the Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), the Florida PACE Program, if applicable, and the sales and property tax exemptions available in the state.
Finally, Blue Raven has good warranty protection — for 25 years — for its equipment and panel production. Again, ensuring your panels maintain their efficiency is important for continuing to save on those above-average Florida electric bills.
Blue Raven Solar currently only offers solar panels, so the services provided are severely limited. If you’re looking for solar batteries for storage, an EV charger or some other add-on product, you’ll need to choose a different provider. If you go solar now and lock in the current net metering rate, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue. But once NEM 3.0 sets in, you’ll very likely want a battery to maximize savings.
Blue Raven also doesn’t accept leases or PPAs. We’re huge fans of its financing program and believe that it opens the door to solar for more customers than traditional financing alone, but we would like to see these other options available as well.
Lastly, Blue Raven only includes a 10-year workmanship warranty. This is average, but we’d prefer something closer to the 25 years offered by SunPower and ADT. This could be more of an issue in Eastern and Southern Florida, where the weather tends to be more severe.
Read our full review of Blue Raven Solar for more information.
Blue Raven Solar installs panels from a few manufacturers, including SolarEdge, Hyundai, Canadian Solar and Trina. These are all tier-one panel brands that offer a solid balance between efficiency rating and cost per watt. They should provide enough energy to offset your consumption, even if you’re near the high state average of 1,100 kWh per month.
Since panel efficiency is so crucial in an area like Florida, where homeowners need high production to offset above-average energy consumption, we recommend the panels from Trina. These have a maximum efficiency rating of 21.8% and are more likely to generate enough power to offset your electric consumption.
The Trina panels do have an above-average temperature coefficient, so they’ll lose efficiency in Florida’s hot summer temperatures. This will be more of an issue in Southern Florida, where temperatures tend to be higher and less of an issue on the coastline, but they should still perform well throughout the state.
If you’re looking to keep costs down, we’d recommend going with the SolarEdge panels.
As mentioned above, Blue Raven doesn’t offer any other products. However, you can get access to the Enphase solar monitoring app.
Blue Raven only accepts cash purchases and solar loans, so customers looking for a lease or PPA will need to turn elsewhere.
However, we’ve chosen Blue Raven as the best for financing options because of its revolutionary BluePower Plus+ financing program. The loans through this program come with low interest rates and no down payment requirements. Most importantly, homeowners who qualify won’t pay any interest for 18 months, making this one of the most accessible solar financing programs in the industry.
A cash purchase will still be more beneficial because you won’t pay any interest, but it’s hard to say anything negative about BluePower Plus+.
Blue Raven covers its equipment and guarantees a minimum level of solar production for 25 years. The equipment warranty is standard, but the production warranty is a little longer than most other companies offer.
Unfortunately, Blue Raven only has a 10-year labor warranty. This is also average, but in a place like Florida, where extreme weather and excessive rainfall are common, we’d really like to see longer coverage being offered.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Year Founded |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
Warranty Coverage |
4.5 |
A+ |
2014 |
$$ |
Solar Panels, System Monitoring |
Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, SolarEdge, Silfab, SunPower |
25-year manufacturer warranty; 10-year workmanship warranty, 2-year production guarantee |
Pros
Cons
Momentum Solar provides pricing more in line with a larger national company but still provides the outstanding customer service you’d expect from a small local company.
It is important to note that Momentum Solar has faced allegations of racial discrimination in the recent past, although the claims haven’t been substantiated. Still, it’s something worth considering when choosing a provider.
Momentum Solar is well known in the industry for providing outstanding customer service despite its large size. It’s one of the few installers that offers a concierge service, so where you might be confused as to whom your contact is at another solar company, you’ll always have a single point of contact at Momentum that’s there to help.
