Best 5 Solar Companies in Bentonville, AR

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Bentonville

The more comprehensive your provider search is, the better your solar system will ultimately work. Consider all of these elements in your contractor search.

Licensing and Training

Solar installers in Arkansas must be licensed electricians to install PV systems or licensed plumbers to install water heating systems. Depending on their specific licensure, your contractor will have at least 4-5 years of experience and verify their educational credentials with the state Contractors Licensing Board. You should also visit a company's website to learn about its private credentials. Two of the most respected are the PV Installation Professional and Solar Heating Installer certificates, awarded by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Some companies don't publish this information online, so you should also ask your estimator about them.

Cost of Solar Panels in Bentonville

Different solar panel types look and perform differently. Monocrystalline panels cost more than other options, but they generate the most power and generally have the highest quality. Polycrystalline panels provide a lower price point but produce less power. Thin-film panels work well for small projects like RVs and sheds, but they're not ideal for larger installations due to their low performance.

You can also add electric vehicle (EV) chargers and battery backup systems. These will increase your total installation cost, but they can boost your solar system's efficiency. Not every solar provider provides these additional features, so look for a company that installs them if it's crucial for you.

If you're a resident of Bentonville and are considering getting a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could expect to pay about $17,450 for materials and labor. See more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Bentonville

There are many ways to pay for a new solar system, and the right one will help you decrease overhead. A few of the most common options include loans, power purchase agreements (PPAs), cash payments, and leases. Though it involves a large up-front payment, cash is the most economical choice because it qualifies you for solar incentives and doesn't accrue interest. Solar loans are the next best option. As with a car loan or mortgage, you'll pay a monthly rate towards system ownership, including interest. You can still apply for money-saving solar incentives, and depending on your lender, you could put as little as $0 down. Solar leases allow you to pay a monthly rate to rent your panels, while a PPA lets you pay a variable rate based on only the energy you use. We generally advise against these options since you will not have ownership of your system and are disqualified from solar incentives, but they might be suitable in specific circumstances. We suggest working with a provider that offers multiple financing options. Talk to each representative about what's available, and secure more than one estimate for the best odds of keeping within your budget.

The table below lists the average payback periods for different capacities of solar systems in Bentonville.

A 26% federal solar tax credit applies to new residential solar equipment purchased through 2032. Additional incentives may be available through city and state governments, usually in the form of rebates and special financing programs.