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The 4 Best Solar Companies in Georgia to Save You Money

save money on solar panels in georgia

The 4 Best Solar Companies in Georgia to Save You Money

Thanks to the Federal Tax incentives there has been a boom in solar installation all across the country and Georgia is no exception. That’s great in terms of competitive pricing, but competition is a double-edged sword. It’s inevitable that some of the newer less-established solar companies will eventually fold. When that happens, they may or may not be in a position to honor your warranty. This is not ideal considering some warranties can as long as 25 years and save thousands in repair costs down the road. Since the warranty is such a big deal with solar panels, we limited the scope of our search to companies that have had a long-standing presence in the solar market and are therefore less likely to fold when the boom ends. 

History Computer’s Picks for Best Solar Companies in Georgia to Save You Money

#1 Best Overall Solar Company in Georgia: Sun Power Solar

SunPower is a mainstay in the solar industry, having joined the game in 1985. They have a solid reputation when it comes to providing safe and reliable solar service. Having been in the game for as long as they have has allowed for expansion. As such, Sun Power currently offers services in every state. SunPower received an A+ rating from The BBB, which is solidly above the industry average.

The company’s most attractive attributes are most likely its high-quality products and services. Renowned within the industry for its innovative technological advances, as well as the wide breadth of the systems it creates and installs. With durable, high-efficiency solar panels manufactured by Maxeon, SunPower is an industry leader on the technological side. Plus, because they’ve been in the game so long they operate in all 50 states, giving them resources not available to some of the newer providers. 

ProsCons
They are technology-driven and provide some of the most efficient panels available to consumers. Due to the advanced nature of their panels, their costs can be comparatively high. 
The company has national coverage and they’re known for excellent customer serviceService standards may vary due to local dealers. 
father and son playing near a sollar paneled house
Georgia receives an average of 218 sunny days a year, making solar a good investment.

Best For Warranty Coverage: ADT Solar

ADT (formerly SunPro) has a big presence in both the residential and commercial solar energy markets. Serving 21 states, and having installed panels for a little over 25,000 residential customers, ADT has slowly been building a positive reputation. According to our research, customer reviews have predominantly been positive in terms of the quality of panels. 

If there’s a downside to their reputation, it might be with their customer service. Of course, it should be noted that the larger a company is, the more people it serves, and the greater the chance of having mixed reviews. Apropos of service, however, ADT offers an incredible 25-year warranty. This is an important benefit for many customers, which makes sense considering solar panels are a huge investment that can directly impact the value of your home. It’s nice to have the kind of peace of mind a 25-year warranty can provide. 

ProsCons
The 25-year warranty is one of the best in the industry.The company has mixed customer-service reviews.
They have a wide-ranging service area, particularly in the south.ADT does not offer any sort of lease or PPA.

Best for Customer Service: Palmetto Solar

A customer-centric approach is what makes Palmetto worthy of making any “best-of” list. An investment in solar can be complex and difficult. Palmetto seems to recognize this because they endeavor to ensure that their clients appreciate the extent of what purchasing solar panels means. They strive to provide a level of service that makes the customer feel supported throughout the process, rather than just ignored after signing on the dotted line. Palmetto has what they call a “Peace of Mind Protection Plan,” featuring real-time monitoring and proactive support for customers.

Palmetto also offers a surprisingly accurate solar savings calculator that helps customers formulate a budget and plan for the future. They also offer a wider range of services including everything from roofing to pest abatement. Best of all might be their 25-year output warranty, but it covers the performance of the entire solar panel system. Most warranties cover individual parts, so an overall performance warranty is a good way to ensure the proper functionality of your system for years to come.

ProsCons
They have a wide-ranging service area.The company does not offer any sort of lease or PPA.
Palmetto offers services that other companies don’t.Installation quality is inconsistent from region to region.

Best for the Region: Renu Energy Solutions

A regional installer, Renu Energy Solutions is exclusive to Georgia and the Carolinas. Renu has the benefit of being able to provide more personalized customer service, which is expected from a smaller, more localized company. However, even better, It also has the reach and resources of a much larger nationwide installer. 

If you require backup batteries, you are in luck because Renu is a full-service solar installer. This is particularly important to Georgia residents because the Peach State doesn’t have a statewide net metering program. Solar batteries can be the perfect solution to help defray your energy bill costs in the long term. Luckily Renu can help you with that. 

Another plus for Georgians is that Renu also offers 25-year warranties on not just equipment, but also workmanship and energy production. This is important for Georgia residents because as you probably know, Georgia is prone to extreme weather like hurricanes and tropical storms which can wreak havoc on your roof and panels. 

ProsCons
They only operate in Georgia and the Carolinas so they are experts on local ordinances.The smaller size means fewer options in terms of equipment brands
Renu has an excellent word-of-mouth reputation in the region.There is no formal workmanship warranty and no written guarantee.

How to Pick The Best Solar Company in Georgia: Step by Step

When choosing a solar company in Georgia there are three main considerations for most buyers:

  • Efficiency
  • Price
  • Individual Needs

Let’s review each of these criteria in more detail.

Efficiency

The output of any given solar panel can be estimated based on its efficiency rating which is typically expressed as a percentage. 18% is what you’re looking for, that tends to be a good average efficiency rating, at least for residential systems. If you pay up for high-performance solar panels, you can expect to get efficiency ratings closer to 22%, sometimes a bit higher. If you are on a budget. Expect the lower-performance panels to give you closer to 16% efficiency. The efficiency rating you wind up with should reflect your individual needs. 

