Top Solar Companies in Nevada
Emotional or rational? Should you be happy with just owning solar panels in Nevada or with fewer digits in the bill? Or both? These are two different ways with different goals and achievements. Nevada solar companies know the answers. Spoiler: all these questions are wrong when discussing installing solar panels in Nevada. Read further, and you will start to think about solar panels in Nevada differently.
Before checking what best solar companies Nevada can offer, remember a famous proverb: “Dance like nobody’s watching you.” The same goes for solar panels in Nevada — become solar like nobody is watching you. Forget about your Nevada neighbors, relatives, and friends with all their bits of advice, suggestions, negations, and proposals. Be yourself, and think about your Nevada family, Nevada house, budget, and future.
Many Nevada solar panel companies can make “the best proposal of all times.” But who is the best doer, not the talker? This article will help you choose the best solar energy companies in Nevada and make “the best solar panel decision in Nevada of all times.”
For this review, we have chosen the top solar companies in Nevada: Blue Raven Solar, ION Solar, KOTA Energy Group, Sol-Up Solar, and Great Basin Solar.
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| Nevada solar installers | BBB Rating | energysage.com | solarreviews.com | solartribune.com | yelp.com | Google reviews | Home score |
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| Blue Raven Solar | A+ | n/a | 4.49 | 2.7 | n/a | 4.8 | 4.38 |
| ION Solar | A+ | 4.5 | n/a | 2.5 | 2.4 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| KOTA Energy Group | А- | n/a | 4.48 | n/a | n/a | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Sol-Up Solar | A+ | n/a | 4.61 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.9 | 4.6 |
| Great Basin Solar | n/a | n/a | 4.77 | n/a | n/a | 5 | 5 |
+-------------------------+------------+----------------+------------------+------------------+----------+----------------+-------------+Why Solar in Nevada?
Science first. Nevada solar energy has a huge potential: it has, on average, 158 “clear sky” days (less than 30% cloud coverage). In comparison, Arizona has 193 days, and California has 146. (In other sources, you may find that Nevada has around 250 sunny days. This data lacks clouds that may cover some parts of the state for a couple of hours. So, don’t be fooled.)
That natural feature puts the Nevada state at #6 in the solar ranking of the Solar Energy Industry Association. Just look at that: over 6,200 solar panel installations supply 25% of the state of Nevada’s energy consumption. And the prices for solar panel installations in Nevada have fallen 42% over ten years.
There are about 16 manufacturers and 54 solar panel companies in Nevada, which means there is good market competition in the Nevada solar panel market. Competition of the solar panel companies always plays on the consumer’s side: best quality and solar panel technologies for the best price.
But in this review, we go through only several Nevada solar panel companies. Why them? There are certain Nevada solar panel installers’ criteria that we have used not to waste your time.
Criteria for Selecting a Solar Company
Quality and Efficiency of Solar Panels
That’s about your solar energy system’s performance, longevity, and effectiveness. High-quality solar panels are more efficient in converting sunlight into electricity. Efficient solar panels generate more electricity, leading to higher energy savings. Higher-quality solar panels may have a higher upfront cost but often result in better long-term savings.
Licensing, Insurance, and Credentials
Licensing of solar panel companies ensures compliance with standards, providing legal protection. Insurance covers potential damages during solar panel installation, safeguarding both the consumer and solar panel companies. Certificates indicate professionalism and expertise, assuring the customer of a reliable and qualified solar panel installer.
Warranty and After-Sales Service
Installer warranty assures consumers about the long-term reliability of the solar panel equipment, indicating the solar panels manufacturer’s confidence and commitment to quality. After-sales service ensures support and maintenance of the solar panel system.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
Customer reviews and testimonials offer real-world insights into the reliability of the solar panels installer, service quality, and customer satisfaction. They help readers check the Nevada solar panels installer’s reputation and make decisions based on the experiences of others.
Costs and Financing Options
Costs and financing options are vital for customers to measure the solar panel system to their wallets. Transparent pricing allows home budget planning and flexible financing options.
Blue Raven Solar
Blue Raven Solar was founded in 2014 with three employees. By 2021, they have hired 2,000 people in 14 different states. In 2021, SunPower bought them, but Blue Raven kept their identity and product emphasis.
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| Founded at | 2014 (acquired by SunPower in 2021) |
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| Types of panels | Monocrystalline |
| Number of states covered | 18 |
| Financing options | Cash purchase, solar loan |
| Free Installation | yes |
| Warranty | 25-year manufacturer warranty, 10-year workmanship warranty, two-year power production guarantee |
| Referral system | yes |
| Support while moving | no |
| Colab with Tesla | Yes (Powerwall 2 only) |
| Mobile app for controlling | no |
+----------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+That emphasis is primarily on monocrystalline solar panels. This installer has strategically chosen this type of solar panel so the customers will get the best energy output and get quick results on their utility bills.
