*Prices are shown after applying the 26% federal tax credit.
As of May 2022, the average cost of solar panels in Irvine is $2.93 per watt making a typical 6000 watt (6 kW) solar system $13,016 after claiming the 26% federal solar tax credit now available.
This is higher than the average price of residential solar power systems across the United States which is currently $2.85 per watt.
The size of a solar panel system also plays a role in how much the installation will cost.
Larger solar installations will typically have a lower cost per watt, because the panels can be purchased at a ‘bulk price’. However, these larger solar systems will still have a higher total cost, because they are made up of more individual panels.
System size* | Avg cost per watt |
Avg system cost
(After tax credit) show before tax |
---|---|---|
4kW | $3.18 | $9,427 |
5kW | $3.08 | $11,386 |
6kW | $2.93 | $13,016 |
7kW | $2.91 | $15,083 |
8kW | $2.94 | $17,407 |
9kW | $2.84 | $18,947 |
10kW | $2.83 | $20,907 |
Best unit price
$562.50 ($1.50 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,120.18
($2.49 p/w)
LG375A1C-V5 overview
Rated power
375 watts
Efficiency
21.7
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$320.00 ($0.96 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,721.85
($2.53 p/w)
LG335N1K-V5 overview
Rated power
335 watts
Efficiency
19.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$430.00 ($1.15 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,919.30
($2.65 p/w)
LG375Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
375 watts
Efficiency
21.7
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$473.34 ($1.30 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$13,231.07
($2.59 p/w)
LG365Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
365 watts
Efficiency
21.1
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
KR
Best unit price
$432.00 ($1.20 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,276.66
($2.63 p/w)
LG360Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
20.8
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$530.85 ($1.50 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,386.87
($2.49 p/w)
LG355Q1K-V5 overview
Rated power
355 watts
Efficiency
20.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$407.97 ($1.10 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.2kW system
$13,159.30
($2.54 p/w)
LG370Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
370 watts
Efficiency
21.4
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$495.00 ($1.38 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,091.06
($2.60 p/w)
LG360Q1C-V5 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
20.8
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$323.39 ($0.97 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,691.01
($2.53 p/w)
LG335N1C-V5 overview
Rated power
335 watts
Efficiency
19.6
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$338.19 ($0.99 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$0.00
($0.00 p/w)
LG340N1C-V5 overview
Rated power
340 watts
Efficiency
19.8
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$291.18 ($0.88 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,361.15
($2.50 p/w)
VBH330RA03K overview
Rated power
330 watts
Efficiency
19.7
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Mono-crystalline Silicon
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$340.00 ($1.00 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$14,280.00
($2.80 p/w)
VBHN340SA17 HIT+ overview
Rated power
340 watts
Efficiency
20.3
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$297.60 ($0.89 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,443.08
($2.68 p/w)
VBHN335SA17 overview
Rated power
335 watts
Efficiency
20
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$432.00 ($1.31 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$12,561.26
($2.54 p/w)
VBHN330SA17E overview
Rated power
330 watts
Efficiency
19.7
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$321.82 ($1.01 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$13,407.97
($2.62 p/w)
VBHN320KA03 320W overview
Rated power
320 watts
Efficiency
19.1
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Mono-crystalline Silicon
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$295.75 ($0.91 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,300.19
($2.52 p/w)
VBHN325KA03 overview
Rated power
325 watts
Efficiency
19.7
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Mono-crystalline Silicon
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$306.90 ($0.94 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,229.44
($2.51 p/w)
VBHN325SA17 overview
Rated power
325 watts
Efficiency
19.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
solar panel
Manufactured
MY
Best unit price
$306.90 ($0.93 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$7,920.00
($1.60 p/w)
VBHN330SA17 overview
Rated power
330 watts
Efficiency
19.7
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline/N-type
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$800.00 ($2.22 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$13,201.67
($2.62 p/w)
SPR-X22-360 overview
Rated power
360 watts
Efficiency
22.2
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$600.00 ($1.83 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$12,808.41
($2.61 p/w)
SPR-E20-327-COM overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$620.00 ($1.90 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$13,703.10
