3 Best Solar Companies in Bay City, MI (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 3 in Bay City based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Bay City, MI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Bay City homeowner saves $1,676/year with solar panels
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Best Solar Companies in Bay City
As a homeowner or business owner in Bay City, you may be considering switching to solar and wondering about the best solar companies in your local area. Solar could be a great idea since it comes with a lot of perks. Fortunately, there are a good amount of solar companies in Bay City because of encouraging government support and a growing clean energy market.
In this article, we’ll help you find the top options in your area.To start getting free quotes from the best solar companies in Bay City, you can click "get quote" below.
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
Solar Veteran
Michigan Solar Solutions
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
Outstanding Local Installer
Strawberry Solar
- Outstanding customer service
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Educational, no-pressure sales approach
- Limited warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Bay City
North Coast Solar
Clear Pricing Policy- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Financing Assistance- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Quality Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Mid-America Solar, LLC
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Carports
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Bay City
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Bay City 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 Bay City
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Michigan 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 Bay City
We understand that for many homeowners, the decision to invest in solar rests on installation costs.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 including:
- Where your home is: This affects the average daily sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you get will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels are more expensive upfront but can also lead to more savings over the lifetime of your system. If you don’t need to maximize efficiency, you can go with a higher number of more affordable panels.
- How much power your household needs: If your home needs to use a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from installing solar panels.
- Incentives: Something that can make your solar project cost less 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 a decent amount of money on your power bills, which can give you an average of $20,000 of savings over 20 years.
Solar is a worthwhile investment for most homeowners. You can make your own power instead of paying for it from a utility company and take advantage of solar tax credits and rebates, all while helping preserve the planet.
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Solar Incentives in Bay City
There are lots of reasons why adopting solar power is beneficial. One of them includes some government incentives that can help save you some money.On top of the federal tax credit incentive, there are also some local programs, which in the majority of cases, can be claimed in addition to the federal incentive, so you get to save even more. You can find out about the incentives available to you in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Bay City
One of the reasons so many homeowners consider switching to solar power is to help lower their environmental impact.But how much can installing solar panels actually affect the environment? As stated by the EPA, electricity generation is the second biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions and about 62% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels. Switching to a clean energy source like solar power can help bring down that statistic in a city like Bay City that accounts for a large amount of carbon dioxide emissions each year.After you go solar, your carbon footprint can be reduced by about 100 pounds a year. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you’ll likely recognize that there are many advantages to adopting solar power other than just saving money on bills. You can also help protect the environment, which some would argue is priceless.
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
Solar Veteran
Michigan Solar Solutions
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
Outstanding Local Installer
Strawberry Solar
- Outstanding customer service
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Educational, no-pressure sales approach
- Limited warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
EcoWatch's Bay City, MI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best near me?
The best local solar company in Bay City is North Coast Solar, with a rating of 4.90 stars.
What are a few of the advantages and disadvantages of going solar?
A few of the biggest pros are that it decreases your power bills, it’s good for the environment, 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, the startup costs are high and solar panels can be an eyesore.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a beneficial investment for many homeowners, but frankly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your electricity bills are already pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.
How often do solar panels have to be replaced?
On average, the lifespan of solar panels is about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency goes down by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a higher amount of energy production.
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.