Thinking of going solar in Pennsylvania? Don’t just go with the first company to knock on your door or cold call your phone. The wrong choice could leave you stuck with unexpected costs or a nonfunctioning system.
Getting solar panels for your home can be a valuable investment, paying for itself in a matter of years with 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 over 400 solar companies in Pennsylvania, including 198 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.
SunPower Solar
Best solar panels
If you’re looking for top-of-the-line solar panels, SunPower is your best choice. But don’t write it off if you’re looking for a less flashy installation that will get the job done. This year it started installing Qcells panels, which should make an installation from the longest-tenured company on our list available to more people.
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
Green Power Energy installs solar panels, batteries and EV chargers for residential and commercial customers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut. A full-service installer, Green Power will complete the entire installation process in-house. The company also offers a suite of solar financing options and 25-year warranties for all installed products and the quality of work.
Since its founding in 1999, this full-service solar company has installed more than 13 gigawatts of solar power in the state. It promises a lifetime quality-of-work guarantee and a 25-year product warranty. If you choose not to pay cash to buy a solar system, you can get a loan through the company’s financing partners. Pennsylvania Solar Energy also provides a leasing option.
Solar SME has been installing residential and commercial solar panels since 2014. The company also installs solar batteries in six states including Pennsylvania. Solar SME handles the installation process in-house, including design, permitting, installation, inspection, monitoring and maintenance. In addition, it offers various solar financing options to customers, including power purchase agreements and leases. Solar SME backs its quality of work and products with a 25-year warranty.
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.
Average cost of solar panels in Pennsylvania
| Typical system size (kW) | Price per watt | Total installed cost | Cost after 30% federal tax credit | |
| Pennsylvania | 8 | $3.55 | $28,400 | $19,880 |
| National average | 8.6 | $3.67 | $31,558 | $22,091 |
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.
Pennsylvania solar incentives
| Program | Description |
|---|---|
| Solar Alternative Energy Credits | SAECs allow solar system owners to get financial compensation for the energy they generate. Solar owners can get one SAEC for every megawatt-hour) power their system generates. SAEC values fluctuate daily, driven by market supply and demand conditions, but are valid for three consecutive years. |
| Net metering | Net metering allows a solar system owner to sell excess solar generation to the utility. Utilities in Pennsylvania must offer net metering at nondiscriminatory rates and can’t charge net-metered customers any fees they wouldn’t charge a non-net-metered customer. |
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 nine 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.
Philadelphians, like all Pennsylvanians, could save when switching to solar energy.
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
The companies we listed above as “the best” are curated from CNET’s best solar companies list. Companies making the best list are scored on the equipment, warranties and customer service they offer. Then, we make sure these recommendations are available in your state. You can read a full breakdown of how we review solar companies here.
Companies listed under the local installers were chosen in a less rigorous way. We chose them because they offered something unique or notable to customers in the state, they seemed well-regarded by internet reviewers or because they were one of the few installers we could find information on in the state.
Whether we’ve completed a full review on a company or not, it’s always a good idea to get multiple quotes from different installers before choosing a company.
Pennsylvania solar power FAQs
Does Pennsylvania offer a solar tax credit?
Are solar panels worth the investment in Pennsylvania?
Yes, solar panels are worth it in Pennsylvania. While the upfront cost of solar is an investment, it can save you money and pay off over time. Given the record high utility rates in most of the US, solar panels can provide energy and financial stability. An experienced solar installer can help you determine whether solar is the right choice for your home based on your electricity consumption, roof condition, utility rates, location, financing and other factors.
Will I get an electric bill if I install solar panels?
Your home will remain tied to the grid after you install solar panels unless you choose to live off-grid. You will use electricity from the grid when your panels aren’t generating electricity. Therefore, you will get an electric bill from your utility for the energy you use from the grid. You can significantly reduce your utility bill with a residential solar system that offsets most of your energy consumption. If you install solar batteries, you could further reduce your electric bill.
Correction, Feb. 22: The comparison chart originally misstated the average solar panel system size in the US. The average system size is 8.6 kilowatts.
