Top 5 Solar Companies in Los Angeles, CA: 2026 Comparison
Choosing among solar companies in Los Angeles is harder than it was a year ago. The federal 30% homeowner credit (Section 25D) no longer applies to systems installed after December 31, 2025. That makes warranties, financing structure, and installer reliability matter more.
This guide compares five Los Angeles solar companies: Solar Optimum, OC Solar, NRG Clean Power, Sunrun, and LA Solar Group. We ranked them using the criteria below. This is an editorial comparison of published information, not a test of any company’s work. The ranking is not an endorsement, and the right installer depends on your roof, utility, and budget.
Quick Comparison Table
| Rank | Company | Best For | Key Services | Pricing |
| 1 | Solar Optimum | Warranty-focused buyers | Solar, Tesla Powerwall, roofing, commercial | Quote required |
| 2 | OC Solar | Premium equipment, residential | Solar, batteries, EV chargers, repowering | Quote required |
| 3 | NRG Clean Power | Local LA-area service, batteries | Solar, storage, monitoring, cleaning | Quote required |
| 4 | Sunrun | $0-down lease or PPA | Lease, PPA, loan, purchase, storage | Quote required (monthly rates vary) |
| 5 | LA Solar Group | Shoppers comparing many bids | Solar, roofing, batteries, in-house financing | Quote required |
Top 5 Solar Companies in Los Angeles, CA: 2026 Comparison
1. Solar Optimum
Best for: Homeowners who care most about long warranty coverage.
Overview: Solar Optimum has been around since 2008 and is based right here in Los Angeles. It handles both residential and commercial jobs across greater LA and Southern California, and EnergySage includes it on its list of top solar companies for the area.
Key features: The company advertises 25-year warranties covering panels, inverters, racking, the roof, and workmanship, along with a 25-year performance guarantee. If you sell your home, the warranty goes with it. For batteries, it installs the Tesla Powerwall. It has also won Panasonic Solar’s National Installer of the Year award.
Drawbacks: Some customers say its pricing runs higher than competitors’, and a few reviews mention customer service problems. Also keep in mind that a 25-year promise only matters if the company is still in business, so read the written terms before you sign.
Who should consider it: Buyers who plan to keep their system for the long haul and want a single company responsible for the panels, the roof, and the battery.
Why it ranks here: Of the five companies, it has the best mix of local presence, warranty scope, and review volume, which is why it takes the top spot.
2. OC Solar
Best for: Residential buyers who want premium equipment and a smaller, specialized installer.
Overview: OC Solar is a licensed residential installer based in Irvine that serves Los Angeles County and surrounding counties. It reports more than 30 megawatts installed.
Key features: It installs panels and batteries from brands such as Tesla, Enphase, Qcells, REC, Silfab, SolarEdge, and FranklinWH, and offers EV chargers and solar repair. Its EnergySage profile lists Panasonic Elite and Powerwall Premier installer status.
Advantages: Wide equipment choice and consistently positive reviews on the platforms we found.
Drawbacks: The company is not in EnergySage’s vetted network, and its profile there shows only about 20 reviews. That is a small sample. It is also based in Orange County and residential-focused, so it is not a fit for large commercial projects.
Who should consider it: Homeowners who want specific brands and are comfortable with a smaller company.
Why it ranks here: Positive reputation and flexibility, held back by fewer reviews.
3. NRG Clean Power
Best for: Los Angeles-area homeowners who want a long-established local installer.
Overview: Solar.com lists NRG Clean Power as a Los Angeles installer operating since 1987. A third-party directory lists services including battery storage, monitoring, and roof assessment. Its credentials there (NABCEP, BBB accreditation, a 40-year workmanship warranty) are self-reported and unverified.
Advantages: Google shows 4.5 stars across 361 reviews, and reviewers often describe the sales team as polished and responsive.
Drawbacks: Yelp averages 3.9 stars, and Solar.com’s score ranks it #179 of 240 scored California installers. Some reviews describe undisclosed installation constraints or disputes over what was promised. Get all inclusions in writing.
Who should consider it: Buyers who value a local company and will scrutinize the contract.
Why it ranks here: Solid Google volume and local roots, offset by mixed Yelp and score data.
4. Sunrun
Best for: Homeowners who want solar with $0 down and would rather not deal with maintenance.
Overview: Sunrun is a national company, so it isn’t a local LA outfit. Some installs are done by its own crews and others by certified third-party installers. You can lease, sign a PPA, take a loan, or buy outright. Before you get too far along, confirm they actually serve your address.
Warranty: If you lease or sign a PPA, Sunrun covers maintenance for 25 years. If you buy, you get a 10-year workmanship warranty.
Advantages: The big draws are the low upfront cost and having maintenance bundled in.
Drawbacks: Lease and PPA contracts often run 20 to 30 years, and canceling early can cost you. Some homeowners also say their bills ended up higher than what they were quoted. Solar.com gives Sunrun a 6.6/10, based on 638 Google reviews averaging 4.1 stars. The critical reviews tend to mention slow service and problems with subcontractors.
