Alaska’s electricity rates are the second-highest in the U.S., according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Installing solar panels can cut monthly electric bills by 50% or more while reducing your home’s environmental impact. Our team spent 60 hours researching the best solar companies in Alaska, from respected statewide providers to national solar giants. We compared all the best installers and came up with a list of the top ones based on how well they performed in key areas like quality, customer reviews, cost, and warranty coverage.
Compare Solar Energy Companies in Alaska
Alaska’s Top Solar Energy Companies
- Blue Raven Solar: Most Reputable
- Venture Solar: Best Northeast Regional Installer
- Solar Energy World: Best East Coast Installer
- Sunrun: Best Solar Panel Leasing
Our Top Picks for Solar Panel Installation in Alaska
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Offers SunPower’s high-efficiency panels and storage options
- Provides a unique in-house financing option which includes 18 months of free solar energy
- Recognized as one of the most reputable solar companies in the industry
Cons
- Offers one of the shortest production guarantees among our reviewed companies
- Provides services in less than half the country
Why We Chose Blue Raven Solar
SunPower acquired Blue Raven Solar in 2021. The company now offers SunPower’s high-efficiency solar systems and energy storage options. Blue Raven uses in-house installers to complete its projects, resulting in better communication throughout the installation process.
Blue Raven offers unique in-house financing options to make a move to solar economical. Customers can pay for their system in full or select the BluePower Plus+ loan, which provides 18 months of free solar energy with no up-front costs. The first five years of the loan payments are locked into a fixed rate through the SmartStart program.
Warranty and Financing
Warranty
A Blue Raven system has a 25-year product warranty, a 10-year workmanship warranty, and a two-year production guarantee.
Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
Reputation and Awards
The Orem, Utah-based company was founded in 2014. Seven years later it received two awards at the 19th annual American Business Awards. The company earned a Gold Stevie Award for Energy Industry Innovation of the Year and Company of the Year in the large energy categories. In 2022, the Utah Business Magazine’s annual Fast 50 Awards recognized Blue Raven Solar as one of the state’s fastest-growing companies for the fourth year in a row. Blue Raven also appeared on the Inc. 5000 list in 2021 for the third consecutive year.
Blue Raven Solar strives to achieve rewarding experiences for its customers and employees. The solar company won awards in back-to-back years at the Comparably’s Brand Awards, a site known for its comprehensive company culture and reputation reviews. Comparably recognized Blue Raven for Best Operations Team 2022, Best Sales Team 2022, Best Product & Design Team 2022, Best Places to Work in Salt Lake City 2022, and Best Company Outlook 2022. The 2021 wins include Best Company for Diversity 2021, Best CEO 2021, Best Company Work-Life Balance, and Best Career Growth 2021. Blue Raven Solar ranked No. 20 on Glassdoor’s Best Place to Work in the USA in 2021.
Blue Raven Solar partners with Give Power, a non-profit organization committed to providing clean water to water-scarce regions.
The company is accredited with the BBB and currently holds an A rating. We noted that customers praised the knowledgeable staff and prompt installation but warned of poor communication after projects were completed.
States Available
Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington
Venture Solar specializes in installing systems that are perfectly symmetrical and have no visible wiring or mounting devices. This design provides a simple, stylish look tailored to your roof’s appearance. Additionally, Venture offers comprehensive financing options similar to Sunrun, making solar energy more accessible to homeowners.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Provides transparent information about its financing options online
- Includes remote monitoring
- Includes a 25-year roof and system warranty with all panel systems
Cons
- Requires your phone number to submit an online quote
- Reviews mention mixed experiences with customer support
- Doesn’t work with power purchase agreement
How We Scored Venture Solar
Venture earned 4.2 out of 5 stars. It gained most of its points due to its flexible financing options paired with an in-house financing department. It also provides plenty of solar services to match most customers’ wants and needs, though it lost points for lacking roofing services, energy audits, and EV charger installations.
