By The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Solar installation companies in 2026 split into three tiers (national, regional, local) and two business models (EPC vs. dealer), and the most useful quality signal is NABCEP certification of the lead installer on your job. Pick the wrong company and a 25-year system warranty can be held by a contractor who is out of business 3 years after the install. Related: solar install companies comparison. The sections below name the major players in mid-2026 and end with a vetting checklist.
The Three Tiers of the Market
National installers operate in 15+ states with their own crews and project managers, with financing partnerships and the scale to honor warranties for 10+ years. They are also the most expensive ($3.20 to $4.00 per watt installed in 2026, per this page’s market range) and the most likely to use door-to-door sales.
Regional installers operate in 3-10 states or a single multi-state region (Sun Belt, Mountain West, Mid-Atlantic). They have lower overhead and lower prices ($2.80-3.50 per watt) but their warranty backing is only as strong as their balance sheet, which is often thin. Some are excellent operators; some are dressed up to look national and are not.
Local installers operate in 1-3 metro areas with 5-30 employees. Lowest prices ($2.60-3.20 per watt) and best customer experience for the well-run ones. The risk is that they go out of business and the workmanship warranty disappears. For the broader vetting playbook, our how to choose solar installer piece walks the full process.
The Major National Installers in Mid-2026
Sunrun. Largest residential solar installer in the US. Public company (NASDAQ: RUN). Operates in 20+ states. Heavy emphasis on solar lease and PPA financing (you don’t own the panels). Strengths: brand, scale, warranty backing. Weaknesses: most expensive in the market, lease/PPA contracts that lock the homeowner into 20-25 year escalators, mixed customer service reviews.
Sunnova. Public company (NYSE: NOVA). Operates in 40+ states via a hybrid model: some markets they install directly, most markets they partner with dealer-installers. Stronger on financing than on install quality (because the dealer network varies). Filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in 2025 and emerged, so financial backing is now a real question for long-term warranties.
Palmetto. Operates in 25+ states with a mix of direct install and dealer model, focused on cash sales and homeowner-owned systems rather than lease/PPA.
Trinity Solar. Operates in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic primarily. Family-owned, in business since 1994. Direct install model with own crews. Strong customer reviews. Smaller national footprint but better operational quality.
Momentum Solar. Operates in 10+ states. Aggressive sales model that has generated regulatory attention in multiple states. Pricing is high. Read contracts carefully.
ADT Solar. ADT acquired Sunpro Solar in 2021 and rebranded as ADT Solar. Operates in 20+ states. ADT shut down the residential solar business in early 2024, and most existing customers were transferred to other installers for ongoing service. If you have an ADT Solar (or legacy Sunpro) install, your service contact has changed; check your paperwork.
Freedom Forever. Operates in 25+ states via the dealer model, one of the largest dealer networks, with mid-market pricing; ask which dealer and which installer will do your job.
Ion Solar. Operates in 15+ states. Mostly direct install. Stronger on Mountain West and Mid-Atlantic. Mid-market pricing.
GreenHome Systems. Operates in 10+ states. Mostly direct install with some dealer partnerships. Mid-market pricing and reasonable customer reviews.
EPC vs. Dealer Model: The Key Distinction
EPC (engineering, procurement, construction) model: one company handles design, equipment sourcing, permitting, installation, interconnection and post-install service, so a year-5 problem has one phone number and one labor warranty.
Dealer model: a sales company sells the system to you, then transfers the install to a sub-contracted installer. The sales company collects a sales fee (typically $0.50-1.00 per watt, sometimes more). The installer does the work for whatever margin is left after the sales company takes their cut. The customer relationship is fragmented across two parties.
The dealer-model problem is split accountability: the sales company points at the installer and the installer points at the sales company. With a sales fee of $0.50 to $1.00 per watt taken first, the installer’s margin is squeezed, which can mean lower-cost equipment and a rushed install. Whether the workmanship warranty transfers depends on how the dealer agreement is written.
To tell if a company uses the dealer model, ask “do your own employees install my system, or do you sub it out?” Also ask “who do I call in year 3 if something fails?” If the answer involves a phone tree that routes between two different companies, that is the dealer model. Ask each company directly which model applies in your market; footprints change, and the answer should be in writing. Local installers are usually EPC.
NABCEP Certification: The Real Quality Signal
NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) is the industry-leading certification for solar professionals. The credential that matters for residential install is the NABCEP PV Installation Professional certification. It requires documented field experience, passing a written exam, and continuing education.
NABCEP certification signals documented field experience and a passed exam, so it is a better screen than a company website claim. Certified installers may charge more; ask what the extra covers in the workmanship warranty.
How to verify: ask the salesperson if any of the company’s installers hold the NABCEP PV Installation Professional credential. Then verify the person on the NABCEP certificant directory at nabcep.org. If the company is vague about which specific installer will work on your roof, ask for a name and verify that person individually. If the company refuses to identify a specific NABCEP-certified installer, that is a flag.
