Top 5 Best Solar Companies in Illinois (2024 Reviews)

In this guide on Illinois’ top solar installation companies, you’ll learn:

  • What are the top solar installers in Illinois?
  • What are the most important factors to look for in a solar installer in Illinois?
  • Is DIY solar installation better than hiring a professional in Illinois?
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Note: In July 2024, SunPower notified dealers it would be halting all new shipments and project installations. The company also noted it would “no longer be supporting new Leases and PPA sales nor new project installations of these financing options.”

Are you thinking about converting your home to solar energy? In Illinois, going solar is almost always beneficial. The average solar customer spends less than most U.S. residents on their solar array and still saves more than $21,600 after the panels pay for themselves. While adopting clean energy in Illinois is often an easy decision, choosing one of the 100+ installers that service the state can be a bit of a headache.

In this guide, we’ll provide a list of what we believe are the best solar companies in Illinois. We’ll break down why we recommend them, and we’ll also provide some insight into the factors that we believe are most crucial when deciding which Illinois solar company is best for you.

What Are the Best Solar Companies in Illinois?

We’ve spent hours and hours researching solar installers in your area so that you don’t have to. In our research, we’ve found that the following providers are the best solar companies in Illinois and are the most likely to meet and hopefully, exceed your expectations.

Compare Illinois’ Top-Rated Solar Providers

Each of these installers brings something unique to the table that we believe is worth considering if you’re thinking about going solar in Illinois.

The table below includes a quick side-by-side look at the other top providers in your area.

Solar Providers Superlative Our Score Avg Cost Warranty Financing Options Get Quote
Blue Raven Solar Best Financing Options 4.5/5 $$ 25 years for equipment and performance; 10 years for workmanship Cash and solar loans Get Quote
StraightUp Solar Best Regional Provider 4/5 $$$ 25 years for equipment and performance; 10 years for workmanship Cash and solar loans Get Quote
Momentum Solar Best Customer Service 4.5/5 $$$ 25 years for equipment, production and workmanship Cash, solar loan, solar lease, PPA Get Quote
Windfree Solar Best Local Installer 4/5 $$$ 25 years for equipment and performance; 15 years for workmanship Cash and solar loans Get Quote
AES Solar Most Local Experience 4.5/5 $$$ 25 years for equipment and performance; 10 years for workmanship Cash, solar loan, solar lease, PPA Get Quote
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Blue Raven Solar

Best Solar Financing

Regional Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Read full review now

Pros

  • Industry-leading in-house financing
  • Competitive pricing
  • Excellent reputation

Cons

  • Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Badge icon

StraightUp Solar

Outstanding Regional Installer

Regional Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Pros

  • Certified B Corp
  • Full-service home energy solutions
  • Representatives are experts on local policies

Cons

  • Limited service area
  • No leases or PPAs
Badge icon

Momentum Solar

Best Regional Coverage

Regional Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Read full review now

Pros

  • Great warranty coverage
  • Concierge service ensures steady communication
  • Representatives are experts on local policies

Cons

  • Slightly limited service offerings
  • Only available in 11 states
Badge icon

Windfree Solar

Outstanding Local Installer

Local Service

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Pros

  • Excellent reputation
  • Outstanding workmanship

Cons

  • Slightly limited service area
  • May be overqualified for residential systems
  • No leases or PPAs

AES Solar

Outstanding Local Provider

EcoWatch rating

Average cost

Pros

  • Decades of local experience
  • Excellent customer service
  • Certified B-Corp

Cons

Watch Below: Will Solar Panels Save / Make You Money?

How To Save Money When Hiring A Solar Installer In Illinois

best solar installers illinois
Credit: anncapictures / Pixabay

Going solar is expensive. On average, the cost of going solar in Illinois is $18,060 for a typical 7.5 kilowatt (kW) system after the federal tax credit. Without the credit, you’re looking at an average of $25,800. The reason for the high price tag is, in part, an above-average cost per watt. IIllinois residents pay around $3.44 per watt for panels, while the U.S. average is $3.33.

Overall, solar power systems in Illinois cost less than they do in most other states because energy needs are lower than average, so the total system size required is also below average. Still, paying nearly $22,000 for any home improvement can be hard to swallow. Below are some tips for saving money on your solar system when choosing a solar installer.

