4 Best Solar Companies in Northern, MN (2023 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
Updated September 15, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Northern
Choosing the best solar panel installation company for your house is a big decision, but it's one that can save you a lot of money in Northern. Though Northern may not have a reputation for sunshine like Florida, it's a surprisingly hot place for solar growth, so many of the best solar companies in the country have opened up there to help residents embrace renewable energy.
The cost of installing solar panels can vary substantially based on your home's framework and your overall energy needs. To get an idea of how much you would pay to install solar panels on your roof, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the top solar companies in Northern by clicking the "get quote" button below.
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
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Reliable Customer Support - Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Expert panel installation - Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
Beltrami Electric Cooperative, Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled repairs
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
8th Fire Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
Rural Renewable Energy Alliance (RREAL)
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
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
Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you will need to pay to install your system. Some important things that influence how much it will cost and how much you could save include:
- How much energy you use: If your household uses a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from installing solar panels.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, lets you deduct 30% of the cost of your solar system installation from your taxes. Plus, not including incentives, you can save about $15,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- How much you spend on energy: If your local power rates are quite high, there's a good chance you'll get a higher return on your investment in a solar panel system. In Northern, you can save an average of $98 a month on your electricity bills.
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you buy will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more 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.
There are several good benefits of solar even with the initial cost of installation. It can help the environment and your bank account. Plus, it can increase the value of your home, leading to even more benefits if you decide to sell your home later.
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For an estimate of both how much you could save and impact the environment by installing a solar panel system, you can give the calculator below a try. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Northern, MN.
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Solar Incentives in Northern
Adopting solar power has a lot of considerable benefits. Not only can it help preserve the planet, but you can also save a good amount of money on your installation with various government incentives. In addition to the federal tax credit incentive, there are also some state- and city-level programs, which in almost all cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you get to save even more. You can learn about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Northern
There are tons of reasons to switch to solar power, like saving some money on utility bills and helping to lower your carbon footprint. You may be wondering — how much does going solar do for the environment anyway? If your home consumes lots of energy, you can impact the environment even more by switching to solar energy. In fact, if you adopt solar power, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. As you can see, using solar power has so many other benefits besides saving money. One of the primary ones is that you can help save the environment too.
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 most reputable solar installation company in Northern?
In Northern, Todavich Electric Inc is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a good choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your home.
What are a few of the main pros and cons of going solar?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lets you spend less on your power bills, it's good for the environment, and it provides a significant return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don't work as well when there's limited direct sunlight, they cost a lot upfront and solar panels can look clunky on your roof.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 12.6 years, but the exact period is influenced by the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
When should I install solar panels?
You can install solar panels whenever it's convenient for you, but consider doing it in the winter when there's less demand. With fewer homeowners switching to 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.