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4 Best Solar Companies in West Virginia (2024)

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Author Image Written by Tamara Jude Updated 11/07/2024

Despite having the nation’s second-largest coal production in 2021, West Virginia is slowly adopting more renewable energy. The state has incorporated more hydroelectric power and wind energy production but has room for solar energy growth. Solar power helps reduce your carbon footprint and has less environmental impact than coal. It also lowers energy costs, providing long-term savings for West Virginia homeowners. 

Our team spent 60 hours researching the best performing solar providers on the national, regional, and local levels to find the best options in the Mountain State. We’ve picked the best solar companies for West Virginia, plus offered guidance on shopping for the right company to fit your needs.

Here’s an overview of the key features of the top West Virginia solar providers.

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West Virginia’s Top Solar Energy Companies

Best Mid-Atlantic Regional Installer: Paradise Energy Solutions
Most Experienced West Virginia Installer: Mountain View Solar
Best Regional West Virginia Installer: YellowLite
Best Local West Virginia Installer: Solar Holler

Paradise Energy Solutions: Best Mid-Atlantic Regional Installer

As a family-owned regional installer, Paradise Energy Solutions provides customer-focused experiences with each solar installation. 

Paradise Energy Solutions Best Mid-Atlantic Regional Installer
4.4
Pros and Cons
Pros Full-service installations with in-house installers High-efficiency panel solutions from Q Cells Smaller service area for more customized service Cons Additional costs for tiered monitoring and protection plans Shorter workmanship and production guarantee coverage System monitoring is limited to 10 years
Why We Chose Paradise Energy Solutions

Paradise Energy Solutions offers full-service solar installations to Mid-Atlantic homeowners. The company employs in-house installers and guides you through the entire installation process, from design to activation. The company installs high-efficiency Q Cell panels and Enphase inverters. New customers receive the company’s “Triple Ten Guarantee,” covering workmanship, performance, and system monitoring. The company will compensate you if your system falls short of your estimated production levels.

Its Paradise Protect Service Plan includes tiered options for advanced system monitoring, performance analysis, and annual on-site checkups for solar owners outside their initial warranty. This includes existing customers or homeowners with systems from other solar providers. Paradise offers additional solar services to help maintain your system, such as maintenance and checkups, panel removal and reinstallation, and critter guard installation. It offers these at-cost services to any solar customers within its service area.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty
Paradise Solar Solutions provides 25 to 30-year manufacturer warranties that vary by solar panel brand. The company’s “Triple Ten Guarantee” includes 10 years of workmanship, performance, and system monitoring coverage. 

Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

Reputation and Awards

Paradise Energy Solutions holds an A+ rating from the BBB but is not accredited. We noted that homeowners were impressed by the company’s courteous customer service team and prompt installation experience, but some cited roof leak issues after installation.

Mountain View Solar: Most Experienced West Virginia Installer

Mountain View Solar offers a wealth of knowledge and experience backed by 28 years of business expertise. 

Mountain View Solar Most Experienced West Virginia Installer
4.2
Pros and Cons
Pros Energy audits and monitoring available Large selection of energy storage options Traditional rooftop panel and ground-mount installations Cons Website offers no details on solar financing partners Short workmanship coverage Some online customer reviews mentioned customer service issues
Why We Chose Mountain View Solar

Starting as Mountain View Builders in 1995, Mountain View Solar (mtvSolar) switched to solar energy in 2009. Since then, the Berkeley Springs-headquartered company has provided custom solar installations to residents. The company offers traditional rooftop panels, ground-mount installations, optional battery storage, and EV charger add-ons.

The company also offers energy audits to improve your home’s efficiency and energy monitoring equipment to track your usage. Its dedicated apps provide updates on solar installation progress, providing a clear timeline for completion.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty
Mountain View Solar provides a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty and five years of workmanship coverage.

Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

Reputation and Awards

Mountain View Solar has earned a spot on Solar Power World’s annual Top Solar Contractor ranking in consecutive years from 2013–2022. The company maintains an A+ rating from the BBB but is not accredited. When analyzing customer reviews, we saw that homeowners appreciated their prompt installation and fair pricing but faced customer service issues.

Yellowlite: Best Regional West Virginia Installer

With over 14 years of experience, Yellowlite offers its solar knowledge and expertise to residents of the Southeast and Midwest. 

