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5 Best Solar Companies in Kentucky (2024 Guide)

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Default Author Icon Written by Tamara Jude Updated 04/24/2024

Kentucky is known for its active storm season, including severe rain, dangerous lightning, and frequent power outages. Installing solar panels can give residents a reliable way to keep their homes running during turbulent weather, and installing a solar battery adds even more backup power. Plus, solar energy provides lower utility costs throughout the year. 

We spent more than 60 hours researching top solar companies, including nationwide and regional installers. We’ve narrowed down our choices to the best solar companies in Kentucky and included tips on shopping for the right installer.

Compare Solar Companies for Kentucky

Company Star Rating Warranties Payment Options Link
4.4
10–25 years Full purchase, loan GET QUOTE
4.0
10-25 years Full purchase, loan GET QUOTE
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Kentucky’s Top Solar Energy Companies

SunPower: Best High-Efficiency System
Blue Raven Solar: Most Reputable
Tesla: Best Solar Tech
Solar Energy Solutions: Most Experienced Kentucky Installer
Icon Solar: Best Local Kentucky Installer
Blue Raven Most Reputable
4.4

Blue Raven maintains one of the best reputations in the solar industry, such as recognition for its excellent workplace culture and company success.

Pros and Cons
Pros 18 months of free solar energy for new customers In-house financing options, eliminating third-party lenders One of the most reputable solar companies Cons Limited two-year power guarantee Only two payment options Workmanship warranty lasts only 10 years
Why We Chose Blue Raven Solar

Blue Raven Solar has earned a reputation for trustworthiness from its solar industry peers and corporate staff. The company offers in-house financing options with five years of fixed rates, making going solar more affordable. Blue Raven offers full-service system design and installation from its in-house staff. The company builds custom solar systems with products from leading solar brands, such as Silfab and Q Cells.

Blue Raven Solar is ideal for customers looking for the best financing options. Its BluePower Plus+ financing program requires little to no money down and fixed interest rates. Unlike many other companies, it doesn’t use third-party lenders, making the financing process easier and more straightforward.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty
Blue Raven Solar includes a 25-year system warranty, 10-year workmanship warranty, and two-year production guarantee.

Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

Reputation and Awards

Blue Raven Solar has received numerous awards from Comparably, an organization that evaluates companies’ culture and reputation. Recognitions included Best Operations Team 2022, Best Places to Work in Salt Lake City 2022, and Best Company Outlook 2022. In 2021, Blue Raven Solar placed No. 20 on Glassdoor’s Best Place to Work in the USA.

The company holds BBB accreditation and an A+ rating*. We noted that customers praised the courteous customer service staff and knowledgeable installers but warned of pushy sales tactics from door-to-door salespersons.

Tesla Solar Best Solar Tech
4

Tesla offers high-tech solar solutions, such as high-quality solar panels, solar roof technology, and its popular Tesla Powerwall battery. 

Pros and Cons
Pros Low-profile rooftop panels and solar roofing options Popular Tesla Powerwall available with all installations Transparent pricing online Cons Installations completed exclusively by third-party installers Solar loans offered only in select areas Customer reviews call out difficulty with scheduling repair work
Why We Chose Tesla

Tesla offers high-tech solar solutions for residential customers, from advanced solar roofing to the powerful Tesla Powerwall. It stands out as one of the only companies to offer full, transparent pricing online before ever speaking to a representative. Whereas most solar companies require a consultation before revealing any pricing, Tesla has an online system that analyzes your home’s design and average energy bills to provide a custom quote. You can adjust your system’s configuration to add more panels and up to 10 Tesla Powerwall batteries.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty
Tesla includes 10-year comprehensive warranty coverage for product and workmanship and a 25-year performance warranty.

Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan (in select areas)

Reputation and Awards

Tesla began developing innovative solar products based on its successful automotive technology in 2003. It ultimately created the Tesla solar roof and Tesla Inverter in addition to providing traditional solar panels.

Tesla is not accredited by the BBB but holds an A+ rating. We noticed while reading reviews that many customers praised Tesla’s panel technology and the Powerwall’s performance but called out scheduling issues for service and repair.

Solar Energy Solutions Most Experienced Kentucky Installer
4.4

Solar Energy Solutions offers 17 years of industry knowledge and experience to Lexington, Louisville, and the surrounding areas. 

