2 Best Solar Companies in Great Falls, MT (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 2 in Great Falls based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Great Falls, MT
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Average Great Falls homeowner saves $968/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Great Falls
If you’re a homeowner looking to capitalize on the solar incentives in Great Falls, it can be a lot of work to narrow down which company to choose. But, it's worth it since switching to solar power is typically a good idea. With an average energy bill of $1,273 per month in Great Falls, making the switch to solar power can reduce your monthly bills by about that much.
To help you search through the large amount of Great Falls solar installers, we’ve narrowed down a list of the top ones.We recommend shopping around for several quotes and comparing them to figure out which is the best installer for your home. To receive free, no-obligation quotes from trusted solar companies in Great Falls, click the link 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 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 Great Falls
Purelight Power of Helena
Clear Pricing Policy- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Solar Montana
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Great Falls
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Great Falls 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 Great Falls
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Montana 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 Great Falls
For the majority of homeowners, whether or not to invest in a solar energy system depends the most on the cost.The cost and possible savings vary depending on some key factors such as:
- System size and type: Some models are more pricy than others, so the one you want to get can raise or lower your initial investment. Plus, the more solar panels you need to get, the more it'll cost.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Great Falls gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally generate enough energy to power your whole home, which impacts how much your solar panels can save you on your electricity bills.
- Incentives: Those who purchase and install a solar energy system this year can save 0 of their solar installation costs by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $12,000 on your utility bills over 20 years without incentives.
- Electricity consumption: The average home in Great Falls uses a lot of energy, and so may see more savings on electricity bills than other places.
So is a solar system worth it? Whether you hope to reduce your electric bills, carbon dioxide emissions or both, solar panels are a great investment for many Great Falls homeowners.
Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}
Use the calculator below to get a sense of how much adopting solar power could impact the Earth and your bank account. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Great Falls, MT.
| {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} -year savings | {{ solarcalc.total_savings()|currency }} |
| Estimated cost | {{ solarcalc.array_cost() | currency }} |
| Estimated incentives | {{ solarcalc.incentive_savings() | currency }} |
| Payback period | {{ solarcalc.payback_period()|number:1 }} years |
| CO2 emissions prevented | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()|number:0 }} lbs |
| Miles driven equivalent | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()/0.78|number:0 }} mi |
Switching to solar in {{ solarcalc.name }} can save you {{ solarcalc.total_savings() | currency }} over the course of {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} years.
Solar Incentives in Great Falls
If you’re considering making the switch to solar energy, various government incentives and subsidies can greatly reduce your project costs and speed up the return on your investment.You are eligible for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your a solar panel system. You can also potentially use the ITC with other state and city incentives. You can learn about the incentives you can use in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Great Falls
Installing solar panels is a powerful way to do what you can for a cleaner and more sustainable future.But how much can switching to solar actually affect the environment? Switching to green energy for electricity rather than burning fossil fuels is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint if you're conscious of Great Falls' sizable level of greenhouse gas emissions.Since solar panels don’t release greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they’re a good swap for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 20 pounds each year. For people who are worried about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for reducing your carbon footprint.
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 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 Great Falls, MT Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar panel installation company in Great Falls?
The highest-rated local solar company in Great Falls is Purelight Power of Helena, with a rating of 4.90 stars.
What are the pros and cons of solar power?
The main advantages of solar power are that it can reduce or, in some cases, completely eradicate your electricity bills, raise 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 see as many savings 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 for solar to pay for itself?
Solar panels typically pay for themselves in about 20.1 years, but your solar payback period will vary depending on your utility costs. The more your typical power bill, the quicker your solar panel system will pay for itself.
What is the efficiency of solar panels?
For the most part, solar panels are about 15 to 25% efficient, which means they can convert that percentage of the sun’s energy into usable electricity.
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.