Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions

Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions Reviews

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Edited by: Joanna Broder

About Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions

Earthlight Technologies is a family-owned business offering design, installation, maintenance and repair services for solar energy systems at both the residential and commercial level. It also provides monitoring services, third-party financing and flexible payment options. The company is based in Ellington, Connecticut and provides service to Connecticut residents, as well as customers in Massachusetts (except for Boston and Cape Cod) and Central and Northwest Oregon.

Pros
  • Third-party financing available
  • Free monitoring through app
  • Maintenance and repair services
  • Panel and installation warranties
Cons
  • Prices not listed online
  • High upfront costs

What is Earthlight Technologies?

Earthlight Technologies is a family-run company that began selling energy-efficient products for homes in 2008 and opened its residential solar division in 2012. Since then, it’s expanded its services to include large-scale commercial solar energy systems and electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

The company is based in Connecticut and serves customers in the state but also serves clients in Massachusetts (except for Cape Cod and Boston) and Central and Northwest Oregon.

For residential customers, Earthlight offers both roof-mounted and ground-mounted solar energy systems as well as battery systems that store the excess electricity produced.

Earthlight Technologies solar panels and equipment

Earthlight uses solar panels and racking equipment (the mounting hardware that panels are affixed to) manufactured by Renewable Energy Corporation (REC), Qcells and Maxeon. For its energy storage systems, the company is a certified installer for both Tesla Powerwalls and FranklinWH battery systems.

Earthlight was previously a master dealer for SunPower, meaning it exclusively used SunPower’s panels for all its projects. In August of 2024, SunPower filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but Earthlight had already begun sourcing panels from other manufacturers. Maxeon, which used to manufacture and sell panels to SunPower, has agreed to honor all of SunPower’s warranties and is now one of Earthlight’s main suppliers.

Earthlight Technologies installation

If you’re a homeowner interested in a solar energy system, the first step is to request a free shade report. A shade report uses specialized software and satellite imagery to determine how much sun reaches your home throughout the year. If your home scores over 60% (meaning 60% or more sunlight would reach your solar panels over the course of a year), it qualifies for installation.

The next step is a site assessment that takes one to two weeks. Here, a technician measures your roof and determines your solar production capability. After this, Earthlight’s in-house design team creates your unique system and sends it to your local utility company for approval and permitting to finalize connection to the power grid.

The actual installation typically takes one to two days, after which an inspection is performed by Earthlight along with a representative from your regional building department. The local utility company will then come out to install a meter and your system will be activated.

The final step is a post-activation walkthrough to make sure you understand how the system operates.

Earthlight Technologies services

Earthlight also provides maintenance and repair services for both its residential and commercial customers, but there’s no standard package that comes with a solar energy system. Instead, if you need maintenance help, you can submit a service request through the company’s website. If the issue is covered under your warranties, the work will be free, but other repairs may cost extra.

Earthlight also offers roofing services as well as the installation of snow and critter guards.

Earthlight Technologies costs

Smaller homes of 1,200 square feet or less typically need about 12 solar panels, and these systems start at $16,000. A larger home of around 2,500 square feet will need twice as many panels, and these systems start at $31,000.

Your actual costs are based on the size of the system, the type of panels you use, the complexity of your installation and whether you add battery storage. Costs are also affected by the state and federal incentives for which you’re eligible and whether you opt to finance the purchase or buy it outright.

There is currently a 30% federal tax credit available for residential solar systems installed between 2022 and 2032. This credit can be used on systems that are owned or financed by the homeowner and can be applied to expenses related to panels, mounting equipment, labor and energy storage devices.

Current state incentives are as follows:

  • Massachusetts: When installing a residential solar system, homeowners in Massachusetts can receive a tax credit of $1,000 or 15% of their total costs for installing a solar energy system, whichever is less.
  • Connecticut: Homeowners can choose between a Buy-All and a Netting incentive to offset the costs of installing a residential solar system. The Buy-All program requires homeowners to sell all the energy they produce back to the electric grid and receive either a quarterly payment or a monthly bill credit.

