8 Best Solar Companies in Blackhawk, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 8 in Blackhawk based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Blackhawk, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Blackhawk homeowner saves $981/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Blackhawk
Finding the right solar panel installation company for your house is an important decision, but it's one that can save you a lot of money in Blackhawk. Over 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar panel system, you can save about $12,000 on your utility bills.
In this article, we’ll let you in on the top Blackhawk solar installers so you can make the best decision for your home’s solar energy needs.To get free quotes from the top-rated solar companies in Blackhawk, click the "get quote" button below.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
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 Blackhawk
Iowa Solar
Informative Resources- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Skilled Repairs- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Quad City Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- System Decommissioning
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Solar Grids Quad Cities
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
Century Electric & Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
True Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
ECG Solar Iowa
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- System Decommissioning
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Iowa Solar Pros
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
Precision Energy Services
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Blackhawk
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Blackhawk 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 Blackhawk
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 Blackhawk
For many people, the decision of which solar company to go with depends on how much it’ll cost.Some important things that influence the upfront cost and potential savings over time include:
- Your power bills: This will determine your savings. In Blackhawk, the average resident can save about $840 a year on their electricity bills.
- Incentives: One thing that can reduce the cost of your solar project 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 utility bills, which can lead to an average of $12,000 of savings over 20 years.
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you need will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also save you more money over the lifetime of your system. If you don’t need to maximize efficiency, you can opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- How much power your home consumes: Households that use a lot of power each month may need more solar panels and, consequently, be more costly, but will also enjoy more savings over time.
There are several good benefits of solar despite the initial cost of installation. It can help the Earth and your bank account. Plus, it can raise the value of your home, resulting in even more benefits if you decide to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in Blackhawk
There are several reasons why going solar is a great investment. One of them includes some government incentives you can take advantage of.Local solar incentive programs vary by 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 incentives for homeowners in Blackhawk, see our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Blackhawk
One reason so many consider installing solar panels is to help lower their environmental impact.But you may be curious – how much exactly can you help the environment by going solar? If your home consumes lots of energy, you can have an even greater impact on the planet by switching to solar power.Even though making solar panels emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by considerably lowering the amount of CO2 you would have been responsible for if you still used traditional energy. In Blackhawk, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year with solar panels. Since solar energy is abundant and generates electricity without a carbon footprint, making the switch to solar power is one easy step you can take to help the environment.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
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 Blackhawk, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best in Blackhawk?
The best local solar company in Blackhawk is Iowa Solar, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are the best and worst things about solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lowers your power bills, it’s environmentally friendly, and it provides a good return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t work as well when there’s limited direct sunlight, they cost a lot upfront and solar panels aren’t always aesthetically pleasing.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a good 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 much solar panel capacity do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is rated based on how much power they generate under standard testing conditions. Since each panel can generally produce about 250 to 400 watts per hour, the average household will need 20 to 35 panels.
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.