Blue Raven Solar is worth considering if you can’t afford the high upfront cost of a new solar system installation. The company offers its BluePower Plus+ loan option through an in-house financing department and uses some of the highest-performing solar panels on the market, Maxeon. These benefits help you get the most out of your solar panels in terms of performance and financial gain.
Unfortunately, Blue Raven Solar doesn’t offer solar leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs). If you want to generate clean energy, reduce your energy bills, and avoid the hassle of maintenance and cleaning, you may want to consider a different solar installer from this list of the best solar companies we have reviewed.
Our thoughts on Blue Raven Solar
Blue Raven Solar is a good option if you’re looking for a solar loan. However, its service options are limited compared to other solar installation companies. The company operates in only 21 states, but this also means that its staff is more knowledgeable about local and state solar incentives and can help secure these incentives for you.
Using our methodology, this mixture of perks and drawbacks earned Blue Raven Solar a score of 4.3 out of 5 stars. Its in-house financing and overall positive customer reputation helped it beat other popular national installers, including ADT Solar and Tesla. If you want better leasing options or a more comprehensive selection of services, consider Trinity Solar and Sunrun.
What we like
We like that Blue Raven Solar has an in-house solar loan program, BluePower Plus+. This solar loan offers you the first 18 months of solar payments for free. Additionally, you may receive zero-dollar upfront pricing for design, permitting and installation. With this option, you can enjoy a fixed monthly payment and interest rate for the entire loan term, allowing you to pay off your solar system over time with no penalty. Overall, BluePower Plus+ is a great way to invest in solar energy and save money in the long run.
The company also provides quality monocrystalline solar panels from premium manufacturers such as Maxeon and Trina Solar. Monocrystalline panels are the highest-efficiency panels available, with ratings around 20%, but some Maxeon panels can reach up to 30%. You can get even more out of your solar panel system with Blue Raven Solar by taking advantage of its solar battery backup installation services. You also receive ample coverage with a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty for all products.
What we don’t like
Blue Raven Solar focuses primarily on solar loans and doesn’t offer solar leases or PPAs. The company claims its BluePower Plus+ plan gives you the perks of a PPA while letting you take advantage of tax incentives and full ownership, but we know not everyone wants this. The company has a narrowed financial focus that might not align with your financial goals.
Additionally, we came across alarming custom reviews about Blue Raven Solar’s sales team. Aggressive sales tactics, such as spam calls, were mentioned, and there’s an overall negative sentiment from previous customers about the company’s sales-y attitude. This problem leads to a general lack of customer service for some Blue Raven Solar customers. We recommend you take some time to look into your local Blue Raven Solar branch to figure out whether it’s a reputable location.
Compare top solar brands
Something we really like about Blue Raven Solar is its comprehensive warranty options. The company’s combo 10-year labor and 25-year manufacturer’s warranty make it stand out from its top competitors.
| Provider | Our Rating | Manufacturer’s Warranty | Workmanship Warranty | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 years | 5 years | |||
| 25 years | 25 years | |||
| 25 years | 25 years | |||
| 25 years | 10 years | |||
| 25 years | 10 years |
| Provider | Our Rating | Manufacturer’s Warranty | Workmanship Warranty | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 years | 5 years | |||
| 25 years | 25 years | |||
| 25 years | 25 years | |||
| 25 years | 10 years | |||
| 25 years | 10 years |
Blue Raven Solar services
Blue Raven Solar works with various solar panel manufacturers to offer high-efficiency, monocrystalline solar panels. Monocrystalline solar panels feature an average life span of 25–40 years and efficiency rates of up to 20.6%. During our research, we noted Canadian Solar, Maxeon and Trina as brands Blue Raven Solar offers. Maxeon is a particularly impressive option as some of its panels reach as high as 30% efficiency.
The specific brand of solar panel you receive from Blue Raven Solar greatly depends on the supply chain in your area at the time. We do like that we’ve seen reputable and reliable solar panel brands provided by the installer, but we still suggest asking what specific panel brand your solar project would receive.
