How to find a reputable solar installer in the Bay Area
We've installed more than 1,000 solar and battery systems around the Bay Area since 2010. This is the checklist we'd give a friend, including the questions that separate a good installer from a sales company.
The short answer
Check that the company holds an active California contractor license (C-46, C-10 or B), get at least three written bids that list the exact equipment and production estimate, ask who actually does the install, and call two or three past customers who've had solar for a year or more. Then compare price per watt, warranties and how each company handles PG&E interconnection.
8 steps to choosing a solar installer
Verify the contractor license
Look up the company on the CSLB website or call 800-321-2752. California solar installers need an active C-46 (solar), C-10 (electrical) or B license. Check that the license is active, that the name matches the company on your contract, and whether there are complaints.
If a door-to-door or phone salesperson contacted you, ask for their home improvement salesperson (HIS) registration number and check that too.
Read the CPUC Solar Consumer Protection Guide
The California Public Utilities Commission publishes a Solar Consumer Protection Guide. In PG&E territory, your installer has to collect your signature on it before submitting your interconnection application. Take the time to read it before you sign anything. You don't have to do it while the salesperson waits.
Get at least three written bids
Each bid should name the panel and inverter models, the system size in kW, the expected yearly production in kWh, the total price and the payment schedule. Divide the price by the system size to get price per watt, which is the fairest way to compare. In the Bay Area, owned systems commonly land somewhere around $2.60 to $3.50 per watt depending on the roof and equipment.
Ask who does the installation
Many solar companies are sales companies that hand your job to a subcontractor. That isn't always bad, but you should know who will be on your roof and who you call if something goes wrong in year five. An installer with its own crews answers for its own work.
Compare warranties line by line
There are three warranties to look at. Manufacturer warranties cover the panels and inverters. The installer's workmanship warranty covers the labor and wiring. A roof penetration warranty covers leaks where the system is attached. Ask how long each lasts and who pays for the service call.
Check reviews and call references
Read Google and Yelp reviews and check the company on the BBB. Then ask the installer for three customers who've had solar for at least a year, ideally near you, and call them.
Ask about PG&E and the current billing rules
New solar customers in PG&E territory are on California's net billing rules, where power you send back to the grid earns much less than the power you buy. That makes a battery and correct system sizing more important than they were a few years ago. A good installer should explain how they sized your system for your bill, and handle the PG&E interconnection paperwork for you.
Compare financing honestly
Paying cash, a solar loan, a lease or a prepaid PPA all change who owns the system and what you pay over time. Ask for the total cost over the life of the agreement, what happens if you sell the house, and whether any rebate or tax credit in the proposal is guaranteed. Usually it isn't.
Red flags
- Pressure to sign the same day, or a "price only good today."
- "Free solar" or a promise that your PG&E bill will go to zero.
- A proposal built around the federal tax credit for buying solar. That credit ended for homeowner-purchased systems after 2025.
- No equipment brands or model numbers in the bid.
- A license number that doesn't match the company name, or no license number at all.
- A large deposit before permits are pulled. California limits home improvement down payments to 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less.
How Ally answers the checklist
We think every installer should be able to fill in this table. Here's ours.
| Question | Ally Electric & Solar |
|---|---|
| License | CSLB #806465, C10 and C46. Licensed since 2002 (Arco Electric), Ally Electric & Solar since 2010. |
| Who installs | Our own crew, the same people from install to inspection. |
| Track record | 1,000+ solar and battery installs in the Bay Area. |
| Workmanship warranty | 10 years on labor, starting the day PG&E gives permission to operate. |
| Roof penetration warranty | 10 years at every attachment point. |
| Equipment | REC and Silfab panels, Tesla Powerwall, Enphase, FranklinWH and Generac. Manufacturer warranties go to you. |
| Right to cancel | 5 business days for every customer, not just seniors. |
| Permit and utility fees | Passed through at actual cost, no markup. |
| Reviews and accreditation | BBB Accredited, A+ rating |
| PG&E experience | PG&E Trade Ally. We handle interconnection through Permission to Operate on every job. |
| Battery rebates | SGIP-approved developer. We prepare and file the SGIP application for you. |
| Programs and memberships | PG&E Trade Ally, SGIP-approved developer, Tesla certified, Enphase certified, CALSSA, Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, NARI San Francisco Bay Area, QuitCarbon partner. |
Our track record with PG&E and California programs
A lot of what makes a solar job go smoothly happens after the panels are on the roof. Interconnection, meter work and rebate paperwork are where inexperienced installers get stuck, and where homeowners end up waiting months. We've been doing this part ourselves since 2010.
