SunPower was the most popular solar company among respondents in Louisiana, according to our 2023 survey. Get a quote on your own solar system installation today.
Updated:
Mar 13, 2024
Written by
Aniket Bhor
Aniket Bhor
Edited By
Sabrina Lopez
Sabrina Lopez
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) predicts that Louisiana’s national solar rank will jump from 39th to 19th in the next five years. Such rapid growth of solar power in the state suggests more and more homeowners are in search of trustworthy installers. Our research shows that Sunpower, LGCY Power, Tesla Solar and South Coast Solar are among the best solar companies in the Bayou State.
We at the MarketWatch Guides team selected the top solar installers in Louisiana after extensive market research and state-level analysis of our surveys of 2,000 total homeowners with solar. We also used a detailed methodology to rate and review each solar company on our list, based on the factors most important to consumers like you.
What To Look for in a Solar Company
With numerous options and ever-evolving technology, choosing a solar company can be difficult. Below are a few factors to consider when choosing a solar energy company.
Most solar companies offer more than one service. You can narrow your search by looking for installers that offer the services you need.
For most homeowners, cost is their primary concern. You should make sure that you are not paying much higher than the average cost of solar panels in Louisiana. At the same time, choosing a cheap system has its own risks, such as poor quality equipment or unimpressive warranties. If the upfront installation cost of a system seems too high, you can choose an installer that offers multiple payment options. Many companies offer leases for solar panels, power purchase agreements (PPA) and loans for their solar solutions.
A solar power system is a complex arrangement of sophisticated components that is expected to last 25 or more years. Therefore, it is important that you choose a trustworthy installer — one who has the necessary licenses, decent experience and a good reputation.You can check if a solar company is trustworthy by checking its BBB ratings and customer reviews on several online platforms.
Solar panels are a great addition to your home, but they are just one of the many useful upgrades you can make. For example, you may want to explore services such as heat pumps or smart home upgrades. You might want to add accessories to your solar system, such as a battery backup system or an electric vehicle (EV) charger.
Top Solar Companies in Louisiana of 2023
After researching the costs, warranties, experience and more, we selected the following four companies as the best solar installers in Louisiana.
- SunPower: Our pick for most experienced
- LGCY Power: Our pick for customer resources
- Tesla Energy: Our pick for panel design
- South Coast Solar: Our pick for local expertise
SunPower
Our pick for most experience
Warranty 25 years
System Cost $24,000–$36,000
LGCY Power
Our pick for customer resources
Warranty 10 and 25 years
System Cost N/A
Tesla Energy
Our pick for panel design
Warranty 25 years
System Cost $16,000–$23,000
South Coast Solar
Our pick for local expertise
Warranty 10 and 25 years
System Cost N/A
Our Recommendation
A total of 70 solar companies operate in Louisiana, with 35 installers. While this is not as many as in some other states, it is still a large pool to choose from when going solar. Homeowners in the state have access to both large, national installers like LGCY Power and Tesla and experienced local options such as South Coast Solar.
Before making a final decision, we recommend requesting free quotes from multiple solar companies and comparing costs and services based on your needs and budget.
Compare Louisiana Solar Companies
Use the following chart to compare and contrast our top picks for solar companies in Louisiana.
*We obtained pricing data from SunPower and Tesla directly from the company. Figures are based on an 8 kW solar system. For the most accurate pricing for LGCY Power and South Coast Solar, contact the company.
**BBB ratings are accurate as of December 2023.
Benefits of Going Solar in Louisiana
Louisiana residents can enjoy multiple benefits of going solar. Here are a few important ones.
- Electricity bill savings: When you generate your own clean energy using solar panels, you reduce your grid power consumption significantly, which reduces your monthly power bills. In many cases, solar panels are able to offset up to 100% of your grid power consumption, almost eliminating electricity expenses. Over its long lifespan, a solar panel system in Louisiana can save tens of thousands in utility bills.
- Protection against rising power costs: Throughout the world, the cost of electricity has been steadily climbing, and Louisiana is no exception. In fact, power prices in Louisiana increased for some customers last summer to help restore the grid damage from previous years’ extreme weather.
- Experts suggest that such price hikes are going to be more common in the future. Additionally, global events like pandemics or wars worsen the problem. Thankfully, solar panel owners can protect themselves against climbing power prices since most of their power comes from sunlight and has no cost.
- Positive environmental impact: Solar panels generate clean, renewable energy using photons in the sunlight and emit zero greenhouse gasses (GHG) in the process. On the other hand, fossil fuels, which make up most of the grid power, are known to emit thousands of tons of carbon dioxide and other harmful chemicals. Solar panels can therefore be an excellent tool in slowing down climate change by reducing GHG emissions.
- Security against power outages: Louisiana suffered from 64% more power outages in the past decade compared to 2000–2010. This makes Louisiana one of the top few states in the country in terms of frequency of blackouts.
- A home equipped with a solar panel and battery backup system is able to fight blackouts more easily. The battery storage can keep some or all appliances in the house running for a few hours to a few days.
- Increased home value: Several studies show that the sale price of a property goes up after installing a solar power system on it. Zillow, a real estate platform, reports that the average rise in a home’s value in the U.S. is 4.1%. Considering Louisiana’s average home price of $185,041, a 4.1% increase could mean an extra $7,586 on average.
Louisiana Solar Incentives
Louisiana does not have a long list of solar incentives and rebates. However, it does have a decent incentive program when you consider the federal tax credit, net metering and a loan program to help its residents go solar. Below is an overview of all the available incentives in Louisiana.
Federal Incentives
The federal solar tax credit is the most important incentive available to Louisiana homeowners. It offers solar buyers a tax credit equivalent to 30% of their system’s value. This credit can be applied to their income tax payments, effectively reducing the cost of a system by 30%. Considering the average system cost of $15,840, homeowners can save up to $4,752 with the solar ITC.
Statewide Incentives
| Incentive | Savings | Explanation |
| Home Energy Loan Program | Savings vary | Solar panel customers in Louisiana can get a loan at a blended rate that is lower than the market rate. |
| Property Tax Exemption | Savings vary | Homeowners installing solar panels will be exempt from increased property taxes as a result of the increased property value caused by solar power. |
| Net metering | N/A | Net metering allows solar panel owners to send excess energy back into the grid in exchange for energy credits. The credits can then be used to reduce the electricity bill. Systems installed after Dec. 2019 will have their energy credits valued at the utility’s avoided cost rate. |
Local Incentives
- Solar for All New Orleans: The city of New Orleans offers affordable solar lease options to eligible (low-income) residents of the city.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Companies in Louisiana
As per the records of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Louisiana has a total of 67 solar panel companies. Out of these, 35 are solar installation companies. Solar companies serve areas throughout Louisiana, including New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Metairie.
A home in Louisiana can save tens of thousands in energy bills over the lifespan of a typical rooftop solar system. This, combined with other advantages such as increased home value and reduced carbon footprint, makes going solar worth it in Louisiana.
Based on our detailed survey, the payback period of an average system in Louisiana is 7.96 years. This is lower than the national average payback of 8.49 years.