  • Choose a company that provides robust warranty coverage
  • Choose an experienced company that is well-versed in local solar benefit programs
  • Choose an installer with high-efficiency panel offerings
  • Avoid solar batteries and reconsider companies that push them

Choose an Installer with Good Warranty Coverage

The most significant thing you can do to keep your long-term costs down in the Midwest is to choose a company that offers robust solar warranty coverage.

Illinois residents see extreme weather regularly, including tornadoes, intense thunderstorms and above-average precipitation. The tornadoes in Illinois, specifically, are known to cause massive property damage.2 The extreme weather events in the area can all contribute to panel damage, which means lengthy coverage can help you avoid paying for costly repairs.

Workmanship warranties are also great to have, as they help ensure that the installation is done properly. This is crucial in IL because the sometimes-excessive rainfall can put your roof at an elevated risk of leaking if the panels are installed improperly.

Take Advantage of Illinois Solar Incentives

Next, we recommend you choose an experienced installer that has been completing installations in Illinois, specifically. The Prairie State has quite a few solar perks available, and companies that are familiar with the area are more likely to help you take advantage of these benefit programs. Ultimately, they can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

In the chart below, we’ll provide a list of some of the available solar rebates and incentives in Illinois.

Incentive Description
Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) The federal solar ITC is a credit to your income tax burden for 30% of your entire system value, including the cost of labor, panels, inverters and batteries. In IL, this credit averages out to $7,740, making it the most crucial incentive to take.
Illinois Shines Program This is a Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC) program. You earn credits for all solar production, and you can then sell those credits for a profit to help pay down your panel cost.
IL Solar for All Program This is a financing option for low-income households. It lets prospective customers install solar for no money down. They would then pay a nominal fee over time for the energy produced.
Net Metering This policy lets you overproduce energy with your panels and then use those extra kilowatt-hours (kWh) to pay down future utility bills. Solar net metering is one of the best incentives in the country, as it helps reduce your panel payback period and lets you take full advantage of all the electricity you generate. Some IL residents get access to great net energy metering terms: full retail value for all excess energy and credits that roll over for up to a year—this is mandated by the state for investor-owned utilities (IOUs) only, but some other providers opt to offer it as well.
Solar Property Tax Exemption This is a property tax exemption that prevents the value that your panels add to your home — around 4.1% of your home value, on average — from pushing your tax bill higher.3
ComEd Solar Rebate This is for customers of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) only. It’s a cash back perk of up to $250 per kW of solar capacity installed. The average rebate in IL is $1,875.

Choose an Installer With High-Quality Panel Brands

You can also save money over time by choosing a company that offers quality, high-efficiency solar panel brands. These include REC, Tesla, Panasonic, Q Cells and more.

PV panels usually pay for themselves by generating electricity that offsets your electric bills. Therefore, the more power your panels produce, the more of your energy bills they’ll offset and the more they’ll save over time.

High-efficiency panel brands are especially useful in Illinois because the state sees fewer sunny days than the national average, and because they provide greater savings overall. This is important in Illinois, where net metering credit rates recently took a hit and are expected to continue to decline. Getting an efficient solar panel brand that works on cloudy days will also help ensure you see the maximum possible savings, even though your upfront costs can sometimes be higher.

Consider Solar Batteries Carefully

Finally, you can keep your total system costs down by avoiding solar batteries, although you might want to consider them. Energy storage solutions are often helpful in IL, given the high risk of power outages, and they’re becoming more and more popular with changes to net metering.

Illinois used to mandate the full retail rate for exported electricity in its net metering policy, but that recently changed, and most customers now get below the retail rate. That cuts into savings. Ultimately, batteries push up your installation costs by $10,000 to $20,000, but they can help drastically improve solar savings over time in areas with NEM policies that are less than ideal.

Right now, batteries probably still aren’t worthwhile from a financial perspective. However, we expect Illinois to continue to see declines in the net metering policy, much like California saw in 2023. When that happens, the added cost of batteries will likely pay for itself because they always provide effective one-to-one net metering.

illinois solar companies 2022

Read Also: Calculate How Much You Can Save By Going Solar

Will Solar Increase Your Home Value In Illinois?