    With the Netting program, residents first supply their own homes with the energy they produce and then sell the excess back to the power grid.
  • Oregon: Oregon’s residential rebates are based on income level and can go up to a $5,000 rebate for solar systems and a $2,500 rebate for energy storage systems.

Earthlight Technologies also offers a referral program that can earn existing customers a $500 credit once their referral’s system is installed.

Earthlight financing

Because the total cost of installing a residential solar system is so high, many customers look to financing options. Earthlight offers 25-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) through its partner company, LightReach. Under a PPA plan, LightReach owns the system, and in exchange, the homeowner agrees to pay a fixed rate per kWh that’s lower than they would pay with their local utility company.

This allows the homeowner to install solar panels and reduce their monthly energy bills, but because they don’t own the system, they aren’t able to take advantage of state or federal rebates. Financing through LightReach is only available in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Customers can also pursue financing on their own through a personal loan, solar loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC), which allows them to use state and federal solar incentives.

Earthlight Technologies warranty

Earthlight’s warranties for residential systems are broken into three categories: panels, microinverters (that convert DC energy into AC energy for each panel) and installation.

The panel warranty depends on the manufacturer and ranges from 20 to 40 years. These warranties guarantee the level of power production and cover repair and replacement costs due to product or workmanship defects. Exclusions to the warranty include damage due to misuse, incorrect installation or modifications and repairs done by an unauthorized service technician.

The company also offers a 25-year warranty on its microinverters made by Enphase and a 12-year warranty on the installation.

Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions service areas

Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions performs residential and commercial solar panel installation services in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Oregon.

Average solar cost by service area

Solar panel costs vary based on your location and other factors. The map below shows average overall prices in Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions’s service areas to give you a general idea of what to expect. Your specific energy needs, panel efficiency and other variables could make your costs higher or lower than these averages.

Average solar panel cost by state

Note: Costs in this table are average costs for the state and do not represent specific company pricing. "Average cost after ITC” reflects the cost after receiving the full 30% solar investment tax credit (ITC). “Estimated net savings” is the average amount residents in that state will save on electricity over 25 years, including their cost of installing a solar energy system.

Solar panel cost by state
Solar incentives by state

FAQ

What is Earthlight Technologies?

Earthlight Technologies is a solar installation company that provides solar energy systems and battery storage for both residential and commercial customers. It also offers EV charging stations and commercial energy audits for businesses.

How does Earthlight Technologies work?

Earthlight Technologies works directly with homeowners to design, install and maintain residential solar energy systems and storage batteries. It partners with manufacturers to offer comprehensive warranties and financing options.

Where is Earthlight Technologies available?

Earthlight Technologies is available in Connecticut, Massachusetts (except Cape Cod and Boston) and Central and Northwest Oregon.

Does Earthlight Technologies offer storage and monitoring options?

Yes, Earthlight Technologies offers both storage and monitoring options. For energy storage, the company is a certified installer for both Tesla Powerwalls and FranklinWH battery systems. Basic monitoring can be done for free by using Earthlight’s app, which tracks how much energy your system produces and alerts you if a panel is out or underperforming.

When was Earthlight Technologies founded?

Earthlight Technologies was founded in 2008 but didn’t begin installing residential solar systems until 2012.

Is Earthlight Technologies legit?

Yes, Earthlight Technologies is a legitimate company and claims it has completed over 1,500 residential and 100 commercial solar projects to date.

Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions Reviews

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    Verified purchase
    Coverage

    Reviewed Feb. 1, 2025

    What I've found is that with the cold weather and snow and water on the solar cells, my solar array isn't even coming near to putting out the electricity that I need to power my two heat pumps. When I signed on with Jay, with 16.5 kilowatts, which is what the solar cell array would put out, he said that I would be able to supply all the electricity I need. My wife and I used 8.5 kilowatts, as well as power two heat pumps and charge two electric cars. The solar cells are not coming close to doing that. I'm gonna give it a whole year to see if we make up the shortfall during the winter time, and I expect to enjoy what Jay promised. The cells aren't producing nearly enough to provide electricity I was promised. So, I'm hoping that in the spring, summer, and fall, they're gonna make up for the shortfall this winter.

