13 Best Solar Companies in St Charles, MN (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 13 in St Charles based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for St Charles, MN
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average St Charles homeowner saves $1,612/year with solar panels
Updated May 04, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in St Charles
On the hunt for the best solar companies in St Charles? Installing a solar panel system is an exciting home addition that many homeowners find beneficial for their wallets, communities and the planet. Since St Charles is a city where the solar industry is on the rise, it's no wonder you're researching installing solar panels.
In this article, we'll help you narrow down the best options in your area. To get free quotes from the leading solar companies in St Charles, click 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 St Charles
Average Cost
SunPower
-
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
Champion Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Kuntz Electric, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled repairs
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- End-to-end services
EnergyBin
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Rochester Public Utilities
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Recognized Excellence
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Skilled repairs
- Business installations
- Home installations
Solar Connection
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
People's Energy Cooperative
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
Riverland Energy Cooperative
- Free Quotes
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
MiEnergy Cooperative
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Recognized Excellence
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
Solar Connection Inc. Sales Office
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Gundersen Envision
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in St Charles
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in St Charles 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 St Charles
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 St Charles
We get that for most homeowners, the decision to invest in solar rests on installation costs. The overall price and potential savings vary depending on a few important factors such as:
- Your energy bills: This will affect how much money you might save. In St Charles, the average resident can save about $1,500 a year on their electricity bills.
- Your income and budget: This shapes what type of solar panels you can purchase.
- Whether or not your roof gets a lot of direct sunlight: This, along with how your roof is set up, affects affect how much power your solar panels can make.
- Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who install a solar system this year can save 30% of their solar installation costs by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $19,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years not including incentives.
Solar is a fruitful investment for most homeowners. You can generate your own energy instead of paying for it from the grid and make use of solar incentives, all while helping protect the Earth.
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For an estimate of both how much you could save and help the Earth by installing a solar panel system, you can test out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for St Charles, MN.
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Solar Incentives in St Charles
Because solar power is better for the environment than fossil fuels, there are several government incentives in place to encourage its adoption. On top of the federal tax credit incentive, there are also some local incentives, which in the majority of cases, can be claimed in addition to the federal incentive, so you get to save even more. Our article on solar incentives has more information on the incentives you can benefit from in St Charles.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in St Charles
Lots of people want to do their part to help protect the planet, which for many is the primary reason for installing a solar system. A question many homeowners might be asking themselves is how much can they really help save the environment by going solar anyway? Everyone can help save the environment by switching to solar energy, but homes that use more energy will have a greater impact. Although solar panel manufacturing releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by greatly reducing the amount of CO2 you would have produced if you still used traditional energy. In St Charles, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year with solar panels. As you can see, using solar power has so many other benefits apart from saving money. One of the most important ones is that you can help save the planet 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 St Charles, MN Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar panel company in St Charles?
The best local solar company in St Charles is Sisu Solar, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
Are solar panels actually environmentally friendly?
Making solar panels requires 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 installing solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 9.9 years, but the exact period depends on the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
What is the efficiency of solar panels?
Solar panel efficiency is the amount of solar energy that is converted into electricity. Most panels today have an efficiency rating between 15 and 20%. If your panels are more efficient, you'll need less of them for your home's energy needs.
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.