Pros and Cons
Pros Extensive selection of solar equipment Five in-house NABCEP-certified professionals High-performance solar panel and roofing options Cons Limited service areas in Kentucky Some customers mentioned high-interest rates from its third-party lenders Three years of workmanship coverage
Why We Chose Solar Energy Solutions

Solar Energy Solutions has provided high-quality solar solutions to local residents for over 17 years. The company offers high-quality panels from leading manufacturers, such as Longi, Silfab Solar, Q Cells, and Maxeon. Solar Energy Solutions also installs Tesla’s solar roofing equipment if you’re looking for more advanced solar technology. 

Additional system upgrades include electric vehicle (EV) chargers and the popular Tesla Powerwall battery. The company offers full-service installations and handles every project aspect to ensure safe and reliable final results.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty
Solar Energy Solutions offers a 25 to 30-year manufacturer’s warranty (varies by product) and three years of workmanship coverage. Panels come with a 25-year performance guarantee.

Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

Reputation and Awards

Solar Energy Solutions maintains an A+ rating with the BBB but is not accredited. Customer reviews praised the company for its clear communication throughout the installation process but mentioned poor customer support after project completion.

Icon Solar Best Local Kentucky Installer
4.4

As one of the area’s largest installers, Icon Solar offers tailored customer experiences to Kentucky residents.

Pros and Cons
Pros Five-year roof leak coverage NABCEP-certified installer Sleek, all-black solar panels and mounting equipment Cons Limited solar product catalog Short workmanship warranty Solar quote required to get financing details
Why We Chose Icon Solar

Icon Solar focuses on providing customized solar experiences to a smaller service area. The company uses all-black panels and black mounting equipment to blend in with your home’s aesthetics. As a Tesla-certified installer, Icon Solar offers Powerwall installation with every solar system. 

As a full-service installer, Icon Solar keeps all tasks in-house, offering a more streamlined installation process. Its in-house NABCEP-certified installers have learned the latest solar installation methods and procedures, ensuring a safe and reliable installation.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty

Icon Solar offers a 25-year product warranty, five years of workmanship coverage, plus a five-year roof leak warranty. In addition, panels come with a minimum 25-year performance warranty, but coverage varies by product.  

Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

Reputation and Awards

Icon Solar has an A+ rating from the BBB and is accredited by the organization. When reading customer reviews, we learned that homeowners appreciated the company’s excellent customer support team and smooth communication but noted system repair delays. 


What Are the Available Solar Incentives in Kentucky?

Kentucky offers limited solar credits and incentives to help lower solar panel installation costs. We’ve highlighted the top residential incentives below. 

With the federal tax credit, homeowners receive up to 30% off total costs. At tax time, the credit applies to your owed federal taxes to help reduce or eliminate them. Although all Kentucky homeowners can apply for this credit, you must legally own your system to qualify. The federal tax credit applies to most photovoltaic (PV) equipment, including solar shingles and panels, plus standalone solar batteries. 

Kentucky’s net metering program offers additional electric bill savings for excess energy. When homeowners return extra energy to the grid, they receive credits for future bills. The Kentucky government mandates this program to all state utility companies except the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). All included companies must issue payouts at the full retail pricing. This policy ensures customers receive a payment equal to their initial electricity rate. 

Local utility companies also offer additional rebates for energy efficiency upgrades to your home. Though they aren’t solar-specific, they could provide extra energy savings along with your solar energy system. For more details on available solar and efficiency incentives, visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) website.


What Should You Look For in a Solar Company?

Since renewable energy conversion requires a considerable investment, picking the right installation company is important. To help with your search, we’ve compiled the following key consideration factors when shopping for solar panel installation companies. 

Solar Services

Warranties

Payment Options

Customer Support

Most providers use two types of teams for their solar panel installations: in-house installers or third-party contractors. In-house installers work directly with the company and offer better installation quality and direct communication. Third-party installers vary in service quality per area, leading to inconsistent quality. They also involve a different point of contact, making communication more difficult. We recommend using solar companies with in-house teams for a smoother process. 

Homeowners should also look for additional solar services offered by the company. These services could help protect your system, improve your home efficiency, or provide assistance with other home services. Examples of these services include the following:

  • Dedicated mobile app or web portal
  • Electrical or roofing services
  • Energy efficiency audits
  • Home energy monitoring
  • Smart-home device installation 
  • Solar system monitoring

Since many solar panel systems last 25 or more years, look for warranty coverage that matches this expected life span. Most companies offer at least two warranties for product or workmanship, while others include additional coverage for panel performance. Here’s an overview of typical warranty coverage:

  • Manufacturer’s (or product) warranty: This warranty offers coverage for manufacturer defects or issues. 
  • Workmanship (or labor) warranty: The plan covers problems caused by poor installation. 
  • Power performance guarantee: This less-common warranty provides additional guarantees for your panel’s linear performance. Companies will repair or place your equipment if panels perform below these guidelines. 

