EmPower Solar Reviews

As a solar installer, EmPower Solar does not manufacture its own equipment. Instead, the company offers equipment from leading solar brands like SunPower and Tesla. Its equipment spans a range of residential needs, including:

• Solar panels: Its systems typically cover 600 to 800 square feet and weigh as little as a layer of shingles. All systems include additional products like inverters, racking and a monitoring system.
• In-home electric car charging stations: If you have an electric vehicle, you can get an in-home charging station from EmPower. The company sells AC Level 1, 2 and 3 chargers, plus V3 superchargers. An electric car charging station starts at around $499, with installation costs between $300 and $1,000.
• Solar battery backup: To truly live off the grid, you’ll need a solar backup battery. EmPower sells the Tesla Powerwall, which stores the electricity generated by your solar panel for the times you really need it. The cost of one Tesla Powerwall is $17,600 before incentives (in some cases, you may need more than one).
• Whole-home solar equipment: If you need all of the above, EmPower offers what it calls “Total Home Electrification,” which covers every facet of residential solar energy. Its team designs a custom solution, determining the size and shape of your solar system and upgrading your heat pumps and electric appliances as needed.

Installing a solar solution isn’t an easy task. EmPower’s can handle all aspects of installation, including:

1. Electricity usage review: Submit a photo of your most recent electricity bill so solar experts can review factors like usage and needs.
2. Home assessment: EmPower’s in-house technicians conduct an in-person assessment of your property, either by drone or foot. This assessment takes accurate measurements, evaluates roof structure and plans installation locations.
3. Permit acquisition: EmPower’s dedicated permitting department works directly with local building departments to obtain, complete and submit the necessary construction permits for the project.
4. Scheduling your project: Once permits are approved, a dedicated project management team schedules installation.
5. Equipment installation: Each project has a dedicated site foreman who leads the team of solar installers during the installation:
   • Installing a racking system to the roof or ground
   • Connecting solar panels to an external meter
   • Connecting solar panels to interior electrical panel
   • Mounting any backup batteries and electric vehicle chargers
   • Giving homeowners a formal introduction to the new system
6. Inspection: After installation, EmPower schedules the required final inspections with local jurisdictions and utility providers.
7. Mobile app download: Once the system is up and running, a tech makes sure you’re connected to the mobile app for monitoring.

In addition to installation, EmPower’s in-house service team offers a few other services, including custom solar system design, thorough roof assessments and system lifetime service. The website is pretty limited on what these services cover (and at what cost), however. Contact the company for more information.

Pricing is specific to each home or business, taking into account factors like size, roof shape, shade, electricity needs and budget. On average, a whole-home solar system costs $16,715 after the federal tax credit in 2023. Before incentives, the cost usually ranges between $20,000 and 40,000 in New York City. You could pay more or less depending on your situation.

EmPower says customers who purchase their system outright can expect to see a return on investment within four to seven years.

Financing

Customers can choose one of three ways to pay for their system: purchase outright, lease or finance. All three options can make you eligible for most state and federal tax incentives.

• Financing: You can sign a low-interest loan with term options between five and 15 years with as little as $0 down.
• Leasing: For $0 down, you can lease your system from EmPower. Leases are for 25 years and offer predictable monthly payments. Customers who lease their system rather than purchase or finance are not eligible for the 30% federal investment tax credit, however.

All work is done by an in-house service team and is backed by a ten-year workmanship warranty. The panels and equipment themselves include their own manufacturer warranties, typically between 20 and 25 years. The team also takes extra steps to protect equipment (like putting in squirrel guards) to make sure the system works to its highest potential.

The company doesn’t provide much information about things that may void the warranty, but it’s safe to assume that you have to keep up with regular maintenance (and keep those maintenance records) to maintain your warranty coverage. Read through your contract carefully to understand the rules surrounding your warranty.