Equipment Tier: Where the Margin Hides
Equipment is the other place to vet. A system has four major components: panels, inverter, mounting hardware and monitoring, and budget-tier equipment can differ from top-tier by an estimated 30 to 50 percent on cost, which shows up in performance and warranty claims.
Panels: Tier 1 brands include Maxeon (formerly SunPower), REC Group, Panasonic (exited residential in 2024 but supports legacy installs), Q CELLS, Canadian Solar, LG (exited solar in 2022 but supports legacy), and Silfab. Tier 2 brands include Trina Solar, JA Solar, Jinko Solar, and Longi. Tier 3 brands are generally avoided by quality installers. For the brand comparison deep-dive, see our best solar panel brands piece.
Inverters: top brands are Enphase (microinverters), SolarEdge (DC optimizer + string), Tesla (Powerwall integration), Generac (PWRcell). String inverters from SMA, Fronius, and others are also legitimate. The microinverter vs. string inverter choice is a separate decision; see our microinverter vs string inverter piece.
Mounting hardware: IronRidge, SnapNrack, and Unirac are the major rail brands. For tile and slate roofs, specialized mounting from Quick Mount PV or S-5! is required.
Require the exact panel, inverter and mounting brand and model numbers in the contract. If they say “we use top-tier equipment” without naming a brand, that is a flag.
Financing Models: Lease, PPA, Loan, Cash
Financing affects ownership economics as much as price per watt. The four options:
Cash: you pay the full system cost upfront, you own the system, you get all the energy savings. The federal 25D credit that used to take 30 percent off a purchased system ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025 (Public Law 119-21; see the IRS residential clean energy credit page). Best long-term economics, worst cash-flow profile. For most homeowners with the cash, this is the right answer.
Solar loan: you finance through a partner bank (GoodLeap, Sunlight Financial, Mosaic, Dividend) at 6-12% interest over 10-25 years. You own the system and get all the savings minus the loan payment. There is no federal credit for systems installed after 2025, so be wary of any loan that assumes a year-one credit paydown. Watch for dealer fees that get rolled into the loan principal (often 15-30% of system cost, hidden as “financing fees”).
Solar lease: the installer owns the system, you pay a monthly lease payment for 20-25 years. You don’t own the panels, you don’t claim a tax credit, and any federal credit the leasing company may claim under section 48E, subject to the Public Law 119-21 deadlines in 2026 and 2027, shows up, if at all, only in the lease price. You get reduced energy savings net of lease payment. The lease typically escalates 2-3% per year. Total economic value is much lower than ownership. Common with Sunrun.
PPA (power purchase agreement): the installer owns the system, you pay per kilowatt-hour generated at a fixed rate that is below utility rates initially. Similar economics to lease. A PPA provider may be able to claim a commercial federal credit if deadlines in Public Law 119-21 are met, and any benefit would show up only in the contract rate. Common with Sunrun, Sunnova.
The math: a $25,000 cash system saves you $50,000-80,000 over 25 years (depending on utility rates and net metering). A $25,000 leased equivalent saves you $5,000-15,000 over 25 years. The lease/PPA companies make most of their profit on the spread.
For more on the financial picture, see our solar installation cost 2026 and solar roof tax credit 2026 pieces.
Door-to-Door Sales: The Red Flag You Should Heed
If a salesperson knocks on your door uninvited and pitches solar, the right response is “thank you, I’ll do my own research” and close the door. Door-to-door solar sales have drawn state attorney general actions and consumer complaints; check your state AG and CFPB complaint databases for any company you consider.
Door-to-door reps work on commission, so they are paid to close on the spot, before you can shop the market. Common high-pressure tactics include “this discount is only available today,” “you can still get the 30 percent federal tax credit” (for a purchased system installed after December 31, 2025, you cannot; Public Law 119-21 ended the 25D credit), “your utility rate is going up next month and this locks in 2026 rate” (lease/PPA framing), and “we are giving away free solar” (always lease/PPA).
Companies most associated with high-pressure door-to-door sales include Momentum Solar, some Freedom Forever dealers, some Sunnova dealers, and a long tail of smaller dealer networks. The honest companies (Trinity Solar, Palmetto direct, Ion Solar, most local NABCEP-certified installers) also do outbound sales but rely more on inbound leads, referrals, and online channels.
Best practice: get 3 quotes from your own outreach (not from door-to-door reps), insist on EPC companies or verify the dealer relationship clearly, ask for NABCEP-certified installers by name, take 14 days to compare, and never sign on the day of the initial meeting. For broader contractor red flags that apply to solar too, see our red flags roofing contractor and roofing scams pieces.
Warranty Structure: What You Actually Get
Solar warranties come in three layers, each backed by a different party.
Panel warranty (manufacturer, 25-30 years): backed by the panel manufacturer. Covers panel output (typically 80-92% of original at year 25) and panel failure. Strongest with Tier 1 brands. Worthless if the manufacturer goes bankrupt or exits the market (which is why LG and Panasonic exits matter for buyers who installed those panels).