($2.79 p/w)
SPR-E20-327-D-AC overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$620.00 ($1.90 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$13,610.59
($2.77 p/w)
SPR-E20-327 overview
Rated power
327 watts
Efficiency
20.4
Number of Cells
96
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
US
Best unit price
$205.00 ($0.58 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$10,048.27
($2.02 p/w)
CS3U-355PB-AG overview
Rated power
355 watts
Efficiency
17.7
Number of Cells
144
Cell type
polycrystalline
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$240.01 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.8kW system
$10,376.12
($2.16 p/w)
CS3W-400PB-AG overview
Rated power
400 watts
Efficiency
17.9
Number of Cells
144
Cell type
polycrystalline
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$207.90 ($0.66 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$10,561.03
($2.10 p/w)
CS3K-315MS overview
Rated power
315 watts
Efficiency
18.96
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono-crystalline Silicon
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$247.00 ($0.75 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$10,886.87
($2.20 p/w)
CS1H-330MS BLACK overview
Rated power
330 watts
Efficiency
19.57
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Mono-crystalline Silicon
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$250.00 ($0.77 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$10,093.53
($2.07 p/w)
CS1H-325MS BLACK overview
Rated power
325 watts
Efficiency
19.27
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Mono-crystalline Silicon
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$245.00 ($0.77 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$10,730.83
($2.10 p/w)
CS1H-320MS BLACK overview
Rated power
320 watts
Efficiency
18.98
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Mono-crystalline Silicon
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$247.00 ($0.75 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$10,458.35
($2.11 p/w)
CS1H-330MS overview
Rated power
330 watts
Efficiency
19.57
Number of Cells
72
Cell type
Mono-crystalline Silicon
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$196.67 ($0.55 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$10,829.87
($2.18 p/w)
CS3U-355P overview
Rated power
355 watts
Efficiency
17.89
Number of Cells
144
Cell type
Polycrystalline
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$181.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$11,003.04
($2.16 p/w)
CS6K-300MS overview
Rated power
300 watts
Efficiency
18.33
Number of Cells
60
Cell type
Monocrystalline
Manufactured
CA
Best unit price
$196.11 ($0.65 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$9,948.02
($1.95 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-300M overview
Rated power
300 watts
Efficiency
18.1
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$172.00 ($0.56 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$9,568.53
($1.96 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-305M overview
Rated power
305 watts
Efficiency
18.4
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$165.00 ($0.53 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.0kW system
$9,761.72
($1.97 p/w)
LR6-60-HPB-310M overview
Rated power
310 watts
Efficiency
18.7
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$228.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 4.9kW system
$9,579.65
($1.94 p/w)
LR4-60HPH-380M overview
Rated power
380 watts
Efficiency
20.9
Number of Cells
120
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
Best unit price
$234.00 ($0.60 per watt)
Best system price
Installed 5.1kW system
$10,126.74
($2.00 p/w)
LR6-72HBD-390M overview
Rated power
390 watts
Efficiency
19.4
Number of Cells
144
Cell type
Mono PERC
Manufactured
CN
4.93 392 Reviews
Happy with Solar in the Desert, 3 weeks ago
From start to finish, the company was responsive, knowledgeable, timely, and professional. All the staff were polite and professional. Matt (account manager) was especially great, ready to answer any questions and keep us updated on the entire process. No regrets. Excellent experience.
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Happy with Solar in the Desert, 3 weeks ago
From start to finish, the company was responsive, knowledgeable, timely, and professional. All the staff were polite and professional. Matt (account manager) was especially great, ready to answer any questions and keep us updated on the entire process. No regrets. Excellent experience.
4.89 277 Reviews
Chris, over 1 month
Cosmic Solar installed our solar panels in 2019 and since then we have been able to utilize our heater and air without paying huge amounts of money on our SDG&E bill. In fact, we usually get a credit each month. We were impressed with the installation and follow up of this company. I highly recommend them and will contact them for any future solar needs!
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Average cost (5kW system)
$19,300 ($3.86 per watt)
Chris, over 1 month
Cosmic Solar installed our solar panels in 2019 and since then we have been able to utilize our heater and air without paying huge amounts of money on our SDG&E bill. In fact, we usually get a credit each month. We were impressed with the installation and follow up of this company. I highly recommend them and will contact them for any future solar needs!