Blue Raven Solar installer is famous for its Blue Power Plus+ financing option, in which customers pay nothing for the first 18 months. To make the financing more accessible, the installer has also created an additional program, Smarstart, which extends the BluePowerPlus+ for five years.
This Nevada solar panels installer offers a referral program with rewards from $500 to $1,500, depending on the amount of new customers.
The customers, in general, are happy with Blue Raven Solar installer and indicated that the roof teams are very professional and careful, with good timing of their work and consulting the customer until every wire is explained. However, some reviews from Nevada have negative impressions that sales reps are pushy and may make wrong calculations about solar panels installation schedules.
By the way, a little legislation equalizer. Nevada legislators have approved the law, which takes effect in 2024, requiring solar companies to use their employees instead of freelance salespeople. That will make it easier for the companies to avoid consequences for improper solar panel sales tactics.
ION Solar
Nevada solar panels installer ION Solar is a premium service installer with tier-1 solar panel equipment and customized designs. The solar panels installation process with ION Solar involves consultation, system design, design approval, permitting, installation, and dedicated customer service.
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| Founded at | 2013 |
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| Types of panels | Monocrystalline |
| Number of states covered | 11 |
| Financing options | Cash, Loan, PPA, Lease |
| Free Installation | With solar lease and PPA |
| Warranty | 30-year panel warranty, a 25-year microinverter warranty, and a 10-year workmanship guarantee |
| Referral system | no |
| Support while moving | no |
| Colab with Tesla | no |
| Mobile app for controlling | yes |
+----------------------------+------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+The ION Solar has no Nevada subcontracting companies, which means the installer has control over the whole process of installation of the solar panels. And that is reflected in most positive reviews — all customers describe a very professional and friendly solar panels installation team.
Nevada ION Solar installer does not propose solar batteries for excess solar energy storage.
Financing programs of ION Solar involve cash, loans, PPA, and leases. But they try to persuade customers to choose something other than cash payments. There is a logic in this: households get solar panels and long-run savings on bills, and the solar panels installer gets more customers.
The negative reviews about this Nevada installer are about aggressive sales, hidden cancelation charges, and improper post-installation paperwork with Nevada state inspecting bodies that led to delayed 5–9 months of solar panel launches.
KOTA Energy Group
The installer KOTA Energy Group might tease your self-esteem: they want your Nevada house to look good with their master-of-art black solar panels. And those solar panels are extremely effective, with above 20% energy output. So, you save money, look good, and be environmentally friendly.
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| Founded at | 2017 |
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| Types of panels | Monocrystalline |
| Number of states covered | 13 |
| Financing options | Cash, Loan, PPA |
| Free Installation | With PPA |
| Warranty | 25-year warranty on parts, power, and labor. |
| Referral system | no |
| Support while moving | no |
| Colab with Tesla | no |
| Mobile app for controlling | no |
+----------------------------+-----------------------------------------------+It is the same with solar panels installer website: attractive, short, and informative. You don’t have to surf through the website of the Nevada installer to find bits of important solar panels information while everything is on one web page. The only effort you have to do is roll the mouse wheel.
This Nevada solar panels installer is trying to educate its customers and allow them to make a rational and confident decision based on calculations, the solar equipment output, and the solar system’s overall future performance. That approach might not provide quick sales, but that would be a good base for a good reputation. And that works: most positive reviews about the Nevada installer mention polite and patient Nevada sales reps of KOTA, who do not twist customers’ hands and push you to sign the solar panels contract. Also, people loved the fast installation and the solar panels installer’s support.
What customers did not like about Nevada installer KOTA was the quality of solar panel installations (yep, Nevada subcontracting companies again) and some miscommunication inside the company.
Sol-Up Solar
First, the Sol-Up installer is originally from Nevada and has been here since 2009. So they know what area they are working for and what solar panel solutions people in Nevada need. The other advantage is that they can provide a full-scale solar service and build a Nevada grid-off energy system for you.
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| Founded at | 2009 |
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| Types of panels | Monocrystalline |
| Number of states covered | 13 |
| Financing options | No info |
| Free Installation | No info |
| Warranty | 25 years solar system, 20 years battery system. |
| Referral system | yes |
| Support while moving | yes |
| Colab with Tesla | yes |
| Mobile app for controlling | yes |
+----------------------------+--------------------------------------------------+Sol-Up installer employees perform all of the solar panels system launching, except they hire Nevada subcontracting companies for the roof works. However, they take responsibility for the roof teams’ mistakes and promise to take responsibility if anything goes wrong with the house during the installation.
This Nevada installer has small but helpful additional things such as pigeon guards in all projects (except Reno), monitoring systems inside the house with the Solar Edge app for your phone, and proactive solar panels system monitoring with direct manufacturer alerts. If any issues with your solar panels system arise, they will be fixed within 48 hours by in-house personnel.
Yet it is hard to understand what kind of financial options they have. Regarding the customer’s reviews, the Nevada installer Sol-Up presents the buying option only after examining your house. Which makes sense but does not look transparent and might spoil the first impression.
Customers are glad that Nevada solar panels installer Sol-Up is quick with installing the solar panels and fast paperwork to launch the system. In some cases, customers were happy that Sol-Up took care of the equipment that other solar companies previously installed.
Among the bad reviews are complaints of delayed system launches and unfriendly communication with personnel concerning maintenance issues. Some customers consider Sol-Up’s salespeople too aggressive, pushing for signing the solar panels agreement during the first meeting.
Great Basin Solar
Great Basin Solar is one of those cases when the website is simple, but the solar panels company’s results are extraordinary. On top of that, it is a local Nevada solar panels installer with local Nevada employees who know the area well, and the owner personally participates in the business operations.
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| Founded at | 2018 |
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| Types of panels | Monocrystalline |
| Number of states covered | 1 |
| Financing options | No info |
| Free Installation | No info |
| Warranty | 25-year module production warranty, 25-year racking warranty, and inverter 12 to 25-year product warranties, 10-year workmanship warranty |
| Referral system | no |
| Support while moving | no |
| Colab with Tesla | no |
| Mobile app for controlling | yes |
+----------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+Clients in the reviews claim that “all players, from design to actually pulling the switch, know their role and accomplish their tasks efficiently and effectively.” The good shock for most customers was that electricians cared about the functionality and how the electrical works looked. As customers mentioned, the installer personnel tried to be honest and aimed to seal a clean deal without unspoken details or hidden issues.
Bad reviews? We have found several, but they were not so negative: the customers described the problem they faced and after that added that the Great Basin had solved.
At the same time, we couldn’t find any information about financial options, types of solar panels, etc. Nevada customers in the reviews mentioned getting all the needed information from the installer after filling out the quote. The installer practices a personal approach and spends all the time on customer requests.
Although Great Basin did not meet the costs and financing option criteria, we have included this Nevada company in this review, considering the huge amount of positive reviews for the local installer.
Get Solar Quote
Solar panel systems are not box products. Every Nevada house needs individual approaches to meet its energy consumption. And, let’s be honest — most houses were not planned to be Nevada solar energy stations. Therefore, you need get solar quote. Here are several reasons for that:
- Customized Solution: Individual solar quotes consider household size, energy consumption patterns, roof orientation, and local Nevada weather conditions.
- Optimized Energy Production: solar installers in Nevada analyze your property’s sun exposure and shading to make the placement of the solar panels optimal for sunlight absorption.
- Financial Accuracy: you need the project that you can afford. With a personal quote, you will get the financial options from the solar panel companies that fit your wallet and consider solar panels installation and equipment costs with rebates and incentives.
- Compliance and Permits: paperwork is crucial! The solar panel system should match the regulations, and you must obtain the necessary permits. The personal quote would make an evaluation of what papers you will need.
To get a personal solar quote from them, you should start by looking for solar panel companies in Nevada (hint: we did that for you already–look it up in the article) and show them your house’s energy consumption data and habits.
Those solar panel companies will send reps to look at the house and take measurements of the roof, calculate the sun’s route in the sky, and give you some ideas on how to find the best way to use the solar panels system. After that, you will get a detailed proposal from the Nevada solar panel companies with financial options and the schedule for installing the solar panels.
Pay attention to warranties, insurance, post-installation support, and monitoring that Nevada solar panel companies can provide. These are essential parts of the deal that will guarantee the long-term effectiveness of your personalized solar panels solution. Feel free to ask questions, look at the paragraphs with small fonts, and point out those things you need help understanding.
Our Verdict
Nevada is the battlefield between local interstate solar panel companies and nationwide brands. Both have their pros and cons. Local Nevada solar panel companies know local Nevada customers better, consider their reputation in every solar panel project and understand how to do paperwork with Nevada state authorities. At the same time, big companies may provide better financial options so you can avoid huge upfront costs. However, there might be much miscommunication between sales reps and managers of the projects due to the high incoming traffic of the quotes.
We would rather suggest choosing local Nevada companies because it’s like buying stuff from your neighbor — you know his Nevada address if something goes wrong.
