8 Best Solar Companies in Rochester, IL (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 8 in Rochester based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Rochester, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Rochester homeowner saves $1,455/year with solar panels
Updated September 15, 2023
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Best Solar Companies in Rochester
If you're a home or business owner looking to make the most of the solar incentives in Rochester, it can be hard to narrow down which installer to choose. But, the process is worth it since adopting solar power is typically a great idea. One of the main reasons those residing in Rochester, where the average energy bill is pretty high, want to go solar is to lower their monthly expenses.
To help you sort through the huge variety of Rochester solar installers, we've come up with a list of the top ones. To get free quotes from the leading solar companies in Rochester, 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
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Rochester
Route 66 Solar
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Informative Resources - Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Expert panel installation - Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
Springfield Sunsent Solar Installation Company
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Skilled repairs
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
WindSolarUSA, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- End-to-end services
- Integrated roofing
- Home installations
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
EFS Energy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
Skydrop Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
Sunsent Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Skilled repairs
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
StraightUp Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Skilled repairs
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
Halo Solar LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Rochester
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Rochester 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 Rochester
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 Rochester
For many homeowners, whether or not to invest in a solar energy system depends the most on the cost. The installation cost is just one important factor you should take into account when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things such as:
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you choose will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also lead to more savings over the lifetime of your system. If you don't need to maximize efficiency, you can opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Rochester gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally generate enough energy to power your whole home, which affects how much your electricity bills will be.
- Incentives: Something that can make your solar project cost less is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the project cost. You can also save a decent amount of money on your energy bills, which can lead to an average of $17,000 of savings over 20 years.
- Your power bills: This will dictate how much you can save. In Rochester, the average homeowner can save about $1,100 a year on their electricity bills.
Solar is a fruitful investment for most homeowners. You can make your own electricity instead of paying for it from a utility company and make use of solar incentives and rebates, all while helping preserve the planet.
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For an idea of both how much you could save and help the Earth by switching to solar power, you can give the calculator below a try. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Rochester, IL.
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Solar Incentives in Rochester
Although a solar power system is typically a big investment, it can save you a lot of money over several years due to lower energy bills and government incentives. When you install a solar panel system, 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 may often be some regional incentives that you can use to further cut back on the cost of solar of solar panels. Check out our article on solar incentives to see what incentives you can take advantage of.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Rochester
One of the reasons so many people consider installing solar panels is to help reduce their environmental impact. Something many homeowners might be asking themselves is how much can they really help protect the environment by going solar anyway? If your home uses a lot of energy, you can impact the environment even more by switching to solar energy. Because solar panels don't release CO2 emissions into the atmosphere when producing electricity, they're a good alternative to traditional energy sources. In fact, you could be looking at reducing your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. For homeowners who care about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for reducing your carbon footprint.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
EcoWatch's Rochester, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best in Rochester?
The top local solar company in Rochester is Springfield Sunsent Solar Installation Company, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are a few of the biggest advantages and disadvantages of switching to solar?
A few of the biggest pros are that it decreases your power bills, it's environmentally friendly, and it can give you a significant return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don't produce electricity at night, there is a high upfront cost and solar panels aren't always aesthetically pleasing.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after installing solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 10.5 years, but the exact period varies by local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
What is the best type of solar panel?
The different types of solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient but also cost more. Polycrystalline panels are less expensive but also less efficient than monocrystalline. Thin-film solar panels are flexible, so they can be used where the other kinds can't, like on curved surfaces or cars, but they are also less efficient. The best one for you depends on your budget, roof layout and how much efficiency you're looking for.
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.