4.89 196 Reviews
itang, over 1 month
Thank you so much, I've been wanting solar panels for years but they were so cost prohibitive. I'm glad it's gotten a lot less expensive and that Sunwork nonprofit offers solar panels at a low cost for those who can qualify. Appreciate it!
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Average cost (5kW system)
$13,500 ($2.70 per watt)
itang, over 1 month
Thank you so much, I've been wanting solar panels for years but they were so cost prohibitive. I'm glad it's gotten a lot less expensive and that Sunwork nonprofit offers solar panels at a low cost for those who can qualify. Appreciate it!
4.85 121 Reviews
Andy Kobayashi , 2 weeks ago
My decision to go w/ KOTA, based out of Concord, CA, for my home solar system was based on great customer service; excellent product & warranties; & professional installation. My initial decision to go w/ KOTA started w/ Tyler Puhalovich, Solar Advisor. I was in the process of choosing a solar company. Tyler explained very clearly the economics of moving to Solar and the solar install process. He answered all my questions, and if he did not know, he would find out. A lot of other Solar rep’s didn’t do this. He was our main contact throughout the entire process. KOTA provides an excellent product and very robust warranties on all home solar equipment & installation. The solar panels are higher wattage output which means fewer panels on the roof. The workers that did the solar installation were professional and detail oriented. An example, is how they bent the wiring conduit to follow the contours. I was concerned how they would fasten the system to my roof. The technician showed me and explained how they anchor and seal the system on the roof. In conclusion, my experience w/ KOTA was excellent & I am very satisfied w/ my home Solar system.
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Andy Kobayashi , 2 weeks ago
My decision to go w/ KOTA, based out of Concord, CA, for my home solar system was based on great customer service; excellent product & warranties; & professional installation. My initial decision to go w/ KOTA started w/ Tyler Puhalovich, Solar Advisor. I was in the process of choosing a solar company. Tyler explained very clearly the economics of moving to Solar and the solar install process. He answered all my questions, and if he did not know, he would find out. A lot of other Solar rep’s didn’t do this. He was our main contact throughout the entire process. KOTA provides an excellent product and very robust warranties on all home solar equipment & installation. The solar panels are higher wattage output which means fewer panels on the roof. The workers that did the solar installation were professional and detail oriented. An example, is how they bent the wiring conduit to follow the contours. I was concerned how they would fasten the system to my roof. The technician showed me and explained how they anchor and seal the system on the roof. In conclusion, my experience w/ KOTA was excellent & I am very satisfied w/ my home Solar system.
4.84 76 Reviews
JC, over 1 month
Installation couldn’t have gone smoother. Our electrician (who is also a Tesla sub-contractor) recommended we work with Meo at Affordable Home Solar because of the great customer service and quick turnaround time. After a panel upgrade, Meo was able to get our permits, panels installed, inspected, and PGE approved within weeks. From the very beginning/design process, Meo guided us through the various panel brand options and micro-inverter choices while being very clear on the pros/cons, bang for your buck, etc…. He took care of all the permit paperwork and his crew installed 24 panels in less than a day while setting up all the online/app solar monitoring software. With lots of experience and customers in the Bay Area, he knew exactly what our city inspectors were looking for. The inspections were flawless - they were in and out in 10-15 min. Meo submitted our paperwork to pge and within a week our net metering started to show on our pge account. Most importantly, Meo and his team are just great people to work with, always responsive, and very professional. They stand behind their work and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone interested in installing solar.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$14,900 ($2.98 per watt)
JC, over 1 month
Installation couldn’t have gone smoother. Our electrician (who is also a Tesla sub-contractor) recommended we work with Meo at Affordable Home Solar because of the great customer service and quick turnaround time. After a panel upgrade, Meo was able to get our permits, panels installed, inspected, and PGE approved within weeks. From the very beginning/design process, Meo guided us through the various panel brand options and micro-inverter choices while being very clear on the pros/cons, bang for your buck, etc…. He took care of all the permit paperwork and his crew installed 24 panels in less than a day while setting up all the online/app solar monitoring software. With lots of experience and customers in the Bay Area, he knew exactly what our city inspectors were looking for. The inspections were flawless - they were in and out in 10-15 min. Meo submitted our paperwork to pge and within a week our net metering started to show on our pge account. Most importantly, Meo and his team are just great people to work with, always responsive, and very professional. They stand behind their work and I would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone interested in installing solar.
