Best Solar Companies in Oklahoma

There are just a select few solar installers available to Oklahomans; according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), there are only 12 companies that offer their services in the state. 1 Nevertheless, it can take a while to look into each installer and obtain bids, so we did the homework for you. The selections listed below represent the best in the area, in our opinion.

How Can You Save Money In Oklahoma When Hiring A Solar Company?

Before subsidies, the average cost of a solar power system in Oklahoma is about $28,820, which is about 25% more expensive than the national average.

In Oklahoma, the cost per watt for PV equipment hovers about $2.62 on average, which is less than the $2.66 national average. To offset 100% of your electricity use, the whole system size must be slightly larger than 9 kW, or about 11 kW, due to the high energy requirements.

Due to the high conversion costs, the majority of locals will seek out strategies to minimize expenditures while maximizing long-term energy savings. Here are some pointers for accomplishing both:

• Utilize all solar incentives available to you.
• Pick a high-efficiency panel manufacturer.
• Look around for the top quotations.
• Utilize all available solar benefit programs.
• Utilizing as many incentive programs as you can is the simplest method to reduce the effective cost of your system.

Unfortunately, OK doesn’t have many solar incentives, but the federal government does have one that is excellent and open to all citizens of the Sooner State.

Choose a high-efficiency panel brand.

The fact that Oklahoma receives a lot of sunlight is fantastic for locals who are thinking about going solar. However, the average resident of Oklahoma uses more electricity than those in most other states, with most homes consuming about 1,088 kWh per month as opposed to the 886 kWh national average.

It’s critical to purchase a high-efficiency panel brand that can effectively utilize the available sunlight and roof space in order to offset those energy needs and, in turn, maximize your energy savings. The following are some of the top residential solar panel manufacturers that meet Oklahomans’ needs:

Obtain Several Quotes

Finally, we advise requesting a number of free quotes from various solar installers in your area. Due to variations in equipment costs and labor rates, even among the 12 installers that serve OK, you’re likely to see cost variations of several thousand dollars.

To find something that fits your needs and your budget, get a few free quotes so you can compare the overall cost and the value offered. Along with comparing which suppliers and panel brands are available that best suit your home’s requirements. Keep in mind that these businesses are competing with one another for your business, and some may lower their estimate if you receive rival offers.

you’re looking for more individualized system and cost estimates. To find out how much your system will cost and how much money it will save you in Oklahoma, use our solar calculator.

Will Solar Boost Your Oklahoma Home’s Value?

A home with solar panels covering half of the roof
According to Zillow’s analysis, installing a solar array on your home is predicted to increase its value by 4.1%.
5 That is an average increase of almost $7,750 with typical home values hovering around $188,707. 6

Oklahoma has typically adopted solar technology slowly and unimpressively. The state dropped from 41st in 2021 to 45th place in the nation for its solar friendliness. 7 However, the Sooner State has exceptional potential because to its high levels of solar radiation and above-average energy use.

The solar potential of Oklahoma City (OKC) was ranked eighth in the nation.

Installing solar panels or solar roof shingles is anticipated to increase the value of homes in cities like Oklahoma City as the local economy and popularity expand.

Should Oklahomans Go It Alone Or Hire a Pro to Install Solar?

No matter where you live, hiring a reputable solar panel business is expensive, but Oklahoma is particularly pricey. Since solar panels cost more in Oklahoma than in most other states, more people are tempted to think about doing their own installations. Although they are easier to install and less expensive, there are some key disadvantages to consider. These consist of:

less desirable warranty protection compared to professionally fitted systems
Lower efficiency solar panel kits for DIY projects
increased chance of faulty installation causing property damage
These drawbacks will be covered in more detail below.

With DIY Panels, Warranty Coverage Is Less Alluring
First off, a professionally installed system often comes with the following warranty coverage:

• For equipment, 25 years
• 20–25 years for the production of power
• 10-year workmanship warranty

The warranties for a DIY solar array often read as follows:

• for equipment, five to ten years
• 5–10 years for the production of power
• There is no craftsmanship warranty.

Even while you’ll save money up front by performing a DIY installation, the warranty protection you get from a professional installation is frequently worth the extra expense. You typically receive protection for twice as long, which reduces the likelihood that you will need to pay for system upkeep and repairs and increases the likelihood that you will get the most out of your energy savings.

Lower Efficiency Ratings are Found in DIY Panel Brands

As previously said, we advise putting panel efficiency first in order to maximize the benefits of the sunshine that is now accessible in OK. High-efficiency panels will enable you to gradually reduce your energy costs, which will result in a lower overall cost for your system and more long-term financial benefits.

In terms of efficiency, DIY panel brands often lie between 15% and 20%, whereas the majority of professional panels are above 20%, with a high efficiency of roughly 22.7%. Long-term, this seemingly insignificant variation could have a significantly larger impact on your energy costs. Since you need to buy fewer high-efficiency panels to complete the project, the upfront cost in certain situations won’t even be all that different from ordinary efficiency.

With DIY installations, there is a greater risk of property damage.

Finally, because solar panels are continually exposed to the weather, they can occasionally experience heavy rain, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms in Oklahoma. Any mistakes made during solar panel installation can leave your roof vulnerable to leaks and possibly pieces being pulled off during tornadoes’ strong winds. 9

Inexperienced DIYers are much more likely to make mistakes. Self-installation is less expensive, but it may end up costing you more in the long run if there are problems that result in property damage.

What Qualities Should a Solar Installer Have for Oklahomans?