Despite Momentum being a regional company, its employees are trained on local protocols and understand the solar incentives in Florida. It’s also a hands-on company, so its technicians and salespeople are always willing to help you save by assisting you with filing for solar incentives and rebate programs. That includes local incentives offered by individual municipalities, like the Boynton Beach Energy Edge Rebate Program, as well as statewide perks, like the property and sales tax exemptions.
Finally, Momentum remains accessible, despite the high installation costs most Floridians face. Its pricing is average, and it accepts all four primary solar payment options. Most customers should be able to afford to go solar through Momentum, even as batteries become the norm with shifting NEM policies.
As mentioned above, the most serious downside to working with Momentum is that it’s currently in the middle of a class-action lawsuit for racial discrimination against some of its employees. There has been no resolution to the case, but, of course, this is something we’d much rather never see a company be involved in in the first place.
Additionally, Momentum’s service offerings are limited, as it only installs panels and batteries at this time. Customers looking for EV chargers, solar roofing or other add-ons or services will need to choose a different installer altogether. EV chargers, specifically, are likely to become more popular in the coming years as well, as electric vehicles are skyrocketing in popularity in the state.
Read our full review of Momentum Solar for more information.
Momentum Solar installs panels manufactured by a myriad of different companies, so you won’t be locked into one or two specific brands like you might with other installers. As a part of the company’s concierge service, you get a fully customized system, including panel brands that are chosen to meet your budgetary constraints and your home’s energy demands — even those in Key West, which see the hottest temperatures and the highest air conditioning bills as a result.
The company does mention on its site that it only works with tier-one monocrystalline panels, which is great news for Floridians who need high-quality panels with good levels of production to offset high consumption.
Below is a list of other products and services you can get from Momentum:
Momentum accepts all major solar payment options, including cash purchases, loans, leases and power purchase agreements. As is the case with all other providers, we recommend cash and loans if you can make them work. These will yield the most significant financial benefit over time. A lease might be best for you if you can’t afford a cash purchase and won’t qualify for a loan. The leases and PPAs could prove to be good options to have once batteries become the norm.
Your system from Momentum will be covered by a comprehensive 25-year warranty, which covers the equipment, the panel production and the workmanship.
In an area like Florida, we love to see lengthy coverage like this particularly for the efficiency and labor. The efficiency warranty will ensure your system continues to offset your above-average utility bills, and the labor warranty should insulate you from damages caused by Florida’s extreme weather. Again, this is most beneficial on the eastern coast and southern tip, where hurricane activity is worst, but it’s helpful throughout the state for peace of mind.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Year Founded |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
Warranty Coverage |
4.5 |
A+ |
2009 |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries |
Q Cells, REC, Trina Solar, Jinko Solar, Canadian Solar and others depending on location |
25-year manufacturer and workmanship warranties |
Average cost
Pros
Cons
Elevation Solar’s employees are all well-equipped to help you file for incentives offered by the state, your city and even your electric company, which can help you save on your installation.
The company’s experience isn’t as impressive as many others in the area, but we’re still confident in its ability to serve Florida homeowners.
The technicians at Elevation Solar are some of the most hands-on we’ve seen in Florida. From the first day you contact the company for a solar quote through installation and beyond, we’re confident you’ll be blown away by how communicative the company is and how professional and friendly the reps are.
Locally-trained reps are great to have in an area like Florida, where statewide incentives aren’t terribly plentiful, but local incentives are. If you live in areas like Boynton Beach, the Keys, or Dunedin, you could benefit from an installer like Elevation, as they’re aware of the local perks and incentives in those municipalities.
In a state like Florida, where the demand for solar is higher than in most states, lots of companies pop up to capitalize and don’t even come close to prioritizing customer service. Elevation Solar is, in our opinion, the total opposite. The company maintains stellar reviews online, including a 4.5-star rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Elevation Solar also ups the ante by offering energy efficiency home improvements, like installing smart thermostats and Energy Star-rated products. Since Florida homeowners use more energy per month than most Americans, most are concerned with efficiency, so these add-on services are great options.