- Solar Equipment and Services (16 out of 25 points): Venture offers solar panel and battery installation with active monitoring. The company lost points in this category because it doesn’t provide EV chargers, solar roof installation services, energy audits, and roof repairs.
- Warranty and Performance Guarantees (25 out of 25 points): The company features excellent warranty perks with 25 years on labor, products, and performance. It also includes roof leak protection.
- Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (13 out of 15 points): Venture has a great reputation. It features high ratings on its BBB profile with an accreditation and no active issues like lawsuits.
- Financing Options (14 out of 15 points): Venture provides financing options through an in-house financing team and works with every payment method except PPAs.
- Industry Experience (7 out of 10 points): The company holds only eight years of experience in the solar industry.
- State Availability (7 out of 10 points): Venture has a limited service area of only three states.
Warranty and Financing
Warranty
Venture offers a 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers workmanship, products, and power output.
Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
State Availability
Available in: Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.
Reputation and Reviews
Venture has an A+ rating and accreditation on its BBB profile. According to customer reviews, the company provides high-quality workmanship on its solar panel systems and good customer support. However, some customers have raised concerns about the pricing and quoting process. They found it confusing to determine the total cost of their system and experienced frequent back-and-forth over pricing.
Some customers also noted that Venture focuses on premium products, leading to higher pricing even when unnecessary. We found several Reddit threads discussing Venture where other solar customers and installers mentioned similar experiences.
Solar Energy World (SEW) is one of the most robust and well-regarded solar installation companies. It boasts several impressive features, such as its 30-year manufacturer’s warranty. Its service area is limited, and it doesn’t offer energy auditing services. We like that SEW discloses what solar panels it primarily works with and that the panels are from trusted, quality brands such as Qcells and Silfab.
Roughly 11% of our surveyed solar users purchased their system from Solar Energy World.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Features an extensive solar product catalog with trusted brands
- Includes free active monitoring
- Hires NABCEP-certified installers and designers
Cons
- Reviews mention communication issues with staff
- Warranty coverage varies by solar panel brand
- Doesn’t offer a power production guarantee
How We Scored Solar Energy World
SEW scored 4.4 out of 5 stars according to our methodology. The company received many points because of its warranty, which is longer than most other solar companies’ warranties. SEW offers a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty on all its solar panels and inverters, whereas many providers only offer 25-year warranties.
- Solar Equipment and Services (18 out of 25 points): The company is an ideal option for many basic solar products and services, such as solar panels and battery installation. It lost points because it doesn’t install EV chargers or perform energy audits.
- Warranty and Performance Guarantees (19 out of 25 points): SEW’s manufacturer and labor warranties are standout features, but the company doesn’t include any production guarantees with its work.
- Brand Reputation and Professional Certifications (15 out of 15 points): The company’s reputation is one of the best, with high BBB and Google Reviews ratings. We also found no active alerts or lawsuits.
- Financing Options (13.5 out of 15 points): SEW offers all possible solar payment options but doesn’t provide an in-house financing department.
- Industry Experience (8 out of 10 points): The company has been in business since 2009, so it received most of the points in this category.
- State Availability (6 out of 10 points): SEW limits its service area to eight East Coast states.
Warranty and Financing
Warranty
SEW offers a 30-year manufacturer’s warranty on all purchased solar panels and inverters. However, coverage varies by brand, and the company doesn’t guarantee them with every panel option.
Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease
✔ PPA
State Availability
Available in: Washington, D.C, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia
Reputation and Reviews
The company landed on Solar Power World’s 2023 Top Solar Contractors List in the No. 10 spot.
The BBB accredits SEW, and the company holds an A+ rating. Former customers praise the company for its professionalism, assistance with applying for financial incentives, and smooth installation process. However, some reported discrepancies in finances and scheduling.