Oklahoma is a special location for solar installations because of the state’s copious sunshine and harsh weather, which might raise the danger of panel damage. When interviewing and selecting a solar supplier in Oklahoma, we advise you to give priority to the three qualities listed below:

• Warranty protection is included
• Panel equipment and brand choices
• local knowledge

Below, we’ll go through why these elements are most crucial.

Warranty Protection

Although inhabitants of Oklahoma can experience some extreme weather, the state has enough sunny days each year to make solar energy a wise investment. The importance of having physical protection and workmanship warranties for your system cannot be overstated because strong thunderstorms and tornadoes increase your chance of panel damage.

Unfortunately, only a small portion of the work required in installing your system is covered by the warranties offered by the majority of OK businesses. The average age in the sector is roughly ten years, but in Oklahoma it’s only about half that. We advise carefully weighing the pros and cons of a longer warranty and, if possible, paying more for greater coverage.

A manufacturing guarantee from your installer is another smart move, as it will help guarantee that your panels will continue to reduce your above-average energy costs for many years to come.

Panel Manufacturers and Equipment Provided

Next, we advise considering the brands of panels each business offers and the machinery it installs.

Selecting a high-efficiency panel is a wise move. This will make it possible for you to build a smaller, more cost-effective system while still producing enough energy to counterbalance OK’s above-average electricity usage.

You might also want to investigate the supplemental goods that each provider provides. In Oklahoma, many solar customers decide to install a solar battery in addition to their panels. This keeps the lights on during the periodic blackouts and lowers your energy costs because net metering is not required by the state.

Companies that don’t carry the brands or goods you want installed can be cut out of the running.

Local knowledge

Finally, we advise giving local expertise top priority. Given the slow rate of adoption and the small number of installers serving the region, solar is really only now starting to take off in OK.

Even if there aren’t many businesses with more than ten years of experience, we advise carefully selecting these over businesses with less experience.

More seasoned businesses are more likely to deliver high-quality service, are less likely to suffer installation-related problems, and may frequently reduce costs by assisting you in taking advantage of regional incentives and rebate programs.

solar panels placed on a contemporary home as part of our ranking of Oklahoma’s solar companies

The promotion of clean energy’s advantages is our industry’s top priority, and we work hard to match readers like you with trustworthy installers who will deliver a first-rate service. To accomplish that, we assess solar installers using the following standards, which we think Oklahomans value most:

• Provided Solar Warranties (20%)
• Offers of Solar Services and Goods (20%)
• Optional solar payments and cost (15%)
• Local Knowledge (15%)
• Certifications and credentials (10%)
• (10) Availability
• Impact on the environment and society (10%)

The methodology described above has been modified to meet the requirements of Oklahomans and is never affected by business agreements. We’ll discuss the reasoning for the weighting of these variables below.

Provided Solar Warranties

Due primarily to the severe weather in the region and the inexperience of its installers, we prioritize warranty coverage over the majority of other variables in OK. Installations in tornado-prone, windy, and thunderstorm-prone areas are inherently more likely to sustain damage, which can be expensive to repair if you don’t have warranties in place to cover it.

We rank businesses as average, above average, or below average using the industry standard. The requirements include for equipment to last 25 years, for efficiency to last 20 to 25 years, and for workmanship to last 10 years. Businesses who provide a 25-year complete warranty for all three, like ADT Solar, receive perfect marks in this category.

Offered Solar Services and Goods

We now examine what each solar provider brings to the table as not all of them offer the same products and services.

We search for extremely efficient panels since the excessive energy use in Oklahoma can be mitigated by high-quality panels. As solar storage solutions can be a wonderful method to maximize savings in regions like OK that don’t have outstanding net metering policies, we also think favorably of full-service solar companies who offer battery installations.

This ranking will also take into account other uncommon goods, such as off-grid rooftop solar, community solar, or solar roofs.

Price and available solar financing

Pricing is a crucial consideration because, as was already indicated, solar arrays in Oklahoma cost about 25% more than they do nationwide. Companies that maintain average or below-average pricing receive preference from us.

More importantly, if an installation offers a variety of payment choices, we raise their score. Companies who solely accept cash and solar loans from other parties will be demoted, whereas those with low-APR internal credit choices, access to leases, and PPAs will be promoted.

Local knowledge

Many of the businesses in the state have little to no expertise because the solar sector is still relatively new to OK. In addition to making mistakes during the installation and encountering delays with permits, inexperienced installers are more likely to fail and take your warranties with them.

We base this element on the industry standard of five years of experience, and we give companies with at least ten years of solar experience a higher ranking.

Competencies and Certifications

Next, we examine further credentials, professional associations, and certifications that can distinguish one company in Oklahoma from the competition. We keep an eye out for items like:

Being recognized by the Better Business Bureau
Green building accreditation from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification from the Solar Energy Industries Association (LEED)
the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners’ certification (NABCEP)
Additional certificates or licenses, such as those for general contractors or electricians, can help guarantee a proper installation.

Availability

Since solar adoption in OK is so slow, many businesses in the state concentrate in big towns like Oklahoma City where they are more likely to find customers. Sadly, this means that some businesses will not be able to service a sizable area of the state.

Since they will be able to assist more of our readers, we give preference to businesses who provide services throughout Oklahoma.

Impact on the environment and society

The effect each business has on the environment and the communities it serves is the last thing we consider.

Companies climb higher in our rankings when they emphasize end-of-life items, such as recycling old solar equipment, and promote energy efficiency rather than just solar installations. We also search for businesses that support their neighborhood through charitable donations or green energy education.