12 Best Solar Companies in Columbia, IL (Aug 2022 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 12 in Columbia based on:
-
Customer review scores - Solar installers near you
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Updated 7/19/2022
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Best solar companies in Columbia
Looking for energy freedom in Columbia? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding home project since there are lots of perks when you go solar. Because solar panels produce their own energy, they can vastly lower your electricity bill each month, if not totally eliminate it. In fact, you could look forward to about $16,000 of savings over 20 years.
To help you comb through the huge variety of Columbia solar installers, we've narrowed in on a list of the top ones. To get free quotes from the best solar companies in Columbia, 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 (coming 2022)
Best Technology
The Green Panel
- 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 Columbia
Nationwide Service
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
Local Service
EFS Energy Inc
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Custom system designs
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Regional Service
Average Cost
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- System Monitoring
Nationwide Service
Average Cost
The Green Panel
- 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
Local Service
Barlecorn™ 4, LLC
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Educational sales approach
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Custom system designs
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
Regional Service
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
Regional Service
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
Regional Service
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
Local Service
Brightergy
- Can browse portfolio on website
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Cain Electric Inc
- Can browse portfolio on website
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Solar Panels
Local Service
STL Solar Plus LLC
- Locally owned and operated
- Educational sales approach
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Some reported communication issues
- Some reported issues with customer services
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
- Some reports of high-pressure sales tactics
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Rabco Home Energy Soluitons, LLC
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Solar Company Ranking Methodology
Click here to see a more detailed overview of our solar company ranking methodology.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Columbia
For many people, the decision of which solar company to go with comes down to prices. Some important factors that dictate the cost of installing solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time include:
- Your current electricity bills: Solar panels can dramatically lower, or completely get rid of, your utility bills. In Columbia, you can save an average of $83 a month.
- Your income and budget: This determines what kind of solar panels you can afford.
- 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 on your energy bills, which can result in an average of $16,000 of savings over 20 years.
- average energy usage: The more power your home uses on average and the higher your current power bills are, the more money you could save by making the switch to solar.
So is a solar panel system worth it? Whether you're trying to reduce your energy bills, greenhouse gas emissions or both, solar panels are a solid investment for many Columbia homeowners.
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Adopting a sustainable source of energy can greatly impact both the environment and your bills. To see how much, check out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Columbia, IL.
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Solar Incentives in Columbia
One of the benefits of installing a solar panel system is earning government incentives. You can qualify for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your solar panels. You can also possibly stack the ITC with other local incentives. In the table below, you can find out about the incentives you qualify for in your area.
| Name | Solar Renewable Energy Credits |
| Incentive Amount | Negotiated with procurement administrators |
| Incentive Max | Benchmarks set by procurement administrators |
| Website | Visit here |
| More Info | Click here |
| Name | ITC |
| Type | Tax Incentive |
| Incentive Amount | 26% of installation cost |
| Website | Visit here |
| Name | Special Assessment for Solar Energy Systems |
| Incentive Amount | Varies |
| Incentive Max | None specified |
| Website | Visit here |
| More Info | Click here |
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Columbia
One reason so many people consider switching to solar power is to help bring down their environmental impact. You may be trying to figure out — how much does making the switch do for the environment anyway? The average person has a sizable carbon footprint. Between their car, which releases over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year, and energy for their home, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to do. Going solar is a practical thing you can do to help. In fact, if you install solar panels, you could lower 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 get that there are many advantages to 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
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Best Technology
The Green Panel
- 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 Columbia, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar company in Columbia?
In Columbia, EFS Energy Inc is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.52 stars, so it's a great choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your home.
What are a few of the advantages and disadvantages of installing solar panels?
The advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, for some, completely erase your electricity bills, raise your home's value and cut back on your carbon footprint. The disadvantages are that solar panels can be costly to install, you may not save as much if you don't use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a good investment for many homeowners, but truthfully, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your electricity bills are already pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.
What is the efficiency of solar panels?
Usually, solar panels are about 15 to 25% efficient, meaning they can convert that percentage of the sun's energy into usable electricity.
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.