15 Best Solar Companies in South Bend, IN (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in South Bend based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for South Bend, IN
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average South Bend homeowner saves $1,411/year with solar panels
Updated September 15, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in South Bend
As a homeowner or business owner in South Bend, you may be considering switching to solar and curious about the best solar companies in your local area. Solar could be a fantastic choice since it comes with a lot of perks. Solar power isn't just good for the planet — your wallet will thank you too. With solar power, you can save an average of $17,000 over 20 years, and this doesn't even include incentives.
If you want to start making use of the great amount of benefits of solar, we'll help you narrow down your options to find the South Bend solar installer that's in the right price range for you. If you want to receive free, no-obligation quotes from the top South Bend solar installers, you can click the button below to learn more.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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 South Bend
Briter Products, Inc.
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Reliable Customer Support - Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
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Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Expert panel installation - Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
Solar By Mike Johnson
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
Crossroads Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Business installations
Future Solutions
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Energy storage solutions
Solar Energy Systems LLC
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
Hightec Solar
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Advanced Solar Distributor LLC.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
Wellspring Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Family-Operated Business
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
PHOTON ELECTRIC
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
New Earth Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Integrated roofing
- Tailored solutions
Climax Solar
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
Helios Solar LLC
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
Renewable Energy Systems, LLC
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
Lake Lite Inc.
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
Solect Energy, L.L.C.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in South Bend
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in South Bend 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 South Bend
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Indiana 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 South Bend
The cost of installing solar panels has decreased significantly over the past several years, but it's still a significant investment for most homeowners. There are several factors you should consider when trying to figure out the overall cost and how much you can save, such as:
- System size and type: Some models are more costly than others, so the one you want to get can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need to buy, the more it'll cost.
- Whether or not your roof gets a lot of direct sunlight: This, and how your roof is set up, affects affect how much electricity your solar panels can produce.
- Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who buy and install a solar system this year can save 30% of their total solar spend by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $17,000 on your energy bills over 20 years not including incentives.
- How much power your home consumes: Households that need a lot of power each month may require more solar panels and, as a result, be more expensive, but will also save more on their energy bills over time.
There are lots of good benefits of solar despite the upfront cost of installation. It can help the environment and your finances. Additionally, it can raise the value of your home, giving you even more benefits if you want to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in South Bend
One of the good things about installing a solar panel system is earning federal and potentially state incentives. On top of the federal tax credit incentive, there are also some state- and city-level incentives, which in the majority of cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you get to save even more. In our article on solar incentives, you can find out about the incentives you qualify for in South Bend.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in South Bend
One of the reasons so many people are thinking of going solar 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 South Bend, though. In a city like South Bend where energy use is particularly high, installing solar panels is a great plan for people who are worried about the state of the planet. After you go solar, your carbon footprint can be lowered by about 90 pounds every year. The advantages of solar power are abundant — just like solar power is! That's why so many people have been happy with using solar energy.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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 South Bend, IN Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar panel installation company in South Bend?
The top local solar company in South Bend is Crossroads Solar, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?
Solar panels can be detrimental for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals when they're made. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing 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 can be a good investment for lots of homeowners, but honestly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your energy bills are already pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.
How often do solar panels have to be replaced?
Even though 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 choose to replace them once you've had them for that long or you can continue to use 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.