Cooperative purchasing programs for home solar, also called solar co-ops or solarize programs, are an excellent way to raise awareness about solar power in a local area.
Co-ops usually promise that homeowners who join the co-op will save money by going in with neighbors to qualify for a quantity discount. But solar co-ops also add special fees that you don’t have to pay if you go directly to a local solar installer. And there can be changes in equipment as the co-op process goes along, raising your final cost for a solar installation.
How can you be sure you’re getting the best deal on solar through a co-op? Based on our experience with solar co-ops — we’ve served as the solar installer for these programs in the past and we’ve also worked with homeowners after they’ve gone solar through a co-op — we’ve published a couple articles with helpful advice for homeowners considering joining a solar co-op:
Finally, the only way to know if a solar proposal you get through a co-op is the best for you is to compare it to what you could get outside the co-op. That’s why we always recommend that you get a second proposal from a solar installer outside the co-op.
Main Street Solar is always happy to provide a second opinion to any homeowner in our service area of Central and Southwestern Virginia who’s in a solar co-op or is thinking of joining one. Just ask us for a free solar quote today.
