California solar companies
City guides: Los Angeles · San Diego · San Francisco
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Solar Optimum
Glendale, CA · five California offices · solar since 2008
EcoGen rating · 90/100Google 4.7 ★ (395 reviews)- Workmanship
- 25 years, covering defects in labor, materials or components; transferable
- Roof penetrations
- A 25-year roof warranty is listed; it does not say it covers leaks at panel mounts
- Batteries
- Tesla Powerwall 3 and Enphase IQ Battery 5P and 10C
- Ways to pay
- Cash, loan, lease, PPA and prepaid lease
- Solar since
- 2008
Glendale headquarters: 1833 S. Victory Blvd, Glendale, CA 91201 DirectionsBenicia office: 6012 Egret Ct., Benicia, CA 94510 DirectionsLaguna Niguel (Orange County) office: 28202 Cabot Road, Suite 300, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 DirectionsRiverside office: 4199 Flat Rock Drive, Building 100, Riverside, CA 92505 DirectionsSan Diego office: 550 West B Street, 4th Floor, San Diego, CA 92101 DirectionsPhone: (818) 804-3122Website: solaroptimum.com
View Solar Optimum profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection25/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record10/10
- Options10/10
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Green Convergence
Valencia, CA · service centers in San Dimas and Escondido
EcoGen rating · 75/100Google 4.8 ★ (275 reviews)- Workmanship
- 25 years on materials and labor, transferable (homepage); its FAQ says “many” systems include it
- Roof penetrations
- Not listed as a separate solar term
- Batteries
- Tesla Powerwall 3 and FranklinWH
- Ways to pay
- Cash, loan, lease and PPA
- Solar since
- Not published
Valencia headquarters: 28358 Constellation Rd, Suite 600, Valencia, CA 91355 DirectionsSan Dimas service center: 449 W Allen Ave #115, San Dimas, CA 91773 DirectionsEscondido service center: 386 State Pl, Escondido, CA 92029 DirectionsPhone: (661) 294-9999Website: greenconvergence.com
View Green Convergence profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection20/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record0/10
- Options10/10
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Baker Home Energy (Baker Electric)
Escondido, CA · electrical contractor since 1938 · solar since 2007
EcoGen rating · 65/100Google 4.8 ★ (3,114 reviews)- Workmanship
- Not published; its solar page promises “extended warranties where applicable” without terms
- Roof penetrations
- Not published
- Batteries
- Tesla Powerwall, Enphase IQ and sonnen
- Ways to pay
- Cash, loan and the Baker Home Energy Program (no upfront cost, monthly fee)
- Solar since
- 2007 (Baker Electric since 1938)
Escondido headquarters: 2060 Wineridge Place, Escondido, CA 92029 DirectionsPhone: (877) 578-8080Website: bakerhomeenergy.com
View Baker Home Energy (Baker Electric) profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record10/10
- Options10/10
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Solar Technologies
San Ramon, CA · four California offices · solar since 1998
EcoGen rating · 65/100Google 4.6 ★ (77 reviews)- Workmanship
- A “25 Year System Warranty” is listed with every plan; what it covers is not defined
- Roof penetrations
- Not published
- Batteries
- Tesla Powerwall 3 and Enphase IQ Battery 5P
- Ways to pay
- Cash, loan and lease
- Solar since
- 1998
San Ramon headquarters: 14 Beta Ct, San Ramon, CA 94583 DirectionsSanta Cruz office: 705 N Branciforte Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 DirectionsSan Jose office: 23 Las Colinas Ln, Suite 106, San Jose, CA 95119 DirectionsSan Diego office: 3949 Ruffin Road, Suite C, San Diego, CA 92123 DirectionsPhone: (888) 765-7693Website: solartechnologies.com
