Execs
- Choices for after-installation help
- High-of-line gear
- Financing market
Cons
- Some warranties may very well be stronger
- No constant value match coverage
Palmetto is CNET’s highest rated solar company of 2024, due to its robust marks for each buyer care and photo voltaic gear.
Palmetto’s suite of after-installation monitoring and help, whereas not the one such possibility within the business, gives some peace of thoughts for individuals laying down a big sum of money for an unfamiliar expertise. Even when you’re unfamiliar with photo voltaic expertise, you’ll be able to ensure that Palmetto installations include wonderful gear. It gives a few of our favorite solar panels and batteries.
We really feel Palmetto, like the remainder of the business, might discover methods to share extra pricing info with clients earlier within the course of, although they do supply a tough estimate of the financial savings you would possibly see in your vitality invoice. That is greater than another corporations.
Can photo voltaic panels prevent cash?
Considering understanding the affect photo voltaic can have on your private home? Enter some primary info under, and we’ll immediately present a free estimate of your vitality financial savings.
If you would like to save some money on electricity, participate within the vitality transition or cost up your electric vehicle on a budget, rooftop photo voltaic is likely to be an excellent match. However even with the assistance of a 30% federal tax credit and other local solar incentives, going photo voltaic requires research, careful thought and a significant amount of money. Navigating the extremely aggressive photo voltaic business requires avoiding the less-than-honest companies on the market.
Some of the necessary issues you are able to do is get a number of quotes from corporations in your space, together with native ones, however it’s price understanding the nationwide gamers who conduct a lot of the residential photo voltaic enterprise within the US.
Although this assessment is as thorough as attainable, it should not be the tip of your analysis. Store round and get a number of quotes earlier than shifting forward with one firm or one other. Ensure you get all of your questions answered and that you just’re continuing with confidence. We did not undergo the ordering course of with Palmetto (or every other firm we have reviewed), so your expertise might differ from what’s reported right here.
What do I get from Palmetto?
Palmetto photo voltaic clients should purchase photo voltaic panels or enter right into a lease or power purchase agreement, though the vast majority of its clients buy their panels. Whereas buying photo voltaic panels outright will usually prevent probably the most cash in the long term, third-party possession fashions like leases and energy buy agreements have helped spur residential photo voltaic progress by eradicating a lot of the upfront value.
Watch this: New Photo voltaic Shingles You Could Not Even Discover
What gear does Palmetto set up?
No matter the way you get photo voltaic panels in your roof, Palmetto is more likely to supply high quality ones. Whereas the corporate is “gear agnostic,” as Jason Conrad, Palmetto’s vp of product advertising and marketing instructed CNET in 2022, Palmetto’s predominant choices for photo voltaic panels and inverters are high quality ones.
Palmetto presently installs Qcells panels and REC Alpha Pure Black panels, although extra Qcells panels nowadays, Conrad mentioned in a 2023 e-mail. It solely installs all-black panels which have low-profile mounting methods, 25-year warranties and sure supply chain ethics assurances. Qcells photo voltaic panels are the most widely installed in residential functions. The Qcells panels Palmetto highlights on-line have a maximum efficiency rating of 21.4%, a top-tier mark, and the REC panels have a maximum efficiency rating of 21.6%.
Palmetto installs Enphase microinverters and SolarEdge inverters with energy optimizers, each of which permit for monitoring the system on the panel degree. The 2 corporations present the vast majority of inverters utilized in residential photo voltaic installations.
Palmetto gives batteries from two producers. The present choices are from Sonnen and Tesla. A sonnenCore battery has 10 kilowatt-hours of capability and might discharge at a peak of 8.6 kilowatts or constantly at 4.8 kilowatts. You’ll be able to stack at the least two batteries for a capability of 20 kWh. Sonnen’s Ecolinx has a capability of 12-20 kWh and might push out electrical energy at a steady charge of 8 kilowatts. It is also 100% recyclable, in keeping with Sonnen. Tesla’s Powerwall holds 13.5 kWh and might ship a gentle stream of vitality at 5 kilowatts or a peak of seven kilowatts.
What warranties does Palmetto supply?
Photo voltaic installations from Palmetto are coated by a 10-year workmanship guarantee and a five-year guarantee that the holes drilled in your roof will not leak, Conrad mentioned. These warranties are a bit shorter than another corporations.
Each REC and Qcells panels are assured by the producer to provide at 86% of their rated capability after 25 years (some REC fashions have a 92% assure). These manufacturing warranties are close to the highest of the sector for each size and the extent of manufacturing.
Tesla and most Sonnen batteries supply 10-year warranties, although some Sonnen batteries carry 15-year warranties, the longest I’ve seen within the residential business. SolarEdge inverters include a 12-year guarantee, whereas Enphase inverters include a 25-year guarantee.
