Florida, the Sunshine State, gets a ton of sunlight, and hurricanes, too. What that means is that if you're a Florida resident, you could benefit from putting solar panels on your home and perhaps installing a battery for backup power. In times of inclement weather, you want to be energy independent, and a solar setup is the way to do it.

The cost of going solar has been consistently dropping as solar panel technology gets better. On top of that, the Inflation Reduction Act came bundled with a federal tax credit that'll provide you a hefty 30% rebate on the cost of your solar panels. This means that there has never been a better time to go solar.

Florida also has some state incentives to make your solar switch a better investment. Solar panels have property and sales tax exemptions to make the investment a little less pricey, and net metering policies let you "sell" your excess energy to gain credits for when your solar panels don't produce enough energy for your household.

In order to get started on your energy independence journey, you'll need to pick a solar installer. We've put together a guide to some of the top solar panel installers in Florida, along with other information you'll need to know as you choose to go solar. 

Best national solar panel companies in Florida

Here are a few of our picks for the best national solar companies that service Florida.

Palmetto Solar

Best overall

Solar panels are typically low maintenance equipment, but they're also unfamiliar. If you want to reap the benefits of solar but will have a bit more peace of mind if someone else is making sure it's working, Palmetto might be a good fit for you. Just remember to add the cost of Palmetto's monitoring service in to your payback period calculations.

SunPower Solar

Best solar panels

If you're looking for top-of-the-line solar panels, SunPower is your best choice. But don't write it off if you're looking for a less flashy installation that will get the job done. This year it started installing Qcells panels, which should make an installation from the longest-tenured company on our list available to more people.

Elevation

Whole home approach

Elevation's focus on your home's energy efficiency isn't the norm in the industry. If you're planning on addressing energy efficiency first, working with Elevation allows you to keep the whole process with one company. Elevation's solar equipment comes from well-established and well-regarded companies. Elevation's warranties on workmanship and weatherization could be a bit longer.

Freedom Forever

Best for cash customers

Include Freedom Forever in your search if you want the backing of a national company that installs a wide variety of the most popular solar equipment available. Freedom Forever also extends a couple of products that take some of the pain and risk out of going solar, like a production guarantee and an escrow option with cash purchases. Online reviews say customer satisfaction has been low of late, though the company says that's changing.

Tesla Solar

Most affordable

Tesla's solar branch seems to be the least loved of Elon Musk's ventures. Even Tesla's Solar Roof seems to get more love.

If price is the thing you won't budge on, consider Tesla. By all accounts, Tesla installs quality panels and makes the closest thing there is to a household name in solar storage: the Powerwall.

Where you might miss out is customer service. Discussion online seems to suggest Tesla's service is a bit of a gamble.

Momentum Solar

All in-house installers

Momentum installs in 11 states without using subcontractors. While using in-house installers doesn't guarantee a better experience, it does suggest you're likely to get a more uniform experience from Momentum. The fact that Momentum backs its installations with a 25-year workmanship warranty hints at a strong belief in its crews' ability. If Momentum is part of your search, consider the warranties against leaks that other companies offer. Momentum's is five years, which isn't the best.

Local solar panel companies in Florida

During your solar search, you should consider looking into local solar companies in your area. We pulled a few Florida solar companies with some of the highest average Google review scores. However, it's important to do some local solar scouting on your own too, or get referrals from people you know. Here are a few local solar companies in Florida that might be worth considering.

How to determine which solar company in Florida is best for me

The right solar installer for your home is an installer that has experience with the type of solar project that you're interested in. You'll want to make sure your solar installer has experience working on the type of roof that you have, and the system type you want installed, such as grid-tied or off-grid. 

Ben Delman, a communications director with Solar United Neighbors, a clean energy nonprofit, recommends that homeowners look for solar companies that are certified by the NABCEP and have the proper licensing and bonding for their work. Reading through online reviews from multiple sources can also help you get a better understanding of a solar company's reputation. A few places to start looking for solar company reviews are Google, Yelp and Angie's. Delman recommends looking for solar companies that have at least 20 to 30 reviews. Try asking people you know if they have any installer recommendations too.

Aside from certifications and reviews, there are a few other things to look for in a solar company. A good installer, Delman said, will be able to:

• Provide good word-of-mouth references
• Define technical terms in an easy-to-understand manner
• Understand the local permit requirements and the process for system interconnection with the local power company
• Be transparent about pricing and how system financing works
• Clearly explain the project and working deadlines
• Understand homeowners association restrictions and help you navigate and explain that process
• Answer any questions you have, no matter how difficult the questions are 

If you're ever unsure about project or pricing details, always ask for clarification before moving forward with installation. Make sure to shop around and gather multiple quotes for the best price possible. Delman recommends comparing at least three quotes before picking your solar installer. 

Read more: Just looking for an emergency backup? Check out portable folding solar panels and solar powered generators. 

