SunState Solar
0.0
0.0
Author: Kaitlyn Short
SunState Solar has been providing premium residential and commercial solar solutions to customers in New Mexico since 2018. Armed with quality solar products and 25-year product warranties, the company builds solar panel systems that are built to last. While its solar financing partnerships ensure customers receive the fastest return on investment possible, SunState Solar does not offer all types of financing options.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Quality Equipment and Warranties
- Solar Lender Transparency
Quality Equipment and Warranties
SunState actively installs both Panasonic and Solaria solar cells. Panasonic solar panels are featured in company's SunState Prima Series and range from 19.1 to 20.3 percent. Panasonic panels also come with an industry-leading equipment warranty of 25 years. Meanwhile, the SunState Signature Series option uses Solaria solar cells that can get up to 20.5 percent efficiency and also come with a 25-year equipment warranty.
SunState Solar also employs SolarEdge inverters into its systems (though Enphase inverters can be sourced and installed upon homeowner request). Inverters are responsible for translating the energy gathered by the solar panel array into usable electricity for your home. At about 98 percent, SolarEdge’s solar inverters rank among the most highly efficient and effective on the market.
Solar Lender Transparency
SunState Solar is one of the few companies to disclose its solar financing partners on its website: US Eagle Credit Union, Homewise Financial, and Sunlight Financial. Each of these lenders offer special solar loans with competitive rates to help finance a solar panel array with, and also allow customers to use their solar tax credit to pay down some of the principal amount.
The Bad
- No Lease or PPA
- New Mexico Only
- Not NABCEP-Certified
No Lease or PPA
SunState Solar does not offer customers the option to lease their solar systems or pay for solar energy via a power purchase agreement (PPA). While neither of these options lead to ownership, nor do they give customers the ability to take advantage of the national solar tax credit, they are cost-effective means of investing in solar energy. Both options significantly reduce the upfront costs associated with financing a solar panel array.
New Mexico Only
As one of several one-state-only solar providers across the country, SunState Solar only operates in New Mexico. While a limited national reach is no indictment on the solar installation company’s ability to provide great customer service, it does put SunState Solar at odds with national solar providers with more well-known reputations. For companies like SunState Solar, leveraging real reviews from verified customers can help level the playing field.
Not NABCEP-Certified
SunState Solar does not appear to have a certification from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). While this is not an indictment of the company's quality of service, an NABCEP certification can be a useful way for prospective customers to quickly identify solar providers that maintain high industry standards and best practices.
The Bottom Line
For solar customers in New Mexico, SunState Solar checks several boxes for what they should be looking for in a reputable solar company. The company uses quality solar modules with high efficiency and long performance guarantees designed to reduce the homeowner's energy costs.
However, customers should note that SunState solar is only interested in helping them own their solar array — either through outright purchase, or via a solar loan — and leasing or PPA options are off the table. The lack of NABCEP certification should motivate customers to look at SunState solar more closely, and even comparison shop against leading solar companies prior to making a decision.
