Is Sunrun A Good Company for Solar Installations? Processes, Licensing, and Products

Welcome to the world of Sunrun, a frontrunner in the solar panel installation landscape in the United States! With a presence in 20 states and Puerto Rico, Sunrun has been brightening homes with solar energy since 2008 from its base in San Francisco. Known for its wide array of solar panels, batteries, and accessories,

Sunrun is a reputable solar provider known for its extensive service area, diverse product range, and flexible financing options. With competitive pricing and a positive industry reputation, it's a strong choice for solar installations.

In this article, I will discuss whether or not Sunrun is a good company to use for your solar installation, some of their product offerings, and whether or not their power purchase agreement is a good deal.

What Makes Sunrun A Good Company for Solar Installations?

Sunrun is A One-Stop Solar Shop with a History

One of the most convenient facts key factors of working with Sunrun is that they have an impressive range of monocrystalline solar panels, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, and energy storage solutions like Tesla Powerwall and Sunrun Brightbox.

Partnering with renowned manufacturers such as Panasonic, Q Cells, Canadian Solar, and REC, Sunrun ensures a variety of quality options for its customers. You can read more about their most popular product offering (the power purchase agreement) here.

Sunrun has also been in business for more than 16 years making them one of the oldest solar companies to be in business. In an industry that is as capital-intensive as solar. That says a lot about their resilience and ability to withstand the test of time, unlike many other solar companies that have come and gone due to financial hardships.

Sunrun Handles the Entire Installation Process

Sunrun also handles the installation process from start to finish which is very convenient if you don't have a lot of time on your hands. They will be able to schedule your home inspection, the submission of the permits to the local authorities, and the applications to the utility companies which many times can be a very complicated process.

The biggest time commitment you would need to make as a homeowner is the explanation of your solar quote, and being present during the initial site survey which usually takes no more than an hour to complete. This gives you the time to focus on doing the things you do best.

One of the most complex parts of the solar installation process is understanding the permit requirements and the utility application process because both of those entities usually have strict requirements on how your solar system needs to be designed to be approved.

All Sunruns Staff Is Licensed and Insured

One of the biggest problems you may hear about when doing your research with solar is about installations going bad missed appointments, and lack of service after the solar installation. Because Sunrun is a publicly traded company, they require all their staff in whichever field they are employed to be licensed in that area.

For example, installation professionals need to be trained in Hosha Safety requirements and best practices when it comes to solar installations. The marketing and sales agents must be licensed to take calls and communicate within the states they are assigned.

These types of requirements are often overlooked in small and medium-sized solar companies because there is not as much oversight in the area of licensing.

What are Sunrun's Most Popular Products?

The Power Purchase Agreement

Sunrun's core product is the Power Purchase Agreement, which is what made them become the largest solar company in the nation. With a power purchase agreement, you do not have to pay anything for the equipment, installation, permitting, or anything before the solar panels are actually installed, the only thing you pay for is the electricity that is produced from the solar panels.

This makes the power purchase agreement a very attractive offering for people who don't want to pay anything upfront just to find out if their home is a good fit for solar or not. You can see if your home is a good fit for the power purchase agreement by filling out a quick form on this page.

Financing Your Solar System

The second most popular product with Sunrun is having the ability to finance your solar system through them. When you finance your solar system through Sunrun, they become the solar installer and offer a workmanship warranty.

They then connect you with leading solar financing companies who can set you up with a payment plan for the solar panels.

What Are the Disadvantages of Sunrun?

One of the main disadvantages of Sunrun is that they have a strict home inspection process where they examine the home to see if it is a good fit for solar. Sunrun offers some of the most robust warranties and maintenance in the industry and they must make sure each of their installations is done with high-quality standards.

The main areas that they look at during their inspection are the roof, electrical panel, and attic. The roof inspection is to make sure they can indeed provide the warranties they say they will.

The attic inspection makes sure there is no mold or anything that can compromise the structural integrity of the home, and the electric portion is to make sure the house is backward compatible with the solar and that your electricity can be sent back to the grid when electricity is being overproduced. 

The good news is that their inspection does not cost you anything, you can start the process by filling out the form on this page.

Conclusion

Sunrun is more than just a solar company. It's a provider of comprehensive solar solutions, offering an extensive selection of products, two types of warranties, and a variety of financing options. While customer reviews are mixed, Sunrun's industry reputation, competitive pricing, and BBB rating make it a worthy contender in the solar market. We recommend chatting directly with Sunrun to see if they align with your solar energy needs.

Not sure if Sunrun is the right fit for you? No worries! The solar market is filled with numerous providers. It's crucial to do your homework, read the fine print on each company's website, and get quotes to make an informed decision. Remember, the right solar provider for you is out there, ready to illuminate your home with renewable energy