View Solar Technologies profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record10/10
- Options10/10
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Stellar Solar
Oceanside, CA · solar since 1998
EcoGen rating · 65/100Google 4.8 ★ (386 reviews)- Workmanship
- Its residential page mentions “a 25-year warranty” without saying what it covers
- Roof penetrations
- Not published
- Batteries
- FranklinWH aPower 2, Tesla Powerwall 3 and Enphase
- Ways to pay
- Cash, loan, lease, PPA and a prepaid agreement with a loan
- Solar since
- 1998
Oceanside headquarters: 265 Via Del Monte, Oceanside, CA 92058 DirectionsPhone: (866) 787-6527Website: stellarsolar.net
View Stellar Solar profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record10/10
- Options10/10
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Luminalt
San Francisco, CA · solar since 2004
EcoGen rating · 63/100- Workmanship
- Not published
- Roof penetrations
- Not published
- Batteries
- Installs home batteries; brands not named on its site
- Ways to pay
- Cash and loan (Clean Energy Credit Union); no leases
- Solar since
- 2004
San Francisco headquarters: 10 Carolina Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 DirectionsPhone: (415) 641-4000Website: luminalt.com
View Luminalt profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record10/10
- Options8/10
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Sol-Up
Las Vegas, NV · California offices in Fallbrook, Encino and Upland · solar since 2009
EcoGen rating · 63/100Google 4.8 ★ (2,325 reviews)- Workmanship
- Not published; it extends SolarEdge inverter coverage to 25 years
- Roof penetrations
- Not published
- Batteries
- Tesla Powerwall, Sol-Ark, Renon and SolarEdge
- Ways to pay
- Cash and loan ($0 down, terms up to 25 years)
- Solar since
- 2009
Fallbrook office: 217 N Main Ave, Fallbrook, CA 92028 DirectionsEncino office: 17941 Ventura Blvd #202, Encino, CA 91316 DirectionsUpland office: 1273 W Ninth St, Upland, CA 91786 DirectionsPhone: (619) 900-6745Website: solup.com
View Sol-Up profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record10/10
- Options8/10
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Solaria Solar & Roofing
Orlando, FL · Livermore and Riverside, CA offices
EcoGen rating · 63/100Google 4.8 ★ (900 reviews)- Workmanship
- 30 years, parts and labor, transferable, through SolarInsure (described as an extended warranty it offers)
- Roof penetrations
- Not published for solar
- Batteries
- Installs batteries; brands not named on its site
- Ways to pay
- Cash and loan
- Solar since
- Not published
Livermore (Northern CA) office: 248 Rickenbacker Cir, Livermore, CA 94551 DirectionsRiverside (Southern CA) office: 2111 Atlanta Ave, Riverside, CA 92507 DirectionsPhone: (877) 797-4255Website: solariasolarandroofing.com
View Solaria Solar & Roofing profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing20/30
- Warranty protection20/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record0/10
- Options8/10
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Palmetto
Charlotte, NC · no California office published
EcoGen rating · 60/100- Workmanship
- 10 years
- Roof penetrations
- 5 years
- Batteries
- Battery storage offered
- Ways to pay
- Purchase, Solar loan, LightReach energy plan (lease or PPA)
- Solar since
- Not published
Pending state action: On September 8, 2026, the CSLB record showed a pending disciplinary action. Check its status on the CSLB site before you sign.
