Leading installation companies 

Although the same companies took the top three spots, smaller solar installers increased their share of the market in California in 2017. Ohm Analytics just published the list of the Top 20 Residential Solar Companies in California based on 2017 installation volumes. Last year was marked by a lot of change in the solar industry, particularly in California where the market declined by approximately 25 percent. Even though the market declined, many smaller solar installation companies showed growth, and a few showed tremendous growth over 2016. As prices drop and the solar lease loses popularity, it has created a market where small to medium-sized solar installers can now compete with Tesla, Vivint, and Sunrun.
 

Beyond the big three, what is telling about Ohm Analytics’ report is the growth and positioning of the next 15 installers. While in 2016 these smaller companies made up only 16 percent of the market, with the top three taking 39 percent, the tables turned in 2017. Last year Tesla, Vivint, and Sunrun lost market share to take only 29 percent of the California market. The next 15 installers made up 24 percent of the market and that was the first time so many small companies took so much of the market. 11 of the 15 companies in the top had more solar installations in 2017 than in 2016, with Infinity Energy and Freedom Solar both showing more than 100 percent growth.
 

Results & predictions

The U.S. solar market installed more than 14,700 MW of solar in 2016, nearly doubling the capacity installed in 2015. For the first time ever, solar was ranked as the No. 1 source of new electric generating capacity additions brought online throughout the year. GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) predict the cumulative U.S. solar market to nearly triple in size over the next five years. By 2022, more than 18 GW of solar photovoltaic capacity will be installed annually, and all 500 of the 2017 Top Solar Contractors class will contribute to this astounding number.

The market has also rebounded and taken a positive turn as people turn to finance their solar panels. According to the report, solar installations increased by a whopping 14 percent in the first quarter of 2018 versus the first quarter of 2017. Ohm Analytics added the increase is driven by consumer interest in solar with storage and a strong housing market. This data also means the remaining 50 percent of solar installations were done by even smaller more local companies. This is the first time that so many smaller companies garnered such a large share of the market.

Shopping is essential

This is why it is important to shop around when looking for installers. Those installers compete with the big three every day. At HahaSmart we have verified installers that we work with around the country. We believe in the power of the local installer and we think they offer consumers a better deal than the big national companies. Not that we are knocking the business practices of the big solar companies. Their products are good, and they are solar companies that stand by their work, but we have found that usually, a large company is going to contract installers throughout the US, whereas a local company is in your community. The employees live and shop with you and because of that community feeling, and they might just give you a better deal on your installation. If you’d like more assistance, click here.

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