Best 5 Solar Companies in Maine, IL

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Maine

The cost and efficacy of solar panels often depend on the provider that installed them. Make your choice based on the following essential elements.

Licensing and Training

In Illinois, the state Commerce Commission licenses distributed generation energy contractors, including solar installers. 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, granted 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 Maine

Different solar panel types look and perform differently. Monocrystalline panels offer the best energy production but cost more than other options and generally have the highest quality. Polycrystalline panels produce less power, but start at a more budget-friendly price point. 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 battery backups and electric vehicle (EV) chargers. These will increase your total installation cost, but they can maximize your solar system's performance. Not all solar providers provide these add-ons, so look for a provider that sells them if it's essential for you.

If you're a resident of Maine and are looking into a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could expect to pay about $18,800 for parts and installation. Find more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Maine

There are many ways to pay for a new solar system, and the right one will reduce your expenses. A few of the most common options include leases, cash payments, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and loans. Most solar experts recommend a cash payment or using a solar loan. Cash payments require a large up-front sum, but they save you from paying interest, grant you system ownership, and qualify you for cost-saving solar incentives. Solar loans have the same benefits, though you'll pay more in total due to interest and fees. Much like an auto or home loan, you'll pay a set monthly rate with potentially $0 down. Solar leases involve paying a set monthly rate to use rooftop panels. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) permits you to pay a monthly rate based only on the energy you use, like an electric bill. We generally don’t recommend these two options because you won't own the panels and are disqualified from using solar incentives. We recommend working with a contractor that offers multiple financing options. Ask each representative about what's available, and get 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 Maine.

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