5 Best Solar Companies in Houston of August 2023

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York's Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.

Houston is the largest city in Texas, one of the sunniest states in the U.S. that ranks second overall for installed solar capacity. Our picks for the best solar companies in Houston are Freedom Solar, SunPower, Sunrun, ADT Solar and Powered by Elevation.

We at the MarketWatch Guides Team based our research on extensive homeowner surveys, discussions with solar experts and our national analysis of the top solar companies. We also used our detailed methodology to rate and review each company in Houston to help you decide on the right solar installer for your home.

Although you may decide solar panels are a worthwhile investment in Houston, finding the right installer may not be as easy. Here are a few factors to consider when choosing a solar company in the city.

Based on our rating methodology, Freedom Solar received 4.2 out of 5 stars thanks to the company’s top-quality products and leading warranties. Freedom Solar extends a 25-year warranty on solar system parts, performance and labor. The company also uses highly-rated SunPower solar panels and Tesla Powerwall batteries in its solar solutions.

Freedom Solar offers other related services, including home generators and panel disassembly and reinstallation. The installer also has experience installing fully off-grid solar systems.

To learn more, check out our full review of Freedom Solar.

SunPower has a solid reputation as one of the most experienced solar providers nationwide. It manufactures and installs its own modules, which are among the top solar panels available on the market. It also offers the SunVault battery if you want to add energy storage to your system.

SunPower has hundreds of trained installation teams that install high-quality residential and commercial solar systems nationwide. SunPower customers also benefit from 25-year warranties that cover both solar panels and system workmanship. Based on the numerous pros of choosing SunPower, we gave the company a score of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

To learn more, check out our full review of SunPower.

Sunrun offers multiple payment options, high-quality solar equipment and unique customer perks. Customers can choose from two leasing options to avoid a large initial expense when going solar. Plus, Sunrun offers 24/7 monitoring and a production guarantee with its leased systems.

Sunrun includes 25-year product and labor warranties on all its systems, handling maintenance and repairs at no cost to you. Based on our review standards, Sunrun earned a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

To learn more, check out our full Sunrun Solar review.

ADT Solar was formed in 2021 when the home security company ADT acquired SunPro, a national solar company with a strong reputation. ADT Solar uses high-quality, tier-1 solar modules and modern Enphase microinverters in its systems. The company also offers 25-year warranties on panels, inverters and system installation.

ADT Solar is known for providing reliable customer service that is available 24/7 and uses trained and experienced electricians for its installations. Besides solar services, ADT Solar also offers home automation, security and energy management. The company earned 4 out of 5 stars based on our review standards.

To learn more, check out our full review of ADT Solar.

Elevation takes a holistic approach to energy efficiency. Instead of focusing solely on solar power, Elevation conducts a home energy audit to identify areas of improvement and then proposes upgrades in addition to solar power.

The company’s whole-home approach can help homeowners save even more money on electricity bills with whole-home energy-efficient upgrades. Elevation also installs high-quality components and provides comprehensive 25-year warranties on both parts and labor. We gave Powered by Elevation a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.

To learn more, check out our full review of Powered by Elevation.

The average cost of a solar power system in Texas is $2.51 per watt, lower than the national average of $2.85 per watt. Based on this figure, a 6 kilowatt (kW) system in Houston would cost around $15,060. The below table highlights pricing information and other details for our picks for Houston’s best solar companies.

*Pricing data is based on responses to our March 2023 solar survey of 1,000 homeowners with 10 kW solar systems. BBB ratings are accurate as of June 2023.

Houstonians planning to go solar have plenty of installers to choose from — over 600 companies operate in Texas. Homeowners looking for experience and reputation may prefer SunPower or ADT, while those interested in various payment plans might opt for Sunrun. Freedom Solar also offers high-quality equipment and service in Houston, and Elevation can provide whole-home energy-efficiency upgrades.

We recommend requesting free quotes from at least three installers before choosing a company that suits your needs.

The following are some of the main benefits of installing solar panels in Houston:

Houston does not offer any local solar incentives based on our research, but the statewide programs available in Texas can help you save on the cost of a solar power system. Below is a look at the available incentives for Houston residents.

The most beneficial solar incentive available to Houston residents is the federal solar tax credit, formally called the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). It offers homeowners a federal tax credit equivalent to 30% of their total solar system value. You can claim and apply the credit against your income tax burden for the year you install solar panels. If you cannot claim the full credit amount, you can roll over the remainder for up to five years. Considering a typical 5 kW system costs around $12,500 in Houston, homeowners could save about $3,750 with the federal tax credit.

Below are the two main incentives available in the Lone Star State, both of which apply to Houston residents.

You can also check with your local municipality and utility company for additional solar incentives or rebates.

A total of 617 solar companies operate in Texas. Of those companies, 99 are manufacturers, 243 are installers or developers, and 275 provide other services. Many of these companies also operate in major cities such as Houston, Austin, Dallas and San Antonio.

Houston’s ample sunshine allows homeowners to generate generous amounts of solar power, saving thousands of dollars in electric bills over the years. Solar also offers other advantages, such as clean energy generation, a lower carbon footprint, protection against power outages and a home value increase. For these reasons, we think going solar in Houston is worth it.

With hundreds of solar energy companies in the city, it is difficult to choose just one solar installer as the best. Based on our detailed analysis, our picks for the best solar companies in Houston are Freedom Solar, SunPower, Sunrun, ADT Solar and Powered by Elevation. However, you may find that other reputable installers, such as Momentum Solar or Tesla Energy, better serve your home energy needs.

We closely evaluated seven crucial factors according to our solar panel installation company methodology to rank the best providers in the industry. Based on a 100-point scale, we came up with each provider’s score out of five stars. Here’s how we assessed each company:

Aniket Bhor is a solar engineer who has spent nearly a decade studying and working in the solar power sector in the European, Asian and North American markets. He is a climate enthusiast and avid cyclist, and he also loves to lose himself in books and cooking.

Tori Addison is an editor who has worked in the digital marketing industry for over five years. Her experience includes communications and marketing work in the nonprofit, governmental and academic sectors. A journalist by trade, she started her career covering politics and news in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her work included coverage of local and state budgets, federal financial regulations and health care legislation.