With the increasing affordability of renewable energies, switching to solar makes sense for almost anyone who doesn’t live under a rock (or anything else that might throw shade on solar panels). Solar is eco-friendly, it reduces electricity costs and—if you might sell your home in the future—solar can improve the value of your house.
If you’re interested in making the switch, Sunrun Solar operates as one of the largest solar installation companies in the country. Overall, the company is well-known but suffers from poor customer reviews and is generally viewed as more expensive than its competitors. Here’s everything you need to know.
Pros
- Leasing options available
- Flexible financing
- No-extra-cost maintenance on leasing options
Cons
- Customer service complaints
- Expensive upfront installation costs
Sunrun Solar at a Glance
With 15 years of experience, Sunrun’s growth has made it a leader within the residential solar installation industry. The company has installed over 285,000 solar and battery systems in 20 states. It offers a comprehensive solar installation process, inverter, backup batteries and home energy monitoring as well as ongoing maintenance for customers.
Much of Sunrun’s business comes from leasing solar panels, though the company does offer customers the option to purchase panels as well. Leasing panels can be a cost-effective way to install solar sooner, but it comes with additional long-term costs and risks. Be sure to understand the terms and conditions, including how and what you’re being charged for before leasing.
Featured Partner
1
SunPower
BBB Grade
A+
Financing Options
Flexible financing with zero down payment
Number of States Covered
50
2
Palmetto Solar
BBB Grade
A+
Financing Options
Purchase, loan, PPA
Number of States Covered
20
3
Blue Raven Solar
BBB
A+
Financing Options
$0 upfront for 18 months
Number of States Covered
21
Customer reviews report poor customer service and slow responses on follow-up maintenance. Many customers complained about system failures and long wait times for repairs. Sunrun suffers from paltry ratings on various consumer trust websites and has received a staggering 1430 complaints via the Better Business Bureau in the 2021 alone.
Poor ratings aside, Sunrun does appear to sell generally high-quality products. The company doesn’t produce solar panels and batteries itself—it partners with companies like LG, LONGi and Tesla. We recommend asking specific questions about which type of solar panels are being installed and from which manufacturer before you sign with any installation company.
Sunrun also maintains a partnership with Costco means Costco members receive special price reductions. While the prices companies charge for solar installation can be difficult to discern because each installation is different, customer accounts indicate that Sunrun does fall on the higher end of the solar array pricing spectrum.
Installing solar arrays often involves an upfront cost of more than $15,000, but most installations shouldn’t exceed $25,000. Sunrun’s leasing program advertises as little as a $0 down payment with customers only paying the monthly cost of the lease. Be clear on the terms of any lease you sign, especially since solar panels are a semi-permanent installation and repossession or any other issue that arises may involve placing a lien on your house.
Sunrun Solar Availability by State
Sunrun Solar operates in 22 states and territories including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. The company’s website includes a map of all the locations it services. It also offers Brightbox battery services in 19 of 20 states but excludes Wisconsin.
Other Benefits
The warranty provided by Sunrun covers 25 years—a common standard among solar installation companies. Those who purchase the array, should expect to rely on the panel’s manufacturers. Sunrun also offers a 10-year warranty on any roof damage inflicted during installation.
If homeowners are looking to sell or move homes, Sunrun will move and reinstall solar arrays under the leasing program at a cost.
Fine Print
1. Monthly Lease
Sunrun Solar offers four plans for customers:
This option requires the least upfront cost. The system remains owned by Sunrun and customers make monthly payments to the company. Sunrun also provides a 25-year warranty with full system monitoring and maintenance. This is the most popular option according to Sunrun, but it will likely have the least overall financial savings.
2. Full Lease
Customers who choose a full lease, pay the upfront cost of the solar array for 25 years while Sunrun maintains ownership of the equipment and provides the same warranty and monitoring coverage as provided with a monthly lease.
3. Monthly Loan
Customers can also purchase a solar array through a third party loan. Sunrun completes installation and a typical payback period runs between five and 10 years. While customers will own the system outright, Sunrun will not provide the same warranty and maintenance unless the Protection Plus plan is added (many solar panel manufacturers do provide separate warranties, so depending on specific coverages this may be at least partially redundant coverage).
4. Full Purchase
With a full purchase, customers buy the system outright from Sunrun. Similar to the loan, Sunrun does not provide additional maintenance and system monitoring. Owning the solar array allows for cashing in fully on incentives and immediately increases the property value of the home.
Ownership of the panel also means homeowners who may sell their properties don’t have to worry about paying off leases or loans upon sale or uninstalling and reinstalling the panels on a new property, which Sunrun can do for an additional cost.
Sunrun Cost
When considering solar energy solutions, Sunrun emerges as a prominent player with its widespread offerings in residential solar installations. When evaluating the potential cost of going solar with Sunrun, it’s crucial to understand that the average industry cost is around $3.05 per watt. For example, a 9-kilowatt solar system, which is a common size for residential installations, would cost approximately $27,450. However, this figure is a general estimate, as there is limited cost info online and the actual cost of a Sunrun solar system can vary based on several factors.