4.83 68 Reviews
Andrew, over 1 month
SOLRUS Engineering deserved to be acknowledged for the exceptional quality of work, excellent customer service, quick responsiveness on questions and shown positive attitude each time. I went through 7 companies and compared quotes before deciding to go with SOLRUS. There were a couple of companies that are cheaper, however the work is being subcontracted. Daniel (Sales consultant) is very pleasant to work with. He is very patient and responsive. Chris who I believe is the owner, always seem to be inspecting and ensuring the work are done properly by his team. They don’t do any short cut on installation. I was able to refer 3 of my friends and they were also very happy with SOLRUS. I truly recommend SOLRUS if you are planning to install Solar. The most important thing is that they truly care about the customer and provide quality work.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$15,350 ($3.07 per watt)
Andrew, over 1 month
SOLRUS Engineering deserved to be acknowledged for the exceptional quality of work, excellent customer service, quick responsiveness on questions and shown positive attitude each time. I went through 7 companies and compared quotes before deciding to go with SOLRUS. There were a couple of companies that are cheaper, however the work is being subcontracted. Daniel (Sales consultant) is very pleasant to work with. He is very patient and responsive. Chris who I believe is the owner, always seem to be inspecting and ensuring the work are done properly by his team. They don’t do any short cut on installation. I was able to refer 3 of my friends and they were also very happy with SOLRUS. I truly recommend SOLRUS if you are planning to install Solar. The most important thing is that they truly care about the customer and provide quality work.
4.82 107 Reviews
Edward Blum, 1 day ago
We had a great experience with Stellar Solar. We met with 6 or 7 reps from various solar companies and our rep, Connor, was by far the most professional. He walked us through all the pros and cons. He helped us make the best financial and long term decision (which was to purchase the panels), and he shepherded us through the entire process. The panels were put up quickly. They look great. And most important, our electric bill went from like $400 a month to $50. We save so much and don't stress about running the AC. Only once did we have tech questions and everyone was super helpful. A technician came out within the week, examined everything, and explained how the system was functioning (basically less sunlight means less energy, I felt like a genius :)). For a large investment, we feel GREAT about going with Stellar Solar.
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Edward Blum, 1 day ago
We had a great experience with Stellar Solar. We met with 6 or 7 reps from various solar companies and our rep, Connor, was by far the most professional. He walked us through all the pros and cons. He helped us make the best financial and long term decision (which was to purchase the panels), and he shepherded us through the entire process. The panels were put up quickly. They look great. And most important, our electric bill went from like $400 a month to $50. We save so much and don't stress about running the AC. Only once did we have tech questions and everyone was super helpful. A technician came out within the week, examined everything, and explained how the system was functioning (basically less sunlight means less energy, I felt like a genius :)). For a large investment, we feel GREAT about going with Stellar Solar.
4.80 33 Reviews
Dan H, 1 day ago
Not being someone who jumps right into something, I did extensive research on various systems and companies to work with on my Solar project. When I finished my research I felt that Green Home Systems was the best fit. They had had better equipment. Explained the entire process that the project would take. Answered all of my questions and made sure that I understood everything that would happen until my system was turned on. So for me Value, Knowledge, Communications, Top of the Line Systems the choice was pretty simple.
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Dan H, 1 day ago
Not being someone who jumps right into something, I did extensive research on various systems and companies to work with on my Solar project. When I finished my research I felt that Green Home Systems was the best fit. They had had better equipment. Explained the entire process that the project would take. Answered all of my questions and made sure that I understood everything that would happen until my system was turned on. So for me Value, Knowledge, Communications, Top of the Line Systems the choice was pretty simple.