And with higher energy bills than most states — an average of over $170 per month compared to the national average of just $140 — the boost to energy efficiency Elevation can provide will be welcome.
Elevation Solar has been around for just under a decade, which isn’t very long. We try to pick companies that have at least ten years of experience, as that is usually a sign that the company has longevity and won’t go out of business and void your warranties. However, we feel that Elevation’s reputation does speak for itself.
Unfortunately, Elevation Solar doesn’t keep its services very accessible, as it only accepts cash purchases and solar loans. We do only recommend these two options for long-term savings, but being more inclusive by accepting leases and/or PPAs would be nice.
Read our full review of Elevation Solar for more information.
Elevation Solar primarily installs panels manufactured by REC and Tesla, both of which are included in our list of the best solar panels for home use.
For Floridians who want to maximize power production to ensure they offset their high energy needs, we’d recommend REC panels. Tesla panels are a little cheaper per watt, though.
We’ll include a list of some other products Elevation Solar offers below, which you can use to customize your system and monitor your production:
The battery options will be a welcome offering once the state adopts net metering 3.0, and the energy efficiency offerings are outstanding, especially in the hotter areas in Florida, like the Keys.
Elevation Solar only accepts cash purchases and solar loans. These are our recommended payment options because they’re more beneficial to homeowners over time, but they’re also less accessible. Cash payments in Florida total close to $30,000 on average before incentives, and loans will require a minimum credit score.
We don’t recommend leases and PPAs anyway, but it would be nice if Elevation accepted them to make converting to renewable energy more accessible. This will be more of a downside once the net metering policy is updated.
Elevation Solar includes a standard 25-year warranty for the equipment it installs, which covers things like manufacturer defects and unexpected panel performance issues. You also get a 25-year warranty for the panel production, which is longer than average and helps you save money on your electric bills.
Most importantly, Elevation Solar also covers its workmanship for 30 years, which is three times longer than most other companies. Workmanship warranties are some of the most important coverages you can get in Florida, too, because they keep your system protected through hurricane season and reduce the risk of roof leaks from the heavy rainfall in the state.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Year Founded |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered |
Warranty Coverage |
4 |
A+ |
2014 |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, Energy-Efficiency Upgrades, Smart Home Energy Solutions |
REC, Tesla, SolarEdge |
25-year manufacturer warranty |
Local Service
Average cost
Pros
Cons
With outstanding customer service and nearly 40 years of experience, Solar Source easily secures its spot on our list as the best local installer in Florida.
The company’s service area is limited, but if you fall inside it, we don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you choose this provider.
There is fierce competition for the best local solar company in Florida, especially given the high demand, but Solar Source easily wins, in our opinion. This provider has been around for just under four decades, making it one of the oldest and most experienced solar providers in the area.
It provides ultra-localized experience and expertise, and there’s no other company that has a better understanding of the needs of Floridians when it comes to solar. The provider can customize your system based on local weather trends and energy demands, and it fully understands local incentives and where they’re trending, so the reps can likely help you save by filing for tax breaks, rebates and other perks that larger companies might miss.
Since the company understands the threat of hurricane season in Florida, it uses specialized trusses and racking equipment that is proven to stand up to the strong winds and extreme conditions that might come your way.
Since Solar Source is a small local company, it has a limited service area. It currently only services the Greater Orlando area and the Greater Tampa area, so many Floridians just won’t have access to the provider. This is, of course, a minor downside, and it’s more an indication of how local the company is than anything else.
The other downside, which is a legitimate concern, is the warranty coverage. The workmanship warranty lasts for just one year. In Florida, having a labor warranty can protect you from damages that result from the frequent extreme weather and the heavy rainfall.
Solar Source carries a handful of panel brands to choose from, including SolarEdge, Panasonic, Tesla and Canadian Solar.
