Solar Panel Cost Guide in Shelby, WI (2024 Update)

  • Shelby Solar Installation Cost: $20,137
  • 25-Year Savings: $23,842
  • Payback Period: 13.5 Years

See cost of a solar system near you:

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated February 03, 2024

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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.

Average Cost of Solar Panels in Shelby

Find out how much it might cost to make the switch to solar in Shelby.

The national average cost of solar panels is $2.66 per watt, but in Shelby it’s 4 per watt.To account for the typical energy usage of the average home in Shelby, most homeowners require a 7.4-kilowatt system. Using the per-watt figure above, a solar installation costs around $20,137, or $28,796 before the federal solar tax credit of 0 is applied.

How much you pay can go higher or lower than the average in Shelby depending on a few factors, such as the kind of solar panels you choose and the solar company you hire.Despite the large upfront cost, the average Shelby homeowner can save around $19,000 on their energy bills over 20 years, which is one of the positives of solar.

To receive a free quote from a top solar installation company in Shelby, you can click the button below.

Solar savings over time in Shelby

Year Return on Investment
1 years $-19,033
3 years $-16,824
5 years $-14,616
7 years $-12,407
9 years $-10,199
11 years $-7,990
13 years $-5,782
15 years $-3,573
17 years $-1,365
19 years $844
21 years $3,052
23 years $5,261
25 years $7,469

Top Solar Installers in Shelby

Many homeowners choose to hire a solar installer since installing solar panels yourself can be hard. The payback period on a solar system will vary based on factors like your roof configuration and energy consumption, but going with a solar company can shorten that period. Your provider will be able to help you apply for incentives available in your area.

There are various licensed solar professionals that can help you install your solar system. Here are our suggestions:

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

See all of the solar companies in Shelby

Factors that Affect Solar Panel Costs in Shelby

For many Shelby homeowners, the decision to go solar depends on cost. However, the range of solar installation costs can be quite wide in Shelby, with typical prices between $20,000 to $40,000. There are various factors that significantly influence the price you’ll pay, which we'll go over below.

Solar Equipment

One of the most significant factors to consider when it comes to the cost of adopting solar energy is the size of the solar system, which is measured in kilowatts (kW). The more energy your household consumes, the larger your system will likely need to be. You can expect to spend around $3,880 per kilowatt in Shelby.The brand and kind of equipment you want for your solar system can increase or decrease the price quite significantly. If you prefer a trusted brand name like Tesla or SunPower, these often come at a higher price than other brands. Efficiency also matters. Whether you’re opting for high efficiency because you have a small roof or just want maximum energy production, you will be looking at a higher equipment cost, but this can typically lead to greater savings over time. Plus, if you want add-ons like an electric vehicle charger or solar batteries, this will also increase the cost.

Solar Financing Terms

Many homeowners find the average cost of solar in Shelby to be prohibitively steep, even if the investment pays off over time. Fortunately, almost every solar company in the area offers financing options. Solar loans drastically decrease upfront costs in most cases, but they also lead to a higher cost over time because of interest.However, the interest on solar loans also adds to your all-in costs, so it’s crucial to keep that in mind as well. You can always bring down the total you pay in interest and sometimes even your APR by making a larger down payment.

Solar Panel Installation Company

Finally, the company you opt for to install your solar panel system can affect your pricing. Shelby’s solar companies all have different labor costs and add varying upcharges to equipment. The company’s size can sometimes play the most considerable role in the cost. Larger national companies, like SunPro and Sunrun, often have lower pricing due to greater resources and better pricing. Smaller local companies might be more costly, but they generally have better customer service and more customization options, and the occasional sale or promotion can bring their pricing lower to compete with bigger companies.

Solar Panel Cost Data by System Size

System size Cost per system watt Solar system cost 25-Year savings Payback period
6 kW $4.04 $16,948 $13,266 14.0 years
8 kW $3.96 $22,163 $18,123 13.8 years
10 kW $3.88 $27,160 $23,197 13.5 years
12 kW $3.80 $31,940 $28,488 13.2 years
14 kW $3.72 $36,503 $33,997 12.9 years
16 kW $3.65 $40,849 $39,722 12.7 years
18 kW $3.57 $44,977 $45,666 12.4 years
20 kW $3.49 $48,888 $51,826 12.1 years

How to Save on Solar Panels

The company that does your solar panel installation will affect the warranties and brands available to you, and it will also have an impact on your total cost. Because picking a company can be difficult, we have some tips to help you, such as:

  • Installation Process: Get detailed information from your solar installer about the installation process and what to expect, such as when the site survey will be done and how long it will take.
  • Reputation: The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) is a well-established certification organization for sustainable energy professionals. If your solar panel installer is NABCEP-certified, it likely has a good reputation and is qualified to do the job well. Another way you can verify your installer’s reputation is by reading reviews.
  • Solar Panel Brands: Homeowners will have different preferences for panels based on their roof configurations and energy needs. Although there are many options for which type of solar panel you can get, not every company will have access to the exact one you may want or need, so be sure to peruse their list of offerings before making your decision.
  • Contract: Though reading through a contract can be tedious, it’s important to do it thoroughly so you can be sure you understand what services your solar company will provide and how part repairs and replacements will be handled.

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 Shelby, WI Solar Cost FAQs

What is the average cost of installing solar panels in Shelby?

The average cost of solar panels in Shelby is about $19,400 for a 5-kW system and $38,800 for a 10-kW system before the ITC, but the real cost will depend on stuff like the kind of solar panels you want, what size system you need and how much energy you use.

Are solar panels free in Shelby?

You can’t get solar panels for free in Shelby. However, you may still be able to afford them on a lower budget. You can lease solar panels for a low upfront cost or, if you’d prefer to own your solar panels, you can finance them with a solar loan.

Do solar panels increase your property value?

Solar panels can increase the value of your property by about 4%, according to research done by Zillow. The average home value in Shelby is currently $280,207, so you can look forward to a value of about $11,488 more than houses without a solar system. The exact figures will vary, but most experts agree that installing solar panels in Shelby is a rewarding investment.

How long do solar panels last in Shelby?

Though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely at that time. What this means is how much energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can choose to replace them after having them for that long or you can keep using them at a lower efficiency.

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.

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