4.79 66 Reviews
Anonymous, over 1 month
As having solar system installed is a 20 years commitment, I spoke to 5 solar companies not just to compare the price but most importantly to see cross reference the information they provided.<br /><br />What I found out, sales reps mostly reply on the computer program generated quote. Interestingly, after analyzing the same PG&E electricity usage history, some quoted me 7.6kw and some quoted me 5.8kw system. That is a huge difference that I definitely would love to sort out why. Most sales rep will cite that is how their software calculates, some said that is based upon system needs to cover 100% PG&E usage. Only Ali from Highligh Solar clearly explained how PG&E Net Metering works, and made clear sense the system size he recommended.<br /><br />The most amazing about Ali is that any question I came up with, e.g. what is the back feed of my main panel, he can get me the right answer right away even after 6 weeks of his visit, with picture of my panel attached. <br /><br />Once the decision is made, Ali walked me through the proposal and contract review, and Dean, the owner, was also very accommodating to accept some revisions I requested.. <br /><br />Then Jesse helped with permits and project management, Sam helped with monitoring and PG&E application, plus the professional installation team who made the whole process as smooth as it gets.<br /><br />2 days after installation, I reported weird system reading from Solar Edge mobile app, Dean and Sam called Solar Edge and confirmed they need to replace the inverter, which then got scheduled and done in less than 2 days by next available technician.<br /><br />In the end, Dean also personally helped me understand Solar Edge monitor reading, and answer many solar production related questions!!!<br /><br />All in all, I highly recommend Highlight Solar for their well rounded professional team!!!!!! Their service deserved 6 stars!!!
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Average cost (5kW system)
$19,550 ($3.91 per watt)
Anonymous, over 1 month
As having solar system installed is a 20 years commitment, I spoke to 5 solar companies not just to compare the price but most importantly to see cross reference the information they provided.<br /><br />What I found out, sales reps mostly reply on the computer program generated quote. Interestingly, after analyzing the same PG&E electricity usage history, some quoted me 7.6kw and some quoted me 5.8kw system. That is a huge difference that I definitely would love to sort out why. Most sales rep will cite that is how their software calculates, some said that is based upon system needs to cover 100% PG&E usage. Only Ali from Highligh Solar clearly explained how PG&E Net Metering works, and made clear sense the system size he recommended.<br /><br />The most amazing about Ali is that any question I came up with, e.g. what is the back feed of my main panel, he can get me the right answer right away even after 6 weeks of his visit, with picture of my panel attached. <br /><br />Once the decision is made, Ali walked me through the proposal and contract review, and Dean, the owner, was also very accommodating to accept some revisions I requested.. <br /><br />Then Jesse helped with permits and project management, Sam helped with monitoring and PG&E application, plus the professional installation team who made the whole process as smooth as it gets.<br /><br />2 days after installation, I reported weird system reading from Solar Edge mobile app, Dean and Sam called Solar Edge and confirmed they need to replace the inverter, which then got scheduled and done in less than 2 days by next available technician.<br /><br />In the end, Dean also personally helped me understand Solar Edge monitor reading, and answer many solar production related questions!!!<br /><br />All in all, I highly recommend Highlight Solar for their well rounded professional team!!!!!! Their service deserved 6 stars!!!
4.78 34 Reviews
Raj, over 1 month
For the past month, I've been recommending Amerigreen to anyone that brings up an interest in solar. I'm extremely happy with how everything turned out. I met with 8 installers, scoured numerous online forums for months, and did a ton of research. It was a daunting task, but in the end, nobody checked all of the boxes like Amerigreen. They offered the best product, value, and professionalism. Guy was the second installer I met with so going through 6 additional quotes took some time on my end. He was never annoying or created a false sense of urgency, which is a major pet peeve. I appreciated his patience and thorough answers to all of my questions. We financed through AG as well. They offered various options and we easily found something that worked for us. I even shopped around and the best financing terms I found, matched what AG was offering. Once the paperwork was signed, their project manager, Rose, was extremely communicative and helpful. Besides needing to move install dates due to the rain, everything flowed smoothly and was right on schedule from Amerigreen's part. The icing on the cake was when the DWP tech came out to install the new meter and commented on how good the electrical work looked and that whoever did the work, did a really good job.
