Best Solar Panel Installation Companies on Long Island

If you live on Long Island, New York, now may be a good time to go solar.

Between Long Island’s relatively large number of sunny days and New York state’s solar-friendly policies, shifting to solar energy is certainly worth considering. In fact, CNET named New York state one of the best US states for solar incentives. However, you’ll want to contemplate several factors before making the decision.

Solar energy usage has soared throughout the whole state of New York, with Gov. Kathy Hochul recently announcing that more than 2 gigawatts of solar energy have been added to the community grid, enough to power almost 400,000 homes. This is one component in a wider Empire State goal of having carbon-free energy by 2040.

Overall, New York state ranks eighth nationwide in terms of solar energy usage, with just over 870,000 homes powered by solar energy and nearly 5% of the state’s electricity powered by solar energy, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.

Specifically on Long Island, with a population of roughly 8 million people, customers are taking advantage of around 200 sunny days a year and looking to get away from high electricity bills.

“The first advantage and benefit is that in most cases you save money,” said Shyam Mehta, the assistant director of distributed energy resources at the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. “That is probably more true on Long Island than any other portion of the state given how sunny it is and given how high the price of electricity is, probably only second to the New York City region.”

The primary benefit of “going solar” for a homeowner is economic, i.e. reducing their electric bill, Mehta explained. He said this is achieved by two means: one, any solar energy that is generated by the system and consumed by the homeowner goes towards reducing the electricity demand. In addition, any excess electricity generated by the system that is not consumed by the homeowner goes to the grid and credited to the homeowner on their bill, via net metering, and thus further offsetting their bill to the point of potentially zeroing the bill out.

“That mechanism itself is a powerful economic incentive for going solar,” Mehta said. “You go solar, you save money.”

Best national solar panel companies on Long Island 

Solar panels are typically low maintenance equipment, but they’re also unfamiliar. If you want to reap the benefits of solar but will have a bit more peace of mind if someone else is making sure it’s working, Palmetto might be a good fit for you. Just remember to add the cost of Palmetto’s monitoring service in to your payback period calculations.

If you’re looking for top-of-the-line solar panels, SunPower is you best choice. But don’t write them off if you’re looking for a less flashy installation that will get the job done. This year it started installing Qcells panels, which should make an installation from the longest-tenured company on our list more available to more people.

Include Freedom Forever in your search if you want the backing of a national company that installs a wide variety of the most popular solar equipment available. Freedom Forever also extends a couple of products that take some of the pain and risk out of going solar, like a production guarantee and an escrow option with cash purchases. Online reviews say customer satisfaction has been low of late, though the company says that’s changing.

Tesla’s solar branch seems to be the least loved of Elon Musk’s ventures. Even Tesla’s Solar Roof seems to get more love.

If price is the thing you won’t budge on, consider Tesla. By all accounts, Tesla installs quality panels and makes the closest thing there is to a household name in solar storage: the Powerwall.

Where you might miss out is customer service. Discussion online seems to suggest Tesla’s service is a bit of a gamble.

Momentum installs in 11 states without using subcontractors. While using in-house installers doesn’t guarantee a better experience, it does suggest you’re likely to get a more uniform experience from them. The fact that Momentum backs its installations with a 25-year workmanship warranty hints at a strong belief in their crews’ ability. If Momentum is part of your search, consider the warranties against leaks that other companies offer. Momentum’s is five years, which can be beat.

Local solar panel companies on Long Island 

Cost of solar panels in Long Island

When considering whether to install solar panels, one place to start is with your electricity bills.

New York ranks in the top 10 states with the highest electricity rates. The average electricity rate in New York state was 23 cents per kWh in September 2023, leading to an average monthly bill of $145.40. With electricity bills being what they are, Mehta said there are increasing amounts of solar panels being installed every year.

“The technology is getting cheaper and getting proven out,” he said. “People are getting more comfortable with it and they see their neighbors have solar and that gives them comfort to go solar.”

Mehta noted it takes about seven to 10 years to pay off the installation costs, depending on what part of the state you live, the extent of your individual solar system and overall energy consumption.

Long Island solar costs 

Here’s a snapshot of the average costs of a solar panel purchase and how much you can save with the 30% federal tax credit on Long Island using a 5 kilowatt-hour size system. 

Long Island solar panel incentives and rebates

How to determine which Long Island solar company is best for me

Mehta said residents who choose to go solar need to check references of installation companies. He added you need to talk with people who previously worked with that installer, do some internet research, read reviews and get a request for proposals from at least three separate installers.

“You need to take time and carefully review the proposal including the financing options because the proposal you get may include a loan component or a lease component,” Mehta noted.

Installation factors to keep in mind

However, Mehta emphasizes you must do extensive research on whether solar panel installation is appropriate for their home.

“It’s completely possible in your particular instance going solar may not make sense,” he said. He cites houses that have large amounts of shade or the roof faces south, thus it may not generate solar energy. “You definitely want to take your time before you make that decision.”

Some other issues to consider for potential customers may include:

• Roof condition and pitch: The angle and pitch of the house’s roof will generate enough solar energy for the panel installation to be a worthwhile investment. “Typically, solar panels perform best on south-facing roofs with a slope between 15 and 40 degrees, though other roofs may be suitable too,” according to the US Department of Energy. Homeowners should consult with a reputable solar panel installer to determine the feasibility of installation, leading with conversations regarding size, condition and age of the existing roof.
• Renting vs. owning your home: If you’re renting a house and foresee purchasing a home in the not-too-distant future, the costs of installing solar panels may not be worth the investment. A viable alternative may be a community solar program.
• Insurance coverage: Solar panels are susceptible to the weather and other outside forces. You should check your homeowner’s insurance policy if there would be coverage for the panels upon completion of installation.
• Homeowners association regulations: New York is one of 21 states that does not have laws prohibiting HOAs from forbidding solar panel installation. You should check your HOA’s regulations to see if solar panels are allowed.

How to pay for solar panels in Long Island

Cash: Installing solar panels can be very expensive and many people may not have that much cash available. However, if you can afford one large payment, that eliminates additional interest or fees.

Solar loan: NYSERDA extends three types of loan options including an on-bill recovery loan, a smart energy loan and a renewable energy tax credit bridge loan. “It really depends on your personal situation,” Mehta said. “You want to be aware of all the options.”

HELOC or home equity loan: Another type of loan possibility is a home equity loan, or HELOC, that allows you to use the equity in your home as collateral. HELOCs can be used for upgrading a house, but your risk losing your home if you cannot repay the loan.

Lease or power purchase agreement: This is an arrangement between the solar panel installation company and the homeowner where the solar company maintains ownership of the system. With a solar lease you rent the panels from a solar company and receive a discounted bill in return. With power purchase agreements, you can earn a discounted rate per kilowatt hour. In both instances, since you do not own panels, you cannot access any tax incentives. 

Personal loan: A personal loan through a reputable financial institution may be a solid option by getting the money up front to finance the solar panel installation and then paying back over time along similar lines to a car loan. Most personal loans are unsecured — meaning it does not require collateral, such as your home. This can eliminate the risk of losing your house if there are unforeseen financial problems. However, personal loans without collateral often have higher interest rates.

Solar power FAQs