    I have a flat roof, and they mounted the cells flat. And when I went up there the other day, they were mostly covered with slush. I'm thinking I don't know if flat is gonna do it in the winter time because it blocks out a little sunlight we get with snow, water or slush on the cells. It doesn't drain off like if they're mounted on a regular roof with a lot of pitch. I would have thought they would have pitched them a little bit more than what I saw, which looks like they're perfectly flat, to pitch the slushy snow off of it when it melts during the day rather than leave it there to freeze again at night.

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      Installation & SetupContract & TermsPunctuality & SpeedOnline & AppStaff

      Reviewed Jan. 31, 2025

      We did a lot of research and we got bids from three different places. It came down to two and we chose Earthlight because of the price. Also, solar companies really don't give you a lot of choice and they have who they buy through. But the choice will come down to their knowledge base. Earthlight's rep was very knowledgeable about his products and the warranties were a little longer with his stuff than the other one. When my solar panels were installed, things were pretty smooth. They finished in three days and they had a month. But it took a long time for them to get us on the schedule to get them on the roof. It took us about four months from the time we signed our contract to get the solar panels up on the roof.

      Other than that, they have an app and we use it to see daily what we're producing. Unfortunately, PGE side is not easy to track on and our billing doesn't really show us live action stuff. But the app, which is called Enlighten, through the solar panel shows us. I'd tell my friends that I was confident that Earthlight is going to be around and that they were pretty knowledgeable about their product. I'd also tell them about the ease of being able to use the app and that it works well.

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      Response from Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions

      Thank you for your great review, Nicole! We take a lot of pride in our knowledgeability and in the excellent warranty that we provide for our products and the installation work. We understand that the time needed to acquire permitting and approvals leading up to project completion can take a while and that can be frustrating to new customers; 3-5 months is average for roof mounted systems, while ground mount systems can take closer to 6 months. We hope that your system will continue to work smoothly for years to come, and we are here for you any time if you need us! Thank you again for going solar with Earthlight!

      Verified purchase
      Customer ServiceStaff

      Reviewed Jan. 16, 2025

      I've always been interested in solar and wanted it for my house. My roof was getting done and I had a company come around. I went through the process and they gave me their quote. The company I was working with said they were open and were pushing me towards their roof guys but they said I could get an independent quote. I have a friend who is in construction who is very thorough and he just had his roof done. So, I called that company out. Before they came out, they asked why I was changing my roof and I said I wanted to put a solar system. They sent their guy out who works with Earthlight. The company is very reputable. Before I did anything, the rep told me not to sign anything yet and gave me a quote.

      The solar is great. I switched over three months ago and it was low light, and my solar can run. I appreciate that. It exceeded my expectations for the lower part of the year. The customer service reps answered every question and concern about the size of the panel, why the panel and about hooking up. They explained net metering and did every single thing I asked for. I was already there with other companies. So, I understood a lot as well. But it's been flawless. In the long run, the solar panels are better for the environment and it allows me freedom of some other things that I did not foresee. I didn't realize that you can do all that stuff with electric. So, I'm just waiting for the bank to build up after a whole year, and I can see what I can do or what I can't do and what I can save money on. I am team Earthlight.

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      Response from Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions

      Thank you so much for your wonderful and detailed review, Shiva! We're so happy we were able to help you with this project, to save money, and explore all the benefits of having a solar system. Saving up those credits for use during the months of lower production sure feels great! We are here for you any time you need assistance or have questions. Thank you again for being a part of the Earthlight family!

