4 Best Solar Companies in Northern, MN (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 4 in Northern based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Northern, MN
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Northern homeowner saves $1,258/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Northern
Thinking of going solar but still deciding on which solar panel installer would be the best one for your needs? Although it can be hard to choose a solar company, the search will pay off because going solar has many great perks. With an average energy bill of $962 per month in Northern, adopting solar power can reduce your monthly bills by about that much.
The cost of installing solar panels can change considerably depending on your home’s framework and your overall energy usage.To get free quotes from the top solar companies in Northern, click the "get quote" button 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
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
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 Northern
Todavich Electric Inc
Prompt Service Delivery- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Cleaning and Maintenance
Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL)
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Holsen Home Automation & Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Nelson Collie Electric
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Family-Operated Business
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Northern
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Northern 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 Northern
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Minnesota 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 Northern
When picking a solar company, most homeowners or business owners think about the costs above all.Some important things that influence the cost and possible savings include:
- The kind of solar panels you can buy: This is dependent on your income and budget.
- How much energy you use: If your home needs to use a lot of energy, you'll see more savings from installing solar panels.
- Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you receive a tax credit curretnly worth 0 of your total installation cost, your state or 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 $15,000 over 20 years with your solar system, too.
- The amount of sunlight your house gets: Because of Northern’s relatively low amount of average daily sunlight, you might not see as many savings on your electricity bills.
Solar is a worthwhile investment for most homeowners. You can produce your own power instead of paying for it from the grid and take advantage of solar tax credits and rebates, all while helping the planet.
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Solar Incentives in Northern
Switching to solar power has lots of great benefits. Not only can it help preserve the environment, but you can also save some money on your installation with various government incentives.Everyone can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will allow you to claim 0 of how much you paid for your solar installation when you file taxes, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. Plus, there may be some local incentives that stack with the ITC too. You can find out about the incentives you can use in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Northern
One of the best reasons to embrace solar power is to reduce your dependence on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are hazardous for the environment.You may be curious – how much does making the switch help the planet anyway? Switching to solar power is a great choice for the environment, because the greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation – all of which can be powered by solar instead.While solar panel manufacturing emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by significantly reducing the amount of CO2 you would have been responsible for if you still used traditional energy. In Northern, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year with solar panels. As you can see, trading traditional energy for solar has so many other rewards outside of 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 Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
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 Northern, MN Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar company in Northern?
The best local solar company in Northern is Todavich Electric Inc, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are the pros and cons of solar power?
The greatest advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, in some cases, entirely erase your electricity bills, improve your home’s value and bring down your carbon footprint. The greatest disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey to install, you may not save as much if you don’t use a lot of electricity and it doesn’t work for all roof types and locations.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after getting solar panels?
Solar panels typically pay for themselves in about 17.9 years, but your solar payback period will vary depending on your utility costs. The higher your typical electricity bill, the faster your solar panel system will pay for itself.
When is the best time of year to install solar panels?
You can install solar panels whenever it's convenient for you, but consider doing so in the winter when there's less demand. With fewer homeowners going solar, you could potentially see faster installation times and more savings.
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.