5 Best Solar Companies in Rice Lake, MN (2024 Reviews)

We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 5 in Rice Lake based on:

  • Customer review scores
  • Service area for Rice Lake, MN
  • Company policies and services offered
  • Accreditations and certifications

Average Rice Lake homeowner saves $1,416/year with solar panels

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated February 01, 2024

Why you can trust EcoWatch

We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

Best Solar Companies in Rice Lake

If you’re a home or business owner looking to make the most of the solar incentives in Rice Lake, it can be challenging to narrow down which installer to go with. But, it's worth it since switching to solar energy is often a fantastic choice. After 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar panel system, you can save about $17,000 on your power bills.


In this article, we’ll list out the top Rice Lake solar installers so you can make the best decision for your home’s renewable energy needs.To get an estimate of what it would cost to install solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to be connected to a certified installer near you.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0

  • 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

★★★★★
4.0

  • Expansive service area
  • Makes charitable contributions
  • Certified B Corp
  • No leases or PPAs
  • Quality of installation may vary by location

Best Technology

Tesla Energy

★★★★★
3.2

  • 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 Rice Lake

Best Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.9/5

Wescom, Inc

  • Pros icon Prompt Service Delivery
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Residential Panels
  • Service icon Maintenance
  • Service icon Skilled Repairs

Website: http://wescominc.com/
Address: 5137 Jean Duluth Rd, Duluth, MN 55803
Phone: 2187241322
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.8/5

Optimum Energy Group

  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Commercial Panels
  • Service icon Residential Panels
  • Service icon Financing Assistance

Website: http://www.optimumsolargroup.com/
Address: 230 W Superior St, Duluth, MN 55802
Phone: 8448497094
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.5/5

Benson Electric Company

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Skilled Repairs
  • Service icon Residential Panels
  • Service icon Maintenance
  • Service icon Commercial Panels
  • Service icon Emergency Services
  • Service icon Full-Service

Website: https://bensonelectriccompany.com/
Address: 1102 N 3rd St, Superior, WI 54880
Phone: 7153945547
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Wolf Track Energy

  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Free Quotes
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Commercial Panels
  • Service icon Financing Assistance
  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Battery Storage
  • Service icon Residential Panels

Website: http://www.wolftrackenergy.com/
Address: 818 6th Ave, Two Harbors, MN 55616
Phone: 2183025601
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Nelson Collie Electric

  • Pros icon Clear Pricing Policy
  • Pros icon Informative Resources
  • Pros icon Reliable Customer Support
  • Pros icon Family-Operated Business
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Commercial Panels
  • Service icon Maintenance
  • Service icon Residential Panels
  • Service icon Emergency Services
  • Service icon Solar Panel Upgrades
  • Service icon Skilled Repairs

Website: https://nelsoncollieelectric.com/
Address: 621 9th St N, Virginia, MN 55792
Phone: 2187418542

Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Rice Lake

EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Rice Lake 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 Rice Lake


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 Rice Lake

When picking a solar company, most homeowners or business owners worry about the costs the most.The installation cost is just one important factor you should take into account when looking into getting solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things including:

  • How much energy costs for you: The typical household in Rice Lake shells out around $1,000 a year on energy alone, so you could gain that much in savings.
  • The amount of sunlight your roof gets: Because of Rice Lake’s relatively low amount of average daily sunlight, you might not see as many savings on your electricity bills.
  • How much energy your home consumes: Households that use lots of energy each month may require more solar panels and, therefore, be more expensive, but will also save more on their energy bills over time.
  • Your income and budget: This guides what model of solar panels you can purchase.

Though a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount in the long term. The question of how much, though, depends on several factors, including the amount of daily direct sunlight available and your local electricity rates.

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Use the calculator below to get a sense of how much installing a solar panel system could affect the environment and your wallet. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Rice Lake, MN.

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Solar Incentives in Rice Lake

In an effort to increase the adoption of solar power, incentives are offered by the government – and even some utility companies – to help make going solar more economical and accessible.Local solar incentive programs depend on the location and, sometimes, utility company. A lot of states offer rebates for solar power systems, in addition to the federal solar tax credit. Check out our article on solar incentives to find out what incentives you can benefit from.

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Rice Lake

Switching to solar energy can have a beneficial impact on the environment.You may be wondering – how much does making the switch do for the planet anyway? The more energy your household uses, the better off the planet will be if you switch to solar as you won’t need to use as much nonrenewable energy.Though solar panel manufacturing releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by greatly lowering the amount of CO2 you would have produced if you still used nonrenewable energy. In Rice Lake, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 80 pounds a year with solar panels. If you care about the environment, you’ll likely recognize that there are many benefits of adopting solar energy other than just saving money on electricity. You can also help protect the environment, which some would argue is more valuable.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0

  • 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

★★★★★
4.0

  • Expansive service area
  • Makes charitable contributions
  • Certified B Corp
  • No leases or PPAs
  • Quality of installation may vary by location

Best Technology

Tesla Energy

★★★★★
3.2

  • 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 Rice Lake, MN Solar Company Rankings FAQs

What is the top solar panel installation company in Rice Lake?

In Rice Lake, Wescom, Inc is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.90 stars, so it's a good choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your home.

What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?

Manufacturing solar panels uses chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be harmful for the environment, which is the main negative thing about solar panels.

How long does it take to see a return on your investment after getting solar panels?

Solar panels usually pay for themselves in about 15.9 years, but your solar payback period will vary based on your utility costs. The more your typical power bill, the faster your solar panel system will pay for itself.

When should I put up solar panels?

Although summer is the most common time people install solar panels, the best time is actually winter. You can save money since there's less demand during the winter months, and it lets you be up and running with solar for the more expensive power bills you may get during the summer.

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.