6 solar installers ranked by CR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
Best overall in Athens: First Solar, Inc., CR Score 81/100; 3.1★ from 52 Google reviews; open 24/7.
Best for emergencies (open 24/7): Roof Rescue, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #2 of 6.
Most-reviewed: Roof Rescue, 32 Google reviews at 4.6★, the most of 6 ranked after First Solar, Inc.; ranked #2.
Rankings can't be bought. Contractors can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
6 Athens solar installers are ranked here by CR Score, from 8 published factors. 2 are open 24/7, 2 open Saturdays and 2 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.4★ across 6 rated businesses.
| Rank | Business | CR Score | Google rating | Based in | Hours | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Solar, Inc. | 81 | 3.1★ (52) | Decatur, 16 mi away | 24/7 | Overall |
| 2 | Roof Rescue | 79 | 4.6★ (32) | Tallahassee, 20 mi away | 24/7 | Emergencies, Most reviews |
| 3 | SunReign Roofing & Solar | 74 | 5.0★ (7) | Athens | — | — |
| 4 | Solar Technology Alabama | 69 | 4.2★ (20) | Cullman, 32 mi away | — | — |
| 5 | Southern Solar Systems, Inc. | 66 | 4.0★ (5) | Huntsville, 27 mi away | — | — |
| 6 | ACE, LLC SOLAR | 62 | 5.0★ (5) | Pulaski, 29 mi away | — | — |
Ordered by CR Score, a 0–100 score from 8 published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and review volume: 3.1★ from 52 Google reviews, the most Google reviews on this list (52).
Based on 6 of 8 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Tallahassee, 20 mi away
Ranked #2 because of its Google rating and availability: 4.6★ from 32 Google reviews, open 24/7.
Based on 6 of 8 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Athens
Ranked #3 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 7 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Roofing contractor”.
Based on 5 of 8 factors; credentials, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Cullman, 32 mi away
Ranked #4 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.2★ from 20 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Solar energy system service”.
Based on 6 of 8 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Huntsville, 27 mi away
Ranked #5 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.0★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Solar energy system service”.
Based on 6 of 8 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Pulaski, 29 mi away
Ranked #6 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Solar energy equipment supplier”.
Based on 6 of 8 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Typical prices in USD, adjusted for Alabama with a published regional index. Each row names its basis and month.
| Job | Low | Typical | High | Basis | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar panel installation | $23,510 | $26,600 | $28,930 | Per system: about 12 kW at about $2.60 per watt, before incentives. US national range × 0.85 East South Central factor (2025 Cost vs. Value Report) | October 2026 |
We scored 6 Athens solar installers on 8 factors, weighted as shown. A business is ranked when its trade is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. Unknown factors are left out of the score, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed October 22, 2026.
Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Featured businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.
| Factor | Weight | Computed from | In Athens data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reputation | 35% | Bayesian-adjusted Google star rating | Measured |
| Credentials | 15% | Active state license 0.6, bond 0.2, workers’ comp 0.2 | Not yet collected |
| Review volume | 10% | log10(reviews + 1) against the list maximum | Measured |
| Recency | 10% | Share of reviews from the last 12 months | Not yet collected |
| Availability | 10% | Weekly open hours, Saturday, Sunday, 24/7 or same-day | Measured |
| Trade focus | 10% | Google main category 1.0, business name 0.7, additional category 0.5 | Measured |
| Proximity | 5% | 1.0 when based in the city, falling to 0 at the trade’s radius | Measured |
| Completeness | 5% | Website, photos, description, hours, claimed profile (0.2 each) | Measured |