Best solar companies California
California
Three things decide the best solar company for your home, and this page walks all three in order: what customers report in reviews, what companies actually build in public installation records, and what the bid says for your address. No paid placement anywhere in between.
Step 1 · Reviews
Companies with fewer than 20 published reviews are not scored. Review scores are separate from the install-volume rankings below: a company can be busy without being good, and good without being big. Open a county ranking to compare review scores side by side.
Step 2 · Public records
946K+ home solar systems appear in California public utility records through May 2026. We use those records, not ads or paid reviews, to see who actually installs in each market. Reported cost medians are county-level owned-system records. Solar.com base prices are before roof, electrical, battery, and site adders.
| County | Systems | Active installersEvery company that filed an interconnection in 2025, including small and occasional operations. | % leasedShare of recorded systems that are third party owned: a lease or power purchase agreement. The remainder are customer owned. | Reported cost medianMedian self-reported install cost on owned-system interconnection records, per watt. | solar.com base |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego CountyA mature SDG&E market where high rates and the Net Billing Tariff make solar plus storage the normal design. | 285,020 | 548all sizes, 2025 | 23.4% | $4.82/Wowned systems, CPUC | from $2.53/Wbefore site adders |
| Riverside CountyBig inland loads, low base pricing, and a sharp split between SCE battery economics and Riverside Public Utilities municipal rules. | 198,935 | 514all sizes, 2025 | 44.6% | $4.13/Wowned systems, CPUC | from $2.41/Wbefore site adders |
| Los Angeles CountyThe largest installer field shown here, with SCE territory plus municipal pockets like LADWP, Glendale, Pasadena, and Burbank. | 190,760 | 744all sizes, 2025 | 35.1% | $3.99/Wowned systems, CPUC | from $2.54/Wbefore site adders |
| San Bernardino CountyFoothill and Inland Empire homes with large summer loads, SCE exposure, and one of the highest TPO shares in the dataset. | 142,132 | 444all sizes, 2025 | 45.5% | $4.25/Wowned systems, CPUC | from $2.54/Wbefore site adders |
| Orange CountyA dense coastal and inland market where SCE dominates, with Anaheim Public Utilities as the big municipal exception. | 129,570 | 621all sizes, 2025 | 28.3% | $4.13/Wowned systems, CPUC | from $2.54/Wbefore site adders |
| Fresno CountyPG&E and SCE territory with 96,749 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 96,749 | 281all sizes, 2025 | 34.5% | $3.85/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Kern CountyPG&E and SCE territory with 90,384 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 90,384 | 302all sizes, 2025 | 39.0% | $3.73/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Contra Costa CountyPG&E territory with 89,151 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 89,151 | 364all sizes, 2025 | 23.2% | $4.54/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Santa Clara CountyPG&E territory with 86,450 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 86,450 | 370all sizes, 2025 | 18.7% | $4.58/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Alameda CountyPG&E territory with 75,871 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 75,871 | 348all sizes, 2025 | 18.6% | $4.58/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| San Joaquin CountyPG&E territory with 62,444 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 62,444 | 246all sizes, 2025 | 37.1% | $3.56/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Ventura CountySCE territory with 41,675 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 41,675 | 324all sizes, 2025 | 34.1% | $3.76/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Tulare CountyPG&E and SCE territory with 41,076 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 41,076 | 206all sizes, 2025 | 47.8% | $3.21/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Solano CountyPG&E territory with 39,395 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 39,395 | 180all sizes, 2025 | 30.4% | $3.92/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Placer CountyPG&E territory with 38,912 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 38,912 | 229all sizes, 2025 | 23.4% | $3.37/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Sonoma CountyPG&E territory with 31,435 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 31,435 | 223all sizes, 2025 | 17.5% | $4.85/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| San Mateo CountyPG&E territory with 26,324 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 26,324 | 268all sizes, 2025 | 15.1% | $5.30/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| San Luis Obispo CountyPG&E territory with 24,599 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 24,599 | 132all sizes, 2025 | 26.4% | $4.34/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| El Dorado CountyPG&E territory with 22,090 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 22,090 | 182all sizes, 2025 | 27.0% | $4.27/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Yolo CountyPG&E territory with 20,349 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 20,349 | 152all sizes, 2025 | 26.4% | $4.32/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Butte CountyPG&E territory with 20,214 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 20,214 | 173all sizes, 2025 | 17.7% | $3.81/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Santa Barbara CountyPG&E and SCE territory with 18,621 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 18,621 | 151all sizes, 2025 | 32.0% | $4.15/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Madera CountyPG&E territory with 17,936 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 17,936 | 152all sizes, 2025 | 31.9% | $3.42/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Monterey CountyPG&E territory with 17,229 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 17,229 | 143all sizes, 2025 | 33.8% | $4.58/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Merced CountyPG&E territory with 16,552 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 16,552 | 133all sizes, 2025 | 35.7% | $3.53/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Marin CountyPG&E territory with 14,948 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 14,948 | 183all sizes, 2025 | 10.7% | $5.53/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Kings CountyPG&E and SCE territory with 13,767 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 13,767 | 129all sizes, 2025 | 45.5% | $3.33/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| San Francisco CountyPG&E territory with 12,896 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 12,896 | 124all sizes, 2025 | 5.7% | $5.32/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Santa Cruz CountyPG&E territory with 12,758 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 12,758 | 128all sizes, 2025 | 15.9% | $5.31/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Sutter CountyPG&E territory with 10,059 