Between 2021 and 2023, 1,106 home solar systems were installed in Costa Mesa by 181 different companies. Sunrun installed the most (264, or 24% of the local market), followed by Tesla Energy (61) and Better Earth (41). 23% of the systems were leased or financed through a power purchase agreement; the rest were bought outright. Every company in the ranking was still installing in 2023; installers that have since closed are left out.
Top 10 Solar Companies in Costa Mesa by Home Installations
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- Most installations
- Mostly leases & PPAs
- (833) 420-5550
- sunrun.com
- 5060 California Ave, Bakersfield, CA 93309
- Typical system
- 5.6 kW
- Median price (owned)
- $4.17/W
- Leased / PPA
- 72%
- With battery
- 17%
Sunrun mostly sells leases and power purchase agreements: 72% of its systems here were leased or on a PPA, so the homeowner pays monthly and doesn't own the panels. Its most common setup here pairs Qcells panels with SolarEdge inverters with power optimizers. 17% of its systems here include a home battery. Its median price for an owned system, $4.17/W, is 8% above the Costa Mesa median of $3.87/W. A typical system is 5.6 kW, about 14 panels, and it has installed in Costa Mesa since 2000. It is also among the top installers in 113 other cities we rank, including Bakersfield and Fresno.
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- Mostly sells systems you own
- Most battery installs
- (844) 837-5201
- tesla.com
- 901 Page Ave, Fremont, CA 94538
- Typical system
- 8.2 kW
- Median price (owned)
- $3.96/W
- Leased / PPA
- 0%
- With battery
- 64%
Tesla Energy mostly sells systems the homeowner owns, paid in cash or with a loan. Its most common setup here pairs Tesla panels with Tesla inverters. 64% of its systems here include a home battery, well above the Costa Mesa average of 13%. Its median price for an owned system, $3.96/W, is close to the Costa Mesa median. A typical system is 8.2 kW, about 20 panels, and it has installed in Costa Mesa since 2001. It is also among the top installers in 89 other cities we rank, including San Jose and Fremont.
Phone from its California contractor license, CSLB #888104
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- Mostly sells systems you own
- (888) 373-9379
- betterearth.solar
- 16720 Marquardt Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703
- Typical system
- 7.9 kW
- Median price (owned)
- $5.12/W
- Leased / PPA
- 0%
Better Earth mostly sells systems the homeowner owns, paid in cash or with a loan. Its most common setup here pairs Qcells panels with SolarEdge inverters with power optimizers. Its median price for an owned system, $5.12/W, is 32% above the Costa Mesa median of $3.87/W. A typical system is 7.9 kW, about 20 panels, and it has installed in Costa Mesa since 2018. It is also among the top installers in 45 other cities we rank, including Los Angeles and Fremont.
Phone from its California contractor license, CSLB #1024460
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- Mostly sells systems you own
- (949) 427-8817
- 240 Progress Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92618
- Typical system
- 7.0 kW
- Median price (owned)
- $3.05/W
- Leased / PPA
- 0%
- With battery
- 8%
Orange County Contracting Services mostly sells systems the homeowner owns, paid in cash or with a loan. Its most common setup here pairs Panasonic panels with SolarEdge inverters with power optimizers. 8% of its systems here include a home battery. Its median price for an owned system, $3.05/W, is 21% below the Costa Mesa median of $3.87/W. A typical system is 7.0 kW, about 17 panels, and it has installed in Costa Mesa since 2017. It is also among the top installers in 5 other cities we rank, including Huntington Beach and Orange.
Phone from its California contractor license, CSLB #1023627
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Serves Costa Mesa, CA · no office address listed
- Mostly sells systems you own
- Typical system
- 8.2 kW
- Median price (owned)
- $3.02/W
- Leased / PPA
- 0%
Enlightened Energy mostly sells systems the homeowner owns, paid in cash or with a loan. Its most common setup here pairs Qcells panels with Enphase microinverters. Its median price for an owned system, $3.02/W, is 22% below the Costa Mesa median of $3.87/W. A typical system is 8.2 kW, about 20 panels, and it has installed in Costa Mesa since 2016.
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Serves Costa Mesa, CA · no office address listed
- Mostly leases & PPAs
- Typical system
- 6.7 kW
- Leased / PPA
- 83%
Bright Planet Solar mostly sells leases and power purchase agreements: 83% of its systems here were leased or on a PPA, so the homeowner pays monthly and doesn't own the panels. Its most common setup here pairs Qcells panels with SolarEdge inverters with power optimizers. A typical system is 6.7 kW, about 17 panels, and it has installed in Costa Mesa since 2016. It is also among the top installers in 68 other cities we rank, including Stockton and Chula Vista.
