Best Solar Panel Installation Companies in Pennsylvania

Many people are switching to solar energy, and for all the right reasons. If you are a Pennsylvania resident considering the transition as well, it’s important to pick a good solar panel installation company that can walk you through the process and any potential benefits and tax incentives. You don’t want an installation to lead to unexpected costs or a nonfunctioning system.

Getting solar panels for your home can be a valuable investment as a system can pay for itself in a matter of years while providing a steady stream of clean electricity. But a solar panel system can cost tens of thousands of dollars, so you should treat it like any serious home improvement and plan ahead.

Luckily, a major federal tax credit available to all US residents can get you a rebate of up to 30% of the cost of all clean energy additions to your home, including a new solar panel system. Pennsylvania also has solar alternative energy credits, which will allow you to accrue some cold, hard cash from generating clean energy.

We’ve compiled a list of some of the top national companies that install solar panels in the state, along with local companies and some general advice to help you with your decision.

Best national solar companies in Pennsylvania

There are almost 500 solar companies in Pennsylvania, including 243 installers. Some of the best solar companies CNET found in its research of the larger providers, like SunPower and Palmetto, do business in Pennsylvania, although you’ll find plenty of local providers as well.

Palmetto Solar

Best overall

Solar panels are typically low maintenance equipment, but they’re also unfamiliar. If you want to reap the benefits of solar but will have a bit more peace of mind if someone else is making sure it’s working, Palmetto might be a good fit for you. Just remember to add the cost of Palmetto’s monitoring service in to your payback period calculations.

EnergyPal

Most flexible

EnergyPal is more than just a middleman. It’ll handle your solar installation from beginning to end while also allowing you to benefit from its proprietary engine and competitive bidding process. The company offers a range of hardware for panels, batteries and inverters, has plentiful financing options and offers responsive customer service support.

Freedom Forever

Best for cash customers

Include Freedom Forever in your search if you want the backing of a national company that installs a wide variety of the most popular solar equipment available. Freedom Forever also extends a couple of products that take some of the pain and risk out of going solar, like a production guarantee and an escrow option with cash purchases. Online reviews say customer satisfaction has been low of late, though the company says that’s changing.

Tesla Solar

Most affordable

Tesla’s solar branch seems to be the least loved of Elon Musk’s ventures. Even Tesla’s Solar Roof seems to get more love.

If price is the thing you won’t budge on, consider Tesla. By all accounts, Tesla installs quality panels and makes the closest thing there is to a household name in solar storage: the Powerwall.

Where you might miss out is customer service. Discussion online seems to suggest Tesla’s service is a bit of a gamble.

Momentum Solar

All in-house installers

Momentum installs in 11 states without using subcontractors. While using in-house installers doesn’t guarantee a better experience, it does suggest you’re likely to get a more uniform experience from Momentum. The fact that Momentum backs its installations with a 25-year workmanship warranty hints at a strong belief in its crews’ ability. If Momentum is part of your search, consider the warranties against leaks that other companies offer. Momentum’s is five years, which isn’t the best.

Local solar panel companies in Pennsylvania

How to determine which solar company in Pennsylvania is best for you

As with choosing a contractor, you’ll need to do plenty of research and get multiple quotes before you settle on a solar installer. Here are a few tips we’ve gathered from experts to help you make your choice:

• Understand your local solar incentives.
• Read a solar company’s reviews and complaints.
• Talk to neighbors who have solar panels.
• Check that a company has the right licenses and certifications.
• Get multiple quotes and compare the prices and offerings.
• Ask the installer questions.

Cost of solar panels in Pennsylvania

Here’s a look at the average cash price for a typical solar panel system in Pennsylvania before factoring in tax credits and incentives, according to data from FindEnergy.com. Your system might become more expensive if you choose to include solar batteries or additional equipment in your purchase.

Below, you’ll find an infographic that shows the average total cash price, cost per watt and system size for a solar panel system in your state, according to data from FindEnergy.com. The prices displayed don’t factor in tax credits or state incentives. Certain states don’t have any FindEnergy solar data and are grayed out on the map.

Pennsylvania solar panel incentives and rebates

Solar is still a considerable investment, even with lower prices, the federal solar tax credit and state incentives. The Clean Energy Credit allows you to claim 30% of the cost of a solar system from your federal income taxes. The 30% Clean Energy Credit applies to systems installed between 2022 through 2032. The credit drops to 26% in 2033 and 22% in 2034 and expires in 2035.

