3 Best Solar Companies in Merrill, WI (2024 Reviews)

We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 3 in Merrill based on:

  • Customer review scores
  • Service area for Merrill, WI
  • Company policies and services offered
  • Accreditations and certifications

Average Merrill homeowner saves $1,573/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 Merrill

Do you want energy freedom in Merrill? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding investment since you can take advantage of a lot of perks after adopting solar power. For many homeowners, the choice to invest in solar depends on how much they can save. The good news is solar can help most homeowners save a considerable amount on their steep and increasing energy bills.


As you begin your search for the best solar companies in Merrill, you’ll find that there are a large number of providers to choose between. So, we’ve put together a carefully curated list of the top solar companies in the area.We suggest shopping around to get multiple quotes and comparing them to find the best installer for your home. To get started with free quotes from trusted solar panel companies in Merrill, click the link below.

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 for Leasing

Sunrun

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Many financing options
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Some reported issues with door-to-door sales

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

EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Merrill

Best Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.8/5

Northwind Solar

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

Services Offered

  • Service icon Consultation
  • Service icon Panel Installation

Website: http://www.northwindre.com/
Address: 578 Allen St, Amherst, WI 54406
Phone: 7152230418
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

4.4/5

Independent Solar Systems

  • 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 Panel Installation

Website: https://independent-solar.com/
Address: E2614 Bags Hill Rd Suite A, Waupaca, WI 54981
Phone: 9207409123
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon

EcoWatch Rating

3.0/5

Photovoltaic Systems LLC

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

Services Offered

  • Service icon Panel Installation
  • Service icon Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Service icon Consultation

Website: https://www.pvsolarwi.com/
Address: 7910 WI-54, Amherst, WI 54406
Phone: 7152173028

Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Merrill

EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Merrill 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 Merrill


Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Wisconsin 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 Merrill

We get that for many homeowners, the decision to invest in solar rests on installation costs.A few key factors that determine the cost of installing solar panels on your home and how much it could save you over time include:

  • How much power your household consumes: Households that consume plenty of energy each month may need more solar panels and, as a result, be more expensive, but will also benefit more over time.
  • Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently lets you decrease your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state may also have various incentives that you can benefit from. Additionally, you can save about $19,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, not including incentives.
  • The kind of solar panel system you can afford: This is dependent on how much you’re willing to spend upfront.
  • How much sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, your solar panel system won’t be able to make as much energy, which will give you lower savings on electric bills than a roof that gets a lot of sunlight.

Because of the cost of solar panels being lower than before as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a worthwhile investment for the majority of homeowners.

Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}

If you're curious how much you could impact the environment if you switch to solar, you can use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Merrill, WI.

{{ 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
Why leave {{ solarcalc.total_savings()|currency }} on the table? Help the environment and your wallet by switching to solar. SAVE NOW

Electricity rate:
{{ solarcalc.elec_cost/10 }} ¢
Shade:
{{ solarcalc.shade }} %
Time period:
{{ solarcalc.time_period }} years
System size:
{{ solarcalc.system_size }} kW
Additional Incentives:
{{ solarcalc.additional_incentives|currency }}

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 Merrill

Although installing solar panels is typically a $15,000 to $25,000 investment, it can save you a substantial amount of money in the long term because of reduced utility bills and government incentives.On top of the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some local programs, which in the majority of cases, can be claimed in addition to the federal incentive, so you can save even more. You can find out about the incentives available to you in our article on solar incentives

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Merrill

One of the reasons so many are thinking of adopting solar energy is to help bring down their environmental impact.But how much can installing solar panels actually help the environment? For homeowners and business owners who want to do their part for the planet, going solar is an easy decision, especially since Merrill produces a very high amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation.While making solar panels releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by greatly decreasing the amount of CO2 you would have released if you still used traditional energy. In Merrill, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year with solar panels. As you can see, investing in solar has so many other perks apart from saving money. One of the major ones is that you can help save the environment too.

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 for Leasing

Sunrun

★★★★★
4.0
  • Expansive service area
  • Many financing options
  • Some reported issues with customer service
  • Some reported issues with door-to-door sales

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

EcoWatch's Merrill, WI Solar Company Rankings FAQs

Which solar panel installer is the best near me?

The best local solar company in Merrill is Northwind Solar, with a rating of 4.80 stars.

What are the pros and cons of solar power?

The main advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, for some, entirely cut your electricity bills, raise the value of your home and cut back on your carbon footprint. The main disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey to install, you may not save as much if you don’t use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.

Are solar panels worth it?

Solar panels can be a beneficial investment for a majority of homeowners, but admittedly, 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 pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.

When is the best time of year to install solar panels?

You can put up solar panels whenever it's convenient for you, but consider doing it in the winter when there's less demand. With fewer homeowners going solar, you could potentially see quicker installation times and more savings.

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.