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
Thinking of going solar but not sure which solar company would be best for your needs? Although it can be difficult to choose a solar company, the search will pay off because going solar has many fantastic perks. After 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar system, you can save about $14,000 on your electricity bills.
There are so many installers to choose from, but in this article, we’ll help you narrow down your options by recommending some of the best solar companies in Ottawa.Want to know the cost of installing a solar system on your roof? Click "get quote" below to get a free, no-obligation quote from a highly rated Ottawa solar installer.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Ottawa
SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC
Reliable Customer Support- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Financing Assistance- Panel Installation
Sunrun Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
YellowLite
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Independence Renewable Energy, LLC
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
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
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
Reficiency Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
SOLAR PANTHER
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Illinois Solar Express, LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
Solar Joe's Inc
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Community Solar Projects
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Sun Collectors
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- System Decommissioning
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
StraightUp Solar of Bloomington
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Solar Service Solutions LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
ROUTE 66 SOLAR
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- System Decommissioning
Safeguard Solar LLC
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
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
We get that for many homeowners, the decision to invest in solar hinges on installation costs.There are several factors you should consider when determining the overall cost and how much you can save, including:
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you need will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels are more expensive upfront but can also save you more money over the lifetime of your system. If space isn't a constraint for your project, you can go with a higher number of more affordable panels.
- Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who buy and install a solar system this year can save 0 of their overall solar costs by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $14,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years not including incentives.
- Typical energy usage: The more power your household consumes on average and the higher your current electricity bills are, the more money you could save by switching to solar.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: If your roof doesn’t see much direct sunlight, your solar system won’t be able to make as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on power bills than a roof that gets plenty of sunlight.
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
To increase the number of homes and businesses that use solar power, incentives are offered by the government – and even some utility companies – to help make going solar more affordable and accessible.There are quite a few federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that let you earn some money back after paying for solar panels. Check out our article on solar incentives to learn what incentives you can take advantage of.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Ottawa
An important reason so many are considering installing solar panels is to help bring down their environmental impact.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Ottawa, though. For homeowners who are concerned about global warming, using solar power is a no-brainer, especially since Ottawa produces a very high amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation.In Ottawa, the average resident can lower their carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year after going solar. The benefits of solar power are abundant — just like solar power is! That's why so many homeowners have been happy with making the switch to solar.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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
EcoWatch's Ottawa, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar installation company in Ottawa?
The highest-rated local solar company in Ottawa is SunPower by Legacy Solar, LLC, with a rating of 4.80 stars.
What are the biggest pros and cons of installing solar panels?
The greatest advantages of solar power are that it can reduce or, in some cases, totally erase your electricity bills, raise the value of your home and bring down your carbon footprint. The greatest disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey to install, you may not save a lot if you don’t use a lot of electricity and it doesn’t work for all roof types and locations.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels call for a considerable upfront investment that will cost you several thousands of 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 often do solar panels need to be replaced?
Although the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely. What this means is the amount of energy they produce will have decreased by about 0.8% each year since installing them. You can replace them after having them for that long or you can keep using them at a lower efficiency after that time.
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.