9 Best Solar Companies in Watseka, IL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 9 in Watseka based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Watseka, IL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Average Watseka homeowner saves $1,268/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Watseka
Looking to go solar but not sure which solar panel installer would be best for you? Although it can be difficult to decide on a solar company, the effort will pay off because going solar has many great benefits. Installation costs can be high, but switching to solar will save you money on your utility bills in the long term. In fact, you can potentially save about $15,000 over 20 years.
If you want to make use of the many benefits of solar, we can help you narrow down your options to find the Watseka solar installer that’s perfect for you.Interested in knowing 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 Watseka 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 Watseka
Summit Solar
Reliable Customer Support- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Grid-Tied Solar System- Panel Installation
New Prairie Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
B.T. Electric Inc
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Greentech Renewables Chicago
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Solar Power Midwest LLC
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- System Decommissioning
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
Harvest Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
Solar Joe's Inc
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Community Solar Projects
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
YellowLite
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Solar Service Solutions LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Watseka
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Watseka 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 Watseka
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 Watseka
For lots of homeowners, the decision to invest in solar panels boils down to the cost.Some key factors that dictate how much it will cost to install solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time include:
- Electricity consumption: The average home in Watseka uses a decent amount of, and therefore may save on their energy bills.
- Incentives: Something that can save you money on your solar project 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 money on your power bills, which can result in an average of $15,000 of savings over 20 years.
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you choose 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 opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- How much you spend on energy: The typical household in Watseka shells out around $850 a year on energy alone, so you could be looking at that much in savings.
Though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you much more in the long term. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, including the size of your house and your current power bills.
Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}
Adopting clean energy can significantly impact both the environment and your utility bills. To see how much, check out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Watseka, 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 Watseka
There are many good reasons why going solar is a great investment. One of them consists of some government incentives you can take advantage of.When you install solar panels on your house, you can claim the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you lower your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. Plus, there may often be some regional incentives that you can take advantage of to further save. Our article on solar incentives has more information on the incentives you can benefit from in Watseka.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Watseka
There are tons of reasons to make the switch to solar power, like saving on electricity bills and helping to lower your carbon footprint.A question many homeowners might be thinking about is how much can they really help the environment by going solar anyway? In a city like Watseka where energy use is rather high, switching to solar energy is a great plan for households who are worried about the state of the planet.In fact, if you make the switch to solar power, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. As you can see, investing in solar has so many other rewards apart from saving money. One of the main ones is that you can help save the planet too.
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 Watseka, IL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar installer in Watseka?
In Watseka, Summit Solar is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.70 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your house.
What is the negative environmental impact of making solar panels?
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 needs a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
Is it worth putting 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 range of factors like local electricity rates and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
What are the different kinds of solar panels?
The different types of solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient but also more costly. 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, such as 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.