The company also uses Enphase microinverters that are long-lasting and reliable. We recommend you consider providers such as Blue Raven Solar, which offers microinverters, and so does Will White, the solar application specialist at Fluke Corporation. He shared that microinverters allow panels to always work at their peak performance.
White also explained, “Microinverters can be more expensive than [other] inverters; however, they allow homeowners with modules facing in various directions or modules subject to shade at certain hours of the day to get more energy from their system overall.”
Solar battery installation
Blue Raven Solar offers four different solar batteries for energy storage: FranklinWH, SunPower, Tesla and Enphase. The company uses solar experts certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) to conduct a comprehensive site evaluation and energy usage analysis. Based on this, they design a customized solar battery system for your home.
Blue Raven Solar handles the entire installation process, including permits, electrical work, battery configuration and system activation. The company also provides warranties and guarantees on equipment, labor and overall system output. We like the company’s solar battery installation because it offers more product options than other providers, which typically offer at most two brands. Additionally, the emphasis on NABCEP certification ensures you have peace of mind on workmanship.
Mobile app active monitoring
Blue Raven Solar offers an active monitoring service in partnership with Enphase to keep track of your solar system’s performance. The Enphase IQ Gateway uses sensors throughout the system to collect data and send it to the cloud platform for analysis. With this monitoring service, you can easily detect problems such as power fluctuations or equipment malfunctions. In such cases, instant notifications are sent to Blue Raven Solar’s team. It will then send certified technicians to diagnose and fix the issue.
You can use the Enphase monitoring mobile app to stay updated on your solar energy generation, battery charge levels and energy consumption. Blue Raven Solar’s 24/7 monitoring ensures optimal system production, prevents potential hazards, and gives you complete control over your solar energy investments.
Blue Raven Solar’s installation process
Blue Raven Solar conducts a detailed consultation and survey process with every customer, including two site evaluations. The company aims to have a speedy installation process, and it also claims to handle issues with homeowner associations (HOAs) during its permitting process. Here is the company’s standard installation process:
- Consultation: At your consultation, a Blue Raven Solar representative reviews and analyzes a custom design and proposal its team has put together based on information you provide beforehand via a contact form or call. Some additional information they may ask of you during this first site evaluation includes your home’s electrical status and roof type and your energy usage habits, credit score and annual income. Afterward, the company sends a detailed installation proposal.
- Second site evaluation and design: The company will send another solar expert to your home to assess the property for solar panel installation and integration after you accept the proposal. This expert will check your roof for any damage, assess your meter capacity and adaptability, locate and document any potential problems or obstructions, and note any other factors that could affect the system’s design or installation. Once the evaluation is complete, the company’s solar designers create your final design, which includes the most efficient solar array for your panels and an approved financing path.
- Permitting: The company handles any required permitting and legal approvals from your city, county or state. It claims to have an entire team dedicated to dealing with this part of the process, and it also claims its team can handle roadblocks that could arise with an HOA.
- Installation and activation: The solar system installations offered by Blue Raven Solar usually take only a day to complete, but in some cases may take a few days. After the installation, its team will conduct a final inspection with your utility provider and local municipality. Once the inspection is over and you receive a Permission to Operate (PTO) order, it can activate your solar energy system.
Warranties
Blue Raven Solar offers a 10-year labor warranty on all solar services it completes. The company’s 25-year manufacturer’s warranty covers your solar equipment and your panels’ power production. The energy production guarantee promises that if your solar power system doesn’t generate the estimated amount of energy, Blue Raven Solar will upgrade your system to meet the difference at no additional cost.
Because the company only offers full purchase and solar loans, the warranties only cover any technical issues, and you remain responsible for routine maintenance and cleaning of your panels. Though that may sound lackluster, it’s fairly standard for the solar industry.
Pricing and quotes
Out of 92 Blue Raven Solar customers we surveyed in October 2023, we discovered that the average quote homeowners received for a system landed around $11,154. This average is a competitive price compared to recent reports from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that show the average cost for a 6-kilowatt system as $18,960.