Panel Wattage

Ideally, solar panels should create as much power as they replace. While efficiency ratings can tell us how effective a panel is when it comes to converting energy, the panel’s wattage can measure efficiency in terms of power. While generating power, the majority of current residential solar panel systems on the market create somewhere between 250 and 400 watts per hour. Typically speaking the higher-power panels are more desirable to consumers as opposed to lower-wattage ones. But as always, the budget and needs of the individual should weigh heavily in the decision of wattage output requirements.

Temperature Coefficient

The coefficient rating of solar panels gauges their efficiency loss through temperature increases and expresses that in negative percentages. Panels that perform well in hot weather tend to have lower temperature coefficient ratings than solar panels with higher coefficient ratings. In hot-weather locations like Georgia, panels with a low coefficient rating tend to be critical. Low coefficient ratings also produce great results in locations that experience extreme temperature fluctuations. This is a positive as climate change continues to create unpredictable weather patterns. 

Price

The average residential solar energy system is currently about $16,000. There is a broad price range, however. A system could be anywhere from a reasonable $3,500 to a whopping $35,000. Things such as installation, and the quality of the panels make a difference. Also whether or not you take advantage of tax rebates impacts the overall cost. Various features, quality, and individual system components can factor into the cost of a solar panel system so before you buy make sure all the bells and whistles are compatible with your situation. Solar panels that are within your budget but can also significantly lower your energy bill are ideal You’re looking for the best return on your investment possible

Solar Companies in Georgia: Warranties

The warranty offered should be factored into your price analysis as they can defray the long-term cost significantly. The average consumer warranty for most solar panel brands is 25 years. Different components, such as inverters batteries, and other pieces critical to functionality, often have separate warranties that can vary depending on the individual manufacturer or product. Keep an eye on the system’s output warranty, especially at the 10 and 25-year benchmarks. Longevity is more important to those who plan on living in their current residence for an extended period of time. The performance warranty and manufacturer warranties can all have a different language, so be aware of that before you sign the dotted line.

Ensure you read the manufacturer’s and installer’s warranties before you sign on the dotted line.

Individual Needs

Each household’s energy use can vary greatly. Some homes may be better suited to a solar panel system that generates more electrical power, some may not need to generate quite as much. Ideally, your system will generate enough electricity during the day. Some also look for systems that can generate enough electricity to get through the night, but that may be an extravagance depending upon your budget. Whether you want to be self-sufficient when it comes to energy or generate just enough power to reduce your bill significantly should factor into your decision. If you don’t need a ton of power, you may not need to pay up for the high-efficiency system. 

Your Home’s Roof Space

Your decision on which panels and systems you can buy may be limited based on your property. Adequate, available roof space, or failing that, yard space is necessary for solar panels. The location of the roof or yard can also play a factor in your decision. If you only have a limited amount of space, you may be locked into a system with fewer panels but higher efficiency and higher wattage output. If you have a lot of space for panels, it opens up a lot of options for you.

Installation Company

Before you buy a system make sure there is a company in your area that has the ability and booking availability to install your specific panels. An unexpectedly high service quote can change the reality of your ability to install a solar system really quickly. Conversely, if there is a system that is less expensive to install but still meets all your individual needs, perhaps you can consider that. Installer workmanship guarantees are also something you should be on the lookout for when comparing installers. 

What to Know Before Buying Solar Panels in Georgia

Your home’s energy needs as well as the accessible space and of course, your household’s individual budget are all factors to consider when determining an acceptable efficiency range. It’s also good to bear in mind that solar panel efficiency will moderately degrade over time. If your needs are just barely being met, you may need a more efficient system. 

The bad news is that there isn’t much in the way of solar incentive programs in Georgia. That being said, it’s important to do your research on them. The few incentives out there for Georgia residents can still add up to a significant sum of money to help you offset some of the costs of your equipment. We highly recommend that Georgia solar users invest in a battery. Installation costs will be higher initially but it will be financially sound in the long run.  Solar batteries enable you to store power harvested by your panels. The battery can access that stored energy rather than tapping into the municipal electric grid. That means your energy savings are increased over time, This decreases your panel payback period and means you’ll save more on energy in the long run.

Using Solar: What It’s Like?

We’ve talked a lot about the obvious benefit of solar panels: the ability to harvest and access electrical energy on your own but there are other benefits as well. The installation of solar panels can significantly increase the value of your home. They are one of those wonderful home improvement investments that allow you to enjoy the benefits while you live there, then up the resale value down the road with little more work. They are also environmentally friendly. Solar panels are one of those lifestyle changes that both help the environment and are fiscally responsible. Speaking of fiscal responsibility, there are a lot of tax incentives at the Federal, all the way down to the local level. Check to see what incentives might be offered by your city and county before picking an installation company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will solar panels increase the value of my home?

Most projections say they will. There may be rare exceptions where the panels do damage to the roof that might decrease the value of the home or be a wash. Though, that would be a rare circumstance and highly unlikely. Solar panels are like any construction project in your home. You will never find one completely free from risk. 

Can I install the panels myself to reduce the cost?

You certainly can, but you should be careful Your installation abilities may be the equal of someone who does it for a living, however, some manufacturers may void their warranty if the product isn’t set up by a licensed installer. Make sure you check the details with the manufacturer before deciding to purchase and install anything yourself.

Is Georgia a good place to get solar panels?

Weather-wise it’s great however it isn’t a state that offers many incentives to homeowners. If you’re staying in your home for a long time the energy savings can make solar panels a worthwhile investment for Georgians, but keep in mind it will require a significant cost upfront.

Does the utility company you have make a difference in Georgia?

Georgia Power provides service for 155 of the 159 counties in Georgia. That means where you live in the state matters much less than it does in other states. Thy type of policies, incentives, and logistics will have far less disparity from county to county.

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