The 7 Best Solar Companies in New York To Save You Money

Key Points

• Clean energy is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money, but upfront costs can be a barrier.
• New Yorkers have some of the highest energy bills in the US, making solar energy an attractive option.
• SunPower, Tesla, Trinity, Sunrun, Momentum, ADT Solar, and Palmetto are some of the best solar companies in New York.
• Incentives like the Federal Solar Tax Credit, NY-Sun Initiative, and MW Block incentive make switching to solar more affordable.

Clean energy is one of the best ways to reduce your carbon footprint while saving money. But what about the upfront costs? Buying and installing solar panels can be a costly endeavor and a hassle. Choosing the right solar company is a surefire way to end up with a lower price tag and free up some of your time. 

If you live in New York, you’re likely no stranger to high energy bills. According to the US Chamber of Commerce Global Energy Institute, New Yorkers have some of the highest energy bills in the United States. And if you’re reading this, you’re probably sick of it. In this guide, we’ll outline the best solar companies in New York that can help you cut down on energy costs.

Best New York Solar Companies

Solar companies can cover any or all of the significant aspects of installing solar panels. Some may specialize in selling equipment, while others specialize in installing it; some companies even handle everything for you from beginning to end. No matter where you are in your solar energy journey, there’s a solar company that can help you.

SunPower

This experienced company produces top-notch solar panels with some of the highest efficiency rates in the entire industry. SunPower offers an impressive 25-year warranty on labor and panels and offers consultations to get you headed in the right direction. You can have them install the panels for you, and they accept nearly every form of payment, including financing options like a solar loan or solar lease.

SunPower has been around since 1985, meaning they are one of the longest-running solar companies out there. With them, you’ll get unparalleled experience and warranty options that rival nearly every other company. We always get excited when we see long-term warranties, as it clearly indicates the company believes in its product.

The average installed price is around $15,000, meaning they aren’t the cheapest, but they aren’t the most expensive either. You can check out their website to get a quote.

Tesla

The name “Tesla” may make you think of its divisive founder, Elon Musk. But, regardless of where you stand on Musk’s antics, the company is an industry leader in solar panels. Tesla offers a price-match guarantee and has one of the best solar batteries you’ll find. Tesla is known for sleek electric vehicles; their solar panels are no different. Tesla’s low-profile black design has forced the solar panel industry to consider style when designing the next big thing. Still, its panels aren’t all flash and no substance; these panels are efficient and relatively affordable.

Tesla solar panels cost around $2.30 per watt, which is around 21% cheaper than most. Tesla’s inverters help its panels convert about 97.5% of the solar energy they intake into electricity, making them some of the most efficient on the market. 

The average installed price starts at around $15,000 before rebates. You can place an order or schedule a consultation on the Tesla website.

Trinity

Trinity has been around since 1994 and claims to have installed nearly 80,000 solar panels. The company boasts an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and they have tons of financing options to make it easier for you to get set up. When purchased with cash, their panels cost around $2.73 per watt, which isn’t as impressive as Tesla’s but isn’t bad either.

They are a family-owned-and-operated company that deals primarily with residential customers in the Eastern United States. You can rest easy knowing Trinity has a wealth of experience with home applications of solar panels. 

The average cost of one of their 6-kilowatt solar panel systems is around $19,000 before rebates. You can learn more and get a quote on Trinity’s website.

Sunrun

Sunrun is one of the best solar panel companies if you plan to lease your solar equipment. They offer two comprehensive options and a 24/7 technical support chat. You can lease your panels every month or for 25 years. Its warranty is good for ten years, and you can purchase an insurance plan that covers damage or theft.

You don’t have to lease their panels if you’d prefer to buy them. Sunrun gives you the option to pay for your panels, and they have their own in-house financing options.

The average cost before rebates is between $15,000-$20,000. You can learn more and get a quote on their website.

Momentum

Momentum has only been serving customers since 2009, but they have an impressive track record of earning great reviews. Did you like small class sizes when you were in school? If so, Momentum might be the best choice for you. They’re easily one of the best choices if you’re looking for a personal experience. Rather than having you chat with a random customer service rep or deal with various points of contact, you’ll have a dedicated project manager who gets you set up. You’ll always know who to talk to if you have a question or concern.

They offer a 25-year warranty for equipment and workmanship, meaning they’re one of the only companies that trust their equipment as much as SunPower. That’s a huge plus in our book.

At around $20,000-$25,000, Momentum is one of the most expensive companies we recommend. Still, you have to consider what you’re getting: a dedicated project manager, a company with a track record of impressing customers, and a comprehensive warranty. You can learn more or get a quote on Momentum’s website.

ADT Solar

ADT Solar is an awesome choice for those looking to customize their setup. They install panels and batteries produced by a wide range of industry heavy-hitters. You’ll have plenty of options to build the system that works best for you. ADT gets extra points from us for its comprehensive warranties; It covers its workmanship, panels, and microinverters for a full 25 years.

It’s worth mentioning that you won’t get the same level of personalized service you’d get with solar panel companies like Momentum. This is a large business, and you’ll often be passed to various customer service reps if you need to troubleshoot your system. You can expect to pay between $18,000-$25,000 to get set up, and you can learn more on ADT’s website.

Palmetto

Palmetto really shines for its comprehensive customer support and advanced technology. You can reach out for support via phone, chat, or email, and they have a 25-year output and solar panel warranty. Palmetto makes it easy to check in on your system, as many of their offerings connect to your phone, so you’ll have important statistics about your solar energy production at your fingertips.

The average cost for setting up a system with Palmetto is around $15,000-$20,000. You can get a quote by visiting its website.

Incentives for Switching to Solar

Aside from saving money on energy costs over time, there are a ton of incentives and tax breaks that make the overall cost of your clean energy system even cheaper. The Federal Solar Tax Credit is arguably the most important to understand. The Energy Policy Act was originally passed in 2005, and since then, the federal government has offered tax credits that effectively make it cheaper to switch to solar. In 2023, it lets you claim 30% of your solar system cost as a tax credit. 

The federal tax credit isn’t the only incentive either. The NY-Sun Initiative is a statewide initiative that will pay part of the cost of your solar system. They make payments directly to the contractor you choose to work with and increase the incentive amount if you make less than 80% of the median income in your area.

The MW Block incentive is another excellent way for New Yorkers to save money on their solar system. This incentive is designed for the areas in New York that need the most support and will pay up to $1,000 for every kilowatt of solar power you have installed. If you purchased your solar system, leased panels or entered into a 10-year agreement to use solar energy produced elsewhere, you may also qualify for the New York State Solar Equipment Tax Credit. This credit covers up to $5,000 of the cost of your equipment and can be carried over for up to 5 years if it exceeds the amount you owe in taxes.

Other incentives worth checking out are:

• Solar Electric Generating System Tax Abatement
• Home Solar Project State Sales Tax Exemption
• Consolidated Edison
• PSEG Long Island’s Energy Storage Rewards program

The image featured at the top of this post is ©AlyoshinE/Shutterstock.com.