Solar installation companies range from national brands to thousands of regional and local contractors — and the U.S. Department of Energy’s guidance applies to all of them: hire a certified professional (NABCEP is the industry-standard certification), read reviews carefully, and compare multiple bids for the same system size. In 2026 the vetting bar is higher: the federal residential credit (Section 25D) has expired for purchased systems, so treat any quote still promising you a “30% tax credit” on a purchase as a red flag.
What kinds of solar installation companies are there?
The installer market has three tiers. National companies (Sunrun, Freedom Forever, and peers) operate across many states, often lead with lease and PPA financing, and subcontract some installation work locally. Regional installers cover one or a few states with in-house crews. Local contractors — often electrician-founded — do the most site-specific work and frequently price purchases most aggressively. None of the tiers is automatically better: the crew on your roof, the warranty terms, and the price per watt matter more than the logo on the truck.
Whoever you hire, the Department of Energy’s baseline advice holds: solar should be installed by “a qualified professional who holds a certification to do so and works with high-quality solar panels,” and “the industry-standard certification is awarded through the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP).” Ask directly whether the person designing and signing off your system holds it.
How do you vet a solar installer?
Every bid should clear the same seven checks before you compare prices:
| Check | What good looks like | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Certification | NABCEP-certified designer/installer on your project | “Our partners handle that” |
| Licensing & insurance | State contractor + electrical license, proof of insurance | Unverifiable or borrowed license numbers |
| Bids | Itemized price per watt for a specified system size | One-page quote, today-only pricing |
| Reviews & history | Years in business, local installs you can check | Brand-new entity, door-to-door urgency |
| Incentive claims | 2026-accurate: no federal credit on purchases | “30% tax credit” promised on a purchase |
| Warranty | Workmanship warranty in writing + equipment terms | Verbal promises, unclear who services it |
| Production estimate | Modeled output with shading analysis | Savings quoted with no production model |
The DOE’s consumer guidance adds the behavioral red flags: do not succumb to aggressive sales pressure, verify installer credentials independently, make sure you understand the financing before signing, and report suspicious operators. A legitimate company survives a week of thinking; a bad one needs your signature tonight.
What happened to the solar tax credit in 2026?
The 30% federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D, IRS) has expired for homeowner-purchased systems installed after December 31, 2025 — a 2026 cash or loan purchase no longer earns a federal credit. Third-party-owned systems under a solar lease or PPA may still benefit from the 30% commercial credit under Section 48E (IRS), which the installer/owner claims and may pass through in your rate. That asymmetry now shapes installer pitches, so run the ownership math both ways with our lease vs loan vs PPA comparison, and check what your state still offers through DSIRE and our state pages like Georgia solar incentives.
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Should you buy, finance, or lease through an installer?
The DOE frames the three paths cleanly. Purchasing outright costs the least over the system’s life. Loans keep upfront cost low with monthly payments that are often smaller than the energy bill they replace. Leases and PPAs put a third party’s capital on your roof with little or no money down — you buy the power, not the system, and in 2026 the third-party owner is also the only party with a federal credit in play. Which wins depends on your electricity rate, your state’s incentives, and how long you will stay in the home — our six-state payback research shows how widely the math swings by state.
What should you ask a solar installation company?
- Confirm credentials. Ask for the NABCEP certification, state contractor and electrical license numbers, and proof of insurance — then verify them with the issuing bodies.
- Get three itemized bids. Same system size, same equipment class, price per watt broken out — per DOE guidance, read company reviews before letting anyone survey your roof.
- Demand a production model. A serious bid includes modeled annual output with shading analysis, not just a promised savings percentage.
- Pressure-test the incentive math. Have each bidder show their 2026 numbers with no federal credit on a purchase — and exactly which incentives they claim under a lease or PPA.
- Read the warranty and service terms. Who fixes an inverter fault in year six, and how fast? Get the workmanship warranty in writing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest solar installation companies?
National installers like Sunrun and Freedom Forever operate across many states, alongside strong regional companies and thousands of local contractors. Size is not a quality signal by itself — the DOE's guidance is to verify certification (NABCEP is the industry standard), read reviews, and compare multiple bids whoever is quoting.
What is NABCEP certification?
NABCEP — the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners — awards what the Department of Energy calls the industry-standard certification for solar professionals. Ask whether the person designing and signing off your specific system holds NABCEP certification, not just whether the company employs someone who does.
How many solar quotes should I get?
Get at least three itemized bids for the same system size and equipment class, with price per watt broken out. Bids vary widely for identical roofs, and comparing them is also how you catch inflated incentive claims and pressure tactics the DOE warns about.
Is there still a solar tax credit in 2026?
Not for homeowner purchases — the 30% federal residential credit (Section 25D) expired for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Third-party-owned systems under a lease or PPA may still benefit from the 30% commercial credit (Section 48E), which the system's owner claims. State and utility incentives still vary — check DSIRE for your state.
Should I lease or buy solar panels in 2026?
Buying still wins on lifetime cost if you can finance it well, but the expired residential credit narrowed the gap: lease and PPA providers can still claim a federal credit as commercial owners and may pass some through. Run both paths with a production model and your state's incentives before deciding — and never from a single bid.