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Serves Costa Mesa, CA · no office address listed
- Mostly sells systems you own
- Typical system
- 5.6 kW
- Median price (owned)
- $6.08/W
- Leased / PPA
- 9%
Abundant Energy Construction mostly sells systems the homeowner owns, paid in cash or with a loan. Its most common setup here pairs Qcells panels with Enphase microinverters. Its median price for an owned system, $6.08/W, is 57% above the Costa Mesa median of $3.87/W. A typical system is 5.6 kW, about 14 panels, and it has installed in Costa Mesa since 2016. It is also among the top installers in 17 other cities we rank, including Inglewood and Visalia.
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- Mostly sells systems you own
- (714) 921-8168
- infinitysolar.net
- 2478 N Glassell St Ste A, Orange, CA 92865
- Typical system
- 7.7 kW
- Median price (owned)
- $3.25/W
- Leased / PPA
- 0%
- With battery
- 18%
Infinity Solar mostly sells systems the homeowner owns, paid in cash or with a loan. Its most common setup here pairs LG Electronics panels with Enphase microinverters. 18% of its systems here include a home battery. Its median price for an owned system, $3.25/W, is 16% below the Costa Mesa median of $3.87/W. A typical system is 7.7 kW, about 19 panels, and it has installed in Costa Mesa since 2011. It is also among the top installers in 6 other cities we rank, including Orange and Irvine.
Phone from its California contractor license, CSLB #824287
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Serves Costa Mesa, CA · no office address listed
- Mostly sells systems you own
- Lowest median price in this list
- Typical system
- 9.0 kW
- Median price (owned)
- $2.90/W
- Leased / PPA
- 0%
- With battery
- 24%
Solar Optimum Design Electrical mostly sells systems the homeowner owns, paid in cash or with a loan. Its most common setup here pairs Panasonic panels with Enphase microinverters. 24% of its systems here include a home battery. Its median price for an owned system, $2.90/W, is 25% below the Costa Mesa median of $3.87/W. A typical system is 9.0 kW, about 23 panels, and it has installed in Costa Mesa since 2011. It is also among the top installers in 19 other cities we rank, including Torrance and Hawthorne.
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- (866) 467-6987
- powur.com
- 5850 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92008
- Typical system
- 7.2 kW
- Median price (owned)
- $4.19/W
- Leased / PPA
- 12%
- With battery
- 6%
Powur sells both: 12% of its systems here were leased or on a PPA, the rest bought outright. Its most common setup here pairs Qcells panels with Enphase microinverters. 6% of its systems here include a home battery. Its median price for an owned system, $4.19/W, is 8% above the Costa Mesa median of $3.87/W. A typical system is 7.2 kW, about 18 panels, and it has installed in Costa Mesa since 2019. It is also among the top installers in 15 other cities we rank, including Pomona and Rancho Cucamonga.
Comparing quotes in Costa Mesa?
Divide each quote's total, before incentives, by the system size in watts. Homeowners in Costa Mesa who bought their system paid a median of $3.87/W in 2021–2023. Reject any 2026 quote that subtracts a 30% federal tax credit from a purchase: that credit ended in 2025.
How to check a solar quote →Home Solar in Costa Mesa by the Numbers
Based on 1,108 residential systems installed in Costa Mesa between 2021 and 2023, as reported to utilities and state agencies.
Most-installed panel brands
- Qcells
- LONGi Green Energy
- REC Solar
Most-installed inverter brands
- Enphase Energy
- SolarEdge
- SunPower
How these brands compare nationwide: share, price and leasing →
Home installations per year
Median price of owned systems by year: 2018: $4.23/W · 2019: $3.76/W · 2020: $3.78/W · 2021: $3.50/W · 2022: $4.14/W · 2023: $3.83/W.
Solar Panel Repair in Costa Mesa
When a system stops producing, the best first call is an established local company. The companies ranked above installed systems in Costa Mesa through 2023, so they know the equipment on local roofs. Many will service a system they didn't install, but not all — ask before you book, and expect a diagnostic fee.
48% of the home systems installed here in 2021–2023 use Enphase Energy inverters, followed by SolarEdge (36%). Enphase systems use a microinverter under each panel, so one failure usually knocks out a single panel and the monitoring app shows which one. Systems with a central (string) inverter — SolarEdge and others — stop producing entirely when that inverter fails; a dark screen or an error code on the unit on your wall is the usual sign.
Checks to do before you call anyone: solar troubleshooting guide. Storm damage, a roof leak or a burning smell: what to do first.
Installers That Closed or Went Bankrupt in Costa Mesa
At least 241 home solar systems in Costa Mesa were installed by companies that have since closed, liquidated or filed for bankruptcy. They are left out of the ranking above. If one of them installed your system, its workmanship warranty is likely gone — but panel and inverter warranties come from the manufacturer and usually survive the installer.
