2 Best Solar Companies in Rapid Valley, SD (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 2 in Rapid Valley based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Rapid Valley, SD
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Rapid Valley homeowner saves $1,723/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Rapid Valley
If you’re a homeowner looking to capitalize on the solar incentives in Rapid Valley, it can be difficult to narrow down which company to decide on. But, the hard work is worth it since switching to solar energy is often a fantastic idea. Over 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with solar panels, you can save about $20,000 on your utility bills.
As you set out on your search for the best solar companies in Rapid Valley, you’ll notice that there are a great number of providers to choose between. So, we’ve organized a carefully curated list of the top solar companies in the area.Read on to see our picks for the top solar companies in the city, or connect with a trusted solar company near you right away by clicking the button 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 Rapid Valley
Black Hills Solar, Inc.
Informative Resources- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Off-Grid Solar Systems- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
GenPro Energy Solutions
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- System Decommissioning
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Rapid Valley
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Rapid Valley 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 Rapid Valley
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for South Dakota 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 Rapid Valley
When choosing a solar company, most homeowners or business owners care 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 such as:
- Energy consumption: Installing a solar system may be too steep of an option for families that don’t need a lot of energy per month.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Rapid Valley gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally produce enough energy to power your whole home, which impacts how much your electricity bills will be.
- The model of solar panel system you can afford: This hinges on your income and budget.
- Your current energy bills: Solar panels can noticeably reduce, or entirely get rid of, your utility bills. In Rapid Valley, you can save an average of $1,635 a month.
Because of the cost of solar panels being lower than before as well as several solar incentives, they are a sound investment for the majority of homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Rapid Valley
In an effort to increase the number of homes and businesses that use solar power, federal and local governments – and even some utility companies – offer incentives to help make solar power more affordable and accessible.No matter what state you live in, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you claim 0 of how much your solar project cost when you file taxes, reducing the amount of taxes you owe that year. In addition, there may be some local incentives that stack with the ITC too. For detailed information about incentives for homeowners in Rapid Valley, check out our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Rapid Valley
One of the most compelling reasons to embrace solar energy is to cut your reliance on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are damaging for the environment.You may be curious – how much does going solar do for the planet anyway? The average person has a rather large carbon footprint. Between their car, which produces over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year, and electricity for their home, it can be overwhelming to think about what to do. Installing solar panels is one of the easiest things you can do to help.In Rapid Valley, the average resident can reduce their carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year once they go solar. The benefits of solar power are infinite — just like solar power is! That's why so many people have been happy with using solar energy.
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 Rapid Valley, SD Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best in Rapid Valley?
The best local solar company in Rapid Valley is Black Hills Solar, Inc., with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are some of the major advantages and disadvantages of installing solar panels?
The advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, for some, entirely erase your electricity bills, improve the value of your home and reduce your carbon footprint. The disadvantages are that solar panels can be expensive to install, you may not save a lot if you don’t use a lot of electricity and it doesn’t work for all roof types and locations.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels can be a good investment for most homeowners, but frankly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your electricity bills are already fairly low, solar panels might not be for you.
How efficient is a solar panel system?
In most cases, solar panels are about 15 to 25% efficient, meaning they can convert that percentage of the energy from the sun 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.