Best Solar Companies in Clovis, California

A relatively slanted roof with plenty of unshaded space is best. The worst place to install would be on north-facing roofs, especially if those roofs have a high pitch (very steep). Here are some other questions to ask yourself:

• What is the condition of my roof? As a rule of thumb, if your roof is over 10 years old, consider fixing it before going solar. Installing solar panels on an old roof might mean you have to remove the panels, replace your roof, and reinstall the panels. This is an expensive and frustrating process.
• How much sunlight do I get? Clovis gets a good amount of sunlight. The state averages 5 to 7.5 peak sun hours every day. However, the panels might not get enough sun to power your home if you have a lot of shading around your house, whether from trees or tall buildings.
• How old are my appliances? Getting your electrical loads as small as possible before going solar means you’ll need a smaller system, which will be cheaper overall. If you have older electrical appliances, upgrade those before investing in solar panels.

The federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) is a significant incentive for most homeowners going solar. It reduces your federal tax liability by 30% of how much it costs to install solar panels.

The ITC is a credit, meaning it directly decreases the amount of taxes you owe. This is different from a deduction, which lowers your taxable income.

For example, if you spend $10,000 installing a solar panel system, the ITC is worth $3,000. If you owe $5,000 in taxes, the $3,000 credit reduces what you owe to $2,000. Any unused portion rolls over to the next tax year. However, getting a refund check is possible if the ITC credit reduces your taxes to the point where you overpaid during the year.

Residents can take advantage of statewide solar incentives in California, including Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) rebates for homeowners who install battery storage systems with their solar panels.

PG&E offers rebates for improving your home’s energy efficiency, such as upgrading insulation, windows and appliances. Combining these upgrades with solar panels can enhance savings by lowering overall energy usage.

Additionally, solar installations are exempt from property tax reassessments, meaning the value added to your home by solar panels won’t increase your property taxes. Additional incentives, including state tax credits and rebates, can be combined with federal incentives to maximize savings.

In California, net metering lets homeowners with solar panels send excess energy into the grid in exchange for credits on their utility bills. These credits help offset future energy costs, reducing overall electricity expenses and making solar energy more affordable.

Clovis is served by Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), which offers Net Energy Metering (NEM). Under the state's NEM 3.0 policy, solar customers can send excess energy back to the grid and receive credits on their electricity bills. However, under NEM 3.0, the compensation for exported energy has decreased, which makes the addition of battery storage systems more beneficial for maximizing self-consumption and savings​.

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California’s Solar Rights Act prevents homeowners' associations (HOAs) from restricting residential solar panel installations. HOAs can, however, impose minor restrictions as long as they don’t reduce the system’s efficiency.

Monocrystalline and polycrystalline are the most common types of solar panels used in residential installations. In general, monocrystalline panels are considered the best bang for your buck. Cheaper solar panels are typically polycrystalline. The key difference is in materials and efficiency: Monocrystalline panels use pure, single silicon crystals, while polycrystalline panels are made from melted silicon fragments, resulting in different efficiency levels.

Solar panel efficiency is a measure of how well a panel makes electricity. Standard efficiency rates range from 19% to 23%, which means 19% to 23% of the sunlight that hits the panels gets converted into electricity. The more efficient the solar panels you buy are, the fewer panels you need. While more efficient panels cost a little more, you save by buying fewer panels.

Solar panels are generally worth it in California if you like the idea of lowering your monthly utility bills. On average, Clovis homeowners with solar panels can avoid $53,251 in total utility costs over 25 years.

The main drawback is the high upfront cost of purchasing and installing the panels and equipment. Assuming an upfront purchase, it takes about 3.9 years to break even (when your savings with solar panels make up for the cost). 

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