With so many solar companies to choose from, we know how daunting it can be to find an installer you can trust with your home’s solar system. To help you make the right decision, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the best solar companies in Mesa, AZ, as rated by our SolarReviews experts and Mesa residents who’ve already gone solar.
We look for solar companies with owners who understand that when they sell you a solar system, you expect them to be there for the next 25 years to fix any issues that may arise. Here are the top companies we recommend for solar in Mesa:
Company Description
Arizona Solar Wave was founded in 1999 by lifetime resident Bryan McCormick! Bryan is an electrical engineer with an intense work ethic and a commitment to providing homeowners with solutions that stand the test of time. Our staff is made up of journeyman elec...
Learn moreSolarReviews Expert Rating Score:
Elite
Rating breakdown
Positives:
10 / 10
Time in business
10 / 10
Litigation and background
10 / 10
Verification of licenses and insurance
10 / 10
Profitability of installer
5 / 5
Consumer reviews performance
5 / 5
Transparency of pricing and sales process
5 / 5
Company size and location
10 / 10
Quality of brands sold
5 / 5
Vertical integration
4 / 5
Transparency about reputation
10 / 10
Competitiveness of loan options
3 / 5
Sustainable pricing of systems
3 / 5
Employee satisfaction and safety record
5 / 5
Reliability of consumer reviews
Negatives:
Services offered
- Solar - Installation
Latest Good Review
Ann Waananen | Mesa, AZ | 05-15-2024
Arizona Solar Wave was very thorough when installing the panels on top of the house. They guided me through the process of getting all the necessary paperwork into the various HOA's and APS. The only problem now is understanding the Enphase Energy System and getting it set up properly. Once this gets set-up, my experience will be 5 stars.
See full reviewLatest Bad Review
Phil | Mesa, AZ | 01-01-2025
2stars only because the install was clean
I am paying more after solar install. Quoted a 35$ fee from SRP yearly, they charge that every month and can raise it as much as they choose, according to SRP. They installed equipment on my house and never told me what it's for, how it works. They turned power on while i was at work ignoring my request to wait until i could be there to answer my questions. Like What do i do if i have an electrical fire? How to clean and maintain the panels? How to track or know if the panels are even working? My system cost me 60k yep, 60,000 dollars and with payment my electric bills are still almost 400$ a month in the summertime. 2 years have gone by and no one from this company has reached out to see how it's all going. I have to pray this company will back their 25-yr warranty when the panels ware out and don't work anymore. Customer service should be something that happens even after THE COMPANY GETS PAID! Their website by the way only shows 5-star reviews, pretty shady if you ask me
See full reviewCompany Description
Save the world. Save the environment. Save money.Alright maybe that's a little ambitious, but we really can make a difference. Every time a house or business installs solar they are making a true difference and Rooftop Solar is excited to be a part of it.You c...
Learn moreSolarReviews Expert Rating Score:
Elite
Rating breakdown
Positives:
10 / 10
Time in business
10 / 10
Litigation and background
7 / 10
Verification of licenses and insurance
3 / 5
Transparency of pricing and sales process
5 / 5
Company size and location
10 / 10
Quality of brands sold
4 / 5
Vertical integration
5 / 5
Transparency about reputation
7 / 10
Competitiveness of loan options
3 / 5
Employee satisfaction and safety record
7 / 10
Profitability of installer
5 / 5
Reliability of consumer reviews
Negatives:
1 / 5
Consumer reviews performance
1 / 5
Sustainable pricing of systems
Services offered
- Solar - Installation
Latest Good Review
LouK | Flagstaff, AZ | 07-16-2022
Rooftop Solar provided an excellent and accurate proposal. Follow-up was very good. Price increased from original proposal due to panel availability.