Yellowlite Most Experienced West Virginia Installer
4
Pros and Cons
Pros Rooftop solar and ground-mount installations Transparent pricing on its online system tool Variety of solar loan providers available Cons Limited 10-year workmanship warranty Only one solar battery brand offered Poor customer support communication, per some homeowner reviews
Why We Chose Yellowlite

The company offers high-quality solar panels from SunPower, Silfab, LG, and Canadian Solar. Yellowlite is a certified SunPower Authorized Dealer and Advanced Certified, meaning it is trained to handle Sunpower products. 

The company offers an interactive Build Your System tool that allows customers to create their own system based on their energy usage. You can customize your solar project size, add solar batteries and EV chargers, and get estimated cost and financing rates. Additional solar services include system monitoring, plus maintenance and repair for any solar system.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty
Each Yellowlite installation includes a 25-year product warranty and 10 years of workmanship coverage. 

Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan

Reputation and Awards

Solar Power World featured Yellowlite on its annual Top Solar Contractors list for nine consecutive years since 2012. The company holds an A+ rating with the BBB and is accredited. In online reviews, homeowners praised Yellowlite for its quality installation and responsiveness during installation. However, some customers mentioned difficulty receiving callbacks from the customer support team. 

Solar Holler: Best Local West Virginia Installer

Headquartered in Shepherdstown, Solar Holler offers custom solar systems backed by 10 years of local knowledge and experience. 

Solar Holler Best Local West Virginia Installer
4.2
Pros and Cons
Pros NABCEP-certified installers Locally owned and operated full-service installer Variety of solar loan providers available Cons Limited 10-year workmanship warranty Only one solar battery brand offered Roof penetration warranty included
Why We Chose Solar Holler

West Virginia residents looking for a custom-focused local installer should consider Solar Holler. The company has served the state for over 10 years and is knowledgeable about local permitting laws and building codes. Solar Holler offers rooftop panels and ground-mount solutions for local homes. The company uses 3D imaging and historical weather data to determine the best panel placement and predict your annual savings. 

Its product catalog includes Q Cell panels and energy storage from Enphase and Tesla. The company creates an Annual Production Projection with every installation to predict annual energy production. If production falls below 95% of those predictions, Solar Holler will resolve the issue.

Warranty and Financing

Warranty
Solar Holler provides a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty and a 10-year workmanship warranty with its installations. The company also offers five years of roof penetration protection. 

Financing Options
✔ Full purchase
✔ Loan
✔ Lease

Reputation and Awards

Solar Holler has an A+ rating with the BBB but is not accredited by the organization. Based on mostly positive customer reviews, we learned that homeowners liked the company’s excellent communication and knowledgeable staff. However, one homeowner noted that the company relies on satellite imagery to determine solar candidacy with no onsite assessment.

*All BBB ratings are current as of June 2023.

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.


What Solar Incentives Are Available in West Virginia?

West Virginia offers few state-level solar incentives, rebates, and credits. Instead, homeowners should use the federal solar tax credit to help lower their solar installation costs. With this credit, you receive up to 30% off their total cost, making your solar conversion more affordable. You can apply the federal tax credit to photovoltaic (PV) panel systems, such as rooftop, ground-mount, and solar shingles. The credit also applies to standalone energy storage purchases. 

West Virginia’s net metering program also provides added savings for solar panel system owners. Customers receive future bill credits for returning their excess energy to the grid. 

Although the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) mandates that all utility companies in the state offer net metering, it doesn’t specify the credit payout rate. While some companies offer credits at the retail electricity rate, others opt for the much lower wholesale rate. Check with your local utility company for more details about programs and payout rates.


What Should You Look For in a Solar Company in West Virginia?

As you weigh the pros and cons of West Virginia solar companies, keep the following key factors in mind during your comparisons. 

Solar Services

We recommend choosing solar panel companies that use in-house installers for their projects. These teams work directly for the solar company, providing better communication and solar panel installation quality. Installation results, communication, and customer experience can vary with some third-party contractors. 