For customers looking to take full advantage of the abundant sunlight in Florida, we recommend Panasonic panels. These have a max efficient rating of 22.2%. SolarEdge is likely going to be the cheapest option, so we’d suggest that brand if the high installation costs in the Sunshine State are a deterrent.
We’ll include a list of additional products Solar Source can install below, which includes more products than most companies in the area:
Solar Source doesn’t accept leases or PPAs, so you’ll be limited to a cash purchase or a solar loan if you move forward with this provider. As we mentioned above, cash purchases are the most beneficial option over time, as they save you the most and come with the shortest panel payback period. Loans are more accessible, though.
Keep in mind that leases and PPAs will be the only affordable options for some homeowners once the net metering policy gets updated. That means this may not be a viable option for you after that point.
Solar Source has a 25-year warranty for the equipment — which is average — and the panel performance — which is five years longer than the industry average. It really falls short when it comes to its workmanship warranty, though, as it only covers labor for one year, which is a tenth of the average among solar providers in the U.S.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4.5 |
A+ |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, Solar Pool Heaters |
Local Service
Average cost
Pros
Cons
Solar Bear couples complete solar installations with many other options for clean energy, energy audits, solar monitoring and more to help you combat those high Florida energy bills.
Solar Bear isn’t the most accessible since it doesn’t accept leases or PPAs, but we still feel it’s a great local option for quality and service.
Solar Bear can handle just about any major home energy efficiency upgrade you’re looking for. This is especially helpful in the hotter cities in Florida, like Fort Myers, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, and Gainesville, all of which boast above-average temperatures within the state.
It provides solar panels, solar batteries, EV chargers, home energy audits, roofing services, spray foam insulation, geothermal heating and air conditioning and more. This is one of the only companies in Florida that can tackle home energy efficiency from the ground up.
In addition to its wealth of services, Solar Bear is known for its stellar customer service. It has only been around since 2015, but it has amassed hundreds of positive reviews from customers who rave about the company. It has a 4.51 customer rating with the BBB and a 4.6-star rating on Google Reviews, which speaks to the company’s ability to serve its customers with professionalism and dedication.
Unlike Solar Source, this local company serves the entire state of Florida, so all residents will be able to get a solar panel system installed from Solar Bear, whether you live in Jacksonville or Miami.
Like many other local companies, Solar Bear doesn’t accept leases or PPAs. If you can’t afford a cash purchase or qualify for a loan, then this company isn’t right for you. This can especially be an issue in high-cost areas like Florida, and it will likely be a bigger issue once batteries become necessary to offset consumption.
Additionally, Solar Bear has only been around for eight years. A lack of longevity sometimes means a higher risk of the company going out of business and voiding your warranty in the process. This is especially a risk in high-demand areas like Florida.
However, we will say that Solar Bear has a great reputation, and we trust that it’s here to stay.
Solar Bear carries panels manufactured by SolarEdge, Trina, Panasonic and Silfab. All of these panel brands are excellent, boast above-average performance specifications and, most importantly, have high efficiency ratings that should be able to meet the high energy demands in Florida.
The panels from SolarEdge are the most budget-friendly option, but the Panasonic panels have a near-peak maximum efficiency of 22.2%, so they’ll provide a higher output.
We’ll include a list of the many additional products Sun Bear offers below:
Solar Bear accepts cash purchases and loans through third-party lenders, which means you’ll have to pay for your system upfront or be able to qualify for a loan. Customers looking for leases or PPAs will need to choose a different provider altogether, which means Solar Bear isn’t as accessible as some other companies. It may change those policies once solar installation prices go up with NEM 3.0 adoption.
Solar Bear provides outstanding warranty coverage that is above average and offers better protection than most competitors. The equipment warranty and the performance warranties last for 30 years, which is five and ten years longer than the industry averages, respectively.
The workmanship warranty is 2.5x the industry average at 25 years. This coverage, in particular, is helpful for protecting your system and your home from damages related to Florida’s common extreme weather.
