13 Best Solar Companies in Decatur, IL (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 13 in Decatur based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Decatur, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Decatur homeowner saves $1,368/year with solar panels
Updated September 15, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Decatur
As a homeowner or business owner in Decatur, you may be considering switching to solar and wondering about the best solar companies in your area. Solar could be a fantastic idea since it comes with a lot of benefits. Because of Decatur's great level of sunshine on average, there are lots of solar companies to choose from.
If you want to start taking advantage of the great amount of perks of solar, we're here to help you narrow down your options to find the Decatur solar installer that's the right price for you. To get free quotes from the best solar companies in Decatur, 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 Decatur
SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC
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Clear Pricing Policy - Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Home installations - Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- End-to-end services
- Expert panel installation
Sunsent Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
- Skilled repairs
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Route 66 Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
Springfield Sunsent Solar Installation Company
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Skilled repairs
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
WindSolarUSA, Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- End-to-end services
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
Springfield Electric Supply Company
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Energy storage solutions
New Prairie Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
StraightUp Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Skilled repairs
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
EFS Energy
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Business installations
Halo Solar LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
Tick Tock Energy, Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Integrated roofing
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
Skydrop Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Home installations
Harvest Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Decatur
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Decatur 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 Decatur
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 Decatur
Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you will need to pay to set up your system. The installation cost is just one important factor you should consider when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things including:
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight, your solar panels won't be able to produce as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on energy bills than a house with a roof that gets plenty of sunlight.
- How much electricity your home consumes: Households that consume lots of power each month may require more solar panels and, as a result, be more expensive, but will also save more on their energy bills over time.
- The type of solar panel system you can buy: This hinges on what your budget is.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to decrease your taxes by 30% of the project cost. Your state and even local utility companies may also have incentives and rebates that you can take advantage of. Plus, you can save about $16,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, not including incentives.
Solar is a valuable investment for most homeowners. You can make your own energy instead of paying for it from a utility company and benefit from solar incentives and rebates, all while helping preserve the planet.
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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 Decatur, IL.
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Solar Incentives in Decatur
If you're planning on switching to solar energy, a number of government incentives and tax credits can drastically bring down your project costs and expedite the return on your investment. When you install a solar panel system on your house, you can take advatage of the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you lower your tax bill by 30% of the cost of your solar panels. In addition, there are often some local incentives that you can take advantage of to further save. Our article on solar incentives has more in-depth information on the incentives you can benefit from in Decatur.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Decatur
There are lots of reasons to switch to solar power, like saving on electricity bills and helping to lower your carbon footprint. A question many homeowners might be asking themselves is how much can they really help the environment by going solar anyway? According to the EPA, electricity production is the second biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions and about 62% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels. Using solar power can help reduce that number in a city like Decatur that generates a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Because solar panels don't release CO2 emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they're a good trade for nonrenewable energy sources. In fact, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. As you can see, trading traditional energy for solar has so many other perks besides saving money. One of the main ones is that you can help save the Earth too.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
EcoWatch's Decatur, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar panel installation company in Decatur?
The top local solar company in Decatur is Sunsent Solar, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?
Solar panels can be harmful for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals when they're made. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels need a considerable upfront investment that will cost you several thousands of dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a variety of factors like the cost of electricity near you and the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
When should I put up solar panels?
You can put up solar panels whenever it's convenient for you, but consider doing so in the winter when there's less demand. With fewer homeowners switching to solar, you could potentially see faster installation times and more savings.
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.