10 Best Solar Companies in Sumter, SC (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 10 in Sumter based on:
- Customer review scores
- Service area for Sumter, SC
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Sumter homeowner saves $1,648/year with solar panels
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Best Solar Companies in Sumter
As a homeowner or business owner in Sumter, you may be interested in switching to solar power and curious about the best solar companies in your city. Solar could be a good choice since it comes with a lot of benefits. While solar power is a sizable investment, you’ll be able to make the cost back and then some, all while living more sustainably. In fact, you could be looking at saving about $20,000 over 20 years.
In this article, we’ll tell you about the top Sumter solar installers so you can make the best decision for your home’s clean energy needs.To help you understand if solar panels are a good idea for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in Sumter by clicking the button below.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Sumter
Renu Energy Solutions
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
South Coast Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Broker Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Solar Carports
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Skilled Repairs
- System Decommissioning
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Poly Energy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
Sunpro Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
BroCo Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
SOLZA POWER - Solar + Roofing
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Southern Coker Power
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Greentech Renewables West Columbia
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
SC Clean Energy Community
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Sumter
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Sumter 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 Sumter
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for South Carolina 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 Sumter
Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you first need to pay to install your panels.Some key factors that influence the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home and how much money you could save over time include:
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you are interested in getting 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 opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- Incentives: Something that can make your solar project cost less is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that’s equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your energy bills, which can give you an average of $20,000 of savings over 20 years.
- Typical energy usage: The more electricity your household uses on average and the larger your current power bills are, the more likely you'll benefit from going solar.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: This, and your roof configuration, affects affect how much energy your solar panels can generate.
Though a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount over time. The question of how much, though, depends on several factors, like the angle of your roof and your local electricity rates.
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For an idea of both how much you could save and impact the environment by switching to solar power, you can test out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Sumter, SC.
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Solar Incentives in Sumter
If you’re planning on making the switch to solar power, a number of government incentives and state programs can greatly bring down the installation costs and speed up the return on your investment.There are several federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that let you earn anywhere from 0 to 50% of your money in return after paying for a qualifying system. You can find out about the incentives you can use in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Sumter
There are a few key reasons why homeowners are considering solar energy: for the good of their bank accounts and the planet.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Sumter, though. The amount of energy you use is a key factor to consider. The more power your home uses, the bigger your impact when you make the switch to solar power.In Sumter, the average person can reduce their carbon footprint by 60 pounds a year once they go solar. If you want to do your part for the environment, you’ll no doubt recognize 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 priceless.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch's Sumter, SC Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best near me?
The top local solar company in Sumter is Renu Energy Solutions, with a rating of 4.60 stars.
Are solar panels actually eco-friendly?
Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the construction. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels require a large upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a collection of factors like how much you pay for electricity and the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
How long do solar panels last?
On average, solar panels can last 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 larger level 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.