Look for companies offering various support services that boost your solar energy system performance. Companies may provide system monitoring, maintenance, or repairs. They may also offer services that help boost home efficiency or provide assistance with other home improvement projects. Below is a sample list of additional solar and home services: 

  • Dedicated mobile app or web portal
  • Electrical services
  • Energy efficiency audits and upgrades
  • Home energy monitoring 
  • Panel removal and reinstallation services
  • Roofing repair or replacement
  • Smart home device installation 
  • Solar system monitoring

Warranties

Warranty coverage should align with the typical panel life span of 25 years. Providers usually offer two or more warranties to protect your system’s performance well into the future. Here’s an overview of the most common system warranties:

  • Manufacturer’s (or product) warranty: The coverage protects against any manufacturing defects. 
  • Workmanship (or labor) warranty: This warranty protects your solar energy solutions from issues caused by a faulty installation. 
  • Power performance guarantee: This plan outlines your panel’s long-term performance, accounts for any gradual production declines, and includes replacement or repair options if panels fall below these estimated levels.

Coverage varies between solar providers and may include one or all listed coverage options. We’ve noticed that the best performing home solar panels typically include long-term warranty options, while the top affordable solar manufacturers have shorter warranty plans in exchange for lower initial costs.

Payment Options

Most solar providers offer multiple solar financing options to help homeowners find the best option for their budget. Cash payments and solar loans make you the legal system owner, a qualification required for most solar incentives and rebates. Here’s an overview of the most common financing options:

  • Up-front (or cash) payments: Customers pay the full up-front costs for their solar system. 
  • Solar loans: Customers make a down payment, then continue monthly payments with interest for a set timeframe. 
  • Solar leases: Most homeowners put little to no money down, then make monthly payments to rent their system from the solar provider. 
  • Power purchase agreements (PPAs): This leasing option requires no money down. Customers will pay for their solar energy use while the company retains system ownership.

Solar leases and PPAs disqualify you from solar incentives, reducing their overall financial benefit. You should avoid these payment options unless system ownership is not a priority. We recommend using cash payments and solar loans for the best long-term financial benefits and return on investment.

Customer Support

When we read customer reviews, we discovered that customer service was one of the most mentioned aspects of a solar company. Check online reviews for each company and note any complaints concerning unanswered emails or calls, rude representatives, or no follow-ups. Check each website for offered customer service contact methods. Typical methods include online forms, email, phone, chats, and in-app messaging.


How Should You Request a Solar Quote in West Virginia?

To compare potential companies, you should request solar system quotes from several providers. These quotes detail system size, components, costs, and warranty coverage. We’ve provided a step-by-step guide outlining the typical solar quote process below. 

  1. Contact each solar installation company: Visit each company’s website to start the process. Most companies offer phone numbers, online forms, or emails to initiate quotes. 
  2. Schedule your solar consultation: Most providers offer a virtual or in-person consultation with a company rep. Set aside at least two hours for your appointment. 
  3. Have your energy bill handy: The rep will review your typical energy usage to determine your final system size and energy production needs. Some companies request multiple months of electric bills to analyze any fluctuations in energy use. 
  4. Analyze your roof space: Companies review your roof design in person or using satellite technology. Depending on your selected solar panel type, you may need more room to accommodate more solar panels. The rep will check for any nearby shading from trees and may recommend tree removal if too many shadows cover your roof. 
  5. Build your system: The company will design your final system. You can choose your preferred panel and component brands and add accessories such as solar batteries and EV chargers. 
  6. Review your final quote: You should receive an itemized quote listing all solar equipment, associated costs, labor charges, and warranty coverage. Your quote will include financing options and your estimated solar payback period.

Our Conclusion

We selected Paradise Energy Solutions as the top West Virginia solar provider. The company builds some of the best solar energy systems for high energy production. In addition, it offers customized service options, that can better match a household’s specific needs. 

We recommend getting at least three free quotes from potential companies to find the best installer for your home.


Other West Virginia Home Service Resources


FAQ About Solar Companies in WV

Is solar power worth it in WV?

Yes, solar power is a worthy investment for West Virginia residents. Although the state offers no additional solar credits or rebates, homeowners can still reduce installation costs with the federal tax credit. You can also earn electric bill credits through the state’s mandated net-metering program. 

What direction should solar panels face in West Virginia?

Solar panels should face true south in West Virginia since it’s the best direction for homes in the Northern Hemisphere.

Is WV a net metering state?

Yes, West Virginia mandates net metering for all utility companies throughout the state. However, payout rates are regulated and vary between electric companies. 

What is the solar policy in WV?

West Virginia’s solar policy protects homeowners’ rights to own solar panels. This solar access law states homeowners’ associations (HOAs) cannot ban solar panel installation. However, they have a say in your home’s solar array size and placement. 


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.

To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.