Palmetto’s lease and energy buy settlement obtain further advantages — a manufacturing assure and labor protection — underneath the Palmetto Defend Efficiency plan. Prospects who buy their panels with both money or a mortgage can add this extra protection for a price. Prospects who decide out of the Efficiency plan obtain the usual warranties and proactive monitoring of their system underneath the Palmetto Defend Necessities plan.
Does Palmetto supply monitoring providers?
The Palmetto app for monitoring, upkeep requests and customer support has a 3.9 star rating on Google Play and a 4.4 rating on Apple’s App Store.
Palmetto clients additionally obtain proactive monitoring and communication of any issues that come up with their panels.
Does Palmetto use subcontractors?
Palmetto operates on a market system, which signifies that it brings clients and installers collectively. The corporate says this brings the worth down by fostering competitors, though you must nonetheless get a number of quotes. It additionally signifies that Palmetto does not have installers on employees, although Palmetto shall be your predominant level of contact all through. Including a efficiency assure on prime might scale back considerations you would possibly really feel over installations not being dealt with in-house.
How a lot do Palmetto photo voltaic panels value?
Palmetto, like many photo voltaic corporations, does not make its common costs per set up public. For some areas, it does offer you just a few primary items of details about your potential photo voltaic array. For my tackle, I obtained a possible photo voltaic array projected onto my roof. It included the variety of panels wanted to offset my vitality utilization, however not a value.
The typical value of photo voltaic installations is $2.99 per watt for an 8-kilowatt system, in keeping with an analysis done by Wood Mackenzie, although different estimates put the quantity greater. The map under makes use of state-specific pricing knowledge from FindEnergy, which reviews costs earlier than incentives. States with out knowledge are proven in grey.
Palmetto additionally hosts and operates a financing market, the place completely different lenders supply competing loans. This drives down the lending value, Conrad mentioned, although he could not say how a lot it saves individuals. These embrace loans that permit you to lump in different vitality effectivity or solar-related house enhancements like new home windows, roofing, panel upgrades, battery storage and extra.
Once more, it is necessary to discover your choices for paying for photo voltaic. Avoiding a mortgage can prevent some huge cash since you will not pay lending charges or curiosity.
What financing choices does Palmetto supply?
You may get photo voltaic panels from Palmetto through buy, lease or power purchase agreement. Whereas buying panels, both with money or utilizing a mortgage, will ship the best financial savings over time, a lease or energy buy settlement removes a lot of the upfront prices. Relying on the phrases of your settlement, you would possibly lower your expenses in your energy bill immediately rather than after a few years, like photo voltaic purchases.
Palmetto’s leases and energy buy agreements include an choice to buy out your system starting after five years. This setup lets you get photo voltaic financial savings instantly whereas retaining open your possibility to purchase (and certain accessing higher financial savings). It is a provision that does not appear to be frequent however helps alleviate some considerations you may need over getting into right into a 25-year contract.
Leases is likely to be a extra engaging possibility, as rates of interest are excessive.
“The buyer worth proposition on shopping for photo voltaic by a mortgage is de facto impacted by greater rates of interest,” Jason Conrad, senior vp of Palmetto, told CNET in September.
Does Palmetto Photo voltaic function in my state? How do I order?
Palmetto operates in 25 states, in keeping with its web site. Whereas clients will work together with Palmetto by the method, Palmetto is “100% pushed by distributors in our community,” Conrad mentioned. Palmetto might promote, set up or finance panels, or some mixture of the three within the states under, in keeping with an organization spokesperson.
To order, you may contact the corporate by Palmetto’s web site to get quotes and join with a photo voltaic advisor. That process includes an introductory meeting, a website survey, contract signing and system design, largely on-line. From there, the corporate lays out a timeline for working photo voltaic panels that can take two to 4 months.
Is Palmetto Photo voltaic my best option?
The quick reply for a purchase order this massive is “it relies upon.” Earlier than you buy photo voltaic panels, you must collect a number of quotes and punctiliously contemplate what’s greatest to your house and vitality use.
Palmetto does supply high quality gear that is broadly used throughout the business. Its said requirements for photo voltaic panels imply they are going to be prime tier and underneath robust warranties. The inverter and batteries on supply are robust candidates too.
The warranties Palmetto gives fluctuate from robust to decrease than common. As a result of it gives high quality gear, the gear warranties are robust. Its workmanship warranties match lots of the others within the discipline, however the five-year guarantee for roof penetrations may very well be longer.
Palmetto’s promise to proactively monitor is a pleasant addition that may supply peace of thoughts for individuals who really feel intimidated by the expertise they’re shopping for. I can see the manufacturing assure doing the identical factor for cautious clients.
Palmetto does have an A+ score from the Higher Enterprise Bureau.
Whereas this assessment is researched to the most effective of my potential, it can’t be overstated that every photo voltaic scenario is completely different. Roof development, native local weather and your vitality use all affect how photo voltaic panels greatest suit your wants. Getting a number of quotes and negotiating with photo voltaic corporations is one of the simplest ways to make sure you’re getting an excellent deal; this assessment cannot exchange that.
