1876 Energy

• Quality, Affordable Panels and Inverters
• Multiple Financing Options

Quality, Affordable Panels and Inverters

1876 Energy uses industry-leading solar panels and solar inverters in its solar installations. In concert with micro inverters from SolarEdge, the company also installs solar panels from LG. LG solar panels rank highly among the most efficient in the industry (18.4 percent on average), and carry a 25-year equipment warranty, one of the strongest available.

In terms of price, LG solar panels are considered mid-range, with price per watt falling between approximately $2 and $3. At this price, the average residential solar panel system could cost anywhere between $14,000 and $20,000*, depending on a variety of factors including size, location, labor, and cost of mounting equipment.

*Readers should note this range represents our best estimate based on industry numbers, and not an actual quote from 1876 Energy.

Multiple Financing Options

For customers who are unable to finance their system through direct purchase, 1876 Energy offers two additional financing options:

• Solar Loans — Minimizes upfront costs by allowing solar customers to pay off their system over time. Solar term loans can range between 5 and 20 years, at between 1.99 and 4.99 percent interest, depending on credit score. Borrowers can still take advantage of tax incentives and solar credits as de facto solar system owners.
• Solar Leases — Lowers monthly utility bills by allowing customers to “rent” their solar system. Solar lessees will never own their solar system, nor will they have access to solar tax incentives or credits, but leasing can be a good option for anyone wanting to get involved with solar energy without footing a huge investment.

• No PPA Option
• Ambiguous Partnerships and Accreditations

No PPA Option

1876 Energy does not appear to offer customers a power purchase agreement (PPA) option. Although PPAs preclude solar customers from taking advantage of solar credits and federal tax incentives, they do allow homeowners to pay for the power their system generates — often at a lower rate than their regular utility bill. 

Ambiguous Partnerships and Accreditations

Industry accreditations set good companies apart from great ones. In the solar industry for example, an accreditation from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) identifies solar providers that adhere to industry-recognized best practices.

On the 1876 Energy homepage, the company both claims “Award-Winning Service” and lists logos from a number of prominent solar organizations:

• American Solar Energy Society
• SolarEdge
• Enphase
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory
• Smart Electric Power Alliance
• Solar Energy Industries Association
• Texas Solar Energy Society
• Silfab Solar
• North American Board of Certified Energy Providers

Apart from SolarEdge and Enphase, whose inverters 1876 Energy uses in its solar systems, little evidence supporting these implied partnerships and memberships could be found — either on 1876 Energy’s own website and social pages, personnel profiles on LinkedIn, or within the business directories of the aforementioned associations. Membership to these industry-recognized groups represents a definite advantage for 1876 Energy; but until the company can provide corroborating evidence beyond a page full of logos, it may not be doing as much to stand out as its website implies.