15 Best Solar Companies in Ottawa, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Ottawa based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Ottawa, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Ottawa homeowner saves $1,165/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Ottawa
As a homeowner or business owner in Ottawa, you may be interested in switching to solar power and wondering about the best solar companies in your city. Solar could be a fantastic idea since it has many perks. Installation costs can be high, but the switch will save you money on your power bills over many years. In fact, you can look forward to saving about $14,000 over 20 years.
The cost of installing solar panels can vary considerably according to your home’s layout and your household energy usage.To get free quotes from the top-rated solar companies in Ottawa, click the "get quote" button below.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- 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 Ottawa
SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC
Free Quotes- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Financing Assistance- Panel Installation
Sunrun Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
Independence Renewable Energy, LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Summit Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
CF Solar Power
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
Reficiency Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
SOLAR PANTHER
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Illinois Solar Express, LLC
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Solar Joe's Inc
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Community Solar Projects
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
Sun Collectors
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- System Decommissioning
- Cleaning and Maintenance
StraightUp Solar of Bloomington
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Solar Service Solutions LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Safeguard Solar LLC
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Iconic Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
Unity Solar Group
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Consultation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Ottawa
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Ottawa 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 Ottawa
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 Ottawa
For many people, the decision of which solar installer to hire depends on total costs.The installation cost is just one important factor you should keep in mind when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things such as:
- System size and type: Some models are more pricy than others, so the one you decide on can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need to buy, the more it'll cost.
- Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who buy and install a solar system this year can save 0 of their solar installation costs by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $14,000 on your utility bills over 20 years without incentives.
- Energy consumption: Installing a solar system may be an expensive option for households that don’t use a good amount of energy a month.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: This, and your roof configuration, affects affect how much electricity your solar panels can make.
So is a solar panel system worth it? Whether you’re trying to decrease your electricity costs, greenhouse gas emissions or both, solar panels are a good investment for many Ottawa homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Ottawa
Switching to solar power has plenty of great benefits. Not only can it help protect the Earth, but you can also save a decent amount of money on your installation with various government incentives.Everyone can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will allow you to claim 0 of how much you paid for your solar installation on your tax return, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. In addition, there may be some state and city incentives that stack with the ITC too. For more information about incentives for homeowners in Ottawa, check out our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Ottawa
There are a few primary reasons why many people are interested in solar energy: for the good of their bank accounts and the planet.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Ottawa, though. Switching to solar power is an impactful choice for the environment, because the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation – all of which can be powered by solar instead.Since solar panels don’t release greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere when producing electricity, they’re a good swap for nonrenewable energy sources. In fact, you could expect to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. For those who care about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for the offset carbon emissions.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- 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 Ottawa, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar panel installation company in Ottawa?
In Ottawa, SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC is the most reputable 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 some of the pros and cons of switching to solar?
The greatest advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, for some, totally erase your electricity bills, improve your home’s value and bring down your carbon footprint. The biggest 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.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels need a large upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a collection of factors like how much you pay for electricity and the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
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 larger 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.
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.