9 Best Solar Companies in Rochester, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 9 in Rochester based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Rochester, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Average Rochester homeowner saves $1,455/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Rochester
As a homeowner in Rochester, you may be interested in switching to solar energy and wondering about the best solar companies in your city. Solar could be a fantastic choice since it has lots of benefits. Solar panels can be expensive, but adopting solar will save you money on your power bills over many years. In fact, you can look forward to saving about $17,000 over 20 years.
As you begin your search for the best solar companies in Rochester, you’ll find that there are a lot of providers to choose between. So, we’ve accumulated a curated list of the top solar companies in the area.We advise shopping around to get quite a few quotes and comparing them to see which is the best installer for your home. To get started with free, no-pressure quotes from the best solar installers in Rochester, click the link 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 Rochester
Route 66 Solar
Informative Resources- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Financing Assistance- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- System Decommissioning
WindSolarUSA, Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
EFS Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
IQ Group Inc
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Skydrop Energy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
SunSent Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
StraightUp Solar of Bloomington
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
Halo Solar LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Nelnet Renewable Energy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
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 people considering switching to solar, 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 including:
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you buy will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more 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.
- How much you spend on energy: If your local power rates are quite high, there's a good chance you'll end up with a higher return on your investment in solar panels. In Rochester, you can save an average of $851 a month on your electricity bills.
- Energy consumption: Solar may be an expensive option for homes that don’t need a lot of energy per month.
- Incentives: Something that can save you money on your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that’s equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save money on your power bills, which can give you an average of $17,000 of savings over 20 years.
Solar is a valuable investment for most homeowners. You can generate your own energy instead of paying for it from the grid and take advantage of solar tax credits and rebates, all while helping protect the environment.
Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}
Adopting green energy can significantly impact both the environment and your monthly expenses. To see how much, try out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Rochester, IL.
| {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} -year savings | {{ solarcalc.total_savings()|currency }} |
| Estimated cost | {{ solarcalc.array_cost() | currency }} |
| Estimated incentives | {{ solarcalc.incentive_savings() | currency }} |
| Payback period | {{ solarcalc.payback_period()|number:1 }} years |
| CO2 emissions prevented | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()|number:0 }} lbs |
| Miles driven equivalent | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()/0.78|number:0 }} mi |
Switching to solar in {{ solarcalc.name }} can save you {{ solarcalc.total_savings() | currency }} over the course of {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} years.
Solar Incentives in Rochester
In order to increase the adoption of solar power, incentives are offered by the government – and even some utility companies – to help make solar power more affordable and accessible.In addition to the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some state- and city-level incentives, which in almost all cases, can be claimed in addition to the federal incentive, so you can save even more. Our article on solar incentives goes over more in-depth information on the incentives you can find in Rochester.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Rochester
There are tons of reasons to make the switch to solar energy, like saving some money on electricity bills and helping to lower your carbon footprint.You may be wondering – how much does going solar do for the planet anyway? The amount of energy you use is a key factor to keep in mind. The more energy your household consumes, the greater your impact when you go solar.In fact, if you install solar panels, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. Since solar power is plentiful and generates electricity without CO2 emissions, installing solar panels is one easy step you can take to help the environment.
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 Rochester, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best near me?
In Rochester, Route 66 Solar is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.90 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your home.
Are solar panels really bad for the environment?
Solar panels can be harmful for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the construction. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels requires a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
Solar panels generally pay for themselves in about 14.5 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 efficient is a solar panel system?
Solar panel efficiency is the amount of energy from the sun that is converted into electricity. Most panels today have an efficiency rating of about 15 to 25%. If your panels are more efficient, you'll need less of them to meet your home's energy needs.
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.