12 Best Solar Companies in Alton, IL (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 12 in Alton based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Alton, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Alton homeowner saves $1,294/year with solar panels
Updated May 04, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Alton
Hoping to go solar but want to know which company would be best for your needs? Although it can be difficult to settle on a solar company, the search will pay off because going solar has many fantastic perks. Because of Alton's great level of sunshine on average, there are lots of solar companies to choose from.
If you want to start taking advantage of the great amount of benefits of solar, we can help you narrow down your options to find the Alton solar installer that's right for you. To receive free quotes from the best solar companies in Alton, you can click "get quote" below.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best Warranty Coverage
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Alton
Average Cost
SunPower
-
Most efficient panels on the market - National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
-
Expensive - Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
-
Solar Panels - Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- System Monitoring
Average Cost
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- System Monitoring
Average Cost
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
Average Cost
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
Average Cost
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
- Maintenance & Repairs
Average Cost
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
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Solar Roof Shingles
- System Monitoring
Statewide Solar
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Home installations
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Skilled repairs
- Tailored solutions
Vista Energy Renewables
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
BKJ Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
Greentech Renewables St. Louis
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
Route 66 Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
Gunther Salt Company
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Energy storage solutions
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Alton
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Alton 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 Alton
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Illinois 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 Alton
Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you first need to pay to set up your system. Some key things that impact the cost and possible savings include:
- Incentives: Something that can make your solar project cost less is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that's equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save a decent amount of money on your energy bills, which can generate an average of $15,000 of savings over 20 years.
- The amount of sunlight your area gets: Due to Alton's high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a decent amount on your power bills.
- Your income and budget: This determines what kind of solar panels you can afford.
- How much energy costs for you: The average family in Alton shells out around $990 a year on home energy use alone, so you could gain that much in savings.
So is a solar system worth it? Whether you're trying to lower your energy bills, carbon dioxide emissions or both, solar panels are a worthwhile investment for many Alton homeowners.
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If you're wondering how much you could impact the environment if you switch to solar, you can use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Alton, IL.
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Solar Incentives in Alton
To increase the number of homes and businesses that use solar power, incentives are offered by the government — and even some utility companies — to help make solar more economical and accessible. State and city solar incentives depend on the location and, sometimes, utility company. A lot of states offer rebates for solar power, in addition to the federal solar tax credit. For comprehensive information about local incentives, see our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Alton
If you're planning on adding solar panels to your home, one of the major reasons why may be to lower your carbon footprint. Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Alton, though. In a city like Alton where energy use is rather high, making the switch to solar power is a good plan for households who are eco-conscious. In fact, if you install solar panels, you could be looking at reducing your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you'll most likely find that there are many advantages to adopting solar energy other than just saving money on bills. You can also help protect the environment, which some would argue is priceless.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best Warranty Coverage
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's Alton, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar panel installer in Alton?
The highest-rated local solar company in Alton is Mobius Solar, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
What are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of going solar?
A few of the biggest pros are that it reduces your power bills, it's good for the environment, and it provides a significant return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don't produce electricity at night, the startup costs are high and solar panels can be an eyesore.
Is it worth putting solar panels on my house?
Solar panels call for a considerable upfront investment that usually costs at least ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a range of factors like local electricity rates and the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
How often do solar panels have to be replaced?
Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they should be disposed of. What this means is the amount of energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can opt to replace them after having them for that long or you can continue to use them at a lower efficiency after that time.
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.