Yes! Installing solar panels is expected to raise your home value by around 4.1%.5 In IL, where the average home value hovers around $249,224, that’s an expected value bump of $10,218.6

Home values in IL have also risen by over 10% in the past year, and they are expected to climb in the future. That means the value added by your panels should increase over time, making your investment more and more valuable.

It’s worth mentioning that this value increase and return on investment is usually most significant in high-cost areas. The cities below are some of the most expensive in IL, so customers in these areas will also see the greatest home value benefit.

  • Kenilworth
  • Chicago
  • Springfield
  • Winnetka
  • Glencoe
  • Hinsdale
  • Rockford
  • Golf
  • Wilmette

Should Illinois Residents Hire a Professional Solar Installer Or DIY?

It’s sometimes tempting to consider a DIY solar panel installation, mostly because the cost of installing panels yourself is much lower than hiring a professional would be. Unfortunately, the cost savings associated with a DIY installation aren’t always as appealing as they seem.

Below, we’ll list a few reasons why we typically recommend going with a professional for your solar conversion. We’ll also explain each of these in the sections below.

  • DIY panels have inferior warranties in most cases
  • DIY installations are at higher risk of roof leaks
  • DIY panels aren’t as efficient

DIY Panel Warranties Aren’t the Best

DIY solar kits usually come with equipment warranties that last for up to five years. In contrast, professionally-installed systems often get protection for up to 25 years. Plus, they can come with workmanship and efficiency warranties as well.

Warranty coverage is one of the most crucial things to consider in IL because of the extreme weather. Tornadoes, intense thunderstorms and heavy rainfall can all contribute to panel and roof damage. You might save money installing your own panels, but you could end up paying more in the long run if you have to replace or repair damaged or underperforming equipment.

DIY Solar Installations Leave Your Roof at Risk of Leaking

Roof leaking is one of the most common issues reported after solar installation. Even professionals who have years of history in the industry often can’t guarantee that your roof shingles will never leak because of the penetrations created during panel installation.

Homeowners who choose to install their own panels are, of course, even less experienced and are more likely to make mistakes. This leaves DIY installations at a higher risk of roof leaks. This is an especially prominent issue in IL, where the rainfall is above the national average.

You will pay less upfront for a DIY installation, but roof repairs and water damage mitigation over time could end up costing you far more in the long run.

DIY Panel Efficiency Is Lower than Professional Systems

Finally, DIY panels almost always have a lower efficiency rating than panels available to professional installers. Efficiency is an important consideration not only because it determines your long-term savings but also because solar equipment costs more per watt in IL than in most states.

With an above-average cost per watt, you can save more money than most U.S. residents by choosing a high-efficiency panel. A brand like Maxeon gives you the best chance of needing fewer panels to meet your energy needs, which means you could end up paying less in total for your solar panel system.

What Should Illinoisans Look For in a Solar Installer?

There are a few things that are important to look for in an IL solar installer that can help you get the most out of your system. We’ll list these below and explain in the following sections why each is so important.

  • Robust and lengthy warranty coverage
  • Years of company history and experience
  • Coverage area

Warranty Coverage

The number one thing we recommend looking for in an IL solar installer is robust warranty coverage.

Physical protection is the most important, in our opinion, because it provides peace of mind and a lower risk of needing costly repairs or system maintenance. Unfortunately, these are required more often in IL than in most other states because of the extreme weather.

We also recommend considering workmanship warranty coverage. A company that guarantees that its installation techniques won’t lead to issues for years afterward is far more likely to leave you with a system that doesn’t lead to expensive roof leaks. Again, this is important in IL, specifically, because of the above-average precipitation.

Years of Experience

Next, we recommend looking at how long the company you’re considering has been in business and, specifically, how long it has been serving IL.

The Prairie State is home to quite a few appealing solar incentives, and taking advantage of them could mean saving hundreds or, more likely, thousands of dollars. A company that has years of local experience is more likely to be familiar with the incentives and help you take as many as possible to keep costs down and savings up.