- SunPower72 systems in Costa Mesa
Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2024. Its assets were sold off. The SunPower brand now belongs to Complete Solaria, a different company that renamed itself SunPower in 2025. Source: Utility Dive
- Freedom Forever58 systems in Costa Mesa
Filed for Chapter 11 in April 2026; converted to Chapter 7 liquidation in August 2026. Source: pv magazine USA
- Verengo36 systems in Costa Mesa
Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2016; its last office closed in 2019. Source: pv magazine
- Sullivan Solar Power28 systems in Costa Mesa
Shut down abruptly in November 2021. Source: Solar Power World
- PetersenDean26 systems in Costa Mesa
Filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2020; its assets were sold in 2021. Source: Solar Power World
- Solcius21 systems in Costa Mesa
Filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in February 2024. Source: Solar Power World
- Solar Service Center22 systems in Costa Mesa
No installations recorded anywhere in California after 2018 (records run through 2023). That does not by itself mean the company closed — check before relying on it for service.
See the full list of solar companies that went out of business and what still works if yours is one of them.
What Your Warranty Still Covers If the Installer Is Gone
- Panels and inverters: covered by the manufacturer, not the installer. Find the brand on the inverter label or in your monitoring app and contact the manufacturer directly.
- Workmanship and roof leaks: usually a promise from the installer. If the installer is in bankruptcy, that warranty may be delayed or discharged; file a claim in the case if one is open.
- Leases and PPAs: the system belongs to the finance company, and most contracts make it responsible for maintenance even if the installer that sold it is gone. Call the company you pay each month and check your contract.
- Loans: keep paying. A closed installer does not cancel a solar loan.
Any of the active companies in the ranking can take over service, file the warranty claim with the manufacturer and restore monitoring.
Solar in Costa Mesa: Common Questions
Who installs the most solar panels in Costa Mesa?
In the most recent three years of records (2021–2023), Sunrun installed 264 home systems in Costa Mesa, more than any other company. Tesla Energy (61) and Better Earth (41) came next. Volume shows local experience, not workmanship, so compare quotes and reviews before choosing.
How much does a solar system cost in Costa Mesa?
Homeowners who bought their system outright paid a median of $3.87/W before incentives, and the typical system was 6.8 kW — about $26,500 in total. Prices vary by installer: in the ranking above, the median ranges from $2.90/W to $6.08/W.
Do most people in Costa Mesa buy or lease their panels?
77% bought their system and 23% leased it or signed a power purchase agreement (PPA). With a lease or PPA you pay little upfront, but you don't own the panels and the savings are smaller over the contract. Some installers sell almost only one way — check the "Leased / PPA" figure for each company in the ranking.
Who repairs solar panels in Costa Mesa?
Start with the companies in the ranking above: Sunrun, Tesla Energy and Better Earth did the most work here, and an installer that knows the equipment on local roofs can usually diagnose a fault faster. If your system was leased or is on a PPA, call the company you pay each month first — maintenance is normally its job.
Can I still get the federal solar tax credit in 2026?
Not as a homeowner buying the system: the 30% residential credit (Section 25D) ended on December 31, 2025. Be wary of any quote that still subtracts it from the price. See our 2026 solar tax credit guide for what's left.
What if my solar installer went out of business?
Your panels and inverters are still covered by their manufacturers' warranties; what you lose is the installer's workmanship warranty and service. See the installers that closed in Costa Mesa and what your warranty still covers.
What do homeowners in Costa Mesa pay for electricity?
Residential customers in California pay an average of 34.74¢ per kWh, 99% above the national average. The higher the rate, the faster solar pays for itself. Source: EIA, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A.
How This Ranking Works
Installers are ranked by the number of home solar systems they installed here between 2021 and 2023, the three most recent years with complete records. The records come from utilities and state agencies, which log every system connected to the grid along with the company that installed it. Nobody pays to be listed or to rank higher.
- An installer needs at least 10 local installations in that period to be ranked, and must have installed systems in the state in 2023, the latest year on record. Companies that stopped appearing are listed on the city's repair page instead.
- A city gets a ranking only when at least 300 home systems with a named installer were recorded there in those years and at least 5 installers qualify. A "top 3" from a handful of systems wouldn't tell you much.
- Companies that have closed, liquidated or filed for bankruptcy since then are removed from the ranking and listed separately, with a link to the news report.
- Only systems on existing homes count. New-construction systems are excluded, because there the builder picks the installer.
- Prices are medians for systems the homeowner bought outright, before incentives. Leased and PPA systems don't report a comparable price.
- Companies with at least 100 home installations in those years get a full profile (200 if they are ranked in a single city). Smaller ones stay in the ranking, linked to their Google Maps listing.
What this ranking does not measure: workmanship, customer service, or how a company treats you after the sale. A high installation count shows experience in the area, not quality. Get at least three quotes, check each company's license and read recent reviews before you sign.
Source: Tracking the Sun, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (2024 edition), licensed CC BY 4.0. In New York and New Jersey, recent years come from the state programs' own records (NYSERDA and New Jersey's Clean Energy Program). Company names were standardized and closures checked against news reports by Solar Power Fix. More about our methodology.
Solar system not producing in Costa Mesa?
The checks to do before you call anyone: the inverter screen, the breakers, the monitoring app and what each error code means.