Top 7 Best Solar Companies in Idaho (2024 Reviews)

Blue Raven Solar’s financing program is the best in the solar industry. The company handles financing in-house, which means you have fewer points of contact and a better experience overall.

Blue Raven’s service selection is a bit limited, so it’s not a great choice if you want room to customize your solar system.

Why We Chose Blue Raven as the Best Financing Program

Blue Raven has two in-house financing options that make paying for your solar panels extremely easy.

The BluePower Plus+ program is the more traditional option and offers 18 months’ worth of interest-free financing. After 18 months are up, the loan switches to a fixed rate. This is an excellent option for people who can only afford to make a minimum down payment since they’ll have 18 months to make a dent before interest kicks in.

Blue Raven also offers a fixed payment option called Smart Start. The company charges you a fixed rate for five years and pays you for any excess energy your system produces monthly. After five years, the payments switch to a traditional scheme until your system is paid off.

SunPower purchased Blue Raven in 2021, giving the company access to its best-in-class panels and service. Blue Raven’s excellent financing programs also make it much easier for customers to afford SunPower’s systems.

What We Don’t Like

Blue Raven’s selection of products and services is lacking compared to the competition. The company doesn’t install EV chargers, and it only offers SunVault batteries in a limited number of locations. That means that you’ll have to contact your local Blue Raven branch to find out to see what services they offer.

The company also doesn’t accept leases or PPAs. While that’s not a huge deal given the quality of its financing programs, it does make it harder for people who can’t afford to pay via cash or loan to switch to solar.

Read our full review of Blue Raven for more information.

Solar Products

Blue Raven carries a variety of panels from tier-one manufacturers like SolarEdge, Canadian Solar, Hyundai, and Trina. The company also installs Maxeon panels in some areas after it was bought by SunPower in 2021. However, Maxeon panel availability is limited, so check with your local Blue Raven office if you’re interested in this option.

Unlike most of its competition, Blue Raven doesn’t offer many additional solar products or services. The company installs SunVault batteries in a limited number of locations, and customers can monitor their solar system’s production via the Enphase solar monitoring app.

Financing Options

Blue Raven’s BluePower Plus+ program gives you 18 months interest-free, which means you can take a significant chunk out of your system’s total cost before you have to pay a penny in interest. This is an extremely generous offering and is the option we recommend for most people who are considering Blue Raven.

With that said, paying in cash is still the best option in the long run unless you plan on paying off your loan within 18 months. You’ll wind up paying less overall if you pay cash, and you’ll realize more savings more quickly if you purchase your system outright.

Warranty Information

Blue Raven backs its systems with a 25-year warranty covering equipment and production. The company also covers workmanship for ten years, which is in line with the industry average.

We normally look for workmanship coverage that goes beyond the industry average. While Idaho doesn’t see much in the way of extreme weather, the annual snowfall can be high in some areas, which leaves panels exposed to moisture. This can uncover issues with the installation, which a lengthier labor warranty would cover.

Click here for a free quote from Blue Raven.

Tesla’s technology is the best in the business. Specifically, its Powerwall batteries have tons of unique options like StormWatch and the ability to go off-grid with the touch of a button.

A major downside to going with Tesla is that the company outsources its installations to local contractors, which means the customer service varies by location.

Why We Chose Tesla as the Best Technology

Tesla’s battery technology is some of the best in the industry and really outshines the competition. Solar batteries are super popular in Idaho, as the state doesn’t have a statewide net metering policy, and batteries are the only way to guarantee effective net metering for your home for many customers.

Powerwalls let you customize your system to optimize for storage or savings, letting you choose whether you prefer to be better prepared for power outages or if you want to save as much as possible on your utility bills. They also have some of the most impressive capacities and power outputs of any battery on the market.

Another great thing about Tesla is that the company offers price matching. This makes their panels affordable and accessible to more homeowners. They also accept a variety of payment options to keep its products and services affordable and accessible.

What We Don’t Like

The biggest downside to choosing Tesla is that the company outsources its installations to third-party companies. This isn’t inherently bad, but it means that your experience as a customer will be colored by your local installer rather than Tesla itself. Some Tesla installers are excellent, while others are difficult to work with and perform lower-quality work.

Tesla also isn’t the right choice if you value customizability since the company only installs a single brand of each piece of equipment. The panels and batteries are above average, but companies that offer more options make it easier to get a system that perfectly suits your home’s energy needs.

Read our full review of Tesla for more information.

