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 San Francisco, CA, as rated by our SolarReviews experts and San Francisco 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 San Francisco:
Company Description
Hooked On Solar is a family-owned business founded by a father and son with over 40 years of experience, a shared passion for sustainable energy and a commitment to quality service. With deep roots in California, we have proudly completed over 10,000 solar i...
Learn moreSolarReviews Expert Rating Score:
Unrated
Services offered
- Solar - Installation
Latest Good Review
Richard | Rocklin, CA | 01-31-2025
Top Notch Battery Installation
I want to give a shoutout to the professionals at Hooked-On-Solar of Rockland, CA who recently completed the installation of a 13.5 kW-hr backup battery system at my home. They originally installed solar panels on my roof about 5 years ago and did a fantastic job with that installation, so I had no hesitation in employing them again when Ashlee Hahn sent me a proposal for a battery installation in November 2024. The signup, contract formation and invoice payments were pretty frictionless, and they got to work right away with a site visit, drawing preparation and submittals to the local building department and PG&E. They facilitated all aspects of the process including the PG&E review and approval to operate the system. The whole effort from the time I first signed the contract until the installation was completed was about 4 weeks. It did take PG&E another month to approve the system and allow it to officially operate. The battery, however, was up and running from the day the installation was complete. Ashlee and her team (Nick for installation, Rodney as Project Manager and Brianna as babysitter for me while I anxiously monitored the installation) are all first rate professionals and I would highly recommend their services for anybody’s solar system needs.
See full reviewLatest Bad Review
Aya | 03-12-2024
Irresponsible and one sided
Hooked On Solar hooked up a residential solar system to an old electrical system at my house for a cost of $21,875. I also financed a battery system with Hooked on Solar, the two transactions separated only because Hooked On Solar forgot to include the battery in the originally financed package. Hooked on Solar installed my solar panels and battery system sometime in 2021. I noticed that in June 2022, the system performance was in decline. In January 2023, hooked on solar turned off my solar system entirely with no explanation. I contacted Hooked On Solar multiple times thruout the year, only to find out that the system was not green lighted by PGE after the solar panels were installed. I had an electrician do an all around upgrade of my electrical system in which the hub was moved away from the gas meter. Hooked On Solar then sent an addition invoice for $2700 for “Labor and Parts for moving loads back to hub+” in November 2023, and then asked me to get my electrician to give a competing quote. My Electrician complained that this was a service gap that Hooked On Solar had created and they need Hooked On Solar to finish the job before they come in again. I complained to Hooked On Solar that as State Licensed Contractors, they should not have proceeded with the original hook up to a non compliant system, and that this second invoice to “move loads back to hub” is a cost that I am only comfortable paying upto 50%, because Hooked On Solar made the problem worse by not inspecting the permitability of the system they were hooking into in the first place. System has been off since January 2023. I paid more than $30k for the solar panels plus battery, and have not had normal use of the system since June 2022.
See full reviewCompany Description
Stop Paying for Electricity, and Make Your Own! 7 Easy Steps to Go Solar With Us: 1) Contact Five Star Solar to request a free site visit. We will arrange for a Sales representative to visit you and determine your home’s solar potential. 2) After analyzing y...
Learn moreSolarReviews Expert Rating Score:
Unrated
Services offered
- Solar - Installation
Latest Good Review
Dean Henderson | 07-10-2021
Excellent Quality Workmanship and kept us informed a progress
Five Star Solar was one of 10 estimates we requested. Their package was able to put all of the panels on the southernly facing roof area and projected enough power to meet our pretty high electrical usage needs for a very reasonable cost, especially when compared to some of the other estimates. The saleperson was very knowledgeable/personable and kept in contact during our evaluation process, making some adjustments when requested. The quality of the Solar installation was great and a PG&E tech even went out of his way to say how impressed he was with the quality of things like how the wiring was routed and the clean finish of the installation. A few weeks after the system when Live, the micro-inverter software had a glitch causing the system to go offline and the Five Star Solar owner got involved to make sure this was resolved and sent one of his installers to make sure our software to properly updated in order to correct the issue. We have not gone a full year to determine how things will look at our yearly True Up, but the first couple months have seen a several hundred dollar reduction versus last year without Solar and this past month is typically one of the highest electricity usage months all year and we still generated slightly more electricity than we used. The next 2 months will provide more info on this issue, but we are looking very good at this point. Overall, we are very happy about our choice of using Five Star Solar for Solar installation needs and we highly recommend them to others looking for Solar.
See full reviewCompany Description
With Sunrun, you get a new, modern energy experience – the freedom to power life how and when you want with reliable, affordable energy made from the sun.
Learn moreSolarReviews Expert Rating Score:
Average
Rating breakdown
Positives:
6 / 10
Time in business
Negatives:
4 / 10
Litigation and background
4 / 10
Verification of licenses and insurance
5 / 10
Profitability of installer
1 / 5
Consumer reviews performance
1 / 5
Reliability of consumer reviews
2 / 5
Transparency of pricing and sales process
1 / 5
Company size and location
2 / 10
Quality of brands sold
1 / 5
Vertical integration
2 / 5
Transparency about reputation
2 / 10
Competitiveness of loan options
1 / 5
Sustainable pricing of systems
2 / 5
Employee satisfaction and safety record
Services offered
- Solar - Installation
Latest Good Review
Terri | Sacramento, CA | 02-11-2025
Easy
Easy to do and track to completion. Communication was great
See full reviewLatest Bad Review
M M | 02-13-2025
worst service ever
Do not use this company . Lack of information and services
See full reviewBest solar installers in San Francisco, CA
Company | SolarReviews expert rating | Consumer rating | City | Quote |
---|---|---|---|---|
Prime Home Solutions | Excellent | Roseville | Get Quote | |
NRG Clean Power | Elite | Canoga Park | Get Quote | |
Hooked On Solar | Unrated | Rocklin | Get Quote | |
Five Star Solar | Unrated | Elk Grove | Get Quote | |
Sunwork Renewable Energy Projects | Unrated | Milpitas | Get Quote | |
Sol R US Electrical Engineering | Unrated | Concord | Get Quote | |
Affordable Home Solar | Unrated | Union City | Get Quote |
Best solar companies for home battery installations in San Francisco
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 San Francisco companies that install panels and solar battery storage systems:
Company | SolarReviews expert rating | Consumer rating | City | Quote |
---|---|---|---|---|
Save a Lot Solar | Unrated | Oakland | Get Quote | |
APG Solar | Unrated | Atwater | Get Quote | |
Del Sol Energy | Unrated | Brentwood | Get Quote | |
Future Energy Savers | Unrated | Upland | Get Quote | |
Northern Pacific Power Systems | Good | Santa Rosa | 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 San Francisco:
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.
San Francisco incentives and rebates
Solar incentives and rebates can cut the cost of installing solar in San Francisco 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 San Francisco:
Incentive | Eligibility | Type |
---|---|---|
Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit | Federal | Personal Tax Credit |
Self-Generation Incentive Program | State | Battery Rebate |
Property Tax Exclusion for Solar Energy Systems | State | Property Tax Incentive |
Net Billing (NEM 3.0) | State | Net Metering |
How much can you save with solar incentives?
What to look for in solar quotes in San Francisco
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 $2.14 to $3.22 per watt in San Francisco, 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 San Francisco
How much do solar panels cost in San Francisco?
How much can solar panels save in San Francisco?
Do I need a solar battery in San Francisco?
How can you pay for solar panels in San Francisco?
What are the best solar companies for a solar lease in San Francisco?
What are the best solar companies for zero-down solar loans in San Francisco?
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.