Best Renewable Green Energy Plans Rates
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Green Energy Providers, Plans Rates
Renewable energy sources like wind and solar are becoming more efficient and cost-effective.
Texans now have more affordable options due to increasing demand and incentives.
This guide helps you identify the top renewable energy providers, plans, and rates to make an informed decision for your home.
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Compare today’s lowest eco-friendly, green energy rates for common household consumption patterns.
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Compare green, renewable Texas electricity rates from different electric providers.
These live rates for ONCOR ELECTRIC DELIVERY COMPANY service area were updated on August 5, 2023 at 7:50 am CST. Pricing shown is based on an exact usage of 1000 kWh.
What Are Kentucky’s Top 5 Solar Energy Companies?
While renewable energy has been slow to grow in Kentucky, the number of residential solar installations has more than doubled between 2020 and 2021, keeping local solar companies fairly busy. But, why are so many homes going solar? 1
For one, solar is much more affordable in Kentucky compared to other states. And because Kentucky households have higher electric bills than average, many homeowners are discovering it’s well worth it to install a solar system.2 A solar panel installation can save a Kentucky household upwards of 20,000 in energy savings after you pay off your panels. And with electricity rates on the rise, those savings are only expected to increase.
With over a dozen solar panel companies in Kentucky to choose from, how do you decide who to hire? The EcoWatch Reviews team has analyzed local solar contractors and determined that the best solar installers are:
- SunPower: Best National Provider
- Solar Energy Solutions: Solar Veteran
- Blue Raven Solar: Best Solar Financing Options
- Solar Is Freedom: Outstanding Regional Provider
- Icon Solar: Solar Veteran
Read on to learn more about why these top five companies are the highest rated solar installers in Kentucky.
SunPower
SunPower has an outstanding product line and history in the solar industry. While it’s a major national installer, it serves all cities in Kentucky, from Huntington to Louisville to Paducah.
SunPower has historically only been a manufacturer, but it will soon begin handling installations of panels from its sister company, Maxeon, which are among the most efficient solar panels, making them a great option in Kentucky, where above-average rainfall necessitates maximum energy production.
SunPower provides an all-inclusive warranty that covers the panels, workmanship and performance, further setting this company apart from the competition. The panels are quite expensive, although the higher efficiency often pays for itself in the long run. Additionally, this company accepts cash purchases, solar loans, leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs) to make the products more accessible.
At the present moment, SunPower outsources installations of its products to third-party companies, which means customer service can be a bit spotty. However, SunPower’s installer network has to earn a certification from the company to carry out its installations; the process is rigorous. Most customer report excellent experiences.
Another downside to SunPower is its hefty price tag. But, you’re paying for the best panels on the market.
Solar Energy Solutions
Solar Energy Solutions is a local solar installer headquartered in Lexington that also serves Indiana, Ohio and Illinois.
This company has the excellent customer service you’d expect from a smaller solar installer. The techs provide constant communication throughout the entire design and installation process, and most customers are abundantly happy with the customer care provided.
Solar Energy Solutions completes an impressive range of clean energy services. It installs solar panels, solar roofing, solar batteries and electric vehicle chargers. It even does agricultural solar and energy efficiency audits.
Best of all for Kentucky homeowners, Solar Energy Solutions backs its many solar products, including some of the most popular home solar panel brands, with a warranty for parts, labor, equipment and performance.
The biggest downside to this company is its warranty only covers labor for three years, which is below the industry average. However, its 25-year power production guarantee ensures that your panels will consistently generate energy throughout your system’s lifespan. Solar Energy Solutions also has no accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
How Can You Save Money When Hiring A Solar Company In Kentucky
The average solar customer in Kentucky pays around 25,740 for an 11 kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system, or 18,018 after the federal tax credit is taken into consideration.
The total solar installation cost in Kentucky tends to be higher than the U.S. average (23,940), but that’s because energy needs are higher in Kentucky than average. While the average American only needs a 9 kW system to offset their electricity, the average Kentucky residents needs an 11 kW system.
If you have lower energy needs, you can get away with installing a much smaller, cheaper system. Solar is priced on a per watt basis, and in Kentucky that cost is 5000.34 per watt — much lower than the national average of 5000.66 per watt.
