Josephine NesbitContributing Writer
Josephine Nesbit is a contributing writer for USA TODAY Homefront. She specializes in home impr...
Updated Apr. 22, 2024
Editorial note: Homefront (defined in the Disclosure below) may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations
Read MoreJoin more than 1,246 people who have received a quote in the last 30 days.
Homefront Local uses a unique algorithm to score solar companies based on important factors like user reviews and how popular they are in your area.
High-quality solar panel installation in York, Pennsylvania, requires a solar installer that is properly certified, qualified and experienced. To help you find the right team, we’ve assembled a list of the leading solar companies in York.
Before hiring an installer, ask others for recommendations, vet potential installers and request multiple quotes to find the best company for your requirements. You can choose a local solar company in York or decide on an established national brand.
While putting in solar panels requires a significant initial investment, it can lower your energy bills over time. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicates that switching to solar energy allows York homeowners to save an average of $1,100 every year.
Many solar companies offer different products. Make sure to compare each company and get quotes from all before booking your solar panel installation.
Look for York solar companies that have at least 3.5 out of 5 stars based on customer critiques on Google Reviews and comparable sites. Make sure the company has a favorable rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB) when selecting a solar company.
Read through reviews to get insight into other homeowners’ experiences with a company, and watch for frequent bad reviews.
Places with varying amounts of sun, including those with increased rain or cloud coverage like York, can still benefit from solar energy. Here are the top reasons for considering solar energy:
According to the results of our survey done in October 2023, the average cost for solar panel installation nationally is $11,743.
What you'll pay to install solar panels hinges on factors such as your region, sunlight levels, roof alignment, shading, system size and labor. The price rises if you pick any add-ons like batteries, animal guards or solar trackers.
In York, solar panel installation costs an average of $16,398, per data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), NASA and the EIA.
Solar panel installation is a substantial initial investment, but you can expect to see considerable savings reflected in your energy bills over time.
In York, you can anticipate saving money once you've transitioned fully to solar. But it takes time to recover the upfront costs, and factors like precipitation and tree coverage impact how soon you'll get a return on your solar investment.
Not only does adopting solar save you money, but it also reduces your carbon footprint and its impact on the environment. Below are estimated CO2 emission reductions you can expect from going solar, according to our calculations based on data from NASA and the EPA.
Experts Ready to Help
Homeowners in York can be eligible for several solar incentives. A few are available across the state for all Pennsylvania residents, and others depend on your municipality, city and utility company.
Here are solar incentives available to Pennsylvania residents, as listed by DSIRE.
Name / Incentive Type | Incentive Amount/Details |
---|---|
Loan Program High Performance Buildings Incentive Program | Residential loans/loan guarantees: $100,000 Commercial loans/loan guarantees: $2 million Grants: Lesser of 10% of project costs or $500,000 |
Loan Program Wind and Geothermal Incentives Program | Manufacturer loans: $40,000 per job created within 3 years Manufacturer grants: $5,000 per job created within 3 years Loans for geothermal systems: $3 per square foot of space served up to $5 million; also limited to 50% of eligible costs for residential systems. Loans for wind energy production projects: $5 million Grants for wind energy production projects: $1 million Grants for feasibility studies: 50% of cost up to $175,000 Loan guarantee grants: Up to 75% of deficient funds up to $5 million |
Solar Renewable Energy Credit Program Solar Alternative Energy Credits | Varies based on market conditions; during 2015 the market price for PA-sourced SRECs has ranged from approximately $32 - $55/MWh ($0.032 - $0.055/kWh) although individual trades have taken place at substantially lower and higher prices. |
Grant Program High Performance Building Incentives Program | Vary by project, but program generally requires matching funds at least equivalent to DCED funding |
Rebate Program First Energy (MetEdison, Penelec, Penn Power, West Penn Power) - Residential Solar Water Heating Program | $500 |
Rebate Program FirstEnergy (MetEdison, Penelec, Penn Power, West Penn Power) - Residential Energy Efficiency Programs | Appliances Refrigerator: $75 Clothes Washer: $25- $50 Clothes Dryer: $50 Freezers: $25 Dehumidifiers: $25 Fridge/Freezer Recycling: $50 HVAC HVAC tune up: $50 Furnace Fan Motor: $150 Ductless Minisplit AC : $200 Central AC: $100 - $200 Air Source Heat pump: $250 - $500 Geothermal Heat Pump: $600 Packaged Terminal AC: $75 Packaged Terminal Heat Pump: $150 Programmable Thermostat: $25 Others Solar Water Heat: $500 Heat Pump Water Heater: $500 Home Energy Audit: $250 Lighting: Available as in-store discount in participating stores |
Loan Program Adams Electric Cooperative - Energy Efficiency Loan Program | $100,000 |
Personal Tax Credit Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit | 30% federal tax credit for systems placed in service after 12/31/2021 and before 01/01/2033. Good for: solar water heat, solar photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal heat pumps, wind (small), fuel cells using renewable fuels. |
Before choosing a solar panel installation professional, reflect on these important questions.
The size of your system relies on your household’s energy consumption and the solar panel system's production ratio. Larger households typically use more energy and may require a bigger setup. If the system isn’t big enough, it may lack enough energy to power your entire home.
Your solar plans may be impacted by certain regulatory requirements and state or local rules. You must secure proper permits through your local building department and schedule an inspection.
Not every house gets the same level of sunlight. Trees, precipitation and extreme weather conditions can limit sunlight. If your home lacks enough sunlight, you may need more panels with increased wattage.
To store additional energy, a lot of panel systems feature a solar battery. This feature becomes critical when sunlight is scarce and helps to prevent power loss. However, using battery storage can result in higher setup expenses.
You can choose from several types of solar panels, each differing in efficiency, life expectancy and design. These factors not only affect the price, but also the speed at which you’ll need to replace panels and how much space the panels take up on your roof.
The Homefront Local team employs a proprietary scoring algorithm that evaluates companies based on key factors you value, such as average customer review ratings and trustworthiness indicators. Our method for determining trust involves a comparative analysis of the number of reviews a company receives compared to its local competitors. This leads to companies that have earned more trust from your local community being awarded a higher score.
We review national and large regional solar providers against our full methodology. We score solar companies on reputation and customer reviews, service options, payment, financing and warranties.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics. Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information. Go back to top
Our editors may use AI as an input tool to tailor information in local markets. All content goes through a rigorous research and review process led by our team of writers and editors.
Our guide explores the best solar companies available. Trinity and Elevation top our list for their services, and Sunrun rounds it out with its leasing options.
solarApr. 23
While you can save money installing DIY solar panels, it’s not a simple home improvement project and does require electrical know-how as well as roofing skills.
solarMar. 27
Sleek and innovative, solar shingles are gaining rapid popularity. They cost more than traditional solar panels but are also more aesthetically pleasing.
solarMar. 25
Solar panels last about 25 years, according to our expert. Our guide explains how to get the most out of your system’s life.
solarMar. 27