Inverter warranty (manufacturer, 10-25 years): backed by the inverter manufacturer. Enphase microinverters carry 25-year warranty. SolarEdge inverters carry 12-25 years depending on model. String inverters typically 10 years. Inverter replacement at year 10-15 is the most common warranty event in a 25-year solar system.
Workmanship warranty (installer, 5-25 years): backed by the installer. Covers install quality, roof leaks at mounting points, wiring issues, and similar. This is the warranty that becomes worthless if the installer goes out of business. National EPC installers generally honor for the full term. Local installers depend on the business surviving. Dealer-model installers depend on the dealer relationship and how the contract is written.
The honest framing: the workmanship warranty is the riskiest of the three. The way to manage that risk is to either (1) install with an EPC company that has been in business 15 years or more and has a strong balance sheet, (2) install with a NABCEP-certified local installer who has community ties and will likely still be in business, or (3) accept the risk and budget for self-paying any year 10-25 workmanship issues. For the solar warranty specifics, see our solar roof warranty 2026 piece.
The Vetting Checklist
Before signing any solar contract:
Get 3 written quotes from companies you reached out to (not from door-knockers): one national, one regional, one local. Their typical ranges are $3.20 to $4.00, $2.80 to $3.50 and $2.60 to $3.20 per watt, so a quote outside its tier’s range needs an explanation.
Verify each company’s state contractor license (most states require electrical or solar contractor licensing). Verify the license is active and free of major complaints.
Verify NABCEP certification for the company or the specific installer who will work on your roof.
Confirm EPC vs. dealer. If dealer, get the name of the actual installing company and verify it separately.
Ask for the specific panel, inverter, and mounting brand and model. Verify Tier 1 status of panels.
Read the contract for cancellation rights. For a contract signed at your home, the FTC rule (16 CFR 429.1) requires written notice that you may cancel until midnight of the third business day; some high-pressure sellers try to start work inside that window.
Read the financing contract separately. If you are financing, the loan or lease contract is a separate document with its own terms.
Check Better Business Bureau, Google reviews, state attorney general complaint database, and CFPB complaint database for the company.
For installer-vetting workflow, our how to choose solar installer piece walks the full process.
What Net Metering Means for Your Math
Net metering is the state-level policy that sets how much your utility credits you for solar energy exported to the grid. The rules differ by state and utility and change the payback directly.
States with strong net metering (1:1 retail credit for exported energy): currently includes Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, and several others, though the rules are eroding. These states give the best solar economics.
States with weakened net metering: California’s net billing tariff (NEM 3.0) applies to customers who submitted an interconnection application on or after April 15, 2023 (California Public Utilities Commission) and pays lower export rates than NEM 1.0 and 2.0, which pushes homeowners toward batteries and self-consumption.
States with no net metering or minimal credit: solar still pays back through daytime self-consumption, but exports earn little.
See net metering explained 2026. A salesperson who cannot state your utility’s export rate is a flag.
The Roof Question: Make Sure Your Roof Is Solar-Ready
Solar panels last 25-30 years. Asphalt shingles last 20-25 years. The math problem: if you install solar on an asphalt roof that is 12 years old, you will be paying to remove and reinstall the solar system in 8-13 years when the roof needs replacement, at a cost of $3,000-8,000.
The rule: an asphalt roof lasts 20 to 25 years, so if yours has more than 10 to 12 years left, install solar; if less, replace the roof first or install solar on a metal roof that will last the full solar life. For more on the solar-metal combination, see our solar panels on metal roof piece. For solar shingles as a hybrid roof+solar product, see our solar shingles vs panels piece.
Decision table: which company type fits
| If you | Then |
|---|---|
| Want the strongest warranty backing and accept $3.20 to $4.00 per watt | National installer, with the workmanship warranty and installing entity named in writing |
| Want $2.80 to $3.50 per watt in a multi-state region | Regional installer; check its balance sheet and years in business |
| Want $2.60 to $3.20 per watt and a small team | Local EPC installer with a NABCEP-certified lead and 15+ years in business, or budget to self-pay year 10 to 25 labor |
| Were approached at your door | Do not sign that day; cancel by midnight of the third business day if you did |
| Have an asphalt roof more than half through its 20 to 25 year life | Replace the roof first or choose a metal roof |
The Bottom Line
Solar installation companies in 2026 split into nationals, regionals, and locals, with EPC vs. dealer being the biggest structural distinction. Pick a NABCEP-certified installer (verify by name on the registry). Insist on Tier 1 panels and a top-tier inverter (Enphase or SolarEdge). Pay cash or use a transparent solar loan; avoid lease/PPA unless you understand the long-term economics. Get three quotes from companies you reached out to yourself. Never sign on the day of a door-to-door pitch. Verify the workmanship warranty is backed by a company that will likely still exist in 15 years. Do those things and the solar system will deliver the 25-year payback that the brochures promise. Skip them and you may be the customer who pays for the bad reputation the worst operators in this industry have earned.