There are plenty of ways you can save money going solar in Kentucky, including:
- Only installing as many panels as you need
- Taking advantage of local and federal solar incentives
- Putting as much money down as you can
Only Install As Many Panels As You Need
The average Kentucky homeowner needs to install an 11 kW solar system — about 32 panels — to offset their monthly energy consumption of 1,084 kilowatt-hours (kWh). 2 But you may not be on par with average.
Before you install solar panels, it’s important to check your electric bill to figure out your monthly energy consumption. For example, if your household uses 800 kWh of energy per month, you’ll only need an 8 kW system (about 23 panels), which costs 18,720 in Kentucky, or 13,104 after the federal tax credit is applied.
Take Advantage of Local and Federal Solar Incentives
We’ll be honest: Kentucky doesn’t have as many solar incentives compared to some other states. But there are still some programs to capitalize on.
The federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is the best financial incentive available to Kentucky homeowners. It’s a tax credit worth 30% of your total solar system cost, which in Kentucky comes out to about 7,722.
To be clear, this isn’t a rebate — it’s a reduction to the federal taxes you owe and rolls over for up to five years. But most people in Kentucky take around 13 years to pay off their system, so the 7,722 discount will surely help.
Put As Much Money Down As You Can
Solar panel systems cost between 18,000 and 33,000 on average in Kentucky — that’s not cheap. We understand if you don’t have that kind of cash lying around ready to invest in solar panels.
Paying with a solar loan is a popular and more accessible option. However, the more you pay upfront, the more money you’ll save on going solar in the long run.
As you can see in the chart above, paying in cash allows you to save thousands of dollars that would otherwise cover the interest over the lifetime of a solar loan. Plus, you to begin saving money right away with your solar production rather than waiting for your monthly energy savings to cover your loan payments.
Will Solar Increase Your Home Value In Kentucky?
Many homeowners are surprised to learn that solar panels can increase the value of your home. According to SunPower, installing solar in Kentucky can add up to 12,000 to your home’s resale value. 3
Data from Zillow also backs this up. In a study, the real estate entity found that solar panels boost home value by 4.1% on average. 4
Unfortunately the state of Kentucky does not offer a property tax exemption for solar homeowners, which means that your property taxes could increase alongside your home value increase.
Should Kentucky Residents Hire a Professional Solar Installer Or DIY?
In the world of HGTV and YouTube, many of us like to tackle our own home improvement projects. But we wouldn’t suggest it when it comes to installing your own solar panels.
Here are the top reasons why DIY solar installation is a risky idea:
- Installing solar is a complex process
- You lose crucial warranty protection
- The savings likely don’t outweigh the workload
Installing Solar is a Complex Process
Solar installations are a lot more complicated than just nailing a solar panel onto a roof. Along with the panels, you have the mounting hardware, cables and inverters (also called charge controllers) that must be set up properly. One wrong move will not only inhibit your solar panels ability to generate electricity, but could also be extremely damging to your roof or home.
If you’re installing your own panels, you’re also the sole person in charge of securing the necessary permits, setting up interconnection and net metering with your utility company and seeking out solar incentives. If you hire a solar company, it will will take care of this for you.
You Lose Crucial Warranty Protection
If you buy solar panels for your home instead of hiring a solar panel company, there’s a chance the equipment you purchase will be covered under the product manufacturer’s warranty. But most solar manufacturers have a warranty clause that the panels must be installed by a professional solar technician. So if you’re installing them yourself, you’ll be out of luck here (unless you’re a solar technician).
Some solar panel brands may also offer a performance warranty, which typically guarantees 90% of solar electric production for 10 years and 80% at 25 years. And as we mentioned, workmanship and roof leak warranties are crucial in Kentucky to protect your payout in the event of a roof leak.
The Savings Likely Don’t Outweigh The Workload
The number one reason people try to DIY a solar panel installation is to save on installation labor costs. Well, let’s figure out how much labor costs to install solar panels in Kentucky.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, labor typically accounts for at least 10% of the total cost of solar installation. 5 In Kentucky where the average installation costs 25,740, you stand to save about 5000,574
That’s a pretty tempting savings. But, remember that the electricity savings potential from having professionally installed and designed panels in Kentucky is upwards of 20,000.
Ultimately, it’s up to you whether or not you want to install your own panels or hire professionals. But we definitely recommend the latter.
Top Featured Solar Panel Suppliers—Company Summaries
Solar Biz Inc. is headquartered in Silver City, New Mexico, and was founded in 1969. The company is a distributor of renewable energy equipment including solar panels, inverters, power centers, solar charge controllers, batteries, monitors, system controllers, enclosures, circuit protectors, generators, hydro and wind products, water pumps filters, tan bbks, heaters, hot tubs, and appliances.