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Raj, over 1 month
For the past month, I've been recommending Amerigreen to anyone that brings up an interest in solar. I'm extremely happy with how everything turned out. I met with 8 installers, scoured numerous online forums for months, and did a ton of research. It was a daunting task, but in the end, nobody checked all of the boxes like Amerigreen. They offered the best product, value, and professionalism. Guy was the second installer I met with so going through 6 additional quotes took some time on my end. He was never annoying or created a false sense of urgency, which is a major pet peeve. I appreciated his patience and thorough answers to all of my questions. We financed through AG as well. They offered various options and we easily found something that worked for us. I even shopped around and the best financing terms I found, matched what AG was offering. Once the paperwork was signed, their project manager, Rose, was extremely communicative and helpful. Besides needing to move install dates due to the rain, everything flowed smoothly and was right on schedule from Amerigreen's part. The icing on the cake was when the DWP tech came out to install the new meter and commented on how good the electrical work looked and that whoever did the work, did a really good job.
Where there is no specific pricing information available for a brand then we have used state pricing data for that brand.
Solar panel manufacturer | Avg. cost per watt |
---|---|
Canadian Solar | $2.80 |
LG Solar | $3.15 |
SunPower | $3.26 |
Panasonic | $3.18 |
LONGi Solar | $2.73 |
The most important difference between buying solar panels and any other purchase is that solar panels last 25-30 years. This is a long, long time and you will need customer service over all that time. The reviews below of the two largest corporate solar installation companies indicate larger corporate solar companies are not delivering this support to their customers.
We recommend you find a small or mid-size, local, family-owned solar company. These companies tend to care more about you and your specific job. You don't want to be on hold to a corporation's call center for the next 25 years!
The cost of solar doesn't just include the equipment and installation costs - it’s also made up of permitting costs, inspection costs, and installer profit margins.
These different components are what make the price of solar fluctuate between installations. Some of the factors that affect solar power system installation costs for specific homes include:
Homes that use more electricity will need more solar panels to cover their energy needs.
Although solar panels do get cheaper on a per-watt basis, the overall cost of the system will increase as more panels are added.
But, the higher a home’s energy usage, the more solar panels can save the homeowners on their energy bills.
The price of solar panels can vary depending on the type of solar panels you choose.
There are two main types of solar panels for residential solar installations: monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline solar panels tend to be more efficient and more expensive than other solar panels. Polycrystalline panels have a lower efficiency rating and come at a lower price point.
The type of inverter you buy will also influence the cost of your solar system.
You may see some solar quotes with prices that seem too good to be true.
If you get quoted for a ridiculously cheap price, the installer might be using low-quality equipment or an unsustainable pricing model. You want to use a solar installer that is charging enough so that they can stay in business - as you’ll be relying on them for the next 25 years!
It’s important to make sure that your installer is giving you the best quality at the best price possible. This is why getting multiple solar quotes is so important.
The overall cost of solar can be influenced by the solar incentives available.
Across the U.S., homeowners can apply for the federal solar tax credit, also called the ITC. The solar tax credit makes installing solar more cost-effective by providing homeowners with a tax credit equal to 26% of the cost of their installed solar panel system.
Local solar tax incentives and rebates can end up saving homeowners thousands on a solar installation, especially when they’re used with the federal solar tax credit.
See what solar incentives are available in your area by using our solar panel calculator.
The cost of installing residential solar panels in Irvine varies with the brand of solar panels and inverters you choose, the installation company you choose to install them, the relative ease or difficulty of installing solar panels on your home, and of course the amount of solar panels you need. The amount of solar panels you need is, in turn, related to your energy usage.
The table below shows the data extracted from a real life quote delivered through the SolarReviews marketplace recently for a fairly typical home in Irvine.
As you can see the payback period is relatively short and equates to a much better return on investment than he historical returns that have been available from investing in things like shares or property.
System information | Value |
---|---|
System Size (for 100% usage offset) | 7.04 kW |
Annual power generation | 8,333 kWh |
Pay-back time (assuming Cash purchase) | 6.6 Years |
Internal rate of return (IRR) on investment | 12.8% |
Gross cost | $18,432 |
Total Upfront Incentives and Rebates | -$7,292 |
Net Cost of System after rebated and incentives | $11,137 |
Total Cost of Utility Power Avoided over 25 years | $58,320 |
Please note that the investment return figures do not include the possible increase in property value