EcoWatch Rating |
---|
Better Business Bureau (BBB) Rating |
Average Cost ($-$$$$$) |
Solar Services |
4 |
A+ |
$$$ |
Solar Panels, Solar Batteries, Geothermal Heat Pumps, Roofing Services |
Watch Below: Learn Whether Solar Panels Are Worth it In Florida
While the installation cost of solar in Florida has dropped significantly, it’s not cheap by any means. The average Floridian will typically face a $29,000 bill for their home solar system before factoring in any solar financial incentives, tax credits or rebates.
The cost of solar per watt ($3.04) in Florida is cheaper than the national average ($3.33), but homeowners in Florida typically need bigger solar systems than the average American does because they consume more energy on average. (It’s likely from cranking that air conditioning all summer!)
The average Floridian installs a 11.5 kilowatt-hour (kWh) system to offset their energy needs compared to the average American who only needs a 9 kW solar panel system. For consistency, the table below reflects average prices for an 11.5 kW system in Florida vs. the average American price tag.
Florida | United States | |
Average Per Watt Electricity Cost | $3.04 | $3.33 |
Average Cost for an 11.5 kW System | $34,960 | $38,295 |
Average System Cost After Federal Tax Credit | $24,472 | $26,807 |
We know these are large numbers, but don’t get scared off. Remember that your solar investment will help you save tremendously on (or even eliminate) your electric bills. Estimated energy savings in Florida range from 80% to 109% according to SunPower, which means you could pay next to nothing to keep your home cool all summer long.2
Plus, there are plenty of ways you can save money on solar panels in Florida:
Every homeowner that installs solar panels in the U.S. is entitled to the federal solar tax credit (ITC), worth 30% of your total system cost. In Florida, that brings your $29,095 system closer to $20,300 — a savings of over $9,000!
Below is a quick overview of some of the Florida solar financial incentives:
Florida Solar Incentive | Program Overview |
Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) | The federal solar ITC is a tax credit that homeowners can claim on their federal tax returns. The credit is worth 30% of the total cost of solar panel systems that are purchased through 2032. The credit will drop to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034 and be phased out by 2035 unless renewed by Congress. |
Florida Net Metering Programs | Net energy metering (NEM) programs give credits to homeowners when their solar panels produce extra electricity and it is exported to the local power grid |
Florida Tax Exemptions | Florida property tax exemptions and sales tax exemptions for solar and other renewable energy equipment |
Local Incentives | Incentives, rebates and low-interest financing programs at the town, city, and county level that encourage local solar installations |
If any of the above solar providers are of interest to you, make sure you click the dropdown to learn more cost information about each solar company.
If you’re looking for the cheapest solar panels, pay attention to the dollar signs we’ve assigned each company. The good news is that Florida sunshine is abundant, so even lower-quality solar panels will still perform well in The Sunshine State.
With an average solar irradiance of 5.65 kWh per square meter per day, Floridians can often get away with smaller systems per kWh they need to produce to offset their electric bills. That means you see greater value from your panels overall.
On the other hand, choosing higher quality panels may save you money by allowing you to install a smaller solar system. For example, SunPower solar panels are more expensive upfront, but they’re the most efficient solar panels on the market, which means you can buy fewer panels and still generate enough electricity to power your home.
If two or more solar companies on this list look good to you, it’s not a dilemma. In fact, we recommend reaching out to at least three solar companies.
Solar companies don’t advertise exact prices because every home is different. But nearly all of them will give you a free, no-obligation quote after assessing your household needs. Plus, if you get a lower quote from one company but prefer another, you might be able to get them to match the lower quote.
Most people don’t have $35,000 laying around, but the more money you can pay up front in cash, the cheaper your solar system is going to be.
Cash purchases save you the most money over time because they don’t require you to pay interest. On the other hand, solar loans may make your equipment more affordable in the short term, but you’ll pay more for your system in the end because of all the added interest you’ll pay over time.