Sunrun offers four financing options, including unique leasing options tailored for homeowners who don’t want system ownership. Prepaid and leased systems get a 25-year warranty that includes 25 years of system service and maintenance plus ongoing monitoring and theft insurance.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Provides system monitoring that signals issues with your system
- Offers diverse financing options to suit various budgets
- Provides EV and solar battery solutions
Cons
- Requires added costs for the same coverage plans as leased and prepaid customers
- Solar and battery availability varies by state
Warranty and Financing
Sunrun backs its systems with a 10-year comprehensive warranty which includes product, roof penetration, and workmanship coverage.
Reputation and Awards
The company earned DroneDeploy’s 2022 Guardian of Safety Award for incorporating drone technology in its site assessments. In 2021 and 2022, Sunrun was recognized by Comparably with 14 awards. Its accolades include Best CEOs for Diversity 2022, Best Company Culture 2021, and Best Company for Women two years in a row.
Sunrun currently holds an A+ rating with BBB and is accredited. Customers praised the comprehensive coverage for leased systems but complained about delayed installations, poor customer service, and poor communication with project managers.
Areas of Coverage
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Vermont
- Wisconsin
- Puerto Rico
- Washington, D.C.
Note: In July 2024, SunPower notified dealers it would be halting all new shipments and project installations. The company also noted it would “no longer be supporting new Leases and PPA sales nor new project installations of these financing options.
Are There Solar Incentives for Alaskan Homeowners?
Alaska doesn’t have any state-level tax credits or rebates for solar, but you’re not out of luck. Here’s how you can still save on solar installation costs:
- Federal Solar Tax Credit: You can deduct up to 30% of your solar installation costs from your federal taxes. To qualify, you need to own your solar panels and your home.
- Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems: This program increases your home’s value without affecting your property taxes, so you can enjoy reduced energy costs without worrying about increased taxes from solar panels increasing your home’s value.
- Net metering: The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (RCA) mandates that all utility companies offer net metering and payouts at the retail rate. This means homeowners receive a payout at the same rate utility companies typically charge for electricity. You can also apply these credits toward your future bills. Check with your utility company for program details to see if this option is available to you.
- Utility company rebates: Some utility companies offer customers additional solar rebates and credits. The Golden Valley Electric Association’s (GVEA) Sustainable Natural Alternative Power program (SNAP) offers a $1.50-per-kWh credit for power generated by your solar system. Under the Alaska Power and Telephone (AP&T) AMP-UP Program, customers receive up to a $1,000 rebate for adding an electric vehicle (EV) charger. Another EV charger program, the Chugach Electric EV Charger Incentive, provides a $200 rebate for installing a home level-2 EV charger.
Visit the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency for an up-to-date list of incentives in your area.
What Should You Look For in a Solar Company?
While shopping for solar panel installation companies, consider the following features and benefits to make the selection process easier.
Solar Services
Many solar companies offer either in-house or third-party installers for their solar projects. In-house installers work directly for the company, providing a more efficient and reliable installation process. With third-party installers, installation quality can vary between locations.
Additional solar services may include monitoring apps that track solar energy system performance and health. Some providers also offer energy efficiency and home services. Below are examples of solar and home services offered by solar providers.
- Dedicated mobile app or web portal
- Electrical or roofing services
- Energy efficiency audits and upgrades
- Home energy monitoring
- Panel removal and reinstallation services
- Smart home device installation
- Solar system monitoring
Warranties
Look for long-term warranty coverage for your renewable energy system. Most solar panels last around 25 years, so consider companies that offer coverage that matches this average life span. Solar installers typically offer the following warranty plans:
- Manufacturer’s (or product) warranty: The coverage protects against any manufacturing defects or issues.
- Workmanship (or labor) warranty: This plan covers issues from poor system installation.
- Power performance guarantee: This coverage guarantees your panels’ performance throughout their warranty. It outlines expected performance levels and details any replacement or repair options if panels fall below expected levels.
We learned that coverage varies between solar providers and may include one or all warranty options. You’ll find that high-quality solar panels have better warranty plans than more affordable solar options. Our recommended cheap solar providers may make up for the weaker warranty with their lower up front prices.