Website: palmetto.com
View Palmetto profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing25/30
- Warranty protection20/35
- Local presence5/15
- Track record0/10
- Options10/10
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Semper Solaris
El Cajon, CA · 15 California offices · solar since 2012
EcoGen rating · 60/100Google 4.8 ★ (1,401 reviews)- Workmanship
- Not published; maker warranties are posted for panels, inverters and batteries
- Roof penetrations
- Not published for solar (its 50-year workmanship term is for Owens Corning roof projects)
- Batteries
- Tesla Powerwall 3 and Enphase IQ
- Ways to pay
- Loan and PPA (no cash plan described on its financing page)
- Solar since
- 2012
El Cajon headquarters: 1805 John Towers Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92020 DirectionsRiverside (Inland Empire) office: 1218 Spring St, Riverside, CA 92507 DirectionsSanta Fe Springs (Los Angeles) office: 10713 Norwalk Blvd, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 DirectionsSanta Ana (Orange County) office: 1701 East Edinger Ave, Suite H1, Santa Ana, CA 92705 DirectionsPalm Desert office: 74350 Alessandro Dr, Palm Desert, CA 92260 DirectionsRedlands office: 1720 Howard Pl, Redlands, CA 92373 DirectionsSan Diego office: 964 Fifth Ave #510, San Diego, CA 92101 DirectionsBakersfield office: 2353 Cepheus Ct, Bakersfield, CA 93308 DirectionsFresno office: 5234 E Pine Ave, Fresno, CA 93727 DirectionsHayward (Bay Area) office: 2505 Amaral Court, Hayward, CA 94544 DirectionsCampbell office: 180 E Sunnyoaks Ave, Bldg 2, Campbell, CA 95008 DirectionsConcord office: 1990 Olivera Rd, Suite E, Concord, CA 94520 DirectionsManteca office: 3025 Palm Ave, Suite 101, Manteca, CA 95337 DirectionsRancho Cordova office: 2440 Gold River Road, Suite 270, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670 DirectionsSacramento office: 5320 South Watt Ave, Sacramento, CA 95826 DirectionsPhone: (888) 210-3366Website: sempersolaris.com
View Semper Solaris profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing30/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record7/10
- Options8/10
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Photon Brothers
Westminster, CO · San Luis Obispo, CA office · solar since 2013
EcoGen rating · 52/100Google 4.7 ★ (518 reviews)- Workmanship
- Not published for new systems (10 years on detach-and-reroof jobs)
- Roof penetrations
- Not published for new systems
- Batteries
- Tesla Powerwall 3
- Ways to pay
- Cash, loan, 25-year lease and prepaid Energy Service Agreement
- Solar since
- 2013
San Luis Obispo (Central Coast) office: 3566 S Higuera St Ste. 310, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 DirectionsPhone: (805) 351-3371Website: photonbrothers.com
View Photon Brothers profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing20/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record7/10
- Options10/10
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SunLux
Corona, CA · solar since 2015
EcoGen rating · 52/100- Workmanship
- Its warranty page says installation is covered; no number of years is given
- Roof penetrations
- Not published
- Batteries
- Tesla Powerwall 3
- Ways to pay
- Cash, loan, lease and prepaid lease (leases through partner Sunrun)
- Solar since
- 2015
Corona headquarters: 2410 Wardlow Rd, Ste 103, Corona, CA 92878 DirectionsPhone: (877) 467-6712Website: sunlux.com
View SunLux profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing20/30
- Warranty protection0/35
- Local presence15/15
- Track record7/10
- Options10/10
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Rectify Solar
Indianapolis, IN · no California office published
EcoGen rating · 21/100- Workmanship
- 10 years on installation services
- Roof penetrations
- Not listed as a separate term
- Batteries
- Battery storage offered
- Ways to pay
- Zero-down financing
- Solar since
- Not published
No license found: Our check of the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) (October 13, 2026) found no license under its name. Ask for its license number and check it before you sign.
Website: rectifysolar.com
View Rectify Solar profileHow this rating adds up
- Licensing0/30
- Warranty protection10/35
- Local presence5/15
- Track record0/10
- Options6/10
Request California solar quotes
Ready to compare California prices?
Enter your ZIP code to ask solar providers that serve your area for quotes. Compare each quote with the checklist below.
Solar providers that serve your area may contact you, and they pay EcoGen for the introduction. Providers can include installers, solar marketplaces and lead exchanges, and more than one may contact you. How we make money.
Need to know
- We rated 13 California solar companies on licensing, warranties, local presence, track record and options. The top three: Solar Optimum (5, Top-rated), Green Convergence (4.5, Excellent) and Baker Home Energy (Baker Electric) (4, Very good).
- PG&E, SCE and SDG&E put new solar homes on the Solar Billing Plan (NEM 3.0): exported power earns an hourly price, usually far below what you pay for grid power. Power you use yourself is worth the most, which is why many quotes include a battery.
- Check the company’s CSLB license before you sign. Solar can be installed under C-10 Electrical, C-46 Solar, A, or B within its limits, and the license on your contract must match the company you hire.