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 10,059 | 93all sizes, 2025 | 27.5% | $4.29/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Yuba CountyPG&E territory with 10,019 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 10,019 | 109all sizes, 2025 | 31.4% | $3.38/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Napa CountyPG&E territory with 8,918 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 8,918 | 141all sizes, 2025 | 20.4% | $4.52/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Shasta CountyPG&E territory with 7,102 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 7,102 | 89all sizes, 2025 | 13.2% | $4.50/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Nevada CountyPG&E territory with 6,361 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 6,361 | 111all sizes, 2025 | 19.0% | $4.99/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Stanislaus CountyPG&E territory with 6,312 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 6,312 | 82all sizes, 2025 | 31.6% | $3.32/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| San Benito CountyPG&E territory with 5,875 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 5,875 | 69all sizes, 2025 | 31.9% | $3.06/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Tehama CountyPG&E territory with 5,597 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 5,597 | 75all sizes, 2025 | 27.0% | $4.69/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Calaveras CountyPG&E territory with 5,471 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 5,471 | 84all sizes, 2025 | 30.0% | $4.96/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Lake CountyPG&E territory with 4,507 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 4,507 | 69all sizes, 2025 | 29.3% | $5.24/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Tuolumne CountyPG&E territory with 4,428 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 4,428 | 73all sizes, 2025 | 22.3% | $5.93/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Amador CountyPG&E territory with 4,230 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 4,230 | 76all sizes, 2025 | 36.8% | $4.34/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Humboldt CountyPG&E territory with 3,979 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 3,979 | 58all sizes, 2025 | 4.7% | $4.20/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Glenn CountyPG&E territory with 3,055 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 3,055 | 42all sizes, 2025 | 28.5% | $4.47/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Mendocino CountyPG&E territory with 2,911 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 2,911 | 59all sizes, 2025 | 15.6% | $4.65/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Colusa CountyPG&E territory with 2,040 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 2,040 | 34all sizes, 2025 | 35.0% | $4.48/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
| Mariposa CountyPG&E territory with 1,277 recorded home solar systems in public interconnection records. | 1,277 | 50all sizes, 2025 | 19.3% | $4.45/Wowned systems, CPUC | address-based |
% leased counts systems recorded as third party owned, meaning a lease or power purchase agreement. The remainder are customer owned. Active installer counts include every company that filed an interconnection that year, down to small and occasional operations. Counts come from PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E interconnection records; homes served by municipal utilities like LADWP, SMUD, and city power departments interconnect through their local utility instead, so companies focused on those territories show fewer records here. Star ratings and review counts are from Google.
285,020 systems · from $2.53/W
198,935 systems · from $2.41/W
190,760 systems · from $2.54/W
142,132 systems · from $2.54/W
129,570 systems · from $2.54/W
96,749 systems · 56 ranked
90,384 systems · 50 ranked
89,151 systems · 48 ranked
86,450 systems · 53 ranked
75,871 systems · 49 ranked
62,444 systems · 37 ranked
41,675 systems · 25 ranked
41,076 systems · 25 ranked
39,395 systems · 22 ranked
38,912 systems · 19 ranked
31,435 systems · 23 ranked
26,324 systems · 17 ranked
24,599 systems · 11 ranked
22,090 systems · 20 ranked
20,349 systems · 16 ranked
20,214 systems · 15 ranked
18,621 systems · 10 ranked
17,936 systems · 14 ranked
17,229 systems · 10 ranked
16,552 systems · 12 ranked
14,948 systems · 12 ranked
13,767 systems · 10 ranked
12,896 systems · 22 ranked
12,758 systems · 14 ranked
10,059 systems · 18 ranked
10,019 systems · 11 ranked
8,918 systems · 14 ranked
7,102 systems · 20 ranked
6,361 systems · 14 ranked
6,312 systems · 28 ranked
5,875 systems · 17 ranked
5,597 systems · 13 ranked
5,471 systems · 10 ranked
4,507 systems · 12 ranked
4,428 systems · 11 ranked
4,230 systems · 18 ranked
3,979 systems · 18 ranked
3,055 systems · 13 ranked
2,911 systems · 26 ranked
2,040 systems · 16 ranked
1,277 systems · 10 ranked
In SCE, SDG&E, and PG&E territory, the power you send back to the grid is credited at less than you pay for power you use. A battery fixes that: store the afternoon solar, use it during the expensive evening hours. Most new California systems now include one.
LADWP, Riverside, Anaheim, Glendale, Pasadena, and Burbank run their own utilities with their own rules, so a solar-only system can still pencil for some addresses.
High and rising electric bills make solar valuable, but the right system size depends on the local rate plan, roof, usage, and battery. That's an address-level answer, not a statewide one.
Run your address and see direct pricing for California in about two minutes. No sales call required.
It depends on your county, utility, roof, and ownership preference. California has large national operators and strong local installers, so the right answer is the best direct bid for your address, not a statewide popularity list.
Yes, but it is battery-first in investor-owned utility territory. Exports are worth less than retail, so the winning design stores afternoon solar for evening use instead of oversizing around exports.
Yes. LADWP, Riverside Public Utilities, Anaheim Public Utilities, Glendale Water & Power, Pasadena Water & Power, and Burbank Water and Power set their own rules. Some can support simpler solar-only economics than SCE or SDG&E territory.
TPO means third-party owned solar, usually a lease or power-purchase agreement. A higher TPO share means more local homeowners chose a lease-style structure instead of buying the system outright.
It gives you a transparent starting point for direct pricing before roof, electrical, battery, and site-specific adders. Your final quote still needs the address-level model.
Methodology: Counts are residential PV interconnections in investor-owned-utility territory (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E) per CPUC Rule 21 public records through May 2026. Postal and name variants are merged. Municipal utility territory such as LADWP, Glendale, Pasadena, Burbank, Anaheim, and Riverside Public Utilities is not included in those CPUC counts. Counts show recorded installations, not quality ratings. Reported costs are self-reported on owned-system interconnections. No installer can pay for placement.