Payment Options
Providers offer several financing options for their solar products. Some options, such as cash payments and solar loans, make you the legal solar power system owner, qualifying you for additional solar incentive savings. Here’s a brief overview of the typical solar financing options:
- Up-front (or cash) payments: You pay the total up-front installation costs for your solar system.
- Solar loans: Homeowners make long-term payments with fixed interest rates for a specific timeframe.
- Solar leases: You pay little to no money down and then make monthly payments to rent your solar system from the provider.
- Power purchase agreements (PPAs): You pay for your solar energy only, not the system, and keep system ownership with the provider.
We recommend choosing cash payments or solar loans to gain the best overall savings and return on investment (ROI). Solar leases and PPAs only benefit customers uninterested in solar system ownership.
Customer Support
Check each solar provider’s website for its customer support team’s hours of operation and contact methods. We recommend choosing a company with several contact methods. Contact options include phone, email, online forms, text messages, and online chats. Some companies provide direct tech support through a mobile app. Review online customer reviews for mentions of poor customer service, such as unanswered calls, unfriendly staff, or delayed responses.
How To Get a Solar Quote in Alaska
We recommend requesting solar quotes from at least three companies to compare services, installation costs, and payment options. Here’s what you should know about the typical quote process.
- Contact providers: Request multiple quotes online or use online marketplaces that compile multiple companies and services
- Submit your information: Fill out forms the company provides with necessary information, such as your address. Choose your solar panel type and financing option if working with a marketplace offering that service. This option allows you to estimate system costs based on your preferences.
- Schedule a consultation: Select either an in-person or virtual consultation with a representative. We recommend allowing at least two hours for your appointment.
- Find your latest energy bill: Solar companies will use your utility bills to determine your energy needs and required system size.
- Check your roof space: Installers check your roof design by doing a virtual or in-person assessment. The assessment helps determine whether your roof is large enough to accommodate the number of solar panels you need. They’ll also check for obstacles that reduce panel performance, such as shade from trees or chimneys.
- Review your finalized quote: Your final itemized quote will include full details on solar equipment, installation costs, warranty coverage, and labor fees. You’ll also receive details on your financing options and estimated solar payback period. Compare each quote to find the best deal.
Our Conclusion
Blue Raven Solar stands out as the best solar installer in Alaska thanks to its three-panel configuration. Alternatively, Venture Solar can be a good option because of its variety of solar roofing options and transparent pricing, so you can feel confident that you know what you’re going to pay for their solar systems.
We recommend requesting free quotes from at least three solar installers and comparing their solar products, services, and warranty coverage.
Other Alaska Home Service Resources
FAQs About Solar Companies in Alaska
Is solar worth it in Alaska?
Yes, solar is worth the investment in Alaska thanks to its growing solar market and higher-than-average electricity rates. The state has plans to move to 80% clean energy electricity use by 2040. Moving to solar would help reduce energy costs for homeowners and offset the state’s high rates.
How many solar companies are there in Alaska?
There are seven solar installers in Alaska, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
What are the solar incentives in Alaska?
Unfortunately, Alaska offers no statewide solar tax credits or rebates to help lower installation costs. However, residents can apply for the federal solar tax credit to receive up to 30% off total system costs.
Do solar panels work in Alaska winters?
Yes, solar panels will work even in freezing temperatures. In fact, panel performance improves in colder climates, according to the Department of Energy. However, panel performance will decline as peak sunlight reduces during winter.
Our Rating Methodology
We are committed to providing comprehensive and unbiased reviews to our readers. After over a thousand hours of research on solar companies, interviews with experts, and common customer needs, we’ve created a detailed rating system for solar providers based on six factors:
- Solar equipment, installation, and services (25%)
- Warranty and performance guarantees (25%)
- Brand reputation and certifications (15%)
- Financing options (15%)
- Experience (10%)
- Availability (10%)
Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.