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      Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedStaff

      Reviewed Jan. 16, 2025

      My son used Earthlight to install his solar panels, then I called them up and they came. They were fabulous. I had been inundated with people from solar coming here to my house. Most of them were horrible and obnoxious. They didn't know what they were doing and had no answers. Some of them drew weird lines on paper. When Earthlight came here, they were thorough and polite. They sat and spent three hours on the computer showing me how things worked, what things were, how things were done and what they did or didn't. I was amazed at them. Otherwise, I never would have gotten them because I've turned down so many people.

      I got the system at the wrong time of the year. I didn't get in until it got to be the colder weather. However, the first month was fabulous and I made more solar than I used, then it got to be the less sun and the cold and the rain. Now, I'm not making as much, but I'm waiting for the warmer temperatures to come. I'm sure that'll all turn around. From what I understood from my son, I'll have my best impact when the warmer weather gets here.

      Earthlight Solar has been been amazing. Any time I've called customer service, they've been right there for me. I also get constant emails from them for updates telling me what's going on or what my ratings are. They are friendly, knowledgeable, professional, and any questions I've had, they've answered. I've even left voicemails when the office was closed and they've gotten right back to me. I couldn't ask for a better service company. I'm so glad I went with them and not some of the other companies that were out here.

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      Response from Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions

      Thank you so much for your excellent detailed review, Bonnie! We care deeply about helping our customers to make informed, educated decisions when it comes to going solar. We believe that a long-term investment in your home deserves to be handled with professionalism and quality customer care. We are always here for you if you need anything, or if you have any questions. We appreciate you being a part of the Earthlight family!

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      CoveragePunctuality & SpeedStaff

      Reviewed Dec. 30, 2024

      After meeting with representatives of other solar companies, we decided that the most impressive program offered was from Earthlight Technologies, but at the time we didn't know just how good a decision that would end up being. We are so pleased that everything we were told unfolded in just the way it was described to us - no surprises, no excuses, no having to return to repair shoddy work. This is a highly professional company, operating step-by-step and covering all the bases. Every one of their representatives and technicians was pleasant and knowledgeable. Whenever work was done on site, they cleaned up thoroughly afterwards. I have never worked with a better company.

      What impressed me more than anything, I think, is when the work was done and the solar panels operational, a representative came by as a follow-up to make sure we were all set and understood everything that would be helpful for us to know. In my many years as a homeowner, it's been my experience that every company out there wants the job but few really want to do the work (they cut corners hoping you won't notice). This is a great, great company that even years later checks in periodically just to make sure we don't have any question. If there were ever a company that deserved a 5-Star rating, Earthlight Technologies is it. We consider working with them one of the best decisions we have ever made.

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      Response from Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions

      Thank you so very much for such a glowing review, Roger! We are so pleased that you were impressed with our craftsmanship and customer service, we believe that the follow-through before, during, and after any work we do is critical to ensuring long-term customer satisfaction. We are here for you any time there is an issue or a question you might have! Thank you again for your decision to go solar with Earthlight!

      Installation & SetupPunctuality & SpeedStaff

      Reviewed Feb. 7, 2025

      Excellent. Everything happened on schedule. The project management was excellent. The Earthlight team was very experienced and all work was done to professional standards. The equipment they install is the latest PV Technology. REC panels with Enphase inverters &monitoring. Earthlight Solar has the best Solar design and installation process in my opinion, and a well-run operation as well.

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      Response from Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions

      Thank you so much for your excellent review, Donald! We are proud to offer the best products and hold ourselves to the highest standards for our installations. We're so glad you appreciated our smooth and timely operations as well! Please don't hesitate to reach out to us if you ever need anything. Thank you again for going solar with Earthlight!

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      Customer ServiceInstallation & SetupPricePunctuality & SpeedStaffProcess

      Reviewed Feb. 7, 2025

      I was very pleased with the whole process of working with EarthLight Solar. Each of the staff that I worked with were helpful and knowledgeable whether we spoke on the phone or in person or exchanged emails. Everything was clear and they patiently answered all my questions. I did a lot of research on solar companies, the different types of solar panels, and the different financing options. I had 8 different proposals before I decided to use EarthLight. I liked that they are a CT company and they provided the highest quality panels at a reasonable cost. The approval and installation process went quickly and smoothly. My solar system has been operational for 2 weeks, producing more than enough electricity for all my needs. I couldn't be more pleased with my decision.

