8 Best Solar Companies in Chillicothe, IL (2024 Reviews)

We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 8 in Chillicothe based on:

  • Customer review scores
  • Service area for Chillicothe, IL
  • Company policies and services offered
  • Accreditations and certifications

Average Chillicothe homeowner saves $994/year with solar panels

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated April 21, 2024

Why you can trust EcoWatch

We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

Best Solar Companies in Chillicothe

As a homeowner in Chillicothe, you may be planning on switching to solar and curious about the best solar companies in your area. Solar could be a good choice since it has a lot of benefits. Due to its moderate amount of average daily sunlight, Chillicothe has a good amount of solar growth, so many of the best solar companies in the nation have opened up there to help residents switch over to renewable energy.


As you start your search for the best solar companies in Chillicothe, you might realize that there are many providers to choose from. So, we’ve put together a curated list of the top solar companies in the area.To get an idea of how much it could cost to install solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to get a quote from a certified installer near you.

Best Solar Financing

Blue Raven Solar

★★★★★
4.5
  • Industry-leading in-house financing
  • Competitive pricing
  • Excellent reputation
  • Doesn't offer solar batteries

Best for Leasing

Sunrun

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Many financing options
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Some reported issues with door-to-door sales

Best Social Impact

Palmetto Solar

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Makes charitable contributions
  • Certified B Corp
  • No leases or PPAs
  • Quality of installation may vary by location

EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Chillicothe

Best Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.8/5

SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Financing Assistance
  • Service icon Panel Installation

Website: http://www.legacysolarpower.com/
Address: 301 S Quincy St, Towanda, IL 61776
Phone: 3092313138
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.7/5

Sunrun Solar

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Permit Assistance
  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Service icon Skilled Repairs
  • Service icon Grid-Tied Solar System
  • Service icon Consultation

Website: https://www.sunrun.com/
Address: 688 High Point Ln, East Peoria, IL 61611
Phone: 8333245886
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

5.0/5

SOLAR PANTHER

  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Service icon Grid-Tied Solar System
  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Permit Assistance
  • Service icon Financing Assistance
  • Service icon Skilled Repairs

Website: https://www.thesolarpanther.com/
Address: 4703 North Ellen Court, Peoria Heights, IL 61616
Phone: 3098866830
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

5.0/5

Sun Collectors

  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Grid-Tied Solar System
  • Service icon System Decommissioning
  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance

Website: https://suncollectors.solar/
Address: 4507 N Sterling Ave #400, Peoria, IL 61615
Phone: 3093003875
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.8/5

ROUTE 66 SOLAR

  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Grid-Tied Solar System
  • Service icon Financing Assistance
  • Service icon System Decommissioning

Website: https://route66solar.com/
Address: 2619 W Heading Ave Suite 314, West Peoria, IL 61604
Phone: 3093367394
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Halo Solar LLC

  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Panel Installation

Website: https://halosolar.net/
Address: 7 Legacy Dr, Goodfield, IL 61742
Phone: 3097407861
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.9/5

StraightUp Solar of Bloomington

  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Financing Assistance
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Grid-Tied Solar System

Website: https://straightupsolar.com/bloomington-il/
Address: 505 N Main St Suite A, Bloomington, IL 61701
Phone: 3092602663
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Nelnet Renewable Energy

  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Financing Assistance

Website: http://www.nelnetenergy.com/
Address: 4109 Oakland Ave Unit B, Bloomington, IL 61704
Phone: 8882025630

Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Chillicothe

EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Chillicothe 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 Chillicothe


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 Chillicothe

The cost of installing solar panels has dropped significantly over the past few years, but it’s still a substantial investment for most homeowners.The installation cost is just one important factor you should bear in mind when looking into getting solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things such as:

  • Whether or not your roof gets a lot of direct sunlight: This, plus how your roof is set up, affects affect how much power your solar panels can produce.
  • The type of solar panels you have the money for: This hinges on your income and budget.
  • Your energy consumption: If your household uses a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from going solar.
  • Your energy bills: This will influence how much money you might save. In Chillicothe, the average resident can save about $850 a year on their electricity bills.

Even though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount in the long term. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, such as the amount of daily direct sunlight available and your current power bills.

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Solar Incentives in Chillicothe

If you’re thinking about making the switch to solar power, various government incentives and tax credits can greatly bring down the installation costs and expedite the return on your investment.When you install solar panels, you become eligible to claim the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you lower your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. Additionally, there may often be some state and city incentives that you can use to further save. Our article on solar incentives goes over more in-depth information on the incentives you can take advantage of in Chillicothe.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Chillicothe

Going solar can have a meaningful impact on the environment.But you may be wondering – how much exactly can you help by using solar power? For those who want to do their part for the planet, switching to solar power is an easy choice, especially since Chillicothe produces a very high amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation.Because solar panels don’t release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they’re a good swap for traditional energy sources. In fact, 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 likely understand that there are many benefits of adopting solar power other than just saving money on bills. You can also help protect the environment, which some would argue is invaluable.

Best Solar Financing

Blue Raven Solar

★★★★★
4.5
  • Industry-leading in-house financing
  • Competitive pricing
  • Excellent reputation
  • Doesn't offer solar batteries

Best for Leasing

Sunrun

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Many financing options
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Some reported issues with door-to-door sales

Best Social Impact

Palmetto Solar

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Makes charitable contributions
  • Certified B Corp
  • No leases or PPAs
  • Quality of installation may vary by location

EcoWatch's Chillicothe, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs

Which solar panel installer is the best near me?

In Chillicothe, SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.80 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your home.

What are the best and worst things about solar power?

A few of the biggest pros are that it reduces your electricity bills, it’s environmentally friendly, and it gives you a significant return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t produce electricity at night, there is a high upfront cost and solar panels can be an eyesore.

How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?

The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 21.2 years, but the exact period varies depending on the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.

How long do solar panels last?

On average, the lifespan of solar panels is 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 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.