17 Best Solar Companies in Augusta, ME (2023 Reviews)

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Augusta

For the majority of homeowners, whether or not you should invest in solar panels depends the most on the cost. Some key things that determine the upfront cost and potential savings over time include:

• The make and model of solar panels you're thinking of getting: Some are more highly priced, so that will influence your budget for your solar project.
• How much sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight, your solar panels won't be able to make as much energy, which will give you lower savings on electric bills than someone with a roof that gets plenty of sunlight.
• Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which gives you a tax credit currently worth 30% of your total installation cost, your local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that can help you save even more. Aside from incentives, you can save an average of $16,000 over 20 years with your system, too.
• Your current electricity bills: Solar panels can substantially decrease, or entirely eliminate, your utility bills. In Augusta, you can save an average of $75 a month.

Though a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you much more over time. The question of how much, though, depends on several factors, like the size of your house and incentives.

Solar Incentives in Augusta

In an effort to increase solar panel installation and usage, federal and local governments — and even some utility companies — offer incentives to help make going solar more financially viable and accessible. These incentives typically consist of cash rebates, tax credits and/or performance-based incentives. They can cut how much you end up spending on installing solar panels by 30%, upwards of 50% depending on where you live. For more information about incentives that apply to you, see our our article on solar incentives.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Augusta

Swapping traditional energy for solar is a powerful way to do what you can for a greener future. But you may be curious — how much exactly can you help the planet by making the switch to solar? How much energy you use is a significant factor to think about. The more electricity you use, the larger your impact when you make the switch to solar power. In fact, if you install solar panels, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 40 pounds each year. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you'll likely find that there are many good things about adopting solar energy other than just saving money on electricity. You can also help protect the environment, which some would argue is worth more.