Cost of solar panels in Florida 

Here's a look at the average cash price for a typical solar panel system before factoring in tax credits and other incentives, according to data from FindEnergy.com.

We've also put together a helpful graphic to illustrate the average total cash price, cost per watt and system size for a typical solar panel setup in your state, according to data from FindEnergy.com. The prices shown in the infogram below don't factor in tax credits or state incentives. Certain states don't have any FindEnergy solar data and are grayed out on the map.

Florida solar panel incentives and rebates

When considering the cost of a solar system in Florida, you should also factor in solar incentives, tax credits and rebates, which can significantly reduce the price.

The biggest incentive is the federal residential clean energy credit, which credits 30% of the total cost of a solar panel system back when you file your income taxes.

In addition to the federal tax credit, there are several Florida solar incentives. Some utility companies offer solar incentives, so check with your electricity provider for more details about incentives specific to your area. Here are a few examples of Florida solar incentives. 

How to pay for solar panels in Florida

Solar panels are an expensive investment. If you're serious about going solar, take some time to think through all your options and find the best payment method for your financial needs. Here are a few common ways to pay for your solar panels.

Cash: If it's in your budget, paying for your solar panels with cash is your best option. There won't be any financing fees or high interest rates, and your eligibility for tax incentives and rebates won't be at risk. If you plan to go solar in the future, consider putting some money into a high-yield savings account, which will help you generate more money over time. 

Solar loan: Solar companies usually offer financing options for solar panels, often referred to as a solar loan. These loans are typically overseen by a third party, so carefully look through any associated fees and interest rates. 

Other loans: You have other financing possibilities beyond a solar loan. Taking out a personal loan with your bank or opening a home equity line of credit are a couple other options. However, if you choose to go with a HELOC, there are some risks involved. If you can't pay back what you owe, your home could face foreclosure. 

Lease or power purchase agreement: If you aren't interested in owning solar panels, you can sign a solar lease or enter a power purchase agreement. A solar lease means you'll pay for the use of a company-owned solar system. Entering a power purchase agreement means you'll pay for the electricity generated by a company-owned system at a fixed rate. This rate is usually lower than the retail rate provided by the local power company. Ask your solar provider which options are available for you. 

Installation factors to consider

Before investing in solar panels, there are several factors to consider that can impact whether solar is right for you. Here are some installation aspects to think about ahead of time.

• What is the age and condition of your roof? If your roof is older or in poor shape, you should consider repairing or replacing it before installing solar panels. Additionally, the size, shape and slope of your roof can affect how much electricity your solar system produces. The Department of Energy says solar panels are most efficient on south-facing roofs with a slope of between 15 to 40 degrees. 
• Are there neighborhood or HOA regulations where you live? Some HOAs or neighborhood associations may have an approval process, regulations or design requirements for solar panels. Before installing panels on your property, be sure to check the regulations in your neighborhood.
• Can you insure your solar system? Most homeowners' insurance policies cover rooftop solar panels. After installation, contact your homeowner's insurance agency to update your policy, so it includes coverage for your solar panels. 
• Does your home receive adequate sunlight? Solar panels will produce more electricity in direct sunlight (although they can still generate some electricity in indirect sun). A solar panel system will be most efficient when it receives at least 4 hours of direct sunlight daily. Florida tends to experience more sunny days than the national average and solar panel systems usually run efficiently for Floridians. However, if your home gets shade coverage throughout the day, your solar panels won't generate as much power as they would in direct sunlight.
• Are you renting your home? If you rent your home or live in an apartment, condo or townhouse, you may not be allowed to install solar panels. Consult with your landlord or property manager to confirm whether rooftop solar is an option. If you're prohibited but still want to switch to solar energy, community solar programs present an alternative. Community solar (sometimes called shared solar) lets you subscribe to electricity from solar panels at another location. You then receive a credit on your energy bills. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Florida leads the nation in community solar capacity, accounting for more than 30% of US power generated by shared solar projects. 

How we found the best solar companies 

Doing a hands-on review of a solar company and accounting for all the differences between projects is tricky. Instead, we focused on what we can evaluate and measure among solar companies.

When evaluating solar companies, we focus on three categories: equipment, warranties and service. 

In the equipment category, companies receive scores for the solar panels, batteries and inverters they install. The warranty category includes the guarantees on the solar panels, workmanship and weatherization against leaks. Companies earn points in the service category if they offer a price match guarantee, a decent level of price transparency and a highly rated app for monitoring solar energy production. Companies lose points if there are any major issues concerning customer service, including lawsuits, investigations or reputations for low-quality service. These service issues will always be detailed in the review.

Here's a more detailed look at how we break down the scoring.

We don't consider the average price of a company's installations in their score. Accurate pricing information is hard to find and tricky to compare across service areas and project to project. Companies are often slow to disclose their prices as well. We also leave out easy-to-find (but not useful information), such as how many states a company operates in.

Florida solar power FAQs