3 Best Solar Companies in Wausau, WI (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 3 in Wausau based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Wausau, WI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Wausau homeowner saves $1,543/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Wausau
Do you want energy freedom in Wausau? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding project since you can take advantage of many benefits when you go solar. Though Wausau may not have a reputation for sunshine like Florida, it's a surprisingly hot place for solar growth, so a lot of the best solar companies in the country have opened up there to help residents adopt renewable energy.
If you’re planning on going solar, the first step to take is to find the best solar companies in Wausau and compare quotes. That’s why we did the hard work and came up with a list of the best solar companies so you don’t have to.Want to know the cost of installing solar panels on your roof? Click "get quote" below to get a free, no-obligation quote from a highly rated Wausau solar installer.
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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- 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
- 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 Wausau
Northwind Solar
Clear Pricing Policy- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Consultation- Panel Installation
Independent Solar Systems
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Photovoltaic Systems LLC
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Wausau
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Wausau 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 Wausau
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 Wausau
While solar panels can save you money on electricity bills over time, it’s important to take into consideration the upfront costs.Some main factors that dictate the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home and how much it could save you over time are:
- Incentives: Those who install a solar energy system this year can save 0 of their total solar spend by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $18,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years not including incentives.
- Your home's power bills: Because of fairly high monthly electric bills in Wausau, you could save about $1,100 a year with solar.
- The model of solar panel system you have the money for: This hinges on your income and budget.
- How much energy you use: If your family regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from going solar.
Even though a solar panel system costs a decent chunk of money upfront, it can save you thousands of dollars over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on several factors, including the amount of daily direct sunlight available and incentives.
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Solar Incentives in Wausau
Since solar power is a cleaner source of energy than fossil fuels, there are various government incentives in place to encourage its adoption.When you install solar panels on your home, you can claim the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you reduce your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. Additionally, there are often some regional incentives that you can take advantage of to further cut back on the cost of solar of solar panels. You can learn about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Wausau
There are a few main reasons why many people are interested in solar energy: to put more money in their bank account and to help the planet.A question many people might be asking themselves is how much can they really help save the environment by going solar anyway? In Wausau, where the energy generation produces a lot of greenhouse gasses, going solar can have a significant impact on the Earth since solar power is an abundant source of clean energy.In fact, if you install solar panels, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. As you can see, going solar has so many other perks outside of saving money. One of the main ones is that you can help save the planet too.
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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- 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
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Wausau, WI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar panel installer in Wausau?
In Wausau, Northwind Solar is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.80 stars, so it's a good choice if you're looking to install solar panels on your house.
Are solar panels actually eco-friendly?
Manufacturing solar panels requires chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be bad for the environment, which is the main downside of solar panels.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after buying solar panels?
Solar panels typically pay for themselves in about 14.1 years, but your solar payback period will vary depending on your utility costs. The higher your typical energy bill, the quicker your solar panel system will recoup your installation costs.
How often do solar panels need to be replaced?
On average, the lifespan of solar panels is about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency goes down by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a larger amount 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.