Execs
- Robust dedication to help after set up
- High quality gear on supply
- Financing market might drive down costs
Cons
- Some warranties may very well be longer
- No agency value match coverage
Palmetto evaluations: What are clients saying?
On-line buyer evaluations may be useful in just a few methods. Whereas it is probably not a good suggestion to anticipate your expertise with an organization to observe level for level with any particular person assessment, they could be a helpful place to determine traits within the buyer expertise and work out what questions you should ask of installers.
This is a small pattern of the nice and dangerous from the Higher Enterprise Bureau, which has been calmly edited for spelling and punctuation.
5 star evaluations
“Unimaginable service. Everybody was so good and so they have been very useful and there was no stress. They put in them very quick and did a superb job. I’d advocate!” Nick L. Could 2, 2023
“Palmetto has saved me effectively knowledgeable concerning the challenge and the subsequent step the whole course of. I’m very proud of the tip end result. It did take a bit longer than I anticipated however effectively price it! Palmetto is all the time fast to reply to any questions. My photo voltaic panels are producing above my expectations.” Kay G. April 1, 2023
1 star evaluations
“My system has been lifeless for some time and am presently ready for them to approve the third get together to treatment this incompetent set up (+-$790), however they’re simply leaving me hanging.” Sheldon B. March 3, 2023 (Palmetto responded that it is engaged on an answer to this grievance.)
“Eight months in the past, I began the method of getting photo voltaic panels put in on my roof with Palmetto. Over 5 months in the past, I gave a deposit for my challenge. About two months in the past, I reached out to my challenge supervisor and numerous different Palmetto brokers that I reached through their customer support line, inquiring to know what the hold-up was as I had heard nothing (and nonetheless had no photo voltaic). Effectively, since then, nobody has returned a cellphone name. I filed a case to have my challenge canceled and my deposit refunded.” Christine B. Feb. 1, 2023 (Palmetto indicated it could attain out to the client to supply an replace shortly.)
How we consider photo voltaic corporations
Reviewing photo voltaic corporations in a hands-on approach is troublesome. Accounting for all of the variations from challenge to challenge is inconceivable. To supply a useful assessment, we centered on what we are able to measure and meaningfully examine amongst corporations.
We concentrate on three buckets of standards: gear, warranties and repair.
Inside the gear class, corporations obtain scores for the panels, inverters and batteries they set up. Warranties embrace ensures on the panels, workmanship and weatherization towards leaks. Corporations earn factors for service if they provide a value match, a significant degree of value transparency and a well-rated app for monitoring photo voltaic manufacturing. They lose factors if there are main points pertaining to customer support (lawsuits, investigations or clear reputations for shoddy service). These points will all the time be detailed within the assessment.
You’ll be able to read a detailed look at how the scoring breaks down.
We do not contemplate the typical value of an organization’s installations of their rating. This info is troublesome to seek out and arduous to match throughout service areas (and even roof-to-roof). Corporations are sometimes gradual to reveal it, too. We additionally omit simply discovered however not helpful info like what number of states an organization operates in.
Learn extra: Need one thing smaller than a whole-home photo voltaic system? See our picks for the most effective portable solar panels and solar generators.
Often requested questions
Palmetto operates on a market mannequin. It connects clients to installers whereas offering sure customer support ensures after set up. It additionally gives a mortgage market, which the corporate says delivers higher offers to clients.
In the event you go photo voltaic with Palmetto, you may be interacting with the corporate all through the design, set up and lifelong of your photo voltaic system.
What photo voltaic panels does Palmetto use?
Palmetto makes use of Qcells and REC photo voltaic panels, although it is put in extra Qcells panels than REC panels currently.
Qcells is a Korean firm that has photo voltaic panel factories in Georgia and plans to construct extra. Its panels are a few of the most generally utilized in residential installations.
What’s Palmetto Defend?
Palmetto Defend is how Palmetto manufacturers its guarantee and monitoring providers. Relying in your location and the dimensions of your, you’ll be able to decide into completely different ranges of monitoring, warranties and customer support. Some stronger packages are prolonged freed from cost to lease and energy buy settlement clients.
How lengthy has Palmetto been in enterprise?
The place is Palmetto situated?
Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, Palmetto installs photo voltaic panels in 25 states, in keeping with an organization spokesperson.
What providers does Palmetto supply?
Palmetto gives photo voltaic panel installations by buy, lease or energy buy agreements. Photo voltaic panels from quite a lot of producers can be found, in addition to inverters and batteries from a number of corporations. Palmetto additionally offers monitoring providers and an app that lets you monitor your individual photo voltaic panels.
Palmetto is a non-public firm that is obtained funding from a wide variety of investors. Its chairman, founder and CEO is Chris Kemper.
Correction, Jan. 31, 2023: An earlier model of this text misstated the Higher Enterprise Bureau’s grading course of. Any firm can obtain a grade from the Bureau, no matter whether or not it has paid to undergo the accreditation course of.