14 Best Solar Companies in Owatonna, MN (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 14 in Owatonna based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Owatonna, MN
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Owatonna homeowner saves $1,567/year with solar panels
Updated May 04, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Owatonna
If you're a home or business owner looking to capitalize on the solar incentives in Owatonna, it can be challenging to narrow down which company to go with. But, the hard work is worth it since adopting solar power is typically a good idea. Over 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar panel system, you can save about $19,000 on your power bills.
The cost of installing solar panels can change greatly depending on your home's configuration and your household energy needs. To see how much you would have to pay to install a solar panel system on your roof, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the top solar companies in Owatonna 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 Owatonna
Average Cost
SunPower
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Most efficient panels on the market - National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
-
Expensive - Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
-
Solar Panels - Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- System Monitoring
Average Cost
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
- Maintenance & Repairs
Average Cost
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
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Solar Roof Shingles
- System Monitoring
The Retrofit Companies, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Recognized Excellence
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- End-to-end services
- Business installations
American Energy LLC
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Business installations
Hayward Solar Project
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Good Steward Consulting
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
Austin Electric
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Family-Operated Business
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Skilled repairs
People's Energy Cooperative
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
Solar Connection
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
Rochester Public Utilities
- Recognized Excellence
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Skilled repairs
- Business installations
- Home installations
The Solar Store Mankato
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
Kuntz Electric, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- End-to-end services
- Home installations
- Skilled repairs
- Expert panel installation
EnergyBin
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Owatonna
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Owatonna 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 Owatonna
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 Owatonna
When picking a solar company, most homeowners or business owners think about the costs above all. The installation cost is just one important factor you should bear in mind when looking into getting solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things including:
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently lets you lower your taxes by 30% of the project cost. Your state and city may also have incentives and rebates that you can use. Plus, you can save about $19,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, before factoring in incentives.
- Your income and budget: This determines what model of solar panels you can buy.
- average energy usage: The more power your household consumes on average and the greater your current power bills are, the more likely you'll benefit from going solar.
- How much you spend on energy: The average family in Owatonna spends around $1,400 a year on home energy use alone, so you could be looking at that much in savings.
As a result of the cost of solar panels being lower than before as well as various solar incentives, they are a sound investment for many homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Owatonna
Adopting solar power has a lot of great benefits. Not only can it help protect the Earth, but you can also save a good amount of money on your installation with various government incentives. You can qualify for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your solar panels. You can also possibly stack the ITC with other state and city rebates and benefits. In our article on solar incentives, you can see the incentives you qualify for near you.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Owatonna
Many want to do their part to help protect the planet, which often is the prime reason they're interested in installing solar panels. But how much can using solar energy instead of traditional energy actually help the environment? If your family uses lots of energy, you can impact the environment even more by switching to solar power. Because solar panels don't release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when producing electricity, they're a good alternative to nonrenewable energy sources. In fact, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. If you want to do your part for the environment, you'll most likely understand that there are many advantages to adopting solar power other than just saving money on bills. You can also help preserve the environment, which some would argue is invaluable.
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 Owatonna, MN Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best near me?
The best local solar company in Owatonna is Sisu Solar, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
Are solar panels really bad for the environment?
Solar panels can be harmful for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels needs a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after buying solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 10.1 years, but the exact period depends on the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
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 decreases 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.