If you do have to take out a solar loan, shop around before you sign any papers. We also recommend calling some local banks to see if they offer low-interest rate home improvement loans for solar systems.
You could consider Florida’s Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing program, although it’s not recommended unless you plan on living in your current home for the rest of your life and there are no other options available to you.
Once you get into contact with a solar company, ask them about any discounts they’re offering that you may be eligible for. Just like retailers, solar installers sometimes offer seasonal deals as well as discounts for veterans, seniors, etc. You can save a lot on your solar panel installation by taking advantage of discounts.
Know anyone else in your neighborhood who wants to go solar? Many solar companies offer cash for referrals. For example, SunVena offers $500 for two customer referrals, and major perks — like six months of free solar — for three or more referrals.
Solar power purchase agreements (PPAs) are a type of solar lease agreement. The difference between a PPA and a solar lease is that, with a PPA, your payments purchase the power that the panels create each month, rather than paying a flat monthly price to lease the solar equipment and getting the power they generate for free.
Unfortunately Florida is one of four states that doesn’t allow solar PPAs. That’s because Florida law states that anyone that sells electricity to end-users (customers like you) is a “public utility,” and therefore must follow a set of state laws for public utilities.3
The law’s wording only allows the property owner to build and sell electricity to users, which means that your solar company would not be allowed to sell you your solar electricity while the panels are located on your roof.4
Multiple studies have shown that solar panels do increase the value of a home, including a 2022 EcoWatch survey in which 63% of respondents said they would pay more for a home with solar panels than a home without.
Research from Zillow shows that, on average, homes with solar panels typically sell for 4% more compared to homes without. However, that amount was even higher in Florida, with homes in Orlando selling for 4.6% more, according to the study.5
The average Florida home sold for roughly $315,000 in 2022. Adding solar panels would increase this home value by about $12,600.
If you consider yourself a YouTuber extraordinaire, you might be wondering if you could watch some videos and complete a DIY solar panel installation to save yourself some money on labor costs.
Be aware that installing solar panels is a much trickier home improvement task than fixing a leaky sink or replacing a roof shingle. It involves electrical work, permitting, grid interconnection and many other tasks you may not be up for.
Let’s take a look at some advantages and disadvantages of DIY solar panel installation.
You Can Save Money
To state the obvious, when you hire a solar contractor, you’re paying them for their time and services, like solar panel design and installation labor. You can save some money by eliminating these two expenses and doing it yourself.
You Can Start Small
Want to try out solar without installing an entire solar panel system? A DIY solar panel kit is a great way to “test drive” the solar lifestyle.
Winter Weather Isn’t an Issue
Aside from hurricane season, Florida weather stays pretty mild, which means you won’t have to navigate weather challenges if you’re trying to install solar panels during the fall or winter.
Disadvantages of DIY Solar Installation in Florida
You Face Safety and Structural Risks
If you’re not confident in what you’re doing, the dollars you’ll save by installing your own solar panels will just turn into more money spent on repairing or replacing equipment, and potentially your roof as well. Worst case scenario: you’re also facing medical bills for treating injuries you incurred climbing up on a roof with heavy solar equipment.
You Won’t Have Strong Warranty Coverage
Solar panels are typically covered under 25-year manufacturer warranties, and inverters and batteries will have warranties ranging from 10 to 25 years as well. However, many of these manufacturers only honor those warranties under the condition the equipment was installed by a professional, licensed contractor. Therefore you may not have warranty protection with a DIY solar system setup.
You Have to Take Care of Permitting, Inspections and Interconnection
Depending on where you live, you may need to be a certified electrician to install your solar panel system. Even if that’s not the case, you’ll still need permits and to figure out grid interconnection, which requires specialized knowledge and expertise in the State of Florida.
The smallest things can go wrong and lead to rejection of permits by your local government, or worse, a major electrical mishap. Plus, professional solar installers have years of experience with solar energy in Florida, so they’ll be able to get you set up with better incentives or solar equipment rebates that you may not know about if you’re going solar on your own.