Although warranty coverage length varies between solar providers and manufacturers, high-quality home panels offer the longest warranty length compared to cheaper panels.

Most solar companies offer two or more solar financing options to help customers find the right plan for their budget. We’ll detail the most common payment options below.

  • Up-front (or cash) payments: Homeowners pay for the full project up-front in full, eliminating the need for long-term payments and interest rates. Cash payments make you the legal system owner, qualifying you for solar incentives. 
  • Solar loans: This payment option requires a small down payment and monthly payments with interest rates. This option also makes you the legal owner and qualifies you for solar incentive savings. 
  • Solar leases: Homeowners pay a small or zero down payment and make monthly payments to the provider. Since you aren’t the legal system owner, you don’t qualify for incentives. 
  • Power purchase agreements (PPAs): Customers rent their system from the solar provider but only pay for the solar energy they use, not the system. This financing option also disqualifies you from most solar incentives, credits, and rebates. 

We recommend cash payments or solar loans over leasing for the best long-term financial benefits.

Look for solar companies that offer multiple communication channels with customer support. While phone and email contact is typically offered, some companies also provide SMS or online chat options. During secret shopping, we noticed many online chats used a line agent, auto-generated responses, or a mixture of both. Additional contact methods may include in-app communication with tech support teams. 


How To Get a Solar Quote in Kentucky

You should choose multiple potential companies and request solar quotes from each provider. To help prepare you for the quote process, we’ve created the below guide of what to expect during a typical solar consultation. 

  1. Contact each provider: Check each provider’s website and use the available tools to start the quote process. You may find online forms or phone numbers, while other companies use online calculators to start the process. 
  2. Schedule the consultation: Most companies offer in-house or virtual consultations. Some consultations’ can take up to two hours. 
  3. Find your latest energy bill: Installers build your solar panel system based on your home energy needs. Have your latest bill on hand for your consultation. Depending on the solar company, the representative may ask for multiple months of bills to further analyze your average energy usage.
  4. Determine your roof space: The representative will check your roof for structural issues, complex designs, and available space. They’ll also find the ideal location for your solar panel with minimal shading. Since solar panels work best with direct sunlight, you’ll need an area free of shading. 
  5. Build your solar system: Next, you’ll create the solar energy system based on the previous assessments. During this step, you can choose your solar panel type, brand, components, and upgrades, such as solar batteries and EV chargers. 
  6. Review your final quote: Finally, you’ll receive an itemized quote detailing all equipment, pricing, labor charges, and warranty coverage. You’ll also get details on your financing options and estimated solar payback period. Compare each quote to determine which company is the best fit for you.

Find Local Solar Panel Installers in KY


Our Conclusion

Our team selected SunPower as the best Kentucky installer. The company offers some of the most efficient solar power systems available, ensuring you get the best performance. SunPower also includes a 25-year comprehensive warranty, protecting your investment for over two decades. 

We recommend getting at least three quotes from potential solar companies. Compare the product selection, warranty coverage, and offered services before committing.

Other Kentucky Home Service Resources


FAQ About Solar Companies in KY

Is going solar with it in Kentucky?

Yes, it is worth it to go solar in Kentucky. Although the state offers few solar incentives, Kentucky residents still have access to the federal solar credit that provides 30% off installation costs. Since the state receives 189 sunny days yearly, you’ll have ample sunlight to power your panels. You’ll also save more money by moving from costly fossil fuels and tapping into an infinite clean energy source. 

How many solar companies are there in Kentucky?

There are 47 solar companies throughout the state, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). 

Do solar panels add home value to Kentucky homes?

Yes, solar panels do add home value in Kentucky. Zillow found that solar-powered homes sell for 4.1% more than comparable homes. However, Kentucky does not offer a property tax exemption for solar installations, so your property taxes will increase after your conversion. 

How do I get free solar panels in Kentucky?

Unfortunately, you cannot get free solar panels in Kentucky. Instead, homeowners can use the federal solar tax credit to lower installation costs. Kentucky also offers loans through its PACE programs with lower interest rates and down payments, making it more affordable to go solar. 


Our Rating Methodology

We are committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. After over a thousand hours of research on solar companies, interviews with experts, and common customer needs, we’ve created a detailed rating system for solar providers based on six factors:

  • Solar equipment, installation, and services (25%)
  • Warranty and performance guarantees (25%)
  • Brand reputation and certifications (15%)
  • Financing options (15%)
  • Experience (10%)
  • Availability (10%)

Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.