You can complete and submit form 5695 (PDF) to the IRS to receive the Clean Energy Credit. Follow the IRS instructions on how to complete this form. After your paperwork is authorized, you will receive your solar savings in credit when you submit your federal tax return for the year.

Pennsylvania provides two additional incentives to spur residential solar development. 

How solar-friendly is your state?

CNET recently ranked states based on their residential solar policies: the laws and regulations affecting consumer-level solar panel installation and adoption. These policies play a major role in determining how accessible and affordable a solar panel system is to the average resident. 

Each state was evaluated through a methodology and scored based on eight categories. The final score was converted to a letter grade. 

Here’s how your state scored on CNET’s solar policy test.

Pennsylvania

Grade: F

Incentives available:

Strongest scoring categories:

Pennsylvanians are going to be credited 1:1 at the full retail rate when exchanging their excess energy with the grid, which is going to help accelerate their solar payback period and help them start saving money after recouping their initial investment much more quickly.

Categories to improve:

A good first step might be a property and sales tax exemption for solar panel systems, but other bigger steps would include low-income rooftop solar programs, community solar programs and a state solar tax credit.

How to pay for solar panels in Pennsylvania

There are different ways you can pay for solar panels in Pennsylvania. Each one has its benefits and downsides.

Cash: Buying a solar system outright gives you full ownership, and you don’t need to deal with monthly interest payments or loan fees — but purchasing in cash comes with a high upfront cost. However, the residential clean energy credit, a federal solar tax credit program, can significantly lower it (more than that below).

Solar Loan: The benefit of using a loan is you don’t need to pay a hefty upfront cost like paying with cash. But loans come with interest and other associated fees, which add to the total cost of solar.

Home equity: You don’t have to use a loan from your solar company. Financial institutions offer home equity loans and lines of credit (or HELOCs) that are commonly used for home improvement projects. These loans can be used for basically any purpose, and they may be a good fit for your solar project. Shop around and make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Personal loan: You can also borrow the money through a personal loan. The main difference between a personal loan and a home equity loan is that a personal loan is typically unsecured. That means your house isn’t at risk. The downside is they tend to have shorter terms and higher interest rates than home equity products.

Leasing: With leasing, a solar developer installs solar panels on your home and charges you a fixed monthly rate (think of it as paying rent) for using the power generated by the panels. Since the developer owns the panels, you wouldn’t be eligible for any tax and other incentives. All the incentives go to the developer. 

Power purchase agreement: It’s similar to leasing but different. Under a power purchase agreement, you pay a fixed price per kilowatt-hour (a unit of energy measured as one kilowatt of power for one hour) for power produced by the panels. Like solar leasing, the company providing you energy through a power purchase agreement owns and maintains solar panels and receives all incentives.

While going solar isn’t cheap up front, owning a solar system through purchasing or taking out a loan is the most cost-saving option in the long run. The average payback period is six to ten years if you purchase your panels. However, solar panel ownership isn’t feasible for everyone. If you can’t buy or finance a solar system, your roof doesn’t have enough space for solar panels, or you rent your home, entering a solar lease and power purchase agreement could be other alternatives to go solar.

Read more: Want something smaller than a whole-home solar system? See our picks for the best portable solar panels and solar generators.

Installation factors to consider

Investing in a solar energy system is a serious financial commitment. It’s worth considering various factors that may or may not make solar panels suitable for your home.

Condition and angle of your roof: The US Department of Energy calculated that solar panels operate most efficiently at a tilt between 15 and 40 degrees. Roofs with this pitch may help your solar panels produce more energy. Your roof must also be in good physical shape before panels are installed. Your solar installer should recommend any repairs before you finalize your solar contract.

Location: Solar capacity in Pennsylvania has increased in recent years despite its northern location, considerable snowfall and cold winters. Solar panels not generating energy in the winter is a myth. On the contrary, solar panels achieve high efficiency during colder seasons, because their ideal internal temperature is between 40 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit. While solar generation is lower in the winter compared to the summer because of shorter days, solar panels produce electricity if they are exposed to sunlight. 

Insurance coverage: Adding your solar system to your homeowner’s insurance policy could provide more protection for your solar equipment. Talk to your insurance company about coverage for your solar system. 

Cost vs. time: It’s important to consider how long you intend to reside in your home before committing to solar panels. A solar investment makes sense over the long term. Binding yourself to an expensive solar commitment may not be worth the cost if you decide to move a few years after installation. 

How we evaluate solar companies

Pennsylvania solar power FAQs