7 Best Solar Companies in Champaign City, IL (2025 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 7 in Champaign City based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Champaign City, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Champaign City homeowner saves $1,124/year with solar panels
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Best Solar Companies in Champaign City
When choosing between the best solar panel installers, Champaign City homeowners have more options than ever before, which can be a lot to consider, but we’re here to make making the switch to solar energy easier. For most homeowners, the choice to invest in solar rests on whether or not they can save. The good news is solar can help most homeowners save a decent amount on their fairly high and increasing energy bills.
As you start your search for the best solar companies in Champaign City, you might see that there are a large number of providers to choose between. So, we’ve accumulated an expertly curated list of the top solar companies in the area.Continue reading to see our picks for the best solar companies in the city, or get connected to a highly rated solar company in your area right away by clicking the button below.
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Champaign City
StraightUp Solar of Bloomington
Informative Resources- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Grid-Tied Solar System- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
New Prairie Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
SunSent Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing Assistance
Accutek Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
Harvest Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Champaign City
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Champaign City 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 Champaign City
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 Champaign City
Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you must first pay to set up your system.Some significant things that determine how much it will cost and how much you could save include:
- The kind of solar panel system you can purchase: This is dependent on your income and budget.
- Where your home is: This affects the average daily sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to reduce your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state may also have incentives and rebates that you can benefit from. Plus, you can save about $13,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, without incentives.
- Electricity consumption: The average household in Champaign City uses a decent amount of, and therefore may save on their energy bills.
Although a solar panel system costs a good 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 several factors, such as the kind of solar panels you get and your energy consumption.
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To see how much you can help the environment and your wallet by switching to solar, try out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Champaign City, IL.
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Solar Incentives in Champaign City
One of the good things about installing a solar panel system is receiving incentives from the government.There are several federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that may earn you some money back after paying for a solar panel system. You can learn about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Champaign City
There are a few key reasons why homeowners are considering solar energy: for the good of their bank accounts and the planet.But you may be wondering – how much exactly can you help by making the switch to solar? Using green energy for electricity in place of burning fossil fuels is a good way to reduce your carbon footprint if you want to help reduce Champaign City's large level of greenhouse gas emissions.If you go solar, your carbon dioxide emissions can be lowered by about 100 pounds every year. Since energy from the sun is plentiful and makes electricity without CO2 emissions, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help the planet.
EcoWatch's Champaign City, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best in Champaign City?
In Champaign City, StraightUp Solar of Bloomington is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.90 stars, so it's a great choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your roof.
What are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of installing solar panels?
The greatest advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, in some cases, totally eradicate your electricity bills, raise the value of your home and lower 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 it doesn’t work for all roof types and locations.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels call for a considerable upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a variety of factors like the cost of electricity near you and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
How often do solar panels have to be replaced?
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 higher level 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.