What solar costs in California
Cash price for a system you own, before any battery and before incentives. The federal credit is $0 for systems completed after December 31, 2025, and California has no general state solar tax credit. Batteries and roof work cost extra. Compare each quote’s price per watt with these numbers.
Source: EcoGen Solar Cost Index, September 2026 Edition, prices as of September 25, 2026. Full breakdown: California solar panel prices.
Solar incentives, tax breaks and rebates in California
- Bill credits
- PG&E, SCE and SDG&E credit extra solar power at an hourly price fixed for 9 years. SMUD pays 9.6 cents per kWh, and LADWP credits your own energy price.
- Bonus credit
- PG&E adds 0.88 cents per kWh for 2026 applications and SCE adds 1.6 cents per kWh, both for 9 years. SDG&E has no bonus.
- Property tax
- 100% of the value solar adds is left out of your property tax, with nothing to file, for systems finished before January 1, 2027.
- SMUD battery
- $300 per kWh of battery, up to $6,000, if you enroll within 90 days of switch-on (cut from $500 on September 23, 2026).
- PG&E outage battery rebate
- $7,500 for addresses with 5 or more Wildfire Safety outages since January 1, 2024. Apply by December 31, 2026; 179 rebates were left on September 18, 2026.
- Clean Power Alliance
- $2,000 to $3,500 for a new battery of at least 5 kWh, for customers of this community power agency in parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
- Lower-income rebates
- SGIP pays $3.10 per watt of solar and $1,100 per kWh of battery (most budgets waitlisted). DAC-SASH pays $3 per watt through GRID Alternatives.
- Battery rebate (SGIP general)
- Closed. The general state battery rebate took no applications after December 31, 2025.
- Federal credit
- The federal tax credit for home solar ended for systems finished after December 31, 2025. California has no state solar tax credit.
Who qualifies, deadlines and sources: California solar incentives.
What to check with your utility
PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric)
- New solar homes go on the Solar Billing Plan (NEM 3.0) and the E-ELEC time-of-use rate. Export prices change by the hour and are fixed for 9 years.
- At the yearly true-up, kWh you sent out beyond your whole year’s use are paid at 2.74 cents per kWh (October 2026); any dollar credit left carries into the next 12 months.
- The 0.88 cent bonus applies to 2026 applications and drops to 0.44 cents for 2027. Ask which year your quote assumes.
SCE (Southern California Edison)
- Solar Billing Plan on TOU-D-PRIME. SCE's 2026 export averages: about 6 cents on summer days, 21 cents on summer evenings and 3 cents on winter days.
- A 1.6 cent per kWh bonus for 9 years, set by your approval-to-switch-on date; 0.8 cents in 2027.
- If Clean Power Alliance is on your bill, it pays the supply part of your credits under its own rules.
SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric)
- Solar Billing Plan on EV-TOU-5, with hourly export prices fixed for 9 years and no bonus credit.
- Exported power earns less here than at PG&E or SCE, so size the system to your own use.
- Ask the installer for SDG&E's current export prices in writing.
LADWP (City of Los Angeles)
- Still uses net metering: extra power earns your rate's energy price, and credits carry over with no yearly cutoff.
- Net metering is for systems you own or lease for at least 10 years. A PPA is not allowed.
- Solar Rooftops pays $360 to $900 a year if LADWP puts its own system on your roof.
SMUD and other city utilities or irrigation districts
- SMUD credits extra power at 9.6 cents per kWh at any hour and pays up to $6,000 for an enrolled battery.
- Roseville, Anaheim, Pasadena, Modesto, Imperial and other public utilities set their own export rules. The Solar Billing Plan does not apply.
- Get your utility's export price and any rebate in writing before you size the system.
Check the company and its warranty
Three names can appear in one solar deal: the company that sells, the company that signs the contract and the licensed people who do the work. Check that they fit together.
- Contract company: look up its license on the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) contractor license. Solar work is allowed under C-10 Electrical, C-46 Solar, A General Engineering and, within its limits, B General Building.. The name must match your contract.
