Solar contracting covers the design, installation and interconnection of photovoltaic systems — rooftop arrays on homes and commercial buildings, carports and canopies, and utility-scale ground mounts — along with the battery storage, inverters and EV-charging that increasingly ship alongside them. The work sits at the intersection of the electrical and roofing trades: a good solar firm has to size and mount an array, tie it into the building's electrical service or the grid, and pass both structural and electrical inspection. This directory lists solar installation and EPC companies across North America — browse by region, compare firms, and shortlist the ones whose license, financing options and system experience fit your project.
Every listing links to a full company profile with contact details, service areas, trade categories and, where available, certifications and year founded. Because interconnection rules, net-metering policy and permitting are set utility-by-utility and state-by-state, the regional pages are the fastest way to find installers who already know the local authority having jurisdiction and the utility that will approve the tie-in.
What solar contractors actually do
The trade splits by market. Residential installers handle rooftop arrays, main-panel upgrades and home battery backup, and typically manage the permit and interconnection paperwork end to end. Commercial and industrial firms take on larger rooftop, carport and behind-the-meter systems where demand charges, roof structure and single-line coordination with the building's switchgear drive the design. Utility-scale EPC contractors build ground-mount and solar-plus-storage plants measured in megawatts, dealing with racking, tracking systems, medium-voltage collection and grid interconnection.
Choosing the right firm means matching the system type to the installer. A residential rooftop specialist is not the contractor for a 50-megawatt tracker field, and a utility EPC rarely bids a single home. Financing matters too: many installers offer loans, leases or power-purchase agreements, and warranty terms and post-install monitoring vary widely. Roof condition, shading, panel and inverter brand, and the local utility's interconnection queue all affect what a system will actually produce and cost.
Solar economics and policy vary sharply by geography. Explore the regional directories to find installers who work where your project sits — for example, solar installers in California. You can also hire adjacent trades through Exchange — electrical contractors — roofing companies — general contractors — or list your own firm free through the Add a Listing page.
Frequently asked questions
What does a solar contractor do?
A solar contractor designs, installs and interconnects photovoltaic systems - rooftop or ground-mount arrays, inverters, racking, and increasingly battery storage and EV charging. The job spans structural mounting, electrical tie-in to the building service or grid, and passing both structural and electrical inspection, plus the permit and utility interconnection paperwork.
How do I choose the right solar installer?
Match the firm to the system type. A residential rooftop specialist is not the right choice for a utility-scale tracker field, and a large EPC rarely bids a single home. Compare licensing, panel and inverter brands, warranty and monitoring terms, financing options such as loans, leases and PPAs, and the installer's track record with your local utility's interconnection process.
Do solar installers handle permits and interconnection?
Most do. Reputable installers manage the building permit, the structural and electrical inspections, and the utility interconnection application end to end. Because net-metering policy, interconnection queues and permitting rules are set utility-by-utility and state-by-state, hiring a firm that already works in your jurisdiction avoids costly delays.
What is the difference between residential, commercial and utility-scale solar?
Residential covers home rooftop arrays and battery backup. Commercial and industrial covers larger rooftop, carport and behind-the-meter systems where demand charges and roof structure drive design. Utility-scale EPC covers ground-mount and solar-plus-storage plants measured in megawatts, with racking or tracking systems, medium-voltage collection and grid interconnection.
Should solar and battery storage be installed together?
Often yes. Adding storage at install time shares the inverter, permitting and labor, and lets the system provide backup power and shift energy to avoid peak charges. Whether it pays off depends on local rates, net-metering rules and how much backup you need - a good installer will model both options before you commit.
How do I compare solar contractors on Exchange?
Use the regional directories to find installers who work where your project sits, then open each company profile to compare service areas, trade categories, certifications and contact details. Start with the state or provincial page for your location and shortlist firms with relevant residential, commercial or utility-scale experience.