Sunrun provides a variety of financing choices for homeowners to access solar energy easily. These options include solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs), where homeowners can rent solar panels and equipment or pay for the electricity generated at a fixed rate. Sunrun also offers different loan options through third-party vendors, allowing homeowners to finance the purchase of a solar system with varying terms and interest rates.
With various solar financing options to choose from, homeowners should carefully review the terms and conditions of each, taking into account interest rates, fees and available solar incentives. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, contact Sunrun directly or visit their official website.
Sunrun Warranty
With its focus on sustainable energy solutions, Sunrun has established itself as a leading force in the solar industry known for innovation and dependability. However, not only does it prioritize sustainable energy solutions, but it also provides extensive warranty coverage for its solar installations. This is done through various measures, such as equipment warranties and workmanship warranties.
- Equipment warranty: The length of equipment warranties spans up to 25 years. This warranty covers any manufacturer’s defects in the equipment and guarantees its performance and reliability.
- Workmanship warranty: Sunrun typically offers a workmanship warranty that covers the installation process and labor. This warranty ensures that the solar system is installed correctly and free from defects in workmanship. The duration of this warranty is up to 10 years.
Sunrun Customer Reviews
While online reviews aren’t everything, digging into some reviews before contacting a company can be helpful to get a lay of the land and to know what questions to ask. Sunrun’s online reviews can give homeowners an understanding of Sunrun’s performance, including aspects like installation efficiency, system reliability and customer support.
BBB (Better Business Bureau)
Sunrun has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) as of this writing. In addition to its rating, exploring individual customer reviews on various platforms for more specific insights is also beneficial.
One review on the BBB shouted out the sales rep and speedy installation.
“I recently had Solar out on my home through SunRun and couldnt be happier. The sales rep did a great job of explaining how it all works, why its so important; the fact that we have batteries on our home so we never have blackouts again, no maintaining for us to worry about, its free installation etc. The install crew was in and out in one day.” – Emily V, October 2023
Some negative reviews highlighted some misunderstandings or lack of response from customer service.
“After multiple calls, months of waiting and service tickets, my system still does not work.” -Crista M, December 2023
Other reviews praised the company’s quick response to any issues that arose.
“…We noticed in July into August that the system was not producing what it’s supposed to and so we were getting ready to call customer service. Before we could [redacted] called us to make an appointment for maintenance to come out and look at our system. They arrived right on time and not only solved the problem of the system not communicating with Sunrun because of Wi-Fi being down, but also noticed a problem with the inverter and the service person is going to come back again to fix it and will also arrange for us to get a credit for the Lost usage. I believe this is outstanding service in a proactive manner that makes us feel very happy that we went with Sunrun.” – Janet S., October 2023
Trustpilot
Another helpful site to check is Trustpilot, where the company currently has a 1.6 rating. Again, taking online reviews with a grain of salt is important, but the issues and upsides discussed on the site can help guide your conversation with the company should you choose to move forward with your solar project.
One review praised the company for saving them money on their utility bills.
“Sunrun is a great company they were very nice and saved me tons of money on my light bill! Definitely recommend! Not paying a dime for panels and reduced my bill.” – Jesus M, December 2023
Another review mentioned a lack of response from customer service and increased utility bills.
“…When I received my electric bill, it was high far from my usual monthly bill. When I called Sunrun, it was found out that my solar is not working and some parts needs to be replaced. It was down for over a week and if I did not call we are not aware of it…” -Chuchi R, September 2023
Another review praised the company after previously working with a different provider.
“I originally had my Solar installed by another company that was eventually purchased by Sunrun. The service with Sunrun has been far better than the service with the previous company.” – Brian S, April 2020
How Sunrun Solar Stacks Up
Is Sunrun Solar Right for You?
Sunrun’s size and capacity for solar array installation made the company a market leader, but it suffers from poor customer reviews. Those looking for personalized and quick customer service may want to shop around before selecting Sunrun. Sunrun’s leasing service, a key element of the company’s business model, is on par with many other solar companies and doesn’t necessarily offer anything particularly fancy.
For those seeking to buy panels instead of leasing them, other companies may also offer better deals.
Methodology
To determine the best solar panel installation company ranking, the Forbes Home Improvement editorial team analyzed third-party data on over a dozen major companies, with each company’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:
- BBB rating (25%)
- Customer reviews (25%)
- Number of states covered (20%)
- Warranty (15%)
- BBB accredited (10%)
- Free energy consultation (5%)
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long do Sunrun solar panels last?
Sunrun products remain under warranty for 25 years. The price of warranty and monitoring is included in the lease payment and customers can add on Sunrun’s Protection Plus when purchasing to include warranty and monitoring protections.
How efficient are Sunrun solar panels?
Sunrun doesn’t produce its own panels and instead partners with several companies including LG and LONGi. LG’s solar panels are advertised to operate with about 20% efficiency, but most solar arrays fall between 15 to 22% efficiency. There’s no guarantee LG panels will be installed, so check the purchasing agreement before signing if you’d like to ensure you see one brand installed over another.
Is Sunrun a Tesla company?
No, Sunrun is not a Tesla-owned company, though Sunrun may use Tesla batteries in home installations.