Bottom line: If you’re considering a DIY solar installation, we still recommend talking with a few certified solar installers first. They’ll survey your house to make sure you’re even a good candidate for solar panels, and most solar installation companies offer consultations for free. That way, even if you do decide to take on solar panel installation on your own, you’ll have more insight on what the process of going solar looks like.
If you want to go solar in Florida, picking the best solar installer for your needs is a top priority. These are the most important solar company qualities for Florida homeowners specifically:
After shelling out thousands of dollars, you want to protect your solar investment as best you can — especially living in a state like Florida where you see quite a few severe storms.
Unfortunately solar warranties don’t always cover weather-related damage (although your homeowner’s insurance should). But if your panels are underperforming or need repair, you can likely still have them fixed under your solar installer’s workmanship warranty.
Solar is getting more and more popular in Florida, which means there are too many fly-by-night solar companies trying to cash-grab, often burning their customers in the process.
Florida installers are competing against 200-some other companies. So if a company — especially a local Florida solar company — has been able to stay relevant and retain customers for 10-plus years, it says a lot about its customer care and satisfaction.
Solar companies often have shiny websites talking about how much they love and value their customers, but how much of it is true? Check third-party sites for customer reviews and make sure you read the good and the bad so you know what you’re getting yourself into.
However, it’s important to remember that not everyone is going to have the best experience, even when working with one of the best solar companies in Florida.
Money isn’t everything, but it’s definitely something. Floridians have higher energy needs compared to other Americans, so it’s important to choose a solar installer that’s going to offer you the best cost value for your system.
That said, the cheapest solar company isn’t always the best solar company, which is why solar financing options are crucial. If you had a great experience with a solar company but can’t afford to pay them $35,000 for their system this year, see if they’ll be willing to work on different financing options.
We like to see solar companies that are members of a national solar organization (like SEIA), boast NABCEP-certified technicians and have badges from top solar panel brands on their website. It’s a good sign of credibility and expertise.
We also recommend choosing installers that are affiliated with local organizations. For example, Solar-Ray scored well with EcoWatch Reviews because it’s a preferred solar service provider of Duke Energy, Orange County Public Schools, Orlando Utility Commission and University of Central Florida.
These seven solar companies are the best solar installers in Florida, but SunPower reigns supreme for our EcoWatch rankings.
SunPower has the most efficient panels, which allows Floridians to save money on solar installations because they can install smaller systems and still get maximum energy production. On top of that, every element of your system is protected under a 25-year warranty that protects equipment, power production and workmanship.
Although Florida doesn’t allow PPAs, SunPower offers all of the other available solar financing options — cash purchase, loans and leases — which makes going solar more accessible to more Floridians. As such, we think it’s the best solar company in Florida.
However, just because SunPower is the best solar installer in Florida doesn’t mean it’s the best solar company for your needs. That’s why we recommend you reach out to multiple installers and compare quotes and offerings.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Florida is home to around 230 solar companies, so we had our work cut out for us in finding the best of the bunch. We assessed dozens of providers based on six primary criteria, which we weighted and used to score each company overall. We’ll explain the criteria we used below.
Read More About Going Solar in Florida
SunPower is technically the largest solar company in Florida because it’s a national provider, but it’s headquartered in California. Unicity Solar, serving four other states, is the largest Florida-headquartered solar company. Solar Bear and Solar-Ray are the only two companies that serve homeowners throughout Florida but no other state.
SunPower’s Maxeon solar panels are the best for Florida because their maximum efficiency ensures that Florida homeowners will be able to meet their above-average energy needs.
Floridians see better savings from going solar than most other other state residents, so it’s definitely worth it to go solar in The Sunshine State if you want to eliminate your high utility bills.
Momentum Solar has performed the most residential solar installations in Florida, followed by ADT Solar, Solar Source and Goldin Solar.
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