15 Best Solar Companies in Des Moines, IA (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Des Moines based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Des Moines, IA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Des Moines homeowner saves $1,266/year with solar panels
Updated September 15, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Des Moines
Thinking of going solar but not sure which company would be the best one for your needs? Although it can be hard to choose a solar company, the search will pay off because going solar has many fantastic benefits. Because Des Moines has a great capacity for solar energy generation, switching to solar is financially rewarding for many homeowners.
To help you sort through the huge number of Des Moines solar installers, we've narrowed in on a list of the top ones. To help you understand if solar panels are a good idea for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in Des Moines by clicking the button below.
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Des Moines
Iowa Sun Control
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Informative Resources - Clear Pricing Policy
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Tailored solutions - Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Business installations
Walter Roofing + Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Skilled repairs
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
Ecovole Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
Simplified Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Energy storage solutions
Purelight Power of Des Moines
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
1 Source Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Business installations
CB Solar Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
Andrews Roofing Company
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Skilled repairs
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Van Meter Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
Green Light Renewable Services LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Home installations
- Skilled repairs
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
Solar Solutions
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
MidAmerican Energy Company Dallas County Service Center
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Solar Transport Co
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Business installations
SolarTech of Iowa
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Skilled repairs
PowerFilm Solar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Des Moines
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Des Moines based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Des Moines
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Iowa solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Des Moines
The cost of installing a solar panel system has decreased immensely in the past several years, but it's still a large investment for most homeowners. A few important factors that influence how much it will cost to install a solar panel system on your home and how much money you could save over time are:
- Whether or not your roof gets a lot of direct sunlight: This, plus the configuration of your roof, affects affect how much power your solar panels can produce.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently lets you decrease your taxes by 30% of the project cost. Your state and city may also have incentives and rebates that you can take advantage of. In addition, you can save about $15,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, not including incentives.
- Your household's power bills: Because of very high monthly electric bills in Des Moines, you could save about $1,500 a year with solar.
- Your income and budget: This affects what kind of solar panels you can afford.
Even though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you thousands of dollars over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, like the amount of daily direct sunlight available and your current power bills.
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If you're curious what your impact could be if you switch to solar, you can use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Des Moines, IA.
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Solar Incentives in Des Moines
Although installing solar panels is typically a large investment, it can save you a significant amount of money in the long term due to reduced energy bills and government incentives. On top of the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some local programs, which in almost all cases, can be claimed in addition to the federal incentive, so you get to save even more. You can learn about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Des Moines
Installing solar panels is a good way to do what you can for a more sustainable future. You may be asking yourself — how much does making the switch do for the environment anyway? The amount of energy you use is a significant factor to consider. The more energy your household consumes, the bigger your impact when you switch to solar energy. After you go solar, your carbon emissions can be reduced by about 90 pounds every year. The good things about solar power are infinite — just like solar power is! That's why so many Des Moines residents have been happy with making the switch to solar.
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's Des Moines, IA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best near me?
The top local solar company in Des Moines is ECG Solar | Des Moines, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are a few of the biggest pros and cons of going solar?
The greatest advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, for some, 100% erase your electricity bills, improve the value of your home and reduce your carbon footprint. The greatest disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey to install, you may not save as much if you don't use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my house?
Solar panels can be a fruitful investment for most homeowners, but truthfully, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your power bills are already pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.
How long do solar panels last?
On average, solar panels can last about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency decreases by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a larger amount of energy production.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.