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      Response from Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions

      We are so glad you were pleased with your decision to go solar with us, Miles! We are very fortunate to have such an excellent team here, and we pride ourselves on smooth processes and transparency. We are honored that you chose us out of so many proposals. Feel free to reach out to us any time you have questions or need assistance. Thank you again for your great review, and for choosing Earthlight!

      Installation & Setup

      Reviewed Feb. 6, 2025

      We had a great experience with Earthlight. They were easy to work with from design to installation. I had many questions along the way and was always able to get a hold of someone. The post-installation follow-up was very thorough and organized. We had explored other solar companies in the past and having a family-owned local company can’t be beat! Highly recommend Earthlight!

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      Response from Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions

      Thank you so much for leaving such a thoughtful review, Eric! Being a local family-owned business is something we put a lot of value in, and we're so glad our post-installation follow-ups were helpful to you. We are here for you any time you have questions we can address. We appreciate you going solar with Earthlight!

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      Customer ServicePunctuality & SpeedStaff

      Reviewed Feb. 3, 2025

      I was interested in solar about eight years ago and decided against it because I was afraid of resale values after talking to realtors. My girlfriend who I met about two years ago has solar and I started looking at it again. It seemed to be more accepted now than before. I decided on Earthlight Solar because of the salesperson. I felt comfortable with her and my girlfriend used Earthlight and was very happy with them. So, that gave me confidence. The team was very professional and knew what they were doing. They were able to answer my questions. We had one issue with the trenching and that was quickly taken care of to my satisfaction.

      I haven’t seen any savings though since I started using solar. My electric bill runs around $300 in the winter and my bill came in right around 300 last month, I'm paying for the solar system $141 in change a month so that costs me $141 in change more than my previous bill before I went with the solar. I understand that this is not the best time of year for solar and we've had a lot of cloudy days, not a lot of snowy days, but I'm questioning whether it's performing the way it should perform. I compared it to what my girlfriend has in her house and she has 12 panels. I have 24 and we produced the same amount of kilowatts. It’s confusing as to why twice as many panels are only producing what 12 panels are producing.

      I reached out to Earthlight and sent a copy of my bills last year and this year, and a copy of my girlfriend's bills as well, showing the production that happened during the month that was in question, which is last month's bill. What I got back was an email stating that it's producing what it was designed to produce and that this is not the peak time of year for solar production. We won't know for sure how the whole system runs until a full year’s cycle. I’m not particularly pleased with that and I will pursue that further. I’m dissatisfied with the results. The whole reason why I went forward with this was to reduce my monthly expenses. I expected a substantial reduction of 25% to 50%. It's not doing what I had hoped it would do and it's costing me money at this stage.

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      Punctuality & SpeedOnline & AppStaff

      Reviewed Feb. 3, 2025

      We heard about Earthlight Solar through a friend a long time ago. We were gonna do it on our farm, and we had it all checked out but decided not to do it. That was back in 2018, then my husband got interested again, so we did the house. Everything's been great. The team was very polite, and we had no problems or questions. My husband still wants to do the farm, and I still don't want to, so we're arguing about that.

      So far, we're not seeing great effects yet from going solar. We did it in the fall, so it's not sunny all day. It's snowy and cloudy. Still, we see the system working and it is a positive thing. We go to the app and see how much we're producing and how much we're exporting and importing. We keep an eye on that. The app is a big plus and it's very user-friendly. I would tell people Earthlight Solar was 100% professional and how quickly and efficiently they got it all done.

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      Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions Company Information

      Company Name:
      Earthlight Solar & Energy Solutions
      Year Founded:
      2008
      Address:
      92 West Road
      City:
      Ellington
      State/Province:
      CT
      Postal Code:
      06029
      Country:
      United States
      Website:
      www.earthlighttech.com