5 Best Solar Companies in Connecticut (2023) (2023)

Connecticut has the third-highest electricity prices in the country, a primary reason its residents are increasingly seeking reliable solar installers in the state. Some of the best solar companies in Connecticut are SunPower, Sunrun, Momentum, Venture Solar and Trinity Solar.

Our team shortlisted these companies based on detailed surveys and discussions with industry experts and as solar panel manufacturers and installers. We use an elaborate methodology to review each solar provider, bringing you the most reliable information. Let’s review Connecticut’s best solar companies in more detail.

The expected longevity and significant upfront costs of a solar project make it essential to choose the perfect solar installer. There are multiple factors that determine if a solar company is a fit for you. Here is a list of things to consider:

1. Cost and financing: When you’re going to invest thousands of dollars into something, cost becomes the biggest selection criterion. The best solar companies offer high-quality equipment and lengthy warranties at reasonable costs. They also make the solar switch easier by offering financing options.
2. Trustworthiness: A low-cost solar panel system is of no use if it doesn’t perform as expected and you’re left without the right support. Because solar panels last for decades, it’s important to choose an installer that is trustworthy, especially when it comes to post-installation service. Read customer reviews about this.
3. Services offered: Most experienced solar installers offer more than one service. When you’re going solar, you’ll probably discover you need more than just solar panels. You may choose to have an EV charger and perhaps even a new roof.

*Note: Pricing data is based on responses to our March 2023 solar cost survey of 1,000 homeowners with solar systems.

• SunPower: Our pick for most experienced
• Sunrun: Our pick for leasing options
• Momentum: Our pick for solar system customization
• Venture Solar: Our pick for simple installation
• Trinity Solar: Our pick for aesthetic panels

With more than 150 solar energy companies operating in Connecticut, residents have several options to help reduce their utility bills.2 This includes highly experienced brands like SunPower and Trinity Solar as well as leasing specialists like Sunrun.

While most of the installers who are active in Connecticut mostly service urban areas such as Hartford, New Haven and Norwalk, homeowners in rural areas have access to a number of options. We suggest requesting a free quote from multiple installers to compare pricing, services, warranties, etc.

Among the smaller states in the U.S., Connecticut is one of the fastest-growing states for solar power. This is evidence of the multiple benefits of going solar in the state. Here is a list of the benefits.

• Higher savings: Connecticut residents pay an average of 30.24 cents per kWh of electricity, almost twice the national average (15.47¢/kWh). This means that despite the slightly higher cost of solar panels in the state, its residents can save significantly more in the long run by going solar.

• Excellent net-metering program: Known as the Residential Renewable Energy Solutions Program, Connecticut’s bidirectional metering for solar offers energy credits to homeowners which have the same monetary value as the retail rate of electricity. The state also offers a “Buy All Tariff” option where customers can sign purchase power agreements (PPAs) to sell all of their power instead of net-metering. Low-income households can benefit from additional energy credits through the program.

• Ambitious Clean Energy Goals: The state of Connecticut has an ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that aims to generate nearly half of the state’s power in 2030 from renewable sources. Adopting solar power, along with other energy efficiency measures, will help Connecticut move faster toward its RPS goals.

Connecticut doesn’t have the best solar policies, but it has enough solar incentives and rebates to make going solar easier. Below is a list of the available incentives in the state, with the potential savings and eligibility information.

Federal Incentives

The federal solar tax credit is a tax incentive applicable to U.S. homeowners. Also known as the ITC, the incentive lets solar customers deduct 30% of their system’s cost on their following year’s income taxes. This effectively brings down the net cost of a solar power system by 30%.

Statewide Incentives

We closely evaluated seven crucial factors according to our solar panel installation company methodology to rank the best providers in the industry. Based on a 100-point scale, we came up with each provider’s score out of five stars. Here’s how we assessed each company:

• Cost and payment options (20 points): Companies that offer cash purchases and in-house loan financing earned full points in this category. Companies also receive bonus points if they offer solar panel leasing or power purchase agreements (PPAs).

• Services (20 points): Besides solar installations, companies offering backup battery and EV charger installations, energy efficiency audits and system monitoring earned the most points in this category. We also allotted points to companies that completed all their installations in-house (as opposed to contracting out installers).

• Reputation (20 points): We considered each company’s Google star rating, BBB customer review rating, BBB customer complaint response rate and NABCEP certification status to award each company its reputation score.

• Warranty (15 points): We verified that each company offers workmanship, product and performance warranties on all of its solar installs. Providers earned more points if their warranties were at or above the industry-standard length (10 years for workmanship and product warranties and 25 years for performance warranties).

• Customer Support (10 points): Solar companies that offered virtual consultations, a mobile app, 24/7 customer support and high customer satisfaction with backend support earned the most points in this category.

• Industry Experience (10 points): Providers with 10 or more years of experience in the solar installation industry earned a perfect score in this category.

• Sustainability (5 points): Companies with a detailed sustainability statement, ESG disclosures, end-of-life panel disposal programs and community partnerships earned all five points in this category.

Aniket Bhor is a solar engineer who has spent nearly a decade studying and working in the solar power sector in the European, Asian and North American markets. He is a climate enthusiast and avid cyclist, and he also loves to lose himself in books and cooking.