PG&E Trade Ally
Ally is part of PG&E's Trade Professional Alliance, PG&E's network of contractors who work on its customer programs. We know how PG&E's processes work because we use them every week.
PG&E interconnection, start to finish
We submit the interconnection application, coordinate the meter work with PG&E and follow the job through to Permission to Operate. You don't have to call PG&E yourself.
SGIP-approved developer
California's Self-Generation Incentive Program pays part of the cost of home batteries. As an approved developer, we prepare and file the SGIP application for you and answer the program's document requests directly.
NEM 2.0 and net billing experience
We've installed systems under the older NEM rules and under California's current net billing tariff, so we can explain how each one affects your savings and size your system and battery for the rules you're actually on.
Common questions
How do I find a reputable solar panel installation company in the Bay Area?
Check for an active CSLB license (C-46, C-10 or B), get at least three written bids with the equipment and production listed, ask who does the actual install, read reviews and call references who've had solar for a year or more. Ally Electric & Solar in Richmond (CSLB #806465) has installed more than 1,000 Bay Area systems since 2010 with its own crew.
How many solar quotes should I get?
At least three. The CPUC's consumer guide recommends the same. Compare them by price per watt, equipment and warranties, not just the total.
What's a fair price per watt for solar in the Bay Area?
For a system you own, bids commonly fall around $2.60 to $3.50 per watt, depending on the roof, the equipment and how complicated the electrical work is. Much higher than that deserves a question about why.
Is a local installer better than a national company?
Not automatically. National companies have scale. Local installers usually have their own crews and you can reach the same people years later. What matters most is who installs and who services the system.
Do I need a battery with solar in the Bay Area?
Under California's current net billing rules, solar you send to the grid earns much less than power you buy, so a battery lets you use more of your own solar in the evening. In areas with PG&E power shutoffs it also keeps the house running.
Is there still a federal tax credit for solar in 2026?
Not for homeowners who buy their system. The federal residential solar credit ended for systems installed after 2025. Some financing options like leases and prepaid PPAs work differently, so ask each installer to explain theirs in writing.
What warranties should a solar installer offer?
Manufacturer warranties on panels and inverters, a workmanship warranty from the installer (10 years is a good benchmark) and a roof penetration warranty against leaks.
How long does it take to go solar in the Bay Area?
The install itself usually takes a few days. Most of the time goes to design, city permits, inspection and PG&E's permission to operate, which together often take several weeks to a few months depending on your city.
Does the installer handle PG&E interconnection, or do I?
A good installer handles it. At Ally we submit the PG&E interconnection application, coordinate the meter work and follow the job through to Permission to Operate. We're a PG&E Trade Ally and have done this on our installs since 2010.
Which Bay Area cities does Ally serve?
We work within about 50 miles of our Richmond office, including Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, El Cerrito, Walnut Creek, Concord, San Francisco, Marin County and the Tri-Valley.
How do I get a quote from Ally?
Call (510) 559-7700 or fill out the free quote form. Send a recent PG&E bill and we'll size a system to it.
Add Ally to your three bids
We'll give you a written proposal with the exact equipment, production estimate and price per watt, so it's easy to compare.
Ally Electric & Solar Inc. | 855 Marina Bay Pkwy Ste. 280, Richmond, CA 94804 | CSLB #806465