See full reviewLatest Bad Review
tdc | 05-08-2020
Reasonably satisfied
I am writing this review after being reminded in an email follow-up from Derek Turner who is the VP of Sales/Marketing (I think). I probably would give 2 1/2 stars if I could. My system was installed Sep 2019 and turned on a month later. The positives: 1) From signed contract to turn on was 3 months (this is actually pretty fast, although doesn't feel like it after paying cash and want to start saving immediately); 2) Status updates and information flow was pretty good from the project manager; and 3) I received a great price after a lot of negotiating. The negatives: I was already under contract with a competitor and submitted to APS. I received a call a day later from the sales person who of course wanted my business. It ended up going going back and forth between the two companies (with me in the middle). I ended up cancelling the contract and going with rooftop even though the competitor would price match. I do sometimes regret this. Not long after this, I received a call from Derek Turner. After a lengthy conversation, he offered to to split the cost with me (about $500 each) on an extended warranty. That language never made it into the contract. I have followed up with him about this, but all I get are crickets.... Another thing that I am somewhat dissatisfied about is the install itself. The installers deviated sharply from the design that I naively approved as I knew nothing about optimizing installation which was a good thing. Despite my roof having a number of peaks and valleys making for a challenging installation, the installers were able to pull 9 panels that were on the north side in the design and place on the south. The problem is many of the south panels start receiving shade from the roof as the sun moves from east to west and therefore produce nothing in the afternoon which reduces overall production. No panels were placed on part of a west facing spot where production would have far exceeded the south facing ones that are getting shade. After paying this much money in cash, I guess one kind of relies on the company to set panels to get maximum production for the owner, but maybe I expect too much. Consequently, I am losing about 4% production. This may not seem like a lot, but equates to about a 1000 kW/hr loss per year simply due to sub-optimal panel placement. So my overall recommendation is that if you do go with Rooftop Solar, then ensure everything is in writing. Second, observe your roof prior to install during different times of the day to check for obstruction of the sun from other parts of the roof so that you yourself can ensure optimal placement of panels. If this doesn't get right, then don't expect Rooftop Solar to come back and fix it. There are numerous solar panel companies to choose from. My experience wasn't terrible, but could have been more satisfying. You could probably have a better experience with someone else, but you could have worse too.
See full reviewBest solar installers in Mesa, AZ
Company | SolarReviews expert rating | Consumer rating | City | Quote |
---|---|---|---|---|
Arizona Solar Wave | Elite | Mesa | Get Quote | |
Rooftop Solar | Elite | Flagstaff | Get Quote | |
Black Platinum Solar | Very Good | Phoenix | Get Quote | |
Net Zero Solar | Unrated | Tucson | Get Quote | |
Sun Valley Solar Solutions | Elite | Chandler | Get Quote | |
Sunny Energy | Elite | Tempe | Get Quote | |
Energy Solution Providers, LLC | Unrated | Florence | Get Quote |
Best solar companies for home battery installations in Mesa
Batteries have become increasingly popular because they take an intermittent energy source like solar and turn it into a reliable and consistent supply of electricity. We recommend getting a solar battery quote if you want a backup power source or if your utility company doesn’t have a net metering program that buys excess solar energy at the full price of power, as you could save a little extra on your electric bill.
Here are some Mesa companies that install panels and solar battery storage systems:
Company | SolarReviews expert rating | Consumer rating | City | Quote |
---|---|---|---|---|
ACE Solar Systems (out of business) | Unrated | Scottsdale | Get Quote | |
Sunpro Solar LLC DBA Airco | Unrated | - | Get Quote | |
Pacific West Solar | Unrated | Phoenix | Get Quote | |
Solar Resource USA | Unrated | - | Get Quote | |
Green Muscle Solar | Unrated | Sun City | Get Quote |
How to find the best solar panel company near you
Picking a solar company is the most important decision you make when going solar. You need to trust them to drill holes in your roof, help you navigate financing and incentives and provide you with 25+ years of customer service.
Check out this video where our founder, who also founded a successful solar installation company, explains what to look for when choosing the best solar company near you.
Top things to consider when choosing a solar company in Mesa:
Years in business
One of the first things to look at when finding a company is how long they have been in business. We suggest looking for companies that have been around for at least five years, as the longer it has been in business, the more likely it is you’ll have a positive installation experience.
Companies with five or more years of experience will probably have established after-sales service and warranty support. It signals that they aren’t a company in it to make a quick buck; they’re in it for the long haul.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, which is why you should also keep a few other factors in mind.
Licenses, insurance, and certifications
Solar companies that are licensed, insured and hold certifications take their business seriously. Look for companies that have NABCEP Certified professionals or certified electricians on staff and are properly insured, so their workers, and you, are protected.
Financing options
Not everyone has thousands of dollars to spend on a solar panel installation. So, you’ll want to find a company with solar financing options that work for you. Ask for quotes for various types of financing plans to see which one will work best for your budget. Solar loans are often your next best choice if you can’t pay in cash. But, if you don’t pay federal income taxes or can’t qualify for a loan, finding a company that offers solar leases or power purchase agreements might be the right move.
Services and products offered
Don’t choose a company that can’t complete the job that you want to be done. If you need an energy storage system, get quotes from companies that install batteries! Maybe you want a particular brand of panels or an electric vehicle charger installation. Ask the company if they provide those services or carry those brands so you don’t have to settle for less.
Customer review scores
Customer ratings give valuable insight into how a solar company actually operates and treats its customers. Read SolarReviews, Google and Yelp reviews to understand the company’s installation process, sales practices and overall customer service. But remember that some companies incentivize customers to leave positive reviews, so make sure you read reviews with some scrutiny.
Warranty
Any reputable solar installation company will offer a workmanship or labor warranty that covers any damages that may occur during the installation process. We recommend using an installer with at least a ten-year labor warranty.