Who should consider it: People who like knowing what they’ll pay each month and don’t care about owning the system.
Why it ranks here: The lease setup is solid, but the reputation is mixed and you get less say over equipment, so it lands at number 4
5. LA Solar Group
Best for: Shoppers who want an additional bid, with careful contract review.
Overview: The Los Angeles company says it holds both C-10 and C-46 contractor licenses and has installed them since 2011. It offers panels, roofing, and batteries, with cash, loan, lease, and PPA options.
Warranty: The company advertises 25-year production, product, labor, and roofing warranties.
Advantages: Broad offerings, including roofing and in-house financing.
Drawbacks: SolarReviews shows 3.2 stars across 88 reviews. Some reviews allege weak after-sale service under warranty, while others are strongly positive. EnergySage notes it has not screened or verified this installer. Verify its license status directly.
Who should consider it: Buyers who have vetted references and want the full range of financing options.
Why it ranks here: The lowest and most polarized review profile of the five.
Solar Panel Cost in Los Angeles
Let’s start with money. EnergySage puts the Los Angeles average at about $2.49 per watt, which works out to roughly $24,358 for a 9.78 kW system before incentives (updated July 2026). Treat that as a ballpark, not a quote. A complicated roof, higher-end equipment, or a battery on top can all raise your total, and prices move around over time. Source: EnergySage.
California Solar Incentives in 2026
The federal homeowner credit (25D) ended in 2025. Leases and PPAs can still lean on a business-claimed credit (48E) through 2027, and that’s a big reason lease deals are so common right now.
California has its own wrinkle. Investor-owned utilities like SCE switched to net billing in 2023, so the electricity you push back to the grid is credited at wholesale rates. LADWP customers are on different rules, so look up what your utility currently pays for exports before you trust anyone’s savings estimate.
One more thing: the solar property tax exclusion is listed as active for systems completed by December 31, 2026.
How We Selected the Companies
For each provider, we checked:
- Service area. Do they work in Los Angeles? We confirmed it where we could.
- Reputation. How many reviews, what ratings across different platforms, and whether complaints follow a pattern.
- Warranty. How long it runs, what it covers, and whether it transfers.
- Services and equipment. Panels, inverters, batteries, roofing.
- Financing. Cash, loans, leases, PPAs.
- Credentials. Licenses and manufacturer certifications. Anything we couldn’t verify is flagged.
A few honest limits. We never interviewed customers or inspected an installation. None of these companies publishes its pricing, so cost played no role in the ranking. And ranks 3 and 4 are close, so if you’d flip them, we wouldn’t argue.
Solar Panel Installation in Los Angeles: How to Choose
First, check the license. Go to the California Contractors State License Board site (cslb.ca.gov), search the contractor’s number, and confirm an active C-46 (solar) or C-10 (electrical) classification.
Next, ask questions. Who will be on your roof: the company’s own employees or subcontractors? What does the workmanship warranty cover, and for how many years? Can that warranty pass to a new owner? If you sell the house, what happens to a lease or PPA? And does the quote include permits, utility interconnection, and any panel upgrade you might need?
Finally, know the warning signs. Be skeptical if you’re pushed to sign today, promised savings before anyone has looked at your usage data, handed vague warranty language, or given a quote that doesn’t name the equipment models.
FAQ’s
What are the best solar companies in Los Angeles, CA?
There’s no single winner. This guide looks at Solar Optimum, OC Solar, NRG Clean Power, Sunrun, and LA Solar Group, using publicly available info. Which one suits you comes down to a few things: your budget, which utility you’re with, and whether you’d rather own your system or lease it.
How much does solar panel installation cost in Los Angeles?
The typical price is approximately $2.49 per watt (excluding incentives), according to EnergySage. For a 10kW system, this comes to about $24,000. Your quote may be different because of your roof, the equipment you select, and whether you include a battery.
Is there still a federal solar tax credit?
Not for most homeowners. The 25D credit ended for systems installed after 2025. Leases and PPAs might still qualify for a business tax credit through 2027, and that can show up in the pricing. It’s worth running your situation by a tax professional.
Should I buy, finance, or lease solar panels in Los Angeles?
Generally, buying is the most cost-effective over time, but it will cost more initially. That initial cost is eliminated with leases and PPAs, and the contracts are typically 20- to 30-year terms. No matter what you’re thinking, look at the overall expense throughout the period of time, not the monthly bill.
What should I look for in a solar warranty?
Inspect the following: panels, inverter, workmanship, and roof penetrations. Look at any warranty coverage and whether it can be transferred to the new homeowner or who actually is making the claim. A 25-year warranty is meaningless if the company is not around in year 10.
How can I verify a solar company’s credentials?
Visit cslb.ca.gov and type in the contractor’s license number to see the contractor classification, license status, and complaints against the contractor. Following that, check out the reviews for a few different sites rather than relying on one.
Are batteries available from these installers?
Yes, all five (Solar Optimum, OC Solar, NRG Clean Power, LA Solar Group, and Sunrun) list storage options. Models and availability change often, so ask each company what they’re currently offering.