15 Best Solar Companies in Columbia, IL (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Columbia based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Columbia, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Columbia homeowner saves $1,312/year with solar panels
Updated September 15, 2023
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Best Solar Companies in Columbia
As a homeowner or business owner in Columbia, you may be interested in switching to solar power and wondering about the best solar companies in your area. Solar could be a great idea since it comes with a lot of perks. Plus, the solar industry is thriving in Columbia, giving homeowners access to some of the best solar panel companies in the country.
To help you sort through the huge number of Columbia solar installers, we've narrowed down a list of the top ones. To receive 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
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Columbia
Streib Company
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Free Quotes - Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Energy storage solutions - Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- End-to-end services
- Business installations
Solar City STL
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Skilled repairs
- Business installations
- Integrated roofing
Unique Visions Solar Tint
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Exceptional Energy Solutions
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
Astrawatt Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
five stars electric and solar LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
B-Raines Slate & Solar Roofing Co.
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Business installations
- Skilled repairs
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
Gunther Salt Company
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
Azimuth Energy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
Solar Luxury LLC
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Professional reinstallation
- Skilled repairs
- Home installations
StraightUp Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Skilled repairs
- Business installations
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
Pyramid Electrical Contractors, Inc.
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Skilled repairs
- End-to-end services
- Home installations
- Business installations
EFS Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Sun Solar St. Louis
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
Greentech Renewables St. Louis
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Energy storage solutions
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Columbia
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Columbia 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 Columbia
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 Columbia
The cost of putting up solar panels has decreased significantly in the past few years, but it's still a substantial investment for most homeowners. Some important factors that dictate how much it will cost to install a solar panel system on your home and how much money you could save over time are:
- How much power your household needs: If your household uses a lot of energy, you'll see more savings from going solar.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which can save you some money, allows you to deduct 30% of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your taxes. In addition, not including incentives, you can save about $16,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- System size and type: Some models are more pricy than others, so the one you get can raise or lower your initial investment. Plus, the more solar panels you need, the more it'll cost.
- Your current electric bills: Solar panels can substantially decrease, or completely get rid of, your utility bills. In Columbia, you can save an average of $83 a month.
So are solar panels worth it? Whether you'd like to lower your electricity costs, greenhouse gas emissions or both, solar panels are a worthwhile investment for many Columbia homeowners.
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If you're wondering what your impact could be if you switch to solar, you can use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Columbia, IL.
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Solar Incentives in Columbia
There are many reasons why going solar is a great investment. One of them includes some government incentives you can take advantage of. When you install a solar panel system on your house, you can take advatage of the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently reduces your tax bill by 30% of the cost of your solar panels. Additionally, there may often be some state and city incentives that you can take advantage of to further save. Take a look at our article on solar incentives to learn what incentives you can benefit from.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Columbia
One reason so many are considering switching to solar power is to help bring down their environmental impact. Something many people might be asking themselves is how much can they really help the environment by switching to solar power anyway? If your home uses a lot of energy, you can have an even greater impact on the planet by switching to solar power. If you go solar, your carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by about 100 pounds a year. The good things about solar power are infinite — just like solar power is! That's why so many homeowners have been happy with committing to solar.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
EcoWatch's Columbia, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar panel installer in Columbia?
In Columbia, Sunsent Solar Installation of St. Louis MO is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a good choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your roof.
What are the best and worst things about solar power?
The advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, for some, entirely eradicate your electricity bills, improve the value of your home and cut back on your carbon footprint. The disadvantages are that solar panels can be costly to install, you may not save a lot if you don't use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after installing solar panels?
Solar panels usually pay for themselves in about 11.7 years, but your solar payback period will vary based on your utility costs. The more your typical power bill, the faster your solar panel system will pay for itself.
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 larger 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.