Some installation companies, like SunPower, include a system performance guarantee. This promises you’ll get a certain amount of electricity from your solar panels and is an excellent added protection.
Mesa incentives and rebates
Solar incentives and rebates can cut the cost of installing solar in Mesa by thousands of dollars. The most significant incentive is the 30% federal solar tax credit, available to any taxpayer in the country when they purchase solar panels or battery storage.
Some cities, counties, states and utility companies offer additional solar incentives, saving homeowners even more money. Here are the solar incentives available in Mesa:
Incentive | Eligibility | Type |
---|---|---|
Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit | Federal | Personal Tax Credit |
Net BIlling | State | Net Metering |
Solar and Wind Equipment Sales Tax Exemption | State | Sales Tax Incentive |
Energy Equipment Property Tax Exemption | State | Property Tax Incentive |
Residential Solar and Wind Energy Systems State Tax Credit | State | Personal Tax Credit |
How much can you save with solar incentives?
What to look for in solar quotes in Mesa
Once you’ve found a few companies you like, you can start getting solar quotes. You can get a better deal when you get quotes from multiple solar installers; we suggest getting at least three quotes. Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks for comparing quotes and what questions you should ask installers.
System size and energy production
All solar quotes should include the size of the system and how much energy it is projected to produce. Most of the quotes you get will probably be in the same ballpark. But, if one is drastically larger or smaller than the others — ask about it! Maybe one installer included shading from a tree, while another based its estimates on having that tree removed.
If you choose reliable installers, you can trust that these estimates will be as accurate as possible. But you can always double-check using the SolarReviews solar calculator and enter the information received in your quotes.
Pricing
You should know as much as possible about how much the solar panels cost. Make sure you know both the total cost of the system and the price per watt of solar installed. The cost per watt makes it easier to compare prices between quotes and gives you a better idea of how fairly the system is priced. The average price of solar is about $2.11 to $3.17 per watt in Mesa, so anything in that range is a fair price.
Financing
Financing is one of the most important things to look for in your solar quote. There are a few different things to keep an eye out for, depending on what type of solar financing you’re using.
If you’re looking to use a solar loan, you should ask the company for both a cash quote and the financed quote. Solar loans include something called dealer fees, which can sometimes add 20% or more to the total cost of your system in exchange for a lower interest rate. It’s worth comparing what dealer fees and interest rates you’re quoted from different companies to get the best deal possible.
If you want a solar lease or power purchase agreement (PPA), you’ll want to look for an escalator clause in the contract. The escalator clause outlines how much your payments will go up every year. Ideally, this should be lower than the rate at which electric prices increase in your area, typically about 3% annually. If the escalator rate is higher than this, you could end up paying more than if you hadn’t gone solar at all!
Payback period
Some quotes may include when you’ll break even, meaning when your panels have saved as much as you spent on them.
If it’s not explicitly listed on the quote, you can compare any savings estimates they provide to the system’s total price and get a rough estimate of when your panels will pay themselves off. The shorter the payback period, the better.
Equipment
Good quality solar installers will carry good quality equipment. So if you pick an installer you trust, you can expect reliable products. But, it can’t hurt to research and ask the installer questions about what would be going on your roof.
Most solar panels installed today are about 400 watts in size and have efficiency ratings above 19%. Higher wattage and efficiency panels can produce slightly more electricity but may add a price premium. You’ll want to make sure the solar panels have the industry standard 25-year product and performance warranties.
Frequently asked questions about solar in Mesa
How much do solar panels cost in Mesa?
How much can solar panels save in Mesa?
Do I need a solar battery in Mesa?
How can you pay for solar panels in Mesa?
What are the best solar companies for a solar lease in Mesa?
What are the best solar companies for zero-down solar loans in Mesa?
How SolarReviews rates installers
SolarReviews developed our Expert Rating criteria to make it easier for homeowners to find solar companies they can trust. It’s not just about the consumer reviews or the products they sell - it’s about how they treat their employees, how they support their customers, and if they run an honest business.
We used our team’s extensive knowledge of the solar industry to create a data-based scoring system for rating solar companies that encompasses all of the most important things to consider when picking the best solar company, including:
- Background checks
- Brand quality
- License and insurance
- Vertical integration
- Profitability
- Transparency
- Consumer reviews
- Loan options
- Local service
- Responsible pricing
Learn more about the SolarReviews Expert Rating system.
Andy is arguably the most qualified rooftop solar expert in America. He is in a unique position, having founded a large solar company but now being independent of any particular company. He has appeared on CNBC, has been referenced in public hearings concerning the rooftop solar industry ( such as the recent CPUC NEM 3 decision) and has been referenced by many major publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Business Week and many others.