Inclusive Coverage Area

Finally, it’s important that you consider each company’s service area. IL is home to nearly 100 installation companies, many of which are small and serve just a portion of the state. Before you dive into researching a company and requesting a free quote, you should ensure that you fall within its service area to save time.

Methodology: How We Reviewed the Best Solar Companies in Illinois

As we parsed through the 100+ solar installers that operate in Illinois, we prioritized companies that meet specific criteria that we believe are most crucial for delivering a positive experience in your area. We’ll explain the six factors we weighted most heavily below and explain why we think each is important in IL, specifically.

  • Local reputation and reviews (20%): First, with a high demand for solar being met by over 100 installers, we’ve seen a lot of fly-by-night companies popping up to take advantage and turn a profit. We put a lot of emphasis on the company’s reputation when choosing solar contractors to recommend. We read through dozens of customer reviews to gauge how well each provider services its customer base to avoid those that underperform and fall short of expectations.
  • Pricing and financing (20%): Going solar in Illinois is more affordable than it is in most other states, but the average system still totals over $25,000 before incentives. Since this is still quite expensive, we prioritize companies that maintain average or below-average pricing to keep renewable energy affordable. We also prefer companies that accept a range of financing options, as this helps maintain accessibility.
  • Services offered (20%): Since Illinois has such a good net metering program, solar batteries aren’t terribly popular. However, we do look for companies that install EV chargers — as EVs are rapidly growing in popularity in the state — and other add-on products and options, like off-grid systems and ground-mount solar. Companies that have many services offered naturally appeal to more customers.
  • Warranty coverage (20%): Illinois residents see above-average amounts of rain each year and their fair share of extreme weather, including thunderstorms and tornadoes. Rooftop panels are put at an increased risk of damage due to the weather, which is why we prioritize companies that offer solid warranty coverage. We specifically look for lengthy workmanship coverage, as this helps reduce the risk of panel and property damage.
  • Company experience (10%): With so much demand for solar conversion in the state and over 100 installers vying for your attention, we prioritize installers that have a decade or more of experience. This helps ensure your installer has the experience and expertise to deliver a safe and secure system, and it also helps avoid young companies that are more likely to go out of business and void your warranty coverage in the process.
  • Brand quality (10%): Finally, we look at the brands of solar equipment each provider installs. We prefer companies that offer a range of products that appeal to customers looking to prioritize different things, like upfront price and performance for long-term savings. Companies with multiple brands of solar panels tend to rank higher in our ratings.

Read More About Going Solar in Illinois

 

The cost information presented in this article is derived from a comprehensive analysis, incorporating data from multiple industry sources. The average cost per watt per state was calculated based on figures from Consumer Affairs, Energy Sage, and Berkeley Lab’s Electricity Markets & Policy Department. Additionally, monthly energy consumption and the average monthly cost of electricity were sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, ensuring a well-rounded and accurate representation of the information presented.

FAQ: Best Solar Companies Illinois

Below, we’ll answer some of the most common questions we see from IL residents about the prospect of going solar.

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Article author
Karsten is an editor and energy specialist focused on environmental, social and cultural development. His work has been shared by sources including NPR, the World Economic Forum, Marketwatch and the SEIA, and he is certified in ESG with the CFA Institute. Before joining EcoWatch, Karsten worked in the solar energy sector, studying energy policy, climate tech and environmental education. A lover of music and the outdoors, Karsten might be found rock climbing, canoeing or writing songs when away from the workplace.
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Expert reviewer
Melissa is an avid writer, scuba diver, backpacker and all-around outdoor enthusiast. She graduated from the University of Florida with degrees in journalism and sustainability studies. Before joining EcoWatch, Melissa worked as the managing editor of Scuba Diving magazine and the communications manager of The Ocean Agency, a nonprofit that’s featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary Chasing Coral.

Comparing authorized solar partners

EcoWatch rating
Average cost
Pros
Cons
BBB Rating
Year founded
Service Area
Brands of Solar Equipment Offered
Warranty Coverage
  • 4.5
    • Industry-leading in-house financing
    • Competitive pricing
    • Excellent reputation
    • Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
    A+
    Best Solar Financing
    2014
    Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, SolarEdge, Silfab, SunPower
    25-year manufacturer warranty; 10-year workmanship warranty, 2-year production guarantee

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