Option One Solar Review 2026: Cleanest Service Profile in the High Desert
Our take
4.7 / 5
Best for
High Desert / Inland Empire homeowners who want ownership and a 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty
Think twice if
You specifically want a PPA or lease — Option One actively discourages both
Option One Solar is a smaller California regional installer serving the High Desert (Apple Valley area) and extending into the Inland Empire and parts of LA County. The company has a 50+ year electrical pedigree in the family that owns it. Customer reviews are consistently strong — Yelp runs 4.9/5 in several listings, and the company actively discourages PPAs and leases in favor of ownership. The 25-year bumper-to-bumper warranty including labor is unusually comprehensive.
Footprint and Profile
Option One operates from Apple Valley and serves the High Desert, Inland Empire, parts of LA County, and occasional extensions into Orange County. The company is intentionally small and locally focused. Not a 10-state operation chasing scale. That's part of why the service quality holds.
Equipment and Installation
Option One does not manufacture panels. The company installs Tier-1 options, Enphase microinverters, SolarEdge alternatives on request, Hyundai and other premium panels, Tesla Powerwall batteries are common. Install-day is typically clean and on-schedule. Full project timelines are among the faster in our California comparison.
Reviews and Reputation
- Yelp: 4.9/5 in the strongest listings. Genuinely exceptional for residential solar.
- SolarReviews: Strong positive average, smaller sample.
- BBB: Limited complaints given company scale.
- Local Google: Consistently strong.
Common Complaints
Complaint volume is genuinely low. The occasional friction points are:
- Rare reports of bait-and-switch on contract amendments (check that final contract matches initial quote).
- Smaller company means pricing isn't always the absolute lowest — larger competitors can undercut on certain jobs.
Financing — Ownership Only
Option One is unusual in residential solar: the company actively discourages PPAs and leases. Cash and loans are the focus. This is customer-friendly because you capture the 30% ITC, you don't have a 20-year contract complicating a future home sale, and the total cost-of-ownership math is cleaner. Whether this fits your cash flow is a separate question, if $0-down lease/PPA is a must, Option One isn't the right pick.
Warranty, 25-Year Bumper-to-Bumper
Option One's headline warranty covers equipment, workmanship, and, critically, labor for 25 years. That's rare. Most California installers offer 25-year manufacturer equipment warranties plus a separate, shorter workmanship warranty that excludes labor costs on repair visits. Option One rolling everything including labor into a single 25-year term is meaningfully more comprehensive — if you have faith in the company still being there in year 20.
When Option One Makes Sense
Strong pick for High Desert, Inland Empire, and eastern LA County homeowners who value ownership, a long comprehensive warranty, and a small-company service experience. Less compelling if you're outside the service area, if you need $0-down lease/PPA, or if absolute-lowest cash price is your only criterion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Option One offer PPAs or leases?
Not meaningfully. The company actively discourages them and focuses on ownership (cash or loan). If $0-down PPA/lease is required, this isn't your installer.
What does the 25-year warranty actually cover?
Equipment, workmanship, AND labor for 25 years — unusual in residential solar. Most competitors cap labor coverage at 10 years or exclude labor entirely from their workmanship warranty.
Does Option One serve Los Angeles County?
Yes, parts of LA County and Orange County are within their service area. Coverage is strongest in High Desert (Apple Valley area) and Inland Empire. Confirm for your zip.
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