- Electrical connection: CSLB says contractors with A, B (within B&P Code 7057), C-10 Electrical or C-46 Solar licenses may install solar power systems, and a C-10 electrical contractor installs and connects wiring, apparatus and solar photovoltaic cells (https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Solar_Smart/). Ask who does it.
- Warranty documents: ask for the workmanship warranty, the roof coverage terms and each equipment warranty before you sign.
Before your first sales call, read questions to ask your solar installer and how to read a solar quote.
Compare your California quotes
Ask every company to quote the same basics. Then the differences you see are real.
From quote to permission to operate
Some steps overlap, and timing depends on your town, your utility and equipment supply. Ask each installer for a written schedule for your project.
Proposal and site check
The installer looks at your roof, shading and electrical panel and gives you a written proposal.
You and the installerDesign and applications
After you sign, the installer finishes the design and applies to your utility for the connection.
Installer; you sign the formsPermits and utility review
Your town or county reviews the building and electrical permits. The utility reviews the connection.
Permit office and utilityInstallation and inspection
The crew installs the system. A licensed electrician connects it, and the inspector checks the work.
Installer crew, electrician and inspectorPermission to operate
The utility approves the system and updates your meter if needed. Turn the system on only after this step.
Utility
How we rate California solar companies
Each company gets up to 100 points from facts anyone can check: its own website and California’s public license records, read October 14, 2026. Facts a company does not publish earn no points. No company pays for its rating, and we do not use customer star reviews.
- Licensing (30 points): an active state license, a licensed electrician and license numbers printed on its website.
- Warranty protection (35 points): workmanship warranty length, roof-penetration coverage in writing and any production guarantee.
- Local presence (15 points): an office in California and California named as a service area.
- Track record (10 points): years installing solar.
- Options (10 points): batteries and the number of ways to pay.
Stars: 85 points or more is 5 (Top-rated), 72 is 4.5 (Excellent), 60 is 4 (Very good), 45 is 3.5 (Good), below 45 is 3 (Average). We did not inspect installations, collect customer quotes or test customer service.
California solar company FAQs
How do I check a California solar installer?
Look up the license number on the CSLB website and match the business name to your contract. Solar can be installed under a C-10 Electrical, C-46 Solar, A General Engineering or B General Building license. CSLB also requires a solar disclosure document before you sign. Then read the written workmanship warranty.
Does California still have net metering?
Only for older systems and in some city utilities. PG&E, SCE and SDG&E moved new solar homes to the Solar Billing Plan, often called NEM 3.0, for applications from April 15, 2023. Exported power earns an hourly price fixed for 9 years. LADWP still uses net metering, and SMUD pays 9.6 cents per kWh.
Do I need a battery with solar in California?
Not always, but many quotes now include one. Under the Solar Billing Plan, power you use yourself replaces grid power at about 30 cents per kWh, while exports earn single-digit cents. A battery stores midday solar for the evening. Ask for the battery as a separate line so you can compare.
Will solar raise my California property tax?
Not if the system is finished before January 1, 2027. Until then, 100% of the value solar adds is left out of your assessment, with nothing to file, until the home changes owner. A system finished on or after that date gets no exclusion unless a new law passes.
Will the companies on this page contact me?
Not because they appear here. This page is an editorial comparison, and no company pays for its place or its rating. If you request quotes, the providers that serve your area may contact you. They can include installers, marketplaces and lead exchanges.
More California solar guides
- California solar costs
- California solar incentives
- Is solar worth it in California?
- California solar guide
- Free solar panels in California
- Questions to ask your solar installer
- How to read a solar quote
- Solar scams and red flags
- Solar financing: cash, loan, lease or PPA
Solar companies by city: Los Angeles · San Diego · San Francisco
Request California solar quotes
When your shortlist is ready, enter your ZIP code to ask providers that serve your area for quotes.
Solar providers that serve your area may contact you, and they pay EcoGen for the introduction. Providers can include installers, solar marketplaces and lead exchanges, and more than one may contact you. How we make money.