Remember that your project’s total cost could greatly exceed this price, depending on its specifications and location. For example, some Blue Raven Solar customers mentioned their total cost was between $35,000 and $40,000.
Because Blue Raven Solar only offers payment methods that provide full ownership, you can take advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC). The ITC is an incentive the Department of Energy and IRS offers for solar energy systems. It allows solar system owners to deduct some of the qualified solar expenses from their federal income taxes. Currently, the ITC covers 26% of the installation cost for solar systems.
Though Blue Raven Solar doesn’t provide homeowners leasing options, it provides multiple financing plans. The company’s solar loan plans stand out compared to other solar installers that outsource their financing to third-party lenders and only offer standard loan conditions. If you qualify, you can receive up to 18 months of solar for free or a five-year fixed rate. The company supplies the money to cover differences caused by interest rates.
We’re impressed with how much information Blue Raven Solar provides about its unique loan options. Most other solar providers remain fairly silent when it comes to financing. Here is a breakdown of Blue Raven Solar’s payment options:
- Full purchase: Paying the total price of your solar system upfront is the most cost-effective option. It allows for the quickest possible payback period when your solar panels start paying for themselves. Additionally, you can take advantage of any solar tax incentives. Although you pay a lot initially, a full purchase also helps you save more in the long run.
- BluePower Plus+: The company’s BluePower Plus+ plan is an excellent solar loan option if you’re eligible. With this plan, you can enjoy the first 18 months of solar payments without any charges. Moreover, you may benefit from zero upfront costs for solar system design, permitting and installation. This payment option features fixed monthly payments and interest rates for the loan’s duration. This way, you can pay off your solar system without penalty. You also remain the system owner with a solar loan, so your home value increases, and you can still use tax incentives.
- SmartStart: Another solar loan plan, this plan offers the first 18 months of solar payment at the lowest promotional amount you qualify for. Then, Blue Raven Solar extends the promotion for an additional 42 months by sending you a monthly check to keep your payment the same. Essentially, you agree to pay a fixed monthly payment for five years with this loan.
Blue Raven Solar availability
Blue Raven Solar is available in 21 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.
Customer thoughts
Blue Raven Solar features an A+ rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The company also has an impressive 4.41 out of 5-star rating from more than 1,375 customer reviews. Many of the positive reviews mention the high quality of the product Blue Raven Solar offers and professional communication from the company’s teams after the initial sale.
More critical reviews mention issues with the sales team, though. We also analyzed a recent Reddit thread that covered some customers’ experiences with the company. Commenters mention aggressive sales tactics, hassles over quotes and that installation crews are contractors rather than employed in-house. Though the first step of the process has an overall negative reputation, it’s common for solar installation companies to use contractors.
Final take: Blue Raven Solar is an excellent option for solar loans, but its service options are limited
Blue Raven Solar is ideal if you’re interested in a solar loan and fall within its service area. We appreciate that the company aims to provide personalized care to your region’s permitting and approval entities, including HOAs.
A close relationship between a solar installer and your local utility company is an understated benefit. JD Dillon, chief marketing officer at Tigo Energy, shared with us how this relationship could make the difference between a one-month and six-month waiting period. “Your local installer is the only one that I would trust to give the skinny on your local rules,” he said. He went on to say that this doesn’t mean you can’t trust anyone who operates nationally, but you avoid more headaches during the installation process.
On the other hand, if you’re interested in a solar lease or care more about generating clean energy without the hassle of ownership, you might find a better deal with another installer that focuses on leasing, such as Sunrun. Because Blue Raven limits its service options, you could also find more comprehensive energy upgrades with a company such as Elevation.
We recommend you get at least three solar quotes from local installation companies to compare your options closely.
Our rating methodology for solar companies
We rate and compare solar installers using our in-depth methodology. Installers are scored out of 100, and we then divide the final score by 20 to get the 5-star rating we include in our reviews.
We evaluate solar installers on a variety of key factors, including their customer service, breadth of services, consultation process, website experience, panel quality, payment options, financing availability and warranty coverage.
BBB information is current as of June 2024.
Top local solar companies in major cities
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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