Solar Cellz USA is headquartered in Charlotte, NC, and is a distributor of solar batteries, modules, and energy systems. Absorbed glass mat (AGM) valve-regulated and Lithium-ion or lithium iron phosphate solar batteries are also available from the company.
Johnson Bros. Roll Forming Co. was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Berkeley, IL. The company manufactures standard and custom channels, profiles, moldings, angles, tubing, rings, rims, railings, brackets, Z bars, and clamps, and serves the agricultural, architectural, beverage, ceiling, conveyor, electrical, textile, woodworking, and military industries.
Orr Orr, Inc. was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Bedford Park, IL. The company distributes hardware and accessories for vehicles, including air conditioners, brake controls, cargo restraint, electrical, plumbing heating equipment, door track hangers, drawer slides, lighting, and much more.
Kinequip, Inc. is headquartered in Buffalo, NY, and was founded in 1946. The company is a distributor of electrical, fluid power, automation, vacuum, and compressed air systems, equipment, and components, and also manufactures specialty vehicle cameras, cables, voltage current meters, circuit breakers, and switches.
Tenergy Corporation was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Fremont, CA. The company is a full-service custom battery pack manufacturer with extensive engineering and manufacturing capabilities with lithium-ion, lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4), lithium polymer, nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and nickel-cadmium (NiCd).
PowerGen USA was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Green Acres, FL. The company is a distributor of generators and pressure washers for commercial applications. The generators include gas, diesel, dual fuel, solar and wind-powered, gasoline, propane, digital, electric, inverter, power, and portable.
Rapid Pump Meter/ Machinery Services Corp. is headquartered in Paterson, NJ, and was founded in 1960. The company is a distributor of electrical, electronic, and mechanical equipment supplies. The various products include pumps, meters, motors, monitors, generators, separators, chillers, compressors, boilers, blowers, fans, furnaces, oxidizers, ductworks, transducers, railings, weldments, erectors, mounting frames, bases, and mezzanines.
Luce, Schwab Kase, Inc. was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Fairfield, NJ. The company offers wholesale distribution and rentals of portable air conditioning, heating, refrigeration (HVAC/R) products which include portable air conditioners, ductless systems, condensing units, furnaces, coils, condensers, pumps, air handlers, heating cooling combination units, and much more.
E2SOL was founded in 2010. Its headquarters are in Providence, RI. It manufactures solar panels and supplies other renewable energy technologies and products designed to generate, store, and distribute renewable energy.
Top Solar Panel Companies in the US ranked by annual revenue
This table contains information on the top solar panel companies in the US, ranked by annual sales in millions and billions of U.S. dollars. Additional details on each company’s headquarters location and the number of employees are also included, as well as summaries of company activities below.
No. of Employees
Annual Sales
0% Houston Renewable Energy
Despite what you’ve heard, choosing green power over fossil fuel electricity works just the same. If you’re connected to the grid, you’re able to power your home with squeaky clean energy!
We offer energy rates in Houston through CenterPoint Energy, the local Texas Transmission and Distribution Service Provider (TDSP). Punch in your zip code to view the plans we offer in your area of Houston.
Our Best Electricity Plans Chosen by Houstonians, for Houstonians
Blaze
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Compare our energy rates in your area of Houston and view their electricity facts labels (the fine print) by entering your ZIP code below.
Being Eco-Friendly inHouston Is Easy
Houston is the world’s energy capital, not the fossil fuel capital! Chariot Energy provides you with 100% solar energy plans at rates equal to or cheaper than conventional electricity rates in Houston.
We’re changing how Houston solar companies sell power to consumers like you. Our strategy? With the help of our affiliates, we currently operate a utility-scale solar farm that advances Texas’ renewable energy infrastructure and fortifies the energy grid.
How Green Energy Works in Houston and Greater Texas
If you think a 100% solar electricity plan might be the right for you, you may want to understand how Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs). These represent all solar energy on the market — including what Chariot and our affiliates produce! If these credits didn’t exist, no one could tell whether the power they buy is truly green.
Chariot goes a step further. Not only are you getting certified renewable energy, but you’re simultaneously investing in our state’s solar energy industry!
Why choose Chariot Energy as your Houston electricity company of choice? Because together, we can create a brighter future for all — one green energy plan at a time!