Solar Products

Tesla only installs QCells panels. While we’d love to see some variety, we do love QCells panels and list them as one of the best brands for home use. They have above-average efficiency ratings, outstanding performance specs, and, most importantly, are a little lower in price than many competing brands.

The company also offers innovative solar roofs that provide a more aesthetic option for homeowners who don’t care for the way regular panels look. Solar roofs have a much lower profile than panel arrays and are easily mistaken for ordinary shingles at a glance.

Tesla also offers the following solar products and services that complement its solar panels and solar roofs:

• Tesla Powerwalls
• Tesla EV chargers
• The Tesla solar monitoring app

Financing Options

Tesla has several financing options. Customers can pay in cash, via a solar loan or solar lease or enter into a PPA. Leases and PPAs lower the financial barrier to switching to solar but won’t save you as much money in the long run. We recommend paying in cash or by solar loan if you can since these options both lead to panel ownership.

Leases and PPAs can be decent options for keeping costs low, but they don’t let you take the federal credit — an average potential value of $7,800 in Idaho — and they deliver far lower savings overall.

Warranty Information

Tesla’s warranty covers equipment and production for 25 years and workmanship for ten years. The equipment coverage and the labor warranty are in line with the industry averages, but the efficiency guarantee is about five years longer than most companies offer.

We’d really love to see a longer labor warranty, as the snowfall in Idaho can pose issues for systems that aren’t installed properly. We can’t complain too much, though, as Tesla is following suit when it comes to this protection plan.

Click here for a free quote from Tesla Solar.

Intermountain Wind & Solar is a regional solar installer whose focus makes it intimately familiar with the unique challenges of installing solar panels throughout the mountain west.

As you might expect from a smaller installer, Intermountain Wind & Solar’s workmanship warranty and financing options are less robust than its national competitors’ offerings.

Why We Chose Intermountain Wind & Solar as the Best Regional Provider

Intermountain Wind & Solar offers more customization options than the larger companies we’ve covered so far, including some low-cost options. Overall, its prices are in line with the Idaho state average, which is more than we can say for a company like SunPower.

One of the most compelling reasons to choose Intermountain Wind & Solar over one of its larger competitors is the company’s familiarity with installing residential solar in Idaho. The company’s technicians can help you choose a system that will offset your specific energy needs and won’t be overkill since they have years of experience designing and installing systems throughout Idaho. Plus, they can help you file for local solar incentives to save some money.

The care and attention to detail you get from Intermountain Wind & Solar surpasses what you’ll get from a national solar provider, and it’s hard to overstate the value of feeling like a valued customer instead of a number on a spreadsheet.

What We Don’t Like

Intermountain Wind & Solar’s warranty only covers its equipment and production for ten years, which is concerning if you live somewhere your panels will be exposed to the worst that Idaho weather has to offer. We’d love to see the company bring its coverage up to the industry standard of 25 years, although you do get this from the manufacturer.

We also don’t love the lack of financing options. Intermountain Wind & Solar doesn’t offer solar leases or PPAs, which makes its products and services less accessible overall.

Solar Products

Intermountain Wind & Solar carries an impressive selection of tier-one panels from top manufacturers, including SunPower, Canadian Solar, SolarEdge, Silfab and REC. Such a wide variety of panels makes it easy to find the right one for your home, whether that means a high-efficiency system from SunPower or a more budget-friendly solar panel setup from REC.

The company also carries a similarly expansive assortment of batteries and solar monitoring options — depending on what equipment you choose.

• Tesla Powerwall batteries
• LG Chem solar batteries
• Sonnen solar batteries
• SunPower SunVault batteries
• The Tesla solar monitoring app
• The Enphase solar monitoring app
• The MySunPower solar monitoring app

Financing Options

Intermountain Wind & Solar accepts cash and solar loans but doesn’t offer solar leases or PPAs. We don’t recommend leases or PPAs, but it’s still nice to have the option in case you can’t afford to pay cash or take out a loan.

Of the two options available, we strongly recommend paying in cash. A cash purchase will yield the lowest system price and the highest energy bill savings in the long run. It also leads to panel ownership and lets you take the federal credit.

Warranty Information

One area where Intermountain Wind & Solar falls short is its warranty. The company covers its equipment and production for ten years, which is significantly less than the industry standard length of 25 years. You do still get the 25-year coverage from the manufacturer, though.

There also is no formal workmanship warranty, which is also concerning. We’d ideally like to see at least the industry average of ten years for full system protection and peace of mind, especially in an area that sees a lot of snow and moisture, like Idaho.

Click here for a free quote from Intermountain Wind & Solar.

RevoluSun Idaho was founded in 2018 but has already made a name for itself by providing outstanding customer service and offering top-notch solar installations at great prices.

It’s only accessible to a relatively small fraction of Idaho residents, and it also doesn’t have the most flexible financing options, which can pose a serious problem for some people.

Why We Chose RevoluSun Idaho as the Best Customer Service

RevoluSun is a local solar installer through and through. The company’s techs and installers are friendly and knowledgeable about Idaho’s local solar rules and regulations, and getting in touch with the company is much easier than jumping through all the hoops to contact a national solar installer.

RevoluSun Idaho is a certified SunPower dealer, which means you can get a high-efficiency SunPower system installed by a company that knows the ins and outs of installing residential solar systems in Idaho. If SunPower’s panels are out of your budget, RevoluSun also carries a decent selection of panels from other tier-one manufacturers.

The company’s prices are fair and at or below Idaho’s statewide average, which is especially impressive for a smaller company like RevoluSun. The company is locally owned and operated, so choosing RevoluSun is a rare opportunity to support a local business without paying a premium.

What We Don’t Like

One thing we’re not thrilled with about RevoluSun Idaho is the company’s website. Information on the RevoluSun Idaho website is scarce, and the company doesn’t provide much information about the products it offers or other details like warranty terms or financing options. This isn’t a huge deal, but it does suggest a less educational approach to solar installations.

We also don’t love RevoluSun’s limited financing options. The company has fair prices, but purchasing a solar system is still a big commitment for most people, and more options would make it easier for people who can’t afford to pay cash or take out a loan.

Solar Products

RevoluSun Idaho has an excellent selection of panels from top brands like SunPower, SolarEdge and Canadian Solar. We strongly recommend the SunPower/Maxeon panels, as they have the highest efficiency rating and will deliver the most power in all weather conditions. The SolarEdge panels have the lowest cost per watt, so they’re likely the best option if you’d rather optimize for a low installation cost.

The Canadian Solar panels are good middle-of-the-road option between the other two brands, rounding out the selection from this provider.

The company also offers the following other solar products and services to its customers:

• Tesla Powerwalls
• Sonnen solar batteries
• The MySunPower monitoring app
• The Tesla solar monitoring app

Financing Options

RevoluSun Idaho only accepts cash payments and solar loans. The loans are provided through the company’s financing partner, Mosaic. The company does not offer leases or PPAs, as far as we can tell from the limited information available on its website, which will mean less accessibility.

Between cash and a loan, we recommend cash every time. It leads to greater financial benefit from your system, which is always a big plus when it comes to investing in clean energy for your home.

Warranty Information

RevoluSun relies on manufacturer warranties to guarantee its installations. This means that the terms of the warranty you get depend on the equipment you purchase.

In general, this means 25 years for equipment and production, but you should check with a RevoluSun representative before you commit to get the details. The company does not offer a formal workmanship warranty, as far as we can tell from its website and customer reviews.

It is worth mentioning that some of the Maxeon panels RevoluSun carries come with above-average coverage that lasts for up to 40 years.

Click here for a free quote from RevoluSun Idaho.

EGT Solar is a Boise-based solar installer that serves residents in central and southern Idaho. The company is known for providing customized installations at affordable prices and for having outstanding customer support.

The company’s service area is fairly small, so you might be out of luck if you don’t live in the Boise or Twin Falls areas.

Why We Chose EGT Solar as the Best Local Installer

EGT Solar offers Idaho residents in the Boise and Twin Falls areas excellent service, good prices and local support that large companies simply cannot match. EGT will help you navigate Idaho’s solar regulations and make sure that you’re taking as much advantage of Idaho’s solar incentives as possible.

The company’s ten years in business might not sound like a lot, but when you realize that 100% of its experience comes inside Idaho’s borders, it sounds a lot more impressive. The company has performed many thousands of residential solar installations since its inception in 2010 and is more committed than ever to educating Idahoans about the benefits of solar energy.

EGT Solar offers a wide range of products and services, which you might not expect given its modest size. You won’t have a hard time finding something that suits your energy needs and your budget, even if you’re looking for a high-end option from a manufacturer like SunPower.

What We Don’t Like

While all of the panels EGT offers are from top manufacturers, not all of them are high-efficiency options. In a state like Idaho, where sunshine is often hard to come by, you’re better off choosing a system with a higher efficiency since it’s usually more affordable than buying more panels. Unfortunately, that leaves SunPower as your only option if you go with EGT.

We also aren’t thrilled by the fact that the company only accepts cash and loans. Even though PPAs and leases are less beneficial in the long run, many people can only afford to go solar if they have access to these options.

Solar Products

EGT Solar’s lineup of panels is impressive, featuring options from SolarEdge, SunPower, QCells, Solaria, and Jinko Solar. All of these options are solid choices, with SunPower being our recommendation for people looking for a high-efficiency, premium option, and QCells offering a more affordable alternative.

Jinko Solar manufactures high-efficiency panels as well, but they’re currently not available in the U.S., so we recommend against the available options for now. They simply don’t deliver the kind of production you need in a low-sun area like Idaho.

In addition to the panels listed above, EGT Solar also offers the following array of products and services:

• Tesla Powerwall batteries
• LG Chem batteries
• Sonnen batteries
• The MySunPower solar monitoring
• The Tesla solar monitoring app

Financing Options

EGT Solar only accepts cash and solar loans. While we don’t suggest leases or PPAs anyway, we do prefer companies that offer them, as these low-cost options help boost accessibility of solar equipment.

It’s one of the few companies that has explicit financing information, which makes it easier to determine whether the company is a good fit for you. EGT Solar loans are typically between 2.99% and 4.99%. The company will also work with you to ensure you understand how its financing options work, another perk of going with a smaller, local business.

Warranty Information

EGT Solar’s warranty is right in line with the solar industry’s standard. It offers 25 years’ worth of coverage for equipment and production and ten years for workmanship.

These coverages would normally be plenty for most solar customers to have total peace of mind when converting to solar energy. However, we really like to see labor warranties that go beyond the average in places like Idaho since above-average snowfall can lead to leaks if your system isn’t installed properly.

Click here for a free quote from EDT Solar.

Big Dog Solar is an affordable solar company with lots of local experience. The company is committed to making solar as accessible to as many people as it can.

Keeping residential solar affordable means prioritizing low-cost panels and systems over more expensive options, which is a tradeoff not everyone is willing to make.

Why We Chose Big Dog Solar as the Most Affordable

Big Dog Solar’s systems are more affordable on average than the systems from the other companies we covered in this guide. While the company’s rates are low — especially given its reputation for excellent service — its low prices are largely a function of the more affordable equipment it installs.

Big Dog Solar might get your attention by advertising its unbeatable prices, but it has the service and knowledge to keep your attention after your consultation too. The company is dedicated to making the solar installation process less painful and more personal, which is one of the advantages it has as a smaller company.

Even as a smaller business, Big Dog Solar backs its installations with a competitive warranty package, and the online customer reviews indicate that getting help when something goes wrong is simple. This is something that can’t be said for some of the larger national providers.

What We Don’t Like

Unfortunately, Big Dog’s unbeatable prices are mostly due to the fact that it installs more affordable panels and not because its labor rates are lower than the competition. While it’s true that you will probably pay less for a system from Big Dog, you’re also getting less efficient panels in most cases, which isn’t ideal in a state like Idaho, where the sun isn’t always shining.

Another downside to choosing Big Dog’s customer service track record is spotty, according to reviews from existing customers. The company is very responsive during consultations and installations but seemingly drags its feet when it comes to warranty claims made by existing customers.

Solar Products

Big Dog Solar installs tier-one panels from QCells, REC, JinkoSolar, Silfab, and SolarEdge. We recommend SolarEdge as a budget-friendly option, but any of the panels Big Dog offers are significantly more affordable than a high-end panel like SunPower’s Maxeon panels.

The panels from REC, QCells and Silfab are going to have some of the highest efficiency ratings, and the QCells panels are the most affordable of the three, making them our recommendation for more budget-conscious customers.

The company also offers several additional solar products and services:

• Enphase batteries
• Generac PWRcell batteries
• Sonnen solar batteries
• The Enphase solar monitoring app

Financing Options

Big Dog accepts cash and solar loans but doesn’t offer leases and PPAs. To the company’s credit, it specifically states on the company’s website that they feel that PPAs and leases lead to suboptimal outcomes for customers and that they don’t recommend them. We reflect this sentiment.

Still, we would like to see these options available alongside education about how they’re less beneficial. This would open the door to renewable energy for more customers while still prioritizing the more beneficial options.

Warranty Information

Big Dog Solar backs its installations with 25 years worth of coverage for the equipment, production and workmanship. The equipment warranty is average, the production warranty is a little longer than average and the labor warranty is an impressive 2.5x the industry average.

The labor warranty is what we find most appealing of the three, as it offers peace of mind that your panels and installation will stand up to the above-average snowfall